Audio Playback

• US 20120275605A1
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sound Infinity Limited
• Original Assignee: Sound Affinity Limited
• Inventors: Green, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US13/455,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20120275605A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/17
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/005 For headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/11 Positioning of individual sound objects, e.g. moving airplane, within a sound field H04S2420/13 takes precedence

Abstract

A multifunctional device is disclosed capable of audio playback. The device includes a receiver (1301) for receiving audio data files and a storage device (1305) for storing received data files. A manually accessible physical play button (1303) is responsive to a request to sequentially play the audio data files contiguously in a temporal order. The data files may remain in storage until all of the available memory has been used, whereafter the audio data files are overwritten with new material on a first-in-first-out basis. The device is also capable of creating a soundscape to facilitate menu selection via a bowl-shaped user interface.

Claims

1. A method of providing input data to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of entity audio signals representing respective entity audio sources indicative of a selectable entity;

mixing said entity audio signals to produce a left channel audio output signal and a right channel audio output signal, such that when played to a user said entity audio sources are perceived as being mutually displaced in an audio field; and

receiving positional data from a data input device and using said positional data to receive an indication of said selectable entity being selected, wherein said input device defines a surface that is substantially concave.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting said mixing in response to said positional data so as to relocate the perceived position of an entity audio source within said audio field.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of adjusting said mixing in response to said positional data so as to create an illusion of moving closer to a selected entity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating audio sub-menus, wherein having selected a selectable entity, sub-menu audio sources are played to a user.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of generating sub sub-menus, such that having selected a sub-menu selectable entity, sub sub-menu audio sources are played to a user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said entity audio sources represent respective units of pre-recorded audio.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said units of pre-recorded audio are selected from one or more of the following, comprising;

audio books, audio newspapers, articles within an audio newspaper, instructions, descriptions of parts of a building or an environment, and utility communications.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said mixing step mixes said entity audio signals into a stereo field.

9. A data input apparatus, comprising;

a generator for generating a plurality of entity audio signals representing respective entity audio sources indicative of a selectable entity;

a mixer for mixing said entity audio signals to produce a left channel audio output signal and a right channel audio output signal, such that when played to a user said entity audio sources are perceived as being mutually displaced in an audio field; and

a manually responsive input device configured to supply positional data from a user and to convey an indication of an entity being selected, wherein said manually responsive input device defines a surface that is substantially concave.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said mixer is adjusted in response to said positional data so as to relocate the perceived position of entities within an audio field.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said mixer is adjusted in response to said positional data so as to create an illusion of moving closer to a selected entity.

12. An audio playback apparatus, comprising:

a receiver for receiving audio data files;

a storage device for storing a plurality of said audio data files; and

a manually accessible physical play button, wherein;

said apparatus is responsive to a request to sequentially play said audio files continuously in a temporal order, and said audio playback apparatus is contained within a bowl-shaped touch tablet.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said data files of said apparatus are transmitted and received in packets via a physical medium of via a radio link.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said audio data files are in a compressed digital format.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said storage device is a solid state storage device.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said audio data files remain in storage until all the available memory has been used, whereafter said audio data files are overwritten with new material on a first-in-first-out basis.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a data table, wherein:

each said audio data file includes a temporal designation and details of said designations are maintained in said table, wherein;

said audio files are read from said storage device in an order determined by said temporal designations.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a first press of said manually accessible physical play button results in the sequential playing of said audio files and a second press of said manually accessible physical play button causes the playing of said files to stop.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, including an additional stop button for stopping the sequential play of said audio data files.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, including a fast forward button and a rewind button.