Audio data transmitting method and data transmitting system

An audio data transmitting method applied to an audio data transmitting device. The audio data transmitting method comprises: (a) receiving first audio data from at least one audio data source, wherein the first audio data follows a first audio format; and (b) outputting the first audio data from the audio data transmitting device without encoding or decoding the first audio data.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone or a tablet PC sometimes needs to transmit audio data (ex. music file) to an external electronic device such as a speaker or an earphone. By this way, the user can listen to the audio data with a better quality or with a louder volume, or listen to the audio data without disturbing other people.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram illustrating how a portable electronic device transmits audio data to an external electronic device. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the portable electronic device101comprises a decoder105and a transmitting interface107. The decoder105receives audio data AD_a from the audio source AS. In this example, the audio data AD_a follows an audio format MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) or AAC (Advanced Audio Coding). The decoder105decodes the audio data AD_a to generate the audio data AD_b, which follows an audio format PCM (Pulse-code modulation), such that the audio data AD_b can be mixed with other audio data.

After that, the transmitting interface107encodes the audio data AD_b again to generate the audio data AD_c, which follows the audio standard AAC, SBC (sub-band coding), or aptX. By this way, the receiving interface109in the external electronic device103can receive the audio data AD_c. Also, the audio data AD_c is decoded by the decoder111in the external electronic device103, thereby the audio data AD_d following the audio format PCM is generated. Finally, the external electronic device103plays the audio data AD_d.

However, the above-mentioned mechanism needs several encoding/decoding operations. For more detail, a decoding operation is needed between the audio data AD_a and AD_b, an encoding operation is needed between the audio data AD_b and AD_c, and another decoding operation is needed between the audio data AD_c and AD_d. Therefore, the quality of the audio data may decrease due to these encoding/decoding operations.

SUMMARY

Therefore, one objective of the present disclosure is to provide an audio data transmitting method that can decrease the amount of encoding/decoding.

Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide an audio data transmitting system that can decrease the amount of encoding/decoding.

One implementation of the present disclosure discloses an audio data transmitting method applied to an audio data transmitting device. The audio data transmitting method comprises: (a) receiving first audio data from at least one audio data source, wherein the first audio data follows a first audio format; and (b) outputting the first audio data from the audio data transmitting device without encoding or decoding the first audio data.

Another implementation of the present disclosure discloses an audio data transmitting device comprising: a transmitting interface, configured to receive first audio data from at least one audio data source, wherein the first audio data follows a first audio format; and a control unit, configured to control the transmitting interface to output the first audio data from the audio data transmitting device without encoding or decoding the first audio data.

In view of above-mentioned implementations, the audio data can be transmitted without decoding or encoding, and only one time of decoding/encoding is needed before the audio data is played. Further, the volume of the audio data can be adjusted even if the lossless mode is applied.

These and other objectives of the present disclosure will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the implementation that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2is a schematic diagram illustrating an audio data transmitting device according to one implementation of the present disclosure. As depicted inFIG. 2, the audio data transmitting device200comprises a transmitting interface TI201. The audio data transmitting device200can be any portable or non-portable electronic device, for example, a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a laptop, or a PC. In one implementation, the audio data transmitting device200is a smart phone. In another implementation, the audio data transmitting device200is a smart phone applying an Android system. In the following implementation, a mobile phone is applied as the audio data transmitting device200to explain operations thereof.

The transmitting interface201can be, for example, a wireless transmitting interface such as a Bluetooth interface. However, other wireless transmitting interfaces or transmitting interfaces with wires can be applied as the transmitting interface for the present disclosure.

The transmitting interface201receives the first audio data AD_1from at least one audio source AS. The audio source AS can be a source in the audio data transmitting device200, for example, a storage device. However, the audio source AS can be a source outside the audio data transmitting device200as well, for example, a web site. The first audio data AD_1follows a first audio format. In this implementation, the first audio format is one of MP3, AAC and FLAC, but not limited. After receiving the first audio data AD_1, the transmitting interface201outputs the first audio data AD_1without encoding or decoding the first audio data AD_1.

