User-configurable earcon event engine
First Claim
1. A computer program product for use with a computer system, the computer system capable of executing one or more tasks thereon and having an audio processor for generating sounds, the computer program product comprising:
- a computer usable medium having embodied in the medium program code means for causing the audio processor to generate sound in response to execution of a task on the computer system, the program code means comprising;
program code means, responsive to a reference to an earcon file generated by the task, for accessing the earcon file, the referenced earcon file comprising an audio waveform identifier and audio parameter data for modifying the identified audio waveform; and
program code means responsive to the selected earcon file for causing the audio processor to generate sound.
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Abstract
A tool for providing user-configurable earcons, i.e. auditory cues, includes an earcon event engine responsive to command messages issued by tasks executing on a computer system. The command messages include an index to an earcon data file, which, in turn includes a reference to an audio file and audio parameter data for manipulating the acoustic parameters of the audio wave. A file interpreter provides the audio parameters to an audio processor for generation of the earcon. In one embodiment, the invention can be utilized with MIDI compatible instruments or sound cards.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer program product for use with a computer system, the computer system capable of executing one or more tasks thereon and having an audio processor for generating sounds, the computer program product comprising:
a computer usable medium having embodied in the medium program code means for causing the audio processor to generate sound in response to execution of a task on the computer system, the program code means comprising; program code means, responsive to a reference to an earcon file generated by the task, for accessing the earcon file, the referenced earcon file comprising an audio waveform identifier and audio parameter data for modifying the identified audio waveform; and program code means responsive to the selected earcon file for causing the audio processor to generate sound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a computer system capable of executing one or more tasks and having a memory and an audio processor for generating sounds, a method for causing the audio processor to generate sound in response to execution of a task, the method comprising the steps of:
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A. providing at least one earcon file stored in the memory, the earcon file comprising an audio waveform identifier and audio parameter data for modifying the identified audio waveform; B. accessing the earcon file in response to a reference to the earcon file generated by a task executing on the computer system; and C. supplying the referenced earcon file to the audio processor for generating sound. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. In a computer system, apparatus for generating sounds in conjunction with execution of a task on the computer system, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor; a first memory, coupled to the processor, for storing a plurality of tasks executable on the processor, the task capable of generating command messages; an audio processor capable of generating sounds; a second memory for storing a plurality of earcon files; a third memory for storing a plurality of audio files; means, responsive to a command message generated by one of the tasks executing on the processor, for selecting one of the plurality of the files; and means, responsive to the selected earcon file, for causing the audio processor to generate sound in response to issuance of the command message by the task; and means, responsive to user commands for creating and modifying an earcon file. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. In a computer system, apparatus for generating sounds in conjunction with execution of a task on the computer system, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor; a first memory, coupled to the processor, for storing a plurality of tasks executable on the processor, selected of the tasks capable of generating command messages, the command messages containing a reference to an earcon file; an audio processor capable of generating sounds; a second memory for storing a plurality of earcon files, selected of the earcon files comprising an audio waveform identifier and audio parameter data for modifying the identified audio waveform; a third memory for storing a plurality of audio waveforms; means, responsive to a reference to one of the earcon files generated by one of the tasks executing on the processor, for accessing the referenced earcon file; and means, responsive to the selected earcon file, for causing the audio processor to generate sound in response to issuance of a command message containing the reference to said earcon file. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification