Information processing apparatus and audio output control method of an information processing apparatus

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a display, a speaker, a connector, a multi-display module, an audio driver, and an audio-output controller. The connector is configured to output a video signal and an audio signal. The multi-display module is configured to control an outputting of the video signal in order to display a part of an image on the display and another part of the image at an external apparatus connected to the connector. The audio driver is configured to control an outputting of the audio signal at the speaker and the connector. The audio-output controller is configured to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker or the connector in accordance with the state of displaying the image at the display or the external apparatus, if the multi-display module displays the parts of the image on the display and the external apparatus.

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a display;   a speaker;   a connector configured to output a video signal and an audio signal;   a multi-display controller configured to control video signal output to display a part of an image at the display and another part of the image at an external apparatus connected to the connector;   an audio driver configured to control audio signal output at the speaker and the connector; and   an audio-output controller configured to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to either the speaker or the connector based on whether a part of the image is displayed at the display or the external apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the audio-output controller comprises a priority controller configured to set priorities to application programs, and wherein the audio-output controller is configured to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the display displays an image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set, and to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to the connector when the external apparatus displays the image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the audio-output controller is configured to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set is displayed partly at the display and partly at the external apparatus and a larger part of the image is displayed at the display, and to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to the connector when the image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set is displayed partly at the display and partly at the external apparatus and the larger part of the image is displayed at the external apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an audio output detector configured to determine whether the external apparatus is capable of outputting audio data,
 wherein the audio-output controller is configured to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the external apparatus is not capable of outputting audio data.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is configured to detachably connect a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the audio-output controller is configured to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the display displays an image of a predetermined application program, and to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to the connector when the external apparatus displays the image of the predetermined application program. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the audio-output controller is configured to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the image of the predetermined application program is displayed partly at the display and partly at the external apparatus and a larger part of the image is displayed at the display, and to control the audio driver to output the audio signal to the connector when the image of the predetermined program is displayed partly at the display and partly at the external apparatus and the larger part of the image is displayed at the external apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling audio output on an information processing apparatus comprising a display, a speaker, a connector configured to output a video signal and an audio signal, a multi-display controller configured to control video signal output to display a part of an image at the display and another part of the image at an external apparatus connected to the connector, and an audio driver configured to control audio signal output at the speaker and the connector, the method comprising:
 controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to either the speaker or the connector based on whether a part of the image is displayed at the display or the external apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein controlling the audio driver comprises setting priorities to application programs, and controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the display displays an image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set, and controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the connector when the external apparatus displays the image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein controlling the audio driver further comprises controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set is displayed partly at the display and partly at the external apparatus and a larger part of the image is displayed at the display, and controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the connector when the image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set is displayed partly at the display and partly at the external apparatus and the larger part of the image is displayed at the external apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining whether the external apparatus is capable of outputting audio data,
 wherein controlling the audio driver further comprises controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the external apparatus is not capable of outputting audio data.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the connector is configured to detachably connect a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein controlling the audio driver further comprises controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the display displays an image of a predetermined application program, and controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the connector when the external apparatus displays the image of the predetermined application program. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which is executable by a computer comprising a display, a speaker, a connector configured to output a video signal and an audio signal, a multi-display controller configured to control video signal output to display a part of an image at the display and another part of the image at an external apparatus connected to the connector, and an audio driver configured to control audio signal output at the speaker and the connector, the computer program comprising instructions capable of causing the computer to execute functions of:
 controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to either the speaker or the connector based on whether a part of the image is displayed at the display or the external apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the computer program further comprises instructions capable of causing the computer to execute functions of:
 setting priorities to application programs;   controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the display displays an image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set; and   controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the connector when the external apparatus displays the image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set.   
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer program further comprises instructions capable of causing the computer to execute functions of:
 controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set is displayed partly at the display and partly at the external apparatus and a larger part of the image is displayed at the display; and   controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the connector when the image of the application program to which the highest priority has been set is displayed partly at the display and partly at the external apparatus and the larger part of the image is displayed at the external apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the computer program further comprises instructions capable of causing the computer to execute functions of:
 determining whether the external apparatus is capable of outputting audio data; and   controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the external apparatus is not capable of outputting audio data.   
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the connector is configured to detachably connect a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable. 
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 14 , wherein the computer program further comprises instructions capable of causing the computer to execute functions of:
 controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the speaker when the display displays an image of a predetermined application program; and   controlling the audio driver to output the audio signal to the connector when the external apparatus displays the image of the predetermined application program.