Audio user interface with selectively-mutable synthesised sound sources
First Claim
1. An audio user-interfacing method in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate, the method including the steps of:
- (a) allocating the sound sources to groups of at least one sound source; and
(b) automatically and cyclically changing the audibility of the sound sources such as to un-mute the sound sources of each group in turn for a limited period with the sound sources of the groups other than the un-muted group being at least partially muted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. The sound sources are arranged in groups of at least one sound source. The audibility of the sound sources is automatically and cyclically changed such as to un-mute the sound sources of each group in turn for a limited period with the sound sources of the groups other than the un-muted group being at least partially muted. This selective un-muting of sound sources facilitates exploration of the audio field by the user.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An audio user-interfacing method in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate, the method including the steps of:
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(a) allocating the sound sources to groups of at least one sound source; and
(b) automatically and cyclically changing the audibility of the sound sources such as to un-mute the sound sources of each group in turn for a limited period with the sound sources of the groups other than the un-muted group being at least partially muted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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12. Apparatus for providing an audio user interface in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate, the apparatus comprising:
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storage means for storing data concerning the sound sources, this data including grouping data associating sound sources in groups of at least one sound source;
rendering-position determining means for determining, for each said sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field;
audibility-determining means for determining the audibility of each sound source based on its group, the audibility-determining means being operative to automatically and cyclically change the audibility of the sound sources such as to un-mute the sound sources of each group in turn for a limited period with the sound sources of the groups other than the un-muted group being at least partially muted; and
rendering means, including audio output devices, for generating an audio field in which said sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions and with audibility as determined by said audibility-determining means.
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22. Apparatus for providing an audio user interface in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate, the apparatus comprising:
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a data store means for storing data concerning the sound sources, this data including grouping data associating sound sources in groups of at least one sound source;
a rendering-position determining arrangement operative to determine, for each said sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field;
an audibility-determining arrangement operative to determine the audibility of each sound source based on its group, the audibility-determining arrangement being further operative to automatically and cyclically change the audibility of the sound sources such as to un-mute the sound sources of each group in turn for a limited period with the sound sources of the groups other than the un-muted group being at least partially muted; and
a rendering subsystem, including audio output devices, arranged to generate an audio field in which said sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions and with audibility as determined by said audibility-determining arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification