Electronic device operating in associated state with external audio device based on biometric information and method therefor

Abstract

An audio output device is provided. The audio output device determines a similarity between a first external subject and a second external subject based on first biometric information about the first external object associated with the audio output device and second biometric information about the second external object associated with an external audio output device, and controls the audio output device and the external audio output device to operation in coordination or independently based on the similarity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An audio output device comprising:
 at least one communication circuit configured to communicate with an external audio output device;   at least one sensor; and   at least one processor configured to:
 obtain first biometric information about a first external object associated with the audio output device by using the at least one sensor, 
 obtain second biometric information about a second external object associated with the external audio output device from the external audio output device by using the at least one communication circuit, 
 determine a similarity between the first external object and the second external object based at least on the first biometric information and the second biometric information, 
 operate in coordination with the external audio output device when the similarity satisfies a first specified condition, and 
 operate independently of the external audio output device when the similarity satisfies a second specified condition. 
   
     
     
         2 . The audio output device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, output first audio data and transmit at least a portion of the first audio data to the external audio output device by using the at least one communication circuit.   
     
     
         3 . The audio output device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, control the audio output device and the external audio output device so as to have same audio output characteristics, and 
 when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, control the audio output device and the external audio output device so as to have different audio output characteristics, and 
   wherein the audio output characteristics comprise at least one of a volume or a volume for each frequency band.   
     
     
         4 . The audio output device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least one communication circuit communicates with the external audio output device and an external electronic device, and   wherein, when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, the at least one processor is further configured to transmit information, which indicates that objects associated with the audio output device and the external audio output device are different, to the external electronic device by using the at least one communication circuit.   
     
     
         5 . The audio output device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first biometric information and the second biometric information include at least one of a heart rate, a heartbeat waveform, a heartbeat timing, or a heartbeat frequency, and   wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a similarity between the first external object and the second external object based on a similarity between the first biometric information and the second biometric information.   
     
     
         6 . An electronic device comprising:
 at least one communication circuit configured to communicate with a first external audio output device;   a display; and   at least one processor configured to:
 receive first biometric information about a first external object associated with the first external audio output device and second biometric information about a second external object associated with a second external audio output device communicating with the first external audio output device from the first external audio output device, by using the at least one communication circuit, 
 determine a similarity between the first external object and the second external object based at least on the first biometric information and the second biometric information, 
 when the similarity satisfies a first specified condition, set the first external audio output device to operate in coordination with the second external audio output device, and 
 when the similarity satisfies a second specified condition, set the first external audio output device to operate independently of the second external audio output device. 
   
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, transmit first audio data to at least one of the first external audio output device or the second external audio output device by using the at least one communication circuit; and   when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, transmit the first audio data to the first external audio output device and second audio data to the second external audio output device, by using the at least one communication circuit.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, display a user interface to control the first audio data in at least a portion of the display; and   when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, display a user interface to independently control the first audio data and the second audio data in the portion of the display.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, set the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device to have same audio output characteristics, and 
 when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, set the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device to have different audio output characteristics, and 
   wherein the audio output characteristics comprise at least one of a volume or a volume for each frequency band.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein, when a user input for controlling the audio output characteristics is received, the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, display a user interface to control the audio output characteristics of the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device in at least a portion of the display; and   when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, display a user interface to independently control the audio output characteristics of the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device in the portion of the display.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, display indicating information, which indicates that the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device are associated with different objects, in at least a portion on the display.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to display at least one of an icon, a character, an image, or a pop-up message on the display as at least a portion of the indicating information. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first biometric information and the second biometric information include at least one of a heart rate, a heartbeat waveform, a heartbeat timing, or a heartbeat frequency, and   wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a similarity between the first external object and the second external object based on a similarity between the first biometric information and the second biometric information.   
     
     
         14 . An electronic device comprising:
 at least one communication circuit configured to communicate with a first external audio output device and a second external audio output device;   a display; and   at least one processor configured to:
 obtain first biometric information about a first external object associated with the first external audio output device and second biometric information about a second external object associated with the second external audio output device, by using the at least one communication circuit, 
 determine a similarity between the first external object and the second external object based at least on the first biometric information and the second biometric information, 
 when the similarity satisfies a first specified condition, set the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device to operate in coordination with each other, and 
 when the similarity satisfies a second specified condition, set the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device to operate independently of each other. 
   
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, transmit first audio data to at least one of the first external audio output device or the second external audio output device by using the at least one communication circuit; and   when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, transmit the first audio data to the first external audio output device and second audio data to the second external audio output device, by using the at least one communication circuit.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, display a user interface to control the first audio data in at least a portion of the display; and   when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, display a user interface to independently control the first audio data and the second audio data in the portion of the display.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, set the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device to have same audio output characteristics, and 
 when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, set the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device to have different audio output characteristics, and 
   wherein the audio output characteristics include at least one of a volume or a volume for each frequency band.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein, when a user input controlling the audio output characteristic control is received, the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, display a user interface to control the audio output characteristics of the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device in at least a portion of the display; and   when the similarity satisfies the second specified condition, display a user interface to independently control the audio output characteristics of the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device in the portion of the display.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the similarity satisfies the first specified condition, display indicating information, which indicates that the first external audio output device and the second external audio output device are associated with different objects, in at least a portion of the display.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 display at least one of an icon, a character, an image, or a pop-up message on the display as at least a portion of the indicating information.