Radio receiver that changes function according to the output of an internal voice-only detector

• US 20020072341A1
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ricard, Gary Ross, Bonalumi, James William
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/174.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/78 Detection of presence or absence of voice signals switching of direction of transmission by voice frequency in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/10
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/342 Muting when some special characteristic of the signal is sensed which distinguishes it from noise, e.g. using speech detector H03G3/344, H03G3/345 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/106 Receiver-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side

Abstract

A radio receiver includes a voice-only detection mechanism that detects when the current radio station is transmitting mostly voice, and that changes the function of the receiver depending on whether or not the current radio station is transmitting mostly voice. In a first embodiment, the radio receiver mutes its audio output when the voice-only detection mechanism detects a voice broadcast. The audio output can be enabled once again when the voice-only detection mechanism detects a non-voice signal. The first embodiment thus allows commercials and disk jockey talk to be automatically muted, with the volume returned to its previous level when music resumes. In a variation of the first embodiment, the radio receiver mutes its audio output when the voice-only detection mechanism detects a non-voice broadcast, and enables the audio output when the voice-only detection mechanism detects a voice signal, thereby allowing a listener to listen to talk radio while muting musical commercials. In a second embodiment, the radio receiver changes to a different radio station when a voice-only signal is detected. The second embodiment preferably includes a spectrum analyzer that can store a frequency spectrum “signature” of a radio signal, and a second tuner that scans the available radio stations for a signal that matches the stored signature. This allows the radio receiver to automatically switch from a first radio station to a second radio station that is playing music that matches the preferences of the listener when the voice-only detection mechanism detects a mostly voice signal. In a variation of the second embodiment, the radio receiver may automatically switch from a first talk radio station to a second talk radio station when the voice-only detection mechanism detects a musical signal, indicating a commercial.

Claims

1. A radio receiver comprising:

a tuner that provides an audio output for a selected radio station;

a voice-only detection mechanism that monitors the audio output of the tuner, and that provides a first output indication when the audio output of the tuner is mostly voice, and that provides a second output indication when the audio output of the tuner is not mostly voice; and

a radio processor coupled to the voice-only detection mechanism, the radio processor changing an operational mode of the radio receiver according to the first and second output indications of the voice-only detection mechanism.

2. The radio receiver of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier coupled to the audio output of the tuner that provides an amplified audio signal to at least one speaker, wherein the radio processor changes the operational mode of the radio receiver by muting the amplified audio signal according to the first and second output indications of the voice-only detection mechanism.

3. The radio receiver of claim 2 wherein the radio processor mutes the amplified audio signal when the first output indication is received, and unmutes the amplified audio signal when the second output indication is received.

4. The radio receiver of claim 2 wherein the radio processor mutes the amplified audio signal when the second output indication is received, and unmutes the amplified audio signal when the first output indication is received.

5. The radio receiver of claim 1 wherein the radio processor changes the tuner to a different radio station according to the first and second output indications of the voice-only detection mechanism.

6. The radio receiver of claim 5 further comprising:

a spectrum analyzer coupled to the audio output of the tuner, the spectrum analyzer storing a preferred frequency spectrum signature for a radio signal;

a second tuner coupled to the radio processor;

the radio processor scanning available radio stations using the second tuner to locate a program that matches the preferred frequency spectrum signature within predetermined criteria, and changing to a radio station that matches the preferred frequency spectrum signature when the first output indication is received.

7. The radio receiver of claim 1 further comprising at least one adjustment mechanism that adjusts at least one threshold that determines when the voice-only detection mechanism asserts the first and second output indications.

8. A radio receiver comprising:

a tuner that provides an audio output for a selected radio station;

an amplifier coupled to the audio output of the tuner that provides an amplified audio signal to at least one speaker,

a voice-only detection mechanism that monitors the audio output of the tuner, and that provides a first output indication when the audio output of the tuner is mostly voice, and that provides a second output indication when the audio output of the tuner is not mostly voice; and

a radio processor coupled to the voice-only detection mechanism, the radio processor muting the amplified audio signal when the first output indication is received, and unmuting the amplified audio signal when the second output indication is received.

9. A radio receiver comprising:

a first tuner that provides a first audio output for a selected radio station;

an amplifier coupled to the audio output of the first tuner that provides an amplified audio signal to at least one speaker,

a second tuner that provides a second audio output;

a spectrum analyzer coupled to the first and second audio outputs, the spectrum analyzer storing a preferred frequency spectrum signature for a radio signal;

a voice-only detection mechanism that monitors the audio output of the first tuner, and that provides a first output indication when the audio output of the first tuner is mostly voice, and that provides a second output indication when the audio output of the first tuner is not mostly voice;

a radio processor coupled to the voice-only detection mechanism and coupled to the second tuner, the radio processor scanning available radio stations using the second tuner to locate a program that matches the preferred frequency spectrum signature within predetermined criteria, and changing the first tuner to a radio station that is currently broadcasting a program that matches the preferred frequency spectrum signature when the first output indication is received.

10. A method for changing an operational mode of a radio receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) analyzing an audio output of a tuner to determine whether the audio output is mostly voice; and

(B) if the audio output is mostly voice, changing the operational mode of the radio receiver.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein step (A) comprises the steps of:

(A1) providing a first output indication when the audio output is mostly voice; and

(A2) providing a second output indication when the audio output is not mostly voice.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein step (B) mutes an amplified audio signal from the tuner when the first output indication is received, and unmutes the amplified audio signal from the tuner when the second output indication is received.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein step (B) changes the operational mode of the radio receiver by muting an amplified audio signal from the tuner.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein step (B) changes the operational mode of the radio receiver by unmuting an amplified audio signal from the tuner.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein step (B) changes the operation mode of the radio receiver by changing the tuner to a different radio station.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

storing a preferred frequency spectrum signature for a radio signal;

scanning available radio stations to locate a program that matches the preferred frequency spectrum signature within predetermined criteria;

wherein step (B) changes the operational mode of the radio receiver by changing the tuner to a radio station that is currently broadcasting a program that matches the preferred frequency spectrum signature.

17. A method for changing the operational mode of a radio receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an audio output for a selected radio station;

amplifying the audio output;

supplying the amplified audio output to at least one speaker,

monitoring the audio output;

providing a first output indication when the audio output is mostly voice;

providing a second output indication when the audio output is not mostly voice;

muting the amplified audio signal when the first output indication is received, and unmuting the amplified audio signal when the second output indication is received.

18. A method for changing the operational mode of a radio receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first audio output for a selected radio station;

storing a preferred frequency spectrum signature for a radio signal;

monitoring the first audio output, and providing a first output indication when the first audio output is mostly voice, and providing a second output indication when the first audio output is not mostly voice;

scanning available radio stations to locate a program that matches the preferred frequency spectrum signature within predetermined criteria; and

changing the first audio output to a different radio station that is currently broadcasting a program that matches the preferred frequency spectrum signature when one of the first and second output indications is received.