Method and device for background monitoring of an audio source

• US 20050255817A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Edeler, Wolfgang
• Application Number:
  US10/516,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20050255817A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/161.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and mobile electronic device for enabling a user to simultaneously monitor two different audio signals. The mobile electronic device has a first and a second audio component for providing a first and a second audio signal, and an audio output for outputting an audio signal. The audio output is connected to said first and second audio components. The mobile device further comprises a mixer, connected between the first and second audio component and the audio output for mixing the first and second continuous audio signals to generate a mixed signal to be supplied to the audio output. The mixed signal comprises components of both audio signals so that a user can simultaneously monitor two different audio signals. An application is to enable a user to monitor an audio recording while using a mobile telephone.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device having a first audio component for providing a first continuous audio signal and a second audio component for providing a second audio signal, and an audio output for outputting an audio signal, said audio output being connected to said first and second audio components, and

a mixer, connected between said first and second audio component and said audio output for mixing said first continuous audio signal and said second audio signal to generate a mixed signal to be supplied to said audio output,

characterized in that

said first audio component comprises a radio receiver and an audio recorder configured for receiving radio programs and recording from said radio receiver and providing a audio monitor audio signal as said first continuous audio signal, without influencing the recorded audio signal from the radio receiver.

4. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said audio components comprises an input terminal for an external audio signal.

5. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a component for determining the amplitudes of said first audio signal and said second audio signals.

6. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said mixer further comprises means for adjusting the ratio of amplitudes of said first and second audio signal in said mixed signal.

7. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein one of said audio components comprises an audio player.

8. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein one of said audio components comprises a mobile phone.

9. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein one of said audio components comprises a component for encoding/decoding audio signals.

10. The mobile electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said audio output comprises an audio connector for connecting headphones.

2. The mobile electronic device according to claim 2, wherein said audio recorder comprises a component generating a signal indicative of the recording state of said audio recorder.

3. The mobile electronic device according to claim 3, characterized in that said mixer comprises a component to receive a signal indicative of whether one of said audio signals of said audio components is actually recorded or not, and a component for adjusting the ratio of amplitudes in accordance with said received signal.

11. A method for mixing a first and a second audio signal with different priorities in a mobile device, said device comprising a radio receiver and a recorder, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a radio program via said radio receiver,

recording said radio program at said recorder,

providing a record monitor signal of said radio program as a first continuous audio signal;

receiving a second audio signal;

mixing said first and said second audio signals according to a predetermined ratio of amplitudes, without influencing the recorded audio signal from the radio receiver; and

providing said mixed signal for output.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising generating a signal indicative of a proceeding recording operation.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising detecting a signal indicative of a proceeding recording operation, and mixing said first and second signals in accordance with said detected signal indicative of a proceeding recording operation.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising detecting a first and a second audio signal, prior to said step of mixing.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising determining the amplitudes of said first and second audio signal.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising decoding at least one of said first or second audio signals.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising encoding at least one of said first or second audio signals.

18. A computer program tool for executing said method for mixing audio signals in a mobile electronic device according to claim 11, comprising program code means for carrying out the steps of claim 11 when said program is run on a computer or an electronic device.

19. A computer program comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method of claim 11 when said program product is run on a computer or an electronic device.

20. A computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method for mixing audio signals in a mobile electronic device of claim 11 when said program product is run on a computer or electronic device.