APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIMITING OUTPUT VOLUME OF A MEDIA PRESENTATION DEVICE

• US 20110293113A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: McCarthy, Bernard A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,995,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 7/007 of digital or coded signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo

Abstract

Volume limiting systems and methods are operable to limit volume output from media presentation devices. An exemplary embodiment detects a sound using a microphone, wherein the sound corresponds to an audio output of at least one controlled media presentation device, and wherein the microphone is remotely located from the at least one controlled media presentation device; compares a level of the detected sound with a predefined maximum volume limit; generates a volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit; and communicates the volume output limit command to the media presentation device. The media presentation device then reduces a volume level of its audio output. In some instances, volume may be limited during user specified periods.

Claims

1. A method for limiting volume output from media presentation devices, the method comprising:

detecting a sound using a microphone, wherein the sound corresponds to an audio output of at least one controlled media presentation device, and wherein the microphone is remotely located from the at least one controlled media presentation device;

comparing a level of the detected sound with a predefined maximum volume limit;

generating a volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit; and

communicating the volume output limit command to the media presentation device,

wherein the media presentation device reduces a volume level of its audio output.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a start of an enforcement period, wherein communicating the volume output limit command occurs only during the enforcement period.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining an end of the enforcement period, wherein communicating the volume output limit command ceases at the end of the enforcement period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at the end of the enforcement period, the method further comprises:

communicating a signal to the media presentation device that changes a current volume output setting of the media presentation device back to a previous volume output settings in effect prior to the start of the enforcement period.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating audio information to a media device,

wherein the audio information corresponds to the sound detected by the microphone, and

wherein the media device generates and communicates the volume output limit command to the controlled media presentation device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

converting an analog output of the microphone into a digital signal using an analog to digital converter;

generating at least one of an infrared (IR) signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal corresponding to the digital signal; and

communicating the at least one IR signal and RF signal to the media device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the microphone resides in a remote control that is configured to control the media presentation device, and further comprising:

converting an analog output of the microphone into a digital signal using an analog to digital converter;

generating at least one of an infrared (IR) signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal corresponding to the volume output limit command; and

communicating the at least one IR signal and RF signal to the controlled media presentation device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the volume output limit command to an infrared (IR) blaster,

wherein the IR blaster is configured to generate an IR signal corresponding to the volume output limit command, and

wherein the IR blaster is configured to communicate the IR signal to the controlled media presentation device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving specification of a start of an enforcement period;

receiving specification of an end of the enforcement period;

receiving specification of a maximum volume limit associated with the enforcement period; and

generating a volume output limit based on the start time and the end time of the enforcement period, and based on the maximum volume limit.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

presenting a volume limiter electronic program guide on a display;

wherein the volume limiter electronic program guide is configured to receive the specifications of the start and end of the enforcement period.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving specification of the maximum volume limit further comprises:

receiving a specification based upon a sound level of interest determined by a user; and

defining the maximum volume limit based upon the detected sound at substantially the time of receiving the specification based upon the sound level of interest.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a volume limiter notification,

wherein the visual volume limiter notification is generated substantially concurrently with the communication of the volume output limit command.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating and communicating the volume output limit command comprises:

generating a first volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit;

communicating the first volume output limit command to a first controlled media presentation device;

generating a second volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit; and

communicating the second volume output limit command to a second controlled media presentation device,

wherein a characteristic of the first volume output limit command is different from a characteristic of the second volume output limit command, and

wherein at least one of the first controlled media presentation device and the second controlled media presentation device reduces its output volume.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume limit output command is a first volume output limit command, and further comprising:

continuing to detect the sound using the microphone;

continuing to compare the level of the detected sound with the predefined maximum volume limit;

generating a second volume output limit command in response to the detected sound remaining less than the predefined maximum volume limit for a predefined duration; and

communicating the second volume output limit command to the controlled media presentation device, wherein the controlled media presentation device increases its output volume.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein sounds emitted by the controlled media presentation device having a level greater than the maximum volume limit are limited by the maximum volume limit, and wherein sounds emitted by the controlled media presentation device having a level less than the maximum volume limit are not limited by the maximum volume limit.

16. A scheduled volume limiter system configured to limit volume output from media presentation devices, comprising:

an audio detector, comprising;

a microphone configured to detect sound; and

an output device configured to communicate audio information corresponding to the detected sound; and

a media device, comprising;

an audio detector interface configured to receive the audio information communicated by the output device of the audio detector;

a memory configured to store at least one predefined volume output limit, wherein the volume output limit includes a start time of an enforcement period, an end time of the enforcement period, and a maximum volume limit;

a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory and the audio detector interface, wherein the processor system is configured to determine the start of the enforcement period, is configured to compare a level of the detected sound with a predefined maximum volume limit, and is configured to generate a volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit; and

a presentation device interface communicatively coupled to the processor system, wherein the presentation device interface is configured to communicatively couple to at least one controlled media presentation device, and is configured to communicate the volume output limit command to the controlled media presentation device,

wherein the audio detector is remotely located from the media device and is oriented to detect sound emitted by the controlled media presentation device, and

wherein the volume output limit command is configured to reduce the output volume of the controlled media presentation device.

17. The scheduled volume limiter system of claim 16, wherein the audio detector is implemented in a remote control, and wherein the remote control comprises:

a remote control processor system communicatively coupled to the microphone, wherein the remote control processor system is configured to determine the start of the enforcement period, is configured to compare a level of the detected sound with the predefined maximum volume limit, is configured to generate the volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit; and

at least one of an infrared (IR) transmitter and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter communicatively coupled to the remote control processor system, wherein the IR transmitter and the RF transmitter are configured to communicate the volume output limit command to the controlled media presentation device.

18. The scheduled volume limiter system of claim 16, wherein the microphone is a directional microphone configured to substantially detect volume output from the controlled media presentation device, and is configured to omit detection of ambient noise.

19. A remote control, comprising:

a microphone configured to detect sound;

a memory configured to store at least one predefined volume output limit, wherein the volume output limit includes a start time of an enforcement period, an end time of the enforcement period, and a maximum volume limit;

a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory and the microphone, wherein the processor system is configured to identify an occurrence of the start of the enforcement period, is configured to compare a level of the detected sound with the maximum volume limit, is configured to generate a volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit; and

wireless transmitter communicatively coupled to the remote control processor system, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to communicate the volume output limit command to the media presentation device.

20. The remote control of claim 19, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to communicate user selections to a media device, and further comprising:

a receiver configured receive communications from the media device,

wherein a first user selection causes the media device to generate a volume limiter electronic program guide that is presented on a display,

wherein a second user selection specifies the start of the enforcement period,

wherein a third user selection specifies the maximum volume limit, and

wherein a processor system of the media device defines a volume output limit based upon the specified start of the enforcement period and the specified maximum volume limit.