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

• US 20050266813A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• 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 7,558,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/179.100
• 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, or mutes its audio output when the voice-only detection mechanism detects a music broadcast. In a second embodiment, the radio receiver changes to a different radio station when a voice-only signal is detected, or when a music 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.

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 mostly music; 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 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.

7. 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 mostly music; 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.

8. 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;

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

(C) providing a second output indication when the audio output is mostly music; and

(D) changing the operational mode of the radio receiver according to the first and second output indications.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein step (D) 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.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein step (D) changes the operational mode of the radio receiver by muting an amplified audio signal from the tuner.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein step (D) changes the operational mode of the radio receiver by unmuting an amplified audio signal from the tuner.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein step (D) changes the operational mode of the radio receiver by changing the tuner to a different radio station.

13. 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 mostly music; and

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.