Method of combining audio signals in a wireless communication device

• US 20070078543A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wakefield, Ivan
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/562 where the conference facilities are distributed

Abstract

A wireless communication device mixes audio content by combining audio signals from two or more different audio sources available at the wireless communication device and directing the mixed audio signal to a selected audio output circuit included in or associated with the wireless communication device. The audio signals can comprise received audio signals, stored audio signals, or a combination thereof. The audio signals can be synchronized, and one or more video signals may be synchronized with them. In at least one embodiment, the wireless communication device includes one or more circuits, such as a baseband or system processor, configured as a mixing circuit. An included (mixing) control circuit may be configured to control a user interface of the wireless communication device to support audio source selections, mixed audio signal output destinations, and audio signal control (volume, tone, etc.) for audio signals included in the mixed audio signal.

Claims

1. A method of mixing audio content in a wireless communication device, comprising:

combining audio signals from two or more different audio sources available at the wireless communication device to form a mixed audio signal; and

directing the mixed audio signal to a selected audio output circuit included in or associated with the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring a user interface of the wireless communication device to provide audio controls for one or more of the audio signals included in the mixed audio signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein configuring a user interface of the wireless communication device to provide audio controls for one or more of the audio signals included in the mixed audio signal comprises configuring the user interface to provide independent volume or tonal control of at least one of the audio signals included in the mixed audio signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signals comprise a first audio signal obtained from an over-the-air signal being received by the wireless communication device and a second audio signal obtained from stored audio content held in a memory of the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein directing the mixed audio signal to a selected audio output circuit included in or associated with the wireless communication device comprises one of directing the mixed audio signal to an internal or external speaker output of the wireless communication device, or to a wireless transmitter circuit of the wireless communication device for over-the-air transmission.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signals comprise first and second audio signals obtained from over-the-air signals being received by the wireless communication device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein directing the mixed audio signal to a selected audio output circuit included in or associated with the wireless communication device comprises one of directing the mixed audio signal to an internal or external speaker output of the wireless communication device, or to a wireless transmitter circuit of the wireless communication device for over-the-air transmission.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signals comprise a first audio signal obtained from an audio input circuit of the wireless communication device and a second audio signal obtained from one of an over-the-air signal being received by the wireless communication device or stored audio content held in a memory of the wireless communication device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein directing the mixed audio signal to a selected audio output circuit included in or associated with the wireless communication device comprises one of directing the mixed audio signal to an internal or external speaker output of the wireless communication device, or to a wireless transmitter circuit of the wireless communication device for over-the-air transmission.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signals comprise first and second audio signals obtained from stored audio content held in a memory of the wireless communication device and wherein directing the mixed audio signal to a selected audio output circuit included in or associated with the wireless communication device comprises directing the mixed audio signal to an internal or external speaker output of the wireless communication device, or to a wireless transmitter circuit of the wireless communication device for over-the-air transmission.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the mixed audio signal to the selected audio output circuit comprises directing the mixed audio signal to a wireless transmitter circuit of the wireless communication device for over-the-air transmission.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signals comprise first and second audio signals being received over-the-air by the wireless communication device on first and second communication channels, respectively.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein combining audio signals from two or more different audio sources available at the wireless communication device to form a mixed audio signal includes synchronizing two or more of the audio signals before combining them.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the mixed audio signal to a selected audio output circuit included in or associated with the wireless communication device comprises selecting an audio output circuit for the mixed audio signal in accordance with one or a combination of a user input selection, a content type of one or more of the audio signals, a content protection scheme of one or more of the audio signals, or a frequency response of one or more of the audio signals.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing one or more video signals from one or more video sources available at the wireless communication device with one or more of the audio signals or with the mixed audio signal.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting volume or tone of one or more of the audio signals included in the mixed audio signal as a function of one or more of audio signal source type, audio signal content protection scheme, or audio signal frequency response.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein adjusting volume or tone of one or more of the audio signals included in the mixed audio signal as a function of one or more of audio signal source type, audio signal content protection scheme, or audio signal frequency response comprises reducing a playback volume of one or more music signals being played at the wireless communication device responsive to mixing in a voice-call audio signal.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the mixed audio signal to a selected audio output circuit included in or associated with the wireless communication device comprises restricting the selection of one or more audio output circuits if one of the audio signals included in the mixed audio signal includes rights-protected audio content.

19. A wireless communication device, comprising one or more circuits configured to:

select audio signals from two or more different audio sources available at the wireless communication device;

combine the selected audio signals to form a mixed audio signal; and

direct the mixed audio signal to a selected audio output circuit included in or associated with the wireless communication device.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits comprise a digital processing circuit executing audio mixing computer program instructions.

21. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits comprise a combination of digital and analog mixing circuits.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits include a control circuit configured to control a user interface of the wireless communication device to permit a user to perform at least one of the following actions:

selecting desired audio sources for mixing, selecting a desired audio output circuit for the mixed audio signal, and independently controlling audio volume or tone of one or more of the audio signals included in the mixed audio signal.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits comprise an audio mixing circuit implemented in a baseband communication processor or a system processor included in the wireless communication device.

24. The communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to use a user interface of the wireless communication device to provide independent volume or tonal control of at least one of the audio signals included in the mixed audio signal.

25. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits include or are associated with a rights-management circuit that is configured to perform at least one of the following actions:

restricting selection of audio sources for mixing according to rights-management information, and restricting selection of audio output circuits for outputting the mixed audio signal according to rights-management information.

26. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to mix one or more audio signals obtained from one or more over-the-air signals received by a wireless receiver circuit of the wireless communication device, with one or more audio signals obtained from stored audio content held in a memory of the wireless communication device.

27. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to mix two or more audio signals obtained from two or more over-the-air signals received by a wireless receiver circuit of the wireless communication device.

28. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to mix audio signals from any combination of local or remote audio sources, and to direct the mixed audio signal to a wireless transmitter circuit of the wireless communication device for transmission to a remote receiver.

29. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to synchronize two or more of the audio signals included in the mixed audio signal.

30. The wireless communication device of claim 19, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to synchronize a video signal to one or more of the audio signals included in the mixed audio signal.