Programmable audio system

• US 20070028749A1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Faisman, Alexander, Kanevsky, Dimitri, Basson, Sara
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/601
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0091 Means for obtaining special acoustic effects combined with modulation G10H1/043
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/096 using a touch screen touch screen note input, e.g. using a displayed keyboard G10H2220/241; personal digital assistant [PDA] G10H2230/015
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/116 for graphical editing of sound parameters or waveforms, e.g. by graphical interactive control of timbre, partials or envelope non-graphical waveform editing G10H2250/615
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/131 for abstract geometric visualisation of music, e.g. for interactive editing of musical parameters linked to abstract geometric figures
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/161 with 2D or x/y surface coordinates sensing graphical user interface or touchscreen input G10H2220/091; microtonal keyboard G10H2210/401
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/351 Environmental parameters, e.g. temperature, ambient light, atmospheric pressure, humidity, used as input for musical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/371 Vital parameter control, i.e. musical instrument control based on body signals, e.g. brainwaves, pulsation, temperature, perspiration; biometric information signals from body positions or movements G10H2220/321
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/015 PDA [personal digital assistant] or palmtop computing devices used for musical purposes, e.g. portable music players, tablet computers, e-readers or smart phones in which mobile telephony functions need not be used touch-screen interfaces G10H2220/096
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/026 File encryption of specific electrophonic music instrument file or stream formats, e.g. MIDI, note oriented formats, sound banks, wavetables digital rights management [DRM] G06F21/00; encryption H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/085 Mood, i.e. generation, detection or selection of a particular emotional content or atmosphere in a musical piece
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/131 Library retrieval, i.e. searching a database or selecting a specific musical piece, segment, pattern, rule or parameter set
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/211 Wireless transmission, e.g. of music parameters or control data by radio, infrared or ultrasound beam G10H2220/405
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/241 Telephone transmission, i.e. using twisted pair telephone lines or any type of telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/261 Satellite transmission for musical instrument purposes, e.g. processing for mitigation of satellite transmission delays
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/641 Waveform sampler, i.e. music samplers; Sampled music loop processing, wherein a loop is a sample of a performance that has been edited to repeat seamlessly without clicks or artifacts

Abstract

An audio system and method. The audio system comprises a sensing device and a memory device. The memory device comprises a list of groups of gesture types. A first specified audio sound is stored within the memory device. A user programs a first association between the first specified audio sound and a first specified gesture received by the sensing device. The first specified gesture is associated with a first group from the list of groups. The first association is stored within the memory device. The audio file is amplified by the audio system. The user uses the sensing device to perform the first specified gesture. The audio system recognizes the first specified gesture as a gesture from the first group. The audio system enables and amplifies the first specified audio sound and integrates the first specified audio sound with the audio file.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing an audio system comprising a sensing device and a memory device, said memory device comprising a list of groups of gesture types;

storing within said memory device, a first specified audio sound;

programming by a user, a first association between said first specified audio sound and a first specified gesture received by said sensing device;

associating said first specified gesture with a first group from said list of groups;

storing within said memory device, said first association in a first directory for said first group;

amplifying by said audio system, an audio file;

using by said user, said sensing device to perform said first specified gesture;

recognizing by said audio system, said first specified gesture as a gesture from said first group;

enabling by said audio system, said first specified audio sound;

integrating by said audio system, said first specified audio sound with said audio file; and

amplifying by said audio system, said first specified audio sound.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing within said memory device, a second specified audio sound;

programming by said user, a second association between said second specified audio sound and a second specified gesture received by said sensing device;

associating said second specified gesture with a second group from said list of groups;

storing within said memory device, said second association in a second directory for said second group;

using by said user, said sensing device to perform said second specified gesture;

recognizing by said audio system, said second specified gesture as a gesture from said second group;

enabling by said audio system, said second specified audio sound;

integrating by said audio system, said second specified audio sound with said audio file; and

amplifying by said audio system, said second specified audio sound, wherein said first specified gesture and said second specified gesture each comprise a different gesture, wherein each of said first group and said second group each are comprised by a different group from said list, and wherein said first specified audio sound and said second specified audio sound each comprise a different audio sound.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensing device is a touch pad sensor, wherein said first specified gesture comprises a first specified contact with said touch pad sensor, and wherein said first specified contact comprises a first specified amount of force.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said audio file comprises music.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said audio file is stored on a computer readable medium.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard drive, a compact disc, a flash memory device, a cassette tape, an erasable programmable read only memory device, and a random access memory device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said audio file comprises a broadcasted audio signal received by said audio system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a musical instrument connected to said audio system; and

receiving by said memory device, said first specified audio sound from said musical instrument.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said musical instrument is selected from the group consisting of a piano, a guitar, a percussion instrument, and a violin.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said audio system further comprises a synthesizer device, and wherein said method further comprises;

receiving by said memory device, said first specified audio sound from said synthesizer device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said audio system comprises a system selected from the group consisting of an IPOD®

, a compact disc player, a personal digital assistant, and a radio receiver.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring by said audio system, a biometric condition of said user;

wherein said amplifying said first specified audio sound comprises amplifying said first specified audio sound to a specific audio level dependent upon said biometric condition of said user.

