IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,578,918
Granted Patent B2
US 12,578,918 · App. 18/136,779 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Streaming audio to device connected to external device

Inventors: Jeremy Voss (Los Angeles, CA); Christie Marie Heikkinen (Sherman Oaks, CA); Daniel Rakhamimov (Brooklyn, NY); Laurent Desserrey (Los Angeles, CA); Susan Marie Territo (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Snap Inc.
G06F3/165G06F3/04817G06F3/04842H04L65/60H04L65/61H04L51/04H04L51/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,578,918
App. No.
18/136,779
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a program and method for streaming audio between devices. The program and method provide for receiving, from a first device associated with a first user, an indication that audio output of the first device is via an external audio output device; providing the indication to a second device associated with a second user, the first user and the second user corresponding to contacts in a messaging application; receiving, from the second device and in response to the providing, audio input and a request to stream the audio input to the first device; and providing, to the first device, the audio input for streaming on the first device.

Claims (41)

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving, from a first device associated with a first user of a messaging application, an indication that audio output of the first device is via an external audio output device;

sending, to a second device associated with a second user of the messaging application and based on the receiving, the indication that the audio output of the first device is via the external audio output device,

causing, based on the sending, display of a user-selectable button and a first notification to appear within the messaging application on a second device associated with a second user, the user-selectable button being user-selectable to initiate audio streaming from the second device to the first device, and the first notification for informing the second user to press the user-selectable button for the audio streaming;

receiving, from the second device and based on the causing, audio input captured by the second device and a request to stream the audio input in real time as the audio output of the first device, the request corresponding to a press-and-hold gesture of the user-selectable button by the second user;

providing, to the first device and for a duration of the press-and-hold gesture, the audio input for streaming in real time as the audio output of the first device;

storing the audio input as an audio file which is retrievable by the first user; and

causing, based on the providing, display of a second notification to appear within the messaging application on the second device, the second notification for informing the second user of the audio streaming to the first device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio input is for streaming as the audio output of the first device via the external audio output device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, to the first device, a link to the audio file for display within a message thread on the first device, wherein user selection of the link provides for playback of the audio file on the first device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the external audio output device comprises at least one of headphones or earbuds.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio input corresponds to voice input provided by the second user at the second device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication further causes the second device to display a third notification that the first user is wearing headphones.

7 . A system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory component storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a first device associated with a first user of a messaging application, an indication that audio output of the first device is via an external audio output device;

sending, to a second device associated with a second user of the messaging application and based on the receiving, the indication that the audio output of the first device is via the external audio output device,

causing, based on the sending, display of a user-selectable button and a first notification to appear within the messaging application on a second device associated with a second user, the user-selectable button being user-selectable to initiate audio streaming from the second device to the first device, and the first notification for informing the second user to press the user-selectable button for the audio streaming;

receiving, from the second device and based on the causing, audio input captured by the second device and a request to stream the audio input in real time as the audio output of the first device, the request corresponding to a press-and-hold gesture of the user-selectable button by the second user;

providing, to the first device and for a duration of the press-and-hold gesture, the audio input for streaming in real time as the audio output of the first device;

causing, based on the providing, display of a second notification to appear within the messaging application on the second device, the second notification for informing the second user of the audio streaming to the first device; and

storing the audio input as an audio file which is retrievable by the first user.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the audio input is for streaming as the audio output of the first device via the external audio output device.

9 . The system of claim 7 , the operations further comprising:

providing, to the first device, a link to the audio file for display within a message thread on the first device, wherein user selection of the link provides for playback of the audio file on the first device.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the external audio output device comprises at least one of headphones or earbuds.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the audio input corresponds to voice input provided by the second user at the second device.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the indication further causes the second device to display a third notification that the first user is wearing headphones.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a first device associated with a first user of a messaging application, an indication that audio output of the first device is via an external audio output device;

sending, to a second device associated with a second user of the messaging application and based on the receiving, the indication that the audio output of the first device is via the external audio output device,

causing, based on the sending, display of a user-selectable button and a first notification to appear within the messaging application on a second device associated with a second user, the user-selectable button being user-selectable to initiate audio streaming from the second device to the first device, and the first notification for informing the second user to press the user-selectable button for the audio streaming;

receiving, from the second device and based on the causing, audio input captured by the second device and a request to stream the audio input in real time as the audio output of the first device, the request corresponding to a press-and-hold gesture of the user-selectable button by the second user;

providing, to the first device and for a duration of the press-and-hold gesture, the audio input for streaming in real time as the audio output of the first device;

causing, based on the providing, display of a second notification to appear within the messaging application on the second device, the second notification for informing the second user of the audio streaming to the first device; and

storing the audio input as an audio file which is retrievable by the first user.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the audio input is for streaming as the audio output of the first device via the external audio output device.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , the operations further comprising:

providing, to the first device, a link to the audio file for display within a message thread on the first device, wherein user selection of the link provides for playback of the audio file on the first device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: VOSS, JEREMY; HEIKKINEN, CHRISTIE MARIE; RAKHAMIMOV, DANIEL; DESSERREY, LAURENT; TERRITO, SUSAN MARIE
To: SNAP INC.
Reel/Frame 063481/0317 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16729965 · Dec 30, 2019
Related Publication 20230251818A1 · Aug 10, 2023
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