Please refer toFIG. 2again, the audio data transmitting device200comprises a control unit203(ex. a CPU) to control operations of the audio data transmitting device200, such that the audio data transmitting device200can perform the operations described in the implementations of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation for an audio data receiving device receiving the audio data from the data transmitting device provided by the present disclosure. InFIG. 3, an electronic system comprising the audio data transmitting device200and an audio data receiving device300is disclosed. As depicted inFIG. 3, the first audio data AD_1is transmitted to an audio data receiving device300inFIG. 3. The audio data receiving device300can be any electronic device. In one implementation, the audio data receiving device300is an earphone or a speaker, but not limited.

As depicted inFIG. 3, the audio data receiving device300comprises a receiving interface (RI)301and a decoder303. After the receiving interface301receives the first audio data AD_1, the decoder303decodes the first audio data AD_1to generate the second audio data AD_2following a second audio format. In one implementation, the second audio data AD_2follows the audio format PCM, but not limited. Then, the second audio data AD_2can be played by the audio data receiving device300.

Besides the path depicted inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the audio data transmitting device disclosed by the present disclosure can comprise other paths.FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating an audio data transmitting device according to another implementation of the present disclosure. In this implementation, the audio data transmitting device has a plurality of paths for audio data. As depicted inFIG. 4, the audio data transmitting device400comprises a transmitting interface (TI)401, a decoder403and a local playing device405. In such structure, the audio data transmitting device400comprises three paths. The first path P_1is playing audio data via the local playing device405. The second path P_2is decoding the above-mentioned first audio data AD_1to generate fourth audio data AD_4, and then outputs the fourth audio data AD_4via the transmitting interface401. The third path P_3is the path already depicted inFIG. 2andFIG. 3. That is, outputs the first audio data AD_1without decoding or encoding it.

In one implementation, the third audio data AD_3is audio data triggered by incoming events. For example, the audio data transmitting device400is a mobile phone and receives a call or message, and the third audio data AD_3is a ring or a message notification generated by the audio data transmitting device400. Also, in one implementation the third audio data AD_3and the fourth audio data AD_4follow the audio format PCM. Besides, the local playing device405is a device which is provided inside the audio data transmitting device400and can play audio data, for example, a speaker provided in the audio data transmitting device400.

FIG. 5is a schematic diagram illustrating detail operations for the audio data transmitting device depicted inFIG. 4. As depicted inFIG. 5, the audio track in the step501indicates the audio data to be played. In path P_1, the audio track is mixed with other audio track in the step503, if necessary. Please note the mix step can also be applied to adjust the volume of the audio track. In the step505, the third audio data AD_3is streamed out. Also, in the step507, the third audio data AD_3is played by the local play device (ex.405inFIG. 4).

For the second path P_2, the audio track is mixed in the step509, if necessary. In the step511, the fourth audio data AD_4is streamed out. In the step515, the transmitting interface outputs the audio data. For the third path P_3, in the step513, the third audio data AD_3is streamed out. In the step515, the transmitting interface outputs the audio data. In one implementation, the transmitting interface has only one channel thus only one of the paths P_2, P_3can be applied.

A volume of the first audio data AD_1cannot be adjusted since a mix step is not included in the third path P_3, thus a volume adjust step517is further included in the third path P_3. A volume index is provided and transmitted to the audio data receiving device via the transmitting interface. After that, the audio data receiving device adjusts the second audio data (ex. AD_2inFIG. 3) based on the volume index. The volume index can be generated by, for example, the control unit for the audio data transmitting device, but not limited.

As above-mentioned, in one implementation the transmitting interface has only one channel. Therefore, a method for determining the path is provided in one implementation.FIG. 6is a schematic diagram illustrating a mechanism for determining a path for outputting the audio data, according to one implementation of the present disclosure.FIG. 6comprises the following steps:

Audio track join. The determining flow starts when an audio object is created. If the audio track follows the first audio format, that is, the audio track is the first audio data AD_1, go to the step603-609. On the contrary, if the audio track follows the second audio format, go to the steps611-617.

The first audio data AD_1joins.

Determining if the audio data following the second audio format is being outputted by the transmitting interface. If yes, go to step609. If not, go to step607.

Output the first audio data AD_1via the transmitting interface. That is, the third path P_3inFIG. 5is applied.

