Techniques for presenting sound effects on a portable media player

• US 20060274905A1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Girish, Muthya K., Lindahl, Aram, Williams, Joseph Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,300,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/61
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10555 wherein the frequency, the amplitude, or other characteristics of the audio signal is taken into account
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

Improved techniques for presenting sound effects at a portable media device are disclosed. The sound effects can be output as audio sounds to an internal speaker, an external speaker, or both. In addition, the audio sounds for the sound effects can be output together with other audio sounds pertaining to media assets (e.g., audio tracks being played). In one embodiment, the sound effects can serve to provide auditory feedback to a user of the portable media device. A user interface can facilitate a user'"'"'s selection of sound effect usages, types or characteristics.

Claims

1. A method for providing auditory feedback to a user of portable media device, said method comprising:

(a) outputting first audio data pertaining to a digital media asset to an audio output device associated with the portable media device;

(b) detecting, concurrently with at least a portion of said outputting (a), an event at the portable media device; and

(c) outputting, concurrently with at least a portion of said outputting (a), second audio data after the event has been detected, the second audio data pertaining to a sound effect associated with the event that has been detected, the second audio data being output to the audio output device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the audio output device includes at least a speaker.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the audio output device includes art least one earphone.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the digital media asset is a song.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said outputting (c) of the second audio data comprises:

(c1) identifying the second audio data pertaining to the sound effect associated with the event that has been detected;

(c2) mixing the second audio data with the first audio data to produced mixed audio data; and

(c3) outputting mixed audio data to the audio output device.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said outputting (c) of the second audio data comprises:

(c1) identifying the sound effect associated with the event that has been detected;

(c2) retrieving the second audio data for the identified sound effect;

(c3) mixing the second audio data with the first audio data to produced mixed audio data; and

(c4) outputting mixed audio data to the audio output device.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said outputting (c) of the second audio data comprises:

(c1) identifying the second audio data pertaining to the sound effect associated with the even that has been detected;

(c2) formatting the second audio data so as to have a substantially similar format as does the first audio data;

(c3) mixing the second audio data with the first audio data to produced mixed audio data; and

(c4) outputting mixed audio data to the audio output device.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the audio output device includes art least one earphone.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the audio output device includes at least one earphone that is adapted to be connected to the portable media device via a cable.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the event is a user-interaction event with the portable media device.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the event is a user event or a system event.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable media device is a music player, and wherein the first audio data is music.

13. A method for outputting a sound effect from an external speaker associated with a portable media device, said method comprising:

determining whether a sound effect is to be output to the external speaker;

identifying sound effect data for the sound effect to be output;

retrieving the identified sound effect data;

mixing the identified sound effect data with audio data being output, if any, to produce mixed audio data; and

outputting the mixed audio data to the external speaker.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said retrieving of the identified sound effect data is from a data storage device of the portable media device that includes sound effect data for a plurality of different sound effects.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said mixing comprises:

formatting the sound effect data to at least substantially match the format of the audio data to be output.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said mixing comprises:

configuring the portable media device to specify whether the identified sound effect is to be output to the external speaker.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the external speaker is a headphone, earphone or headset.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the event is a user event or a system event.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the portable media device is a music player, and wherein the audio data is music.

20. A method for providing auditory feedback to a user of portable media device, said method comprising:

(a) detecting an event at the portable media device;

(b) determining whether device feedback is enabled;

(c) producing an auditory feedback at the portable media device in response to the event when said determining (b) determines that the device feedback is enabled;

(d) determining whether earphone feedback is enabled; and

(e) producing an auditory feedback at one or more earphones coupled to the portable media device in response to the event when said determining (d) determines that the earphone feedback is enabled.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein device feedback is provided by a auditory output device within the portable media device.

22. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the auditory output device comprises a speaker.

23. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the event is a user event or a system event.

24. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein the portable media device is a music player.

25. A portable media device, comprising:

an audio output device;

a first memory device for storing a plurality of sound effects; and

a processor for determining when to output at least one of the sound effects and for processing the at least one of the sound effects to produce output sound effect data for said audio output device.

26. A portable media device as recited in claim 25, wherein said processor implements a audio processing system when producing the output sound effect data, and wherein said audio processing system comprises a bit depth converter and a sample rate converter.

27. A portable media device as recited in claim 26, wherein said portable media device further stores media items in the first memory device or a second memory device, and

wherein said audio processing system further processes at least one of the media items to produce output media data for said audio output device.

28. A portable media device as recited in claim 27, wherein said audio processing system concurrently outputs the output sound effect data and the output media data to the audio output device.

29. A portable media device as recited in claim 28, wherein said audio output device is a speaker.

30. A portable media device as recited in claim 28, wherein said audio output device is a headphone or at least one earphone.

31. A portable media device as recited in claim 28, wherein said audio processing system comprises:

an audio channel for producing the output media data; and

at least one mixer channel for producing the output sound effect data,

32. A portable media device as recited in claim 31, wherein said at least one mixer channel includes at least a bit depth converter and a sample rate converter.

33. A graphical user interface for a media device adapted to provide auditory feedback, said graphical user interface comprises:

a list of auditory feedback options; and

a visual indicator that indicates a selected on of the auditory feedback options,

wherein the media device provides auditory feedback in accordance with the selected one of the auditory feedback options.

34. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 33, wherein at least one of the auditory feedback options designates auditory feedback to be provided via a headphone or an earphone operatively connected to the media device.

35. A computer readable medium including at least computer program code for outputting a sound effect from an external speaker associated with a portable media device, computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for determining whether a sound effect is to be output to the external speaker;

computer program code for identifying sound effect data for the sound effect to be output;

computer program code for retrieving the identified sound effect data;

computer program code for mixing the identified sound effect data with audio data being output, if any, to produce mixed audio data; and

computer program code for outputting the mixed audio data to the external speaker.