Patent ID: 8041025

Claim:
A method comprising: an audio controller providing user-configurable settings for designating each of a plurality of devices with audio output as either a priority device or a non-priority device; the audio controller providing options for user-configurable alternate modes for each of the devices in case of an ambient noise level becoming greater than a predetermined threshold, wherein the options provided for alternate modes comprise an increased volume mode wherein an audio output volume of a priority device is increased, and a plurality of selectable non-priority modes that may be applied to each of one or more devices designated as non-priority devices, in which the selectable non-priority modes provided as options by the audio controller comprise: decreasing or muting a volume of audio output of a non-priority device; turning off the non-priority device; enabling a display or recording of text corresponding to a current audio output of the non-priority device; enabling recording of a current audio output of the non-priority device; and enabling pausing of a current audio output of the non-priority device; the audio controller receiving a user input designating one of the devices as the priority device; the audio controller receiving one or more user inputs designating one or more of the non-priority modes for one or more non-priority devices; the audio controller monitoring the ambient noise level; the audio controller determining whether the ambient noise level is greater than the predetermined threshold; and the audio controller, in response to determining that the ambient noise level is greater than the predetermined threshold: automatically switching the priority device to the increased volume mode; and automatically switching the one or more non-priority devices to the one or more non-priority modes designated by the user for each of the one or more non-priority devices.