IP Library › Granted Patent US 12669977
Granted Patent B2
US 12669977 · App. 18/521,679 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Electronic device and operating method thereof

Inventors: Tae Young Kim (Seoul, KR); Tae Jin Park (Seoul, KR); Hyung Woo Park (Seoul, KR); Sang Hun Kim (Seoul, KR); Eun Jung Lee (Seoul, KR); Hyo Jeong Jeong (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
G06F3/165G06F3/162H04S7/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12669977
App. No.
18/521,679
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise a speaker, a wireless communication interface configured to communicate with an external speaker and a controller configured to acquire a first output information of the speaker and a second output information of the external speaker, and based on the first output information and the second output information, output a first audio signal to the speaker and transmit a second audio signal to the external speaker through the wireless communication interface.

Claims (53)

1 . An electronic device comprising:

a speaker;

a wireless communication interface configured to communicate with an external speaker; and

a controller configured to:

acquire a first output information of the speaker and a second output information of the external speaker;

based on the first output information and the second output information, output a first audio signal to the speaker and transmit a second audio signal to the external speaker through the wireless communication interface; and

based on a first average output level of a first audio output from the speaker for a predetermined time and a second average output level of a second audio output from the external speaker for the predetermined time, set a role according to characteristic information of each of the speaker and the external speaker.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

based on the first output information and the second output information, determine a main speaker to output main audio and a sub speaker to output surround audio from among the speaker and the external speaker.

3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the speaker as being the main speaker and the external speaker as being the sub speaker based on an output power value of the speaker included in the first output information being greater than an output power value of the external speaker included in the second output information.

4 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the first audio output from the speaker according to audio channel information of the external speaker included in the second output information based on the external speaker being determined as being the main speaker and the speaker being determined as being the sub speaker.

5 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

based on an output power included in specification information of the speaker being greater than an output power included in specification information of the external speaker, determine the speaker as being the main speaker and the external speaker as being the sub speaker; and

switch the speaker to being the sub speaker and the external speaker to being the main speaker based on an output power of audio output from the speaker being smaller than an output power of audio output from the external speaker.

6 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

based on the speaker being determined as being the main speaker and the external speaker being determined as being the sub speaker, and an output power included in specification information of the external speaker being greater than an output power included in specification information of the speaker, transmit a part of the main audio to the external speaker additionally.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

transmit identification information of the external speaker to an external server and receive the second output information from the external server; or

receive the second output information from the external speaker.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a main speaker to output main audio and a sub speaker to output surround audio from among the speaker and the external speaker based on the first average output level and the second average output level.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

obtain a distance between a user and the external speaker; and

determine a main speaker to output main audio and a sub speaker to output surround audio from among the speaker and the external speaker based on the first output information, the second output information, and the distance.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

based on the first average output level and the second average output level, transmit a same audio signal to the speaker and the external speaker or set an audio channel of each of the speaker and the external speaker.

11 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to set the external speaker as a directivity speaker and set the speaker as a non-directivity speaker based on only the characteristic information of the external speaker having directivity information.

12 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic information includes an operating frequency range, and

wherein the controller is further configured to set each of the speaker and the external speaker as one of a base speaker, a tweeter speaker, or an up-firing speaker according to the corresponding operating frequency range.

13 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

based on a new external device being connected, determine whether a pre-stored audio combination exists between the new external device and the electronic device; and

based on determining that the pre-stored audio combination exists, set the role of the speaker and a role of the new external device as a stored audio combination.

14 . The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

obtain third output information of the new external device based on determining that the pre-stored audio combination does not exist; and

based on determining that a new audio combination is possible based on the third output information, output a notification indicating that the new external device can be additionally connected.

15 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to set the role based on the characteristic information of the speaker and characteristic information of the new external device based on determining that the new audio combination is possible.

16 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to recommend a role of the new external device based on determining that the new audio combination is impossible.

17 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive the first audio output from the speaker and the second audio output from the external speaker from a remote control device for controlling operation of the electronic device.

18 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein each of the speaker and the external speaker is configured in plurality.

19 . A method of operating an electronic device comprising a speaker, the method comprising:

acquiring a first output information of the speaker and a second output information of an external speaker;

based on the first output information and the second output information, outputting a first audio signal to the speaker and transmitting a second audio signal to the external speaker; and

based on a first average output level of a first audio output from the speaker for a predetermined time and a second average output level of a second audio output from the external speaker for the predetermined time, setting a role according to characteristic information of each of the speaker and the external speaker.

20 . An electronic device comprising:

a speaker;

a wireless communication interface configured to communicate with an external speaker; and

a controller configured to:

acquire a first output information of the speaker and a second output information of the external speaker;

based on the first output information and the second output information, output a first audio signal to the speaker and transmit a second audio signal to the external speaker through the wireless communication interface; and

determine a main speaker to output main audio and a sub speaker to output surround audio from among the speaker and the external speaker based on a first average output level of a first audio output from the speaker for a predetermined time and a second average output level of a second audio output from the external speaker for the predetermined time.