Abstract:
An audio playing method is applied to at least one wireless speaker, at least one mobile terminal, and a cloud server. The method includes sending a wireless signal within a coverage area of the wireless speaker, the wireless signal being detected by the speaker when the speaker is in proximity to the mobile terminal. The first identification information of the wireless speaker and second identification information of the mobile terminal are obtained, and control signals indicating the first and the second identification information is transmitted to the cloud server. Audio files corresponding to the second identification information are decoded into an audio stream and the audio stream is transmitted to the one or more wireless speakers which correspond to the first identification information included in the control signal.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The subject matter herein generally relates to media processing. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Traditional speakers receive musical signals from electronic devices through conductive wires. However, wireless speakers, which can receive musical signals from a music source (for example, a cell phone) over a wireless network and amplify the musical signals, are more convenient. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an embodiment of an applied environment of an audio playing system. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the audio playing system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an embodiment of an audio playing method. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a detailed flow chart of block  35  of the method of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
         [0009]    The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of an audio playing system  100 , the system being applied to at least one wireless speaker  1 , at least one mobile terminal  2 , and a cloud server  3 . The mobile terminal  2  can be any electronic device having a wireless communication function, such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, or a multimedia player. 
         [0011]    Each wireless speaker  1  includes a first storage unit  101  and a first processor  102 . Each mobile terminal  2  includes a second storage unit  201  and a second processor  202 . The cloud server  3  includes a third storage unit  301  and a third processor  302 . The first processor  102 , the second processor  202 , and the third processor  302  can be central processing units, digital processors, or single chips, for example. The types of the first processor  102 , the second processor  102 , and the third processor  302  can be the same or different types. 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates that the system  100  includes a first wireless communication module  11 , a second wireless communication module  21 , a signal generating module  22 , and a control module  31 . Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the first wireless communication module  11  is stored in the first storage unit  101  and executed by the first processor  102  of each wireless speaker  1 . The second communication unit  21  and the signal generating module  22  are stored in the second storage unit  201  and executed by the second processor  202  of each mobile terminal  2 . The control module  31  is stored in the third storage unit  301  and executed by the third processor  302  of the cloud server  3 . 
         [0013]    The first wireless communication module  11  sends a wireless signal within a wireless coverage area of the wireless speaker  1  having the first wireless communication module  11 . 
         [0014]    The second wireless communication module  21  detects a wireless signal within a wireless coverage area of the mobile terminal  2  having the second wireless communication module  21 , when one or more wireless speakers  1  are adjacent to the mobile terminal  2 , and obtains first identification information of each of the one or more wireless speakers  1 . The first and the second wireless communication units  11 ,  21  can be BLUETOOTH® communication units or WIFI communication units. 
         [0015]    When the second wireless communication unit  21  obtains the first identification information of the one or more wireless speakers  1 , the signal generating unit  22  obtains second identification information of the mobile terminal  2 . The signal generating unit  22  further generates a first control signal according to the obtained first identification information and the obtained second identification information, and transmits the first control signal to the cloud server  3 . In at least one embodiment, the mobile terminal  2  is a cell phone, and the second identification information is a SIM card number of the cell phone. 
         [0016]    In at least one embodiment, the third storage unit  301  of the cloud server  3  stores second identification information of different mobile terminals  2 , different audio files, and a first relationship between the second identification information and the audio files. Each audio file corresponds to the second identification information of one mobile terminal  2 . In detail, the mobile terminal  2  first transmits a registration request to the cloud server  3  with the second identification information thereof, to register with the cloud server  3 . When the cloud server  3  registers the second identification information of the mobile terminal  2 , the mobile terminal  2  logs in to the cloud server  3  using the second identification information, and transmits at least one audio file stored in the second storage unit  201  to the cloud server  3 , to instruct the cloud server  3  to store the audio file associated with the second identification information of the mobile terminal  2  to the third storage unit  301 . 