13. A method, comprising:

providing an audio system comprising a sensing device, a memory device, and a download controller module;

storing within said memory device, a first specified audio sound;

programming by a user, a first association between said first specified audio sound and a first specified gesture received by said sensing device;

storing within said memory device, said first association;

locating by said audio system, an audio file from an external audio file source;

determining by said download controller module, that said audio file is available for downloading by said audio system;

downloading by said audio system, said audio file;

amplifying by said audio system, said audio file;

using by said user, said sensing device to perform said first specified gesture;

recognizing by said audio system, said first specified gesture;

enabling by said audio system, said first specified audio sound;

integrating by said audio system, said first specified audio sound with said audio file; and

amplifying by said audio system, said first specified audio sound.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing within said memory device, a second specified audio sound;

programming by said user, a second association between said second specified audio sound and a second specified gesture received by said sensing device;

storing within said memory device, said second association;

using by said user, said sensing device to perform said second specified gesture;

recognizing by said audio system, said second specified gesture;

enabling by said audio system, said second specified audio sound;

integrating by said audio system, said second specified audio sound with said audio file; and

amplifying by said audio system, said second specified audio sound, wherein said first specified gesture and said second specified gesture each comprise a different gesture, wherein each of said first group and said second group each are comprised by a different group from said list, and wherein said first specified audio sound and said second specified audio sound each comprise a different audio sound.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining comprises checking said audio file for any existing copyright infringement issues.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said sensing device is a touch pad sensor, wherein said first specified gesture comprises a first specified contact with said touch pad sensor, and wherein said first specified contact comprises a first specified amount of force.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said audio file comprises music.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said audio file comprises a broadcasted audio signal.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a musical instrument connected to said audio system; and

receiving by said memory device, said first specified audio sound from said musical instrument.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said musical instrument is selected from the group consisting of a piano, a guitar, a percussion instrument, and a violin.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said audio system further comprises a synthesizer device, and wherein said method further comprises;

receiving by said memory device, said first specified audio sound from said synthesizer device.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein said audio system comprises a system selected from the group consisting of an IPOD®

, a compact disc player, a personal digital assistant, and a radio receiver.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

monitoring by said audio system, a biometric condition of said user;

wherein said amplifying said first specified audio sound comprises amplifying said first specified audio sound to a specific audio level dependent upon said biometric condition of said user.

24. An audio system comprising a processor coupled to a memory unit and a sensing device, said memory unit comprising a list of groups of gesture types and instructions that when executed by the processor implement an association method, said method comprising;

storing within said memory unit, a first specified audio sound;

programming by a user, a first association between said first specified audio sound and a first specified gesture received by said sensing device;

associating said first specified gesture with a first group from said list of groups;

storing within said memory unit, said first association in a first directory for said first group;

amplifying by said audio system, an audio file;

using by said user, said sensing device to perform said first specified gesture;

recognizing by said audio system, said first specified gesture as a gesture from said first group;

enabling by said audio system, said first specified audio sound;

integrating by said audio system, said first specified audio sound with said audio file; and

amplifying by said audio system, said first specified audio sound.

25. The audio system of claim 24, wherein said method further comprises:

storing within said memory unit, a second specified audio sound;

programming by said user, a second association between said second specified audio sound and a second specified gesture received by said sensing device;

associating said second specified gesture with a second group from said list of groups;

storing within said memory unit, said second association in a second directory for said second group;

using by said user, said sensing device to perform said second specified gesture;

recognizing by said audio system, said second specified gesture as a gesture from said second group;

enabling by said audio system, said second specified audio sound;

integrating by said audio system, said second specified audio sound with said audio file; and

amplifying by said audio system, said second specified audio segment, wherein said first specified gesture and said second specified gesture each comprise a different gesture, wherein each of said first group and said second group each are comprised by a different group from said list, and wherein said first specified audio sound and said second specified audio sound each comprise a different audio sound.

26. The audio system of claim 24, wherein said sensing device is a touch pad sensor, wherein said first specified gesture comprises a first specified contact with said touch pad sensor, and wherein said first specified contact comprises a first specified amount of force.

27. The audio system of claim 24, wherein said audio file comprises music.

28. The audio system of claim 24, wherein said audio file is stored on a computer readable medium.

29. The audio system of claim 28, wherein said computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a hard drive, a compact disc, a flash memory device, a cassette tape, an erasable programmable read only memory device, and a random access memory device.

30. The audio system of claim 24, wherein said audio file comprises a broadcasted audio signal received by said audio system.

31. The audio system of claim 24, wherein said method further comprises:

providing a musical instrument connected to said audio system; and

receiving by said computer-readable memory unit, said first specified audio sound from said musical instrument.

32. The audio system of claim 31, wherein said musical instrument is selected from the group consisting of a piano, a guitar, a percussion instrument, and a violin.

33. The audio system of claim 24, wherein said audio system further comprises a synthesizer device, and wherein said method further comprises;

receiving by said memory device, said first specified audio sound from said synthesizer device.

34. The audio system of claim 24, wherein said computing system comprises a system selected from the group consisting of an IPOD®

, a compact disc player, a personal digital assistant, and a radio receiver.

35. The audio system of claim 24, wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring by said audio system, a biometric condition of said user;

wherein said amplifying said first specified audio sound comprises amplifying said first specified audio sound to a specific audio level dependent upon said biometric condition of said user.