Portable audio device providing automated control of audio volume parameters for hearing protection

• US 20070129828A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Arthur, John, Lee, Michael, Marriott, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 8,654,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3089 Control of digital or coded signals

Abstract

A method of operating a media player includes playing back audio media. During the step of playing back audio media, a maximum volume parameter is refined for the playing back of the media by the media player. The refining is based at least in part on the playing back of audio media during a time period prior to executing the maximum volume refining step. After a period of time, the maximum volume refining step is repeated. The refining is configured to prevent/minimize harm to hearing of the media player user based, for example, on the actual volume of media playback and time/duration profiles provided by occupational safety and/or other organizations.

Claims

1. A method of operating a portable audio device, comprising:

during output of audio by the portable audio device,

limiting an actual parameter relative to the playing the audio to be at least within a determined boundary parameter; and

adjusting the boundary parameter based on the actual parameter relative to the output of the audio.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the boundary parameter and the actual parameter are related to volume of output of the audio.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initially determining the boundary parameter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the step of initially determining the boundary parameter is a result of interaction between a host application, executing on a host computer, and the portable audio device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of adjusting the boundary parameter is further based on profiles whose characteristics are accessible by the portable audio device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the profiles whose characteristics are accessible by the portable audio device are stored in the portable audio device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the portable audio device is a portable media player.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the portable audio device is a wireless communication device.

9. A method of operating a media player, comprising:

playing back audio media; and

during the step of playing back audio media,

refining a maximum volume parameter for the playing back of the media by the media player, based at least in part on the playing back of audio media during a time period prior to executing the maximum volume refining step; and

after a period of time, repeating the maximum volume refining step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the refining step is further based on a predetermined formula of duration/volume hearing safety characteristics.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the duration versus volume characteristics account for increasing maximum allowed volume based on recovery.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

configuring the media player to utilize the predetermined formula of duration/volume hearing safety characteristics.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the step of configuring the media player to utilize the predetermined formula of duration/volume hearing safety characteristics includes interacting with a host computer that is in detachable communication with the media player.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the refining step is further based on audio production characteristics of the media player.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the audio production characteristics of the media player include a property of headphones connected to the media player.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the refining step is further based on audio properties of the audio being played back.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing an indication of the audio properties to the media player from a host computer to which the media player is detachably coupled.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein:

if the refined maximum volume is lower than a predetermined threshold volume, providing an indication thereof to the user of the media player.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein:

if the refined maximum volume is zero, stopping the audio media playing back step.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein:

if the refined maximum volume is above a desired volume indicated by a user of the media player, limiting the actual volume of media playback based on the refined maximum volume.

21. A portable audio device, comprising:

audio output circuitry configured to output audio signals; and

a controller coupled to control the audio output circuitry, the controller configured such that

during output of audio signals by the audio output circuitry, an actual parameter relative to the playing of the audio is limited to be at least within a determined boundary parameter; and

adjusting the boundary parameter based on the actual parameter relative to the output of the audio signals.

22. The portable audio device of claim 21, wherein:

the boundary parameter and the actual parameter are parameters related to volume of playing the audio.

23. The portable audio device of claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to initially determine the boundary parameter.

24. The portable audio device of claim 23, wherein:

initially determining the boundary parameter is a result of interaction between a host application, executing on a host computer, and the portable audio device.

25. The portable audio device of claim 21, wherein:

adjusting the boundary parameter is further based on profiles whose characteristics are accessible by controller of the portable audio device.

26. The portable audio device of claim 25, wherein:

the profiles whose characteristics are accessible by the portable audio device are profiles whose characteristics are stored in the controller of the portable audio device.

27. The portable audio device of claim 21, wherein:

the portable audio device is a portable media player.

28. The portable audio device of claim 21, wherein:

the portable audio device is a wireless communication device.

29. A portable media player, comprising:

audio output circuitry via which audio signals are provided, corresponding to media being played back by the portable media player; and

a controller coupled to control the audio output circuitry, the controller configured to, during play back of audio media,

refine a maximum volume parameter, for providing the audio signals corresponding to the media being played back, the refining based at least in part on the providing of audio signals during a time period prior to refining the maximum volume; and

after a period of time, repeating the maximum volume refining.

30. The portable media player of claim 29, wherein:

the refining is further based on a predetermined formula of duration/volume hearing safety characteristics.

31. The portable media player of claim 30, wherein:

the duration versus volume characteristics account for increasing maximum allowed volume based on recovery.

32. The portable media player of claim 30, wherein the controller is further configured to utilize the predetermined formula of duration/volume hearing safety characteristics.

33. The portable media player of claim 32, wherein:

the controller being configured to utilize the predetermined formula of duration/volume hearing safety characteristics includes the controller being configured to interact with a host computer that is in detachable communication with the media player.

34. The portable media player of claim 32, wherein:

the refining is further based on audio production characteristics of audio output circuitry.

35. The portable media player of claim 34, wherein:

the audio production characteristics of the audio output circuitry include a property of headphones connected to the portable media player.

36. The portable media player of claim 34, wherein:

the refining is further based on audio properties of the audio media being played back.

37. The portable media player of claim 36, wherein the controller is further configured to cause an indication of the audio properties to be provided to the media player from a host computer to which the media player is detachably coupled.

38. The portable media player of claim 29, wherein the controller is configured such that:

if the refined maximum volume is lower than a predetermined threshold volume, an indication thereof is caused to be provided to the user of the media player.

39. The portable media player of claim 29, wherein the controller is configured such that, if the refined maximum volume is zero, playing back the audio media is caused to be stopped.

40. The portable media player of claim 29, wherein the controller is configured such that, if the refined maximum volume is above a desired volume indicated by a user of the media player, the actual volume of audio corresponding to playing back the audio media is caused to be based on the refined maximum volume.

41. A method of configuring a portable audio device, comprising:

indicating hearing protection parameters to the portable audio device; and

by a controller of the portable audio device, controlling audio output levels of audio output circuitry of the portable audio device based on processing the indicated hearing protection parameters.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein:

the hearing protection parameters are indicated to the portable audio device as a result of interaction between the portable audio device and a host application executing on a host computer to which the portable audio device is attached.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein:

the hearing protection parameters are indicated to the portable audio device as a result of user interaction directly with the portable audio device.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein:

the controller processes the hearing protection parameters to determine threshold audio output characteristics, and

the audio output levels of the audio output circuitry are controlled at least in part according to the determined threshold audio output characteristics.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

adjusting the threshold audio output characteristics based on characteristics of actual audio output of the audio output circuitry.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein:

the audio output levels of the audio output circuitry of the portable audio device being controlled at least in part according to the indicated hearing protection parameters includes adjusting the audio output levels of the audio output circuitry based on an actual audio output level of the audio output circuitry.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein:

the indicated hearing parameters are stored within the portable audio device in at least a tamper resistant manner.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein:

the indicated hearing protection parameters are indicative of a hearing protection profile.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

adjusting the audio output levels of the audio output circuitry based on characteristics of an actual audio output level of the audio output circuitry relative to the hearing protection profile.

50. A portable audio device, comprising:

audio output circuitry configured to output audio signals; and

a controller configured to control the audio output circuitry, the controller configured such that during output of audio signals by the audio output circuitry, an actual parameter relative to output of the audio signal is limited to be at least within a particular boundary parameter,

wherein the particular boundary parameter is based at least on part on hearing protection parameters available to the controller.

51. The portable audio device of claim 50, wherein:

the protection parameters are provided via a user interface directly to the portable audio device.

52. The portable audio device of claim 50, further comprising:

a host computer coupled to the portable audio device, wherein the host computer is configured to provided the protection parameters.

53. The portable audio device of claim 52, wherein:

the host computer is configured to provide protection parameters as indicated via a user interface to an application executing on the host computer.

54. The portable audio device of claim 50, wherein:

the portable audio device is configured to adjust the boundary parameter based on the actual parameter relative to the hearing protection parameters.