Method for voice recording and electronic device thereof

• US 10,332,556 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2018
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Moon, Joo-Hyun, Kim, Eung-Ha, Kim, Tai-Hyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-See
• Application Number:
  US15/951,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20180233172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 381 92, 381119, 381104-107, 700 94
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/8006 Multi-channel systems specially adapted for direction-finding, i.e. having a single aerial system capable of giving simultaneous indications of the directions of different signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10537 Audio or video recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/401 2D or 3D arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

A method for voice recording and an electronic device thereof are provided. The method includes determining a voice recording mode from among a plurality of voice recording modes, determining a voice beamforming direction according to the determined voice recording mode, and recording voice signals based on the determined voice beamforming direction.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a memory storing instructions;

a plurality of microphones including at least a first microphone disposed at a first end of the mobile communication device and at least a second microphone disposed at a second end of the mobile communication device, the first end of the mobile communication device being an end of the mobile communication device that is opposite the second end of the mobile communication device;

a display; and

at least one processor that, when executing the instructions, is configured to;

receive an input for selecting an audio recording mode among a plurality of audio recording modes respectively corresponding to at least one of a plurality of audio-beamforming directions;

receive an input for initiating to obtain audio signals via at least two of the plurality of microphones;

obtain, based on the selected audio recording mode, audio signals via the at least two of the plurality of microphones;

process, based on the selected audio recording mode, the audio signals obtained via the at least two of the plurality of microphones to generate audio data;

store the audio data; and

while the audio signals are being obtained, display, on the display, a visual effect for indicating at least one direction from which to obtain the audio signals, based on the selected audio recording mode.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor, when executing the instructions, is configured to:

amplify a portion of the obtained audio signals that is obtained from the at least one direction, based on the selected audio recording mode; and

suppress another portion of the obtained audio signals that is obtained from any of one or more directions other than the at least one direction.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of audio-beamforming directions includes a different one of a front direction from which audio signals are obtained, front and rear directions from which audio signals are obtained, or an omnidirection from which audio signals are obtained.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 1,

wherein the visual effect comprises a circular visual element that indicates the at least one direction from which to obtain the audio signals, and

wherein at least part of the circular visual element corresponding to the at least one direction is visually differentiated relative to a remaining part of the circular visual element.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1,

wherein the visual effect comprises at least part of a circular visual element that indicates the at least one direction from which to obtain the audio signals, and

wherein the at least part of the circular visual element is visually differentiated by at least one of color, shadow, or width of the circular visual element, according to a change in an amplitude of the audio signals being obtained.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1,

wherein the visual effect is displayed within a user interface, and

wherein the user interface includes at least one of a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects comprising at least one of a first icon for starting recording of the audio signals, a second icon for stopping the recording of the audio signals, time information for the recording of the audio signals, a name of the selected audio recording mode, or words for guiding at least one function provided by the selected audio recording mode.

7. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more speakers operatively coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor, when executing the instructions, is further configured to;

in response to receiving an input for outputting the stored audio data, output the audio data based on the at least one direction, by using the one or more speakers; and

display a visual effect for indicating that the audio data being outputted is from the at least one direction based on the selected audio recording mode.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor, when executing the instructions, is configured to:

determine, based on a time of arrival of each of the audio signals obtained via the at least two of the plurality of microphones, at least one direction; and

process, based on the selected audio recording mode and the determined at least one direction, the audio signals obtained via the at least two of the plurality of microphones to generate the audio data.

8. A mobile communication device comprising:

a plurality of microphones including at least a first microphone disposed at a first end of the mobile communication device and at least a second microphone disposed at a second end of the mobile communication device, the first end of the mobile communication device being an end of the mobile communication device that is opposite the second end of the mobile communication device;

a display;

a memory storing instructions; and

at least one processor that, when executing the instructions, is configured to;

receive an input for selecting an audio recording mode among a first audio recording mode and a second audio recording mode, the first and the second audio recording modes respectively corresponding to a plurality of audio-beamforming directions;

based on the selected audio recording mode, display, on the display, a user interface of an application for recording audio signals, wherein the user interface includes at least one visual object for guiding the selected audio recording mode;

receive an input for initiating to obtain audio signals via at least two of the plurality of microphones;

obtain, based on the selected audio recording mode, audio signals via the at least two of the plurality of microphones;

process, based on the selected audio recording mode, the audio signals obtained via the plurality of microphones to generate audio data;

store the audio data; and

while the audio signals are being obtained, display, within the user interface, a visual effect for indicating at least one direction from which to obtain the audio signals, based on the selected audio recording mode.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor, when executing the instructions, is configured to process, based on the selected audio recording mode, the audio signals obtained via the plurality of microphones by:

amplifying a portion of the obtained audio signals that is obtained from the at least one direction, based on the selected audio recording mode; and

suppressing another portion of the obtained audio signals that is obtained from any of one or more directions other than the at least one direction.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of audio-beamforming directions includes a different one of a front direction from which audio signals are obtained, front and rear directions from which audio signals are obtained, or an omnidirection from which audio signals are obtained.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 8, further comprising a bar-shaped housing.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 8,

wherein the visual effect comprises a circular visual element that indicates the at least one direction from which to obtain the audio signals, and

wherein at least part of the circular visual element corresponding to the at least one direction is visually differentiated relative to a remaining part of the circular visual element.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 8,

wherein the visual effect comprises at least part of a circular visual element that indicates the at least one direction from which to obtain the audio signals, and

wherein the at least part of the circular visual element is visually differentiated by at least one of color, shadow, or width of the circular visual element, according to a change in an amplitude of the audio signals being obtained.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects comprising at least one of a first icon for starting recording of the audio signals, a second icon for stopping the recording of the audio signals, time information for the recording of the audio signals, a name of the selected audio recording mode, or words for guiding at least one function provided by the selected audio recording mode.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 8, further comprising:

one or more speakers operatively coupled to the at least one processor,

wherein the at least one processor, when executing the instructions, is further configured to;

in response to receiving an input for outputting the stored audio data, output the audio data based on the at least one direction by using the one or more speakers; and

display a visual effect for indicating that the audio data being outputted is from the at least one direction based on the selected audio recording mode.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the at least one processor, when executing the instructions, is configured to:

determine, based on a time of arrival of each of the audio signals obtained via the at least two of the plurality of microphones, at least one direction; and

process, based on the selected audio recording mode and the determined at least one direction, the audio signals obtained via the at least two of the plurality of microphones to generate the audio signal.