Audio data reproducing method and program therefor

• US 20070171788A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Morimoto, Yoshiaki, Nakano, Masaki, Yokoyama, Taiko
• Granted Patent: US 8,116,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/47.160
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10953 Concurrent recording or playback of different streams or files
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783

Abstract

Regarding first and second audio data to be reproduced simultaneously within a certain time period, a computer which has a storage device records the first audio data to the storage device within the period while at the same time reproducing only the second audio data, and, after having reproduced the second audio data, reproduces the first audio data while forcing its playback speed to increase with time. Whereby, the computer enables the two sets of audio data being reproduced simultaneously to be output in such a way as to provide a listener with enhanced audibility.

Claims

1. An audio data reproduction method for reproducing first and second audio data to be reproduced simultaneously within a certain time period, said method causing a computer having a storage device to perform a process comprising the steps of:

recording in said time period the first audio data to said storage device while reproducing the second audio data only; and

after completion of reproduction of said second audio data, reproducing said first audio data while forcing a reproduction speed to increase with elapse of time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the reproduction speed of said first audio data reaches a prespecified reproduction speed, said computer causes the reproduction speed to decrease with time.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said computer performs:

planning a reproduction start time point of third audio data to be reproduced after completion of the reproduction of said second audio data;

calculating a reproduction end time point of said second audio data;

calculating a gap time being a time period of from said reproduction end time point to said reproduction start time point;

calculating a reproduction time needed for reproduction of said first audio data while increasing the reproduction speed thereof;

determining whether the calculated reproduction time is less than or equal to said gap time; and

only in a case where said reproduction time is less than or equal to said gap time, reproducing said first audio data while increasing said reproduction speed.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said computer increases said reproduction speed in such a way that said reproduction time becomes the longest within a range that said reproduction time does not exceed said gap time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said computer is built in a movable body and comprises a present position acquisition device operative to acquire a present position of said movable body,

said first audio data is added a position relating to said first audio data, and

said computer performs:

acquiring the present position of said movable body from said present position acquisition device;

calculating a distance between the present position acquired and said position added to said first audio data; and

exclusively when the distance calculated is less than or equal to a predetermined value, reproducing said first audio data while increasing said reproduction speed.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said computer is built in a movable body and comprises a present position acquisition device for obtaining a present position of said movable body and a mobility information acquisition device for acquiring a moving direction and a moving speed of said movable body,

said first audio data is added a position relating to said first audio data, and

said computer performs:

obtaining the present position of said movable body from said present position acquisition device;

obtaining the moving direction and the moving speed of said movable body from said mobility information acquisition device;

using the present position and the moving direction and the moving speed to calculate a predicted position which is a position of said movable body at termination of the reproduction of said second audio data;

calculating a distance between the calculated predicted position and said position added to said first audio data; and

only when the distance calculated is less than or equal to a predefined value, reproducing said first audio data while varying the reproduction speed thereof.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein upon simultaneous reproduction of a plurality of sets of first audio data, said computer determines whether a respective one of said first audio data is a music data, and then reproduces said first audio data in a way such that said first audio data as determined to be the music data is smaller in sound volume than a remaining one or ones of said first audio data.

8. A program for reproducing first and second audio data to be reproduced simultaneously within a certain time period, said program causing a computer having a storage device to execute a process comprising the steps of:

recording the first audio data to said storage device while reproducing only the second audio data; and

after having completed the reproduction of said second audio data, reproducing said first audio data while varying a reproduction speed in such a way as to gradually become faster until arrival at a prespecified reproduction speed.

9. The program according to claim 8, wherein said program permits said computer to change the reproduction speed in such a way that the reproduction speed of said first audio data becomes gradually slower after arrival at said prespecified reproduction speed.