Audio user interface with audio cursor
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) providing an audio cursor in the form of a synthesised sound source that is movable in the audio field under user control and from which a distinctive cursor sound emanates; and
(b) comparing the current position of the audio cursor in the audio field with the positions of the item-representing sound sources and upon the cursor coming close to an item-representing sound source, generating a related audible indication by modifying the sounds emanating from at least one of that item-representing sound source and the cursor.
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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. An audio cursor, in the form of a synthesised sound source from which a distinctive cursor sound emanates, is movable in the audio field under user control. Upon the cursor being moved close to an item-representing sound source, a related audible indication is generated by modifying the sounds emanating from at least one of that item-representing sound source and the cursor. In one embodiment, this audible indication also indicates the current distance between the cursor and item-representing sound source and also the direction of the latter from the cursor.
69 Citations
46 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) providing an audio cursor in the form of a synthesised sound source that is movable in the audio field under user control and from which a distinctive cursor sound emanates; and
(b) comparing the current position of the audio cursor in the audio field with the positions of the item-representing sound sources and upon the cursor coming close to an item-representing sound source, generating a related audible indication by modifying the sounds emanating from at least one of that item-representing sound source and the cursor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. 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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rendering-position determining means for determining, for each item-representing sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field;
cursor-control means for determining, under user control, a current rendering position in the audio field of a cursor sound source and for providing a distinctive cursor sound for output from the cursor sound source;
rendering means, including audio output devices, for generating an audio field in which said item-representing and cursor sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions; and
cursor-proximity means for comparing the current rendering position of the audio cursor with the rendering positions of the item-representing sound sources and upon the cursor being determined as close to an item-representing sound source, for generating a related audible indication by modifying the sounds emanating from at least one of that item-representing sound source and the cursor sound source. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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37. 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 rendering-position determining arrangement operative to determine, for each item-representing sound source, an associated rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field;
a cursor-control arrangement operative to determine, under user control, a current rendering position in the audio field of a cursor sound source and to provide a distinctive cursor sound for output from the cursor sound source;
a rendering subsystem, including audio output devices, arranged to generate an audio field in which said item-representing and cursor sound sources are synthesized at their associated rendering positions; and
a cursor-proximity arrangement operative to compare the current rendering position of the audio cursor with the rendering positions of the item-representing sound sources and, upon the cursor being determined as close to an item-representing sound source, to generate a related audible indication by modifying the sounds emanating from at least one of that item-representing sound source and the cursor sound source.
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Specification