         [0017]    The control module  31 , according to the first relationship, determines upon at least one audio file corresponding to the second identification information which is included in the first control signal, decodes the determined audio file to an audio stream, and transmits the audio stream to the one or more wireless speakers  1  corresponding to the first identification information included in the first control signal. Upon receiving the audio stream, each of the one or more wireless speakers  1  starts to play the audio file originating from the mobile terminal  2 . With the above configuration, a user can control one or more one wireless speaker  1  to playback the audio file from his/her mobile terminal  2  simply by approaching the one or more wireless speakers  1  with the mobile terminal  2 . 
         [0018]    In at least one embodiment, the control module  31  transmits the audio stream to each of the one or more wireless speakers  1  via a wireless network. The wireless network can be WIFI network or BLUETOOTH® network for example. The first identification information can be the IP address of a wireless speaker  1 . The third storage unit  301  of the cloud server  3  further stores a second relationship between first identification information of different wireless speakers  1  and different IP addresses. Each IP address corresponds to first identification information of one wireless speaker  1 . In this case, the control module  31 , according to the second relationship, determines upon the IP address as corresponding to the first identification information which is included in the first control module, and transmits the audio stream to the one or more wireless speakers  1  according to the one or more determined IP addresses. 
         [0019]    In at least one embodiment, the system  100  further includes an analyzing module  23  stored in the second storage unit  201  and executed by the second processor  202  of each mobile terminal  2 . The analyzing module  23  determines whether a characteristic strength of the wireless signal is greater than a threshold level before the signal generating module  22  obtains second identification information of the mobile terminal  2 . If it is greater, the signal generating module  22  obtains second identification information of the mobile terminal  2 , generates the first control signal, and transmits the first control signal to the cloud server  3 . The characteristic strength can be the amplitude level of the wireless signal or the increasing speed of the amplitude level. 
         [0020]    In at least one embodiment, after the signal generating module  22  transmits the first control signal to the cloud server  3 , the analyzing module  23  further determines whether only one wireless speaker  1  is adjacent to the mobile terminal  2 . If so, the analyzing module  23  further determines whether the characteristic strength of the wireless signal keeps changing. If the characteristic strength of the wireless signal keeps changing, the mobile terminal  2  is deemed to be approaching or moving away from the wireless speakers  1 . Then, the signal generating module  22  further generates a second control signal according to the first identification information of the wireless speaker  1  and the characteristic strength of the wireless signal, and transmits the second control signal to the cloud server  3 . The control module  31  further generates a volume adjust command according to the characteristic strength of the wireless signal included in the second control signal, and transmits the volume adjust command to the wireless speaker  1  corresponding to the first identification information included in the second control signal. The volume adjust command is configured to direct the wireless speaker  1  to adjust the volume of the playback of the audio file according to the characteristic strength of the wireless signal. In at least one embodiment, the playback volume of the audio file is proportional to the characteristic strength of the wireless signal. 
         [0021]    If at least two wireless speakers  1  are adjacent to the mobile terminal  2 , the analyzing module  23  further determines whether the characteristic strength of the wireless signal from each of the at least two wireless speakers  1  keeps changing. If the characteristic strength of the wireless signal from one of the at least two wireless speakers  1  keeps changing, the analyzing module  23  generates the second control signal according to the first identification information of the wireless speaker  1  and the characteristic strength of the wireless signal, and transmits the second control signal to the cloud server  3 . The control module  31  further generates the volume adjust command which direct the wireless speaker  1  to adjust the volume of the playback of the audio file according to the characteristic strength of the wireless signal. 
         [0022]    In at least one embodiment, if the analyzing module  23  determines that the characteristic strength of the wireless signal is decreasing overall, the analyzing module  23  further determines whether or not the characteristic strength of the wireless signal is less than the threshold level. If it is less, it indicates that the mobile terminal  2  is moving away from the wireless speaker  1 , that is, the wireless speaker  1  is becoming physically remote from the mobile terminal  2 . Then, the signal generating module  22  further generates a third control signal according to the first identification information of the wireless speaker  1 , and transmits the third control signal to the cloud server  3 . The control module  31  further stops transmitting the audio stream to the wireless speaker  1  corresponding to the first identification information included in the third control signal. As such, the wireless speaker  1  stops playing the audio file. In at least one embodiment, the control module  31  further transmits a power saving command to the wireless speaker  1 , to instruct the wireless speaker  1  to enter a standby mode or a sleep mode. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart of an audio playing method is presented in accordance with an example embodiment which is being thus illustrated. The example audio playing method is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The audio playing method described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining example audio playing method. Each block shown in  FIG. 3  represents one or more processes, methods or subroutines, carried out in the exemplary audio playing method. Additionally, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can change according to the present disclosure. The exemplary audio playing method can begin at block  31 . 
         [0024]    At block  31 , a first wireless communication module sends a wireless signal within a wireless coverage area of the wireless speaker. 
         [0025]    At block  32 , a second wireless communication module detects a wireless signal within a wireless coverage area of the mobile terminal when one or more wireless speakers are adjacent to the mobile terminal, and obtains first identification information of each of the one or more wireless speakers. 
         [0026]    At block  33 , an analyzing module determines whether a characteristic strength of the wireless signal is greater than a threshold level. If yes, the procedure goes to block  44 ; otherwise, block  43  is repeated. 
         [0027]    At block  34 , a signal generating unit obtains second identification information of the mobile terminal, generates a first control signal according to the obtained first identification information and the obtained second identification information, and transmits the first control signal to the cloud server. 
         [0028]    At block  35 , a control module determines upon at least one audio file stored in the cloud server corresponding to the second identification information which is included in the first control signal, decodes the determined audio file to an audio stream, and transmits the audio stream to the one or more wireless speakers corresponding to the first identification information included in the first control signal. As such, the one or more wireless speakers can start to play the audio file originating from the mobile terminal. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a detail flowchart of the audio playing method after the block  35  of  FIG. 3  is presented in accordance with an example embodiment which is being thus illustrated. The example audio playing method is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The audio playing method described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining example audio playing method. Each block shown in  FIG. 4  represents one or more processes, methods or subroutines, carried out in the exemplary audio playing method. Additionally, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can change according to the present disclosure. 
         [0030]    At block  41 , the analyzing module further determines whether only one wireless speaker is adjacent to the mobile terminal. If yes, the procedure goes to block  42 ; otherwise, the procedure goes to block  43 . 
         [0031]    At block  42 , the analyzing module determines whether the characteristic strength of the wireless signal from the wireless speaker keeps changing. If yes, the procedure goes to block  44 ; otherwise, block  42  is repeated. 
         [0032]    At block  43 , the analyzing module determines whether the characteristic strength of the wireless signal from one wireless speaker keeps changing. If yes, the procedure goes to block  44 ; otherwise, block  43  is repeated. 
         [0033]    At block  44 , the signal generating module further generates a second control signal according to the first identification information of the wireless speaker and the characteristic strength of the wireless signal, and transmits the second control signal to the cloud server. 
         [0034]    At block  45 , the control module further generates a volume adjust command according to the characteristic strength of the wireless signal, and transmits the volume adjust command to the wireless speaker corresponding to the first identification information included in the second control signal. The volume adjust command is configured to direct the wireless speaker to adjust the volume of the playback of the audio file according to the characteristic strength of the wireless signal. 
         [0035]    At block  46 , the analyzing module further determines whether the characteristic strength of the wireless signal is decreasing overall. If yes, the procedure goes to block  47 ; otherwise, block  46  is repeated. 
         [0036]    At block  47 , the analyzing module further determines whether the characteristic strength of the wireless signal is less than the threshold level. If yes, the procedure goes to block  48 ; otherwise, block  46  is repeated. 
         [0037]    At block  48 , the signal generating module further generates a third control signal according to the first identification information of the wireless speaker, and transmits the third control signal to the cloud server. 
         [0038]    At block  49 , the control module further stops transmitting the audio stream to the wireless speaker corresponding to the first identification information included in the third control signal. As such, the wireless speaker stops playing the audio file. 
         [0039]    At block  50 , the control module further transmits a power saving command to the wireless speaker, to instruct the wireless speaker to enter a standby mode or a sleep mode. 
         [0040]    It is to be understood, even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.