Dynamic routing of audio among multiple audio devices

Abstract

A routing screen is presented on an electronic device by a user interface application in response to receiving a notification that an external audio device is connected to the electronic device. The routing screen displays representations of an internal audio device and the external audio device. In one aspect, the representations are buttons. In another aspect, the representations are entries in a list. If a user selects one of representations, the user interface application causes the audio signals to be routed to the audio device represented by the selection. An application control screen having a set of objects that represent functions for an audio application may also be displayed. One of the objects on the application control screen is modified in response status changes in the external audio device. A user may select this object to access the routing screen when the external audio device is connected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-readable medium containing executable program instructions that cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:
 presenting a routing screen on an electronic device in response to receiving a notification that an external audio device is connected to the electronic device, the routing screen displaying representations of an internal audio device and the external audio device.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a selection of one of the representations on the routing screen; and   causing audio signals from the audio application to be routed to the audio device represented by the selection.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 presenting an application control screen on the electronic device as a set of objects that represent functions for an audio application executing on the electronic device.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises:
 modifying one of the objects on the application control screen in response to connecting the external audio device; and   replacing the routing screen with the application control screen having the modified object.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises:
 replacing the application control screen having the modified object with the routing screen in response to receiving a selection of the modified object.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 4 , wherein the method further comprises:
 modifying the one of the objects on the application control screen in response to disconnecting all external audio devices.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises:
 presenting the application control screen on the electronic device in response to an audio device initiating an audio application.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein the objects comprise buttons. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the representations comprise buttons. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the representations comprise entries in a list of connected devices if the connected devices exceed a maximum number of buttons on the routing screen. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 presenting the routing screen in response to initiation of an audio application if any external audio devices are connected to the electronic device.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a communications device. 
     
     
         13 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 presenting a routing screen on an electronic device in response to receiving a notification that an external audio device is connected to the electronic device, the routing screen displaying representations of an internal audio device and the external audio device.   
     
     
         14 . The computer implemented method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 receiving a selection of one of the representations on the routing screen; and 
 causing audio signals from the audio application to be routed to the audio device represented by the selection. 
 
     
     
         15 . The computer implemented method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 presenting an application control screen on the electronic device as a set of objects that represent functions for an audio application executing on the electronic device. 
 
     
     
         16 . The computer implemented method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 modifying one of the objects on the application control screen in response to connecting the external audio device; and 
 replacing the routing screen with the application control screen having the modified object. 
 
     
     
         17 . The computer implemented method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 replacing the application control screen having the modified object with the routing screen in response to receiving a selection of the modified object. 
 
     
     
         18 . The computer implemented method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 modifying the one of the objects on the application control screen in response to disconnecting all external audio devices. 
 
     
     
         19 . The computer implemented method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 presenting the application control screen on the electronic device in response to an audio device initiating an audio application. 
 
     
     
         20 . The computer implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein the objects comprise buttons.