Reject the first audio data AD_1, since the channel of the transmitting interface is already occupied.

Audio data with second audio format joins. Such kind of audio data may be the third audio data AD_3or the fourth audio data AD_4depicted inFIG. 4.

Determining if the first audio data AD_1is being outputted by the transmitting interface. If yes, go to step615. If not, go to step617.

Since the channel of the transmitting interface is already occupied, transmit the audio data with second audio format to the local playing device, that is, the first path P_1inFIG. 5is applied.

Transmit the audio data with second audio format to the transmitting interface, that is, the second path P_2inFIG. 5is applied.

In one implementation, the second path P_2depicted inFIG. 4andFIG. 5is applied in a normal mode. The first path P_1and the third path P_3depicted inFIG. 4andFIG. 5are applied in a lossless mode. In the lossless mode, an information screen can be displayed by the data transmitting device to notify a user that the lossless mode is activated.FIG. 7is a schematic diagram illustrating an information screen showing that the lossless mode is activated. As depicted inFIG. 7, the information screen IS displays a notification N_1that the lossless mode is activated. The information screen IS can further comprise other notifications. For example, the information screen IS further displays a notification N_2which informs a user that the audio data transmitting device is connected to an USB storage device.

As depicted inFIG. 5, a volume index (step517) can be further provided to the audio data receiving device such that the audio data receiving device can adjust a volume of the audio data based on the volume index. However, some audio data receiving devices do not support the volume index thus cannot apply it. In such case, the volume of the audio data transmitting device must be adjusted to a predetermined volume (ex. a maximum volume), or the lossless mode will not be activated. For example, inFIG. 8the information screen IS comprises a notification N_1to inform a user that the volume of the audio data transmitting device must be adjusted to max. The lossless mode will not be activated until the volume is adjusted the maximum value. That is, the audio data transmitting device is controlled to operate in the normal mode or the lossless mode according to a relation between the volume and the predetermined volume.

In one implementation the predetermined volume is less than the max volume, and the audio data transmitting device operates in the normal mode if the volume is less or equals to the predetermined volume.

Also, the audio data transmitting device applies the second path P_2(i.e. the normal mode) if the user adjusts the volume of the audio data transmitting device to a volume other than the predetermined volume. By this way, the user can still adjust the volume of the audio data he or she listens even if the audio data receiving device does not support the volume index. Further, since the volume of the first audio data is fixed at a constant value in the lossless mode, the volume of the audio data played by the audio data receiving device will not suddenly drop or increases.

In one implementation, the user can set if the lossless mode is activated or not via a setting screen. That is, the audio data transmitting device is controlled to operate in the lossless mode or the normal mode according to a user command.FIG. 9is a schematic diagram illustrating a setting screen for selecting if the lossless mode should be activated or not. As depicted inFIG. 9, the audio data transmitting device displays a setting screen SS comprising a setting box Sb. The user can tick the setting box Sb to activate the lossless mode. In one implementation, if the data receiving device cannot support the lossless mode, that is, cannot support the audio format of the first audio data AD_1, the setting box Sb does not show up.

Please note, the losses mode can be activated by other mechanisms. For example, in one implementation, if the data receiving device does not support the above-mentioned volume index, the lossless mode cannot be triggered. In such implementation, a step for determining whether the audio data receiving device supports the volume index or not is performed. The lossless mode cannot be triggered if the audio data receiving device does not support the volume index. Also, the lossless mode can be triggered if the audio data receiving device does supports the volume index

In view of above-mentioned implementations, an audio data transmitting method applied to an audio data transmitting device is acquired, which comprises the following steps: (a) receiving first audio data (ex. AD_1inFIG. 2) from at least one audio data source, wherein the first audio data follows a first audio format; and (b) outputting the first audio data from the audio data transmitting device without encoding or decoding the first audio data.

Other detail steps can be acquired in view of above-mentioned implementations, thus are omitted for brevity here.

In view of above-mentioned implementations, the audio data can be transmitted without decoding or encoding, and only one time of decoding/encoding is needed before the audio data is played. Further, the volume of the audio data can be adjusted even if the lossless mode is applied.