Apparatuses and methods for recognizing an audio input and muting an audio device

• US 7,020,292 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clegg, Andrew W., Heubel, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grier, Laura A.
• Application Number:
  US10/032,918
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 381/77, 381/81, 381/86, 381/94.1, 381/94.5, 381 56- 58, 381/123, 381/107, 381/111, 700/94, 455/556.1, 455/66.1, 455/569.2, 455/575.9, 455/174.1, 455/177.1, 455/212, 455/211, 455/218, 455/221, 455/425, 455/500
• US Class Current: 381/94.5
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/342 Muting when some special characteristic of the signal is sensed which distinguishes it from noise, e.g. using speech detector H03G3/344, H03G3/345 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method for generating a muting signal. The apparatus includes an audio signal detector for remotely receiving an audio signal and a processor in communication with the detector. The processor is configured to compare the received audio signal with a predetermined audio signal generated by a device and generate a muting signal when at least a component of the received audio signal matches the predetermined audio signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating a muting signal, the apparatus comprising:

a training mode on/off switch;

an audio signal detector for remotely receiving an audible ring signal transmitted via an acoustic medium; and

a processor in communication with the detector, wherein the processor is configured to;

convert the received audible ring signal into a digitized received audio ring signal;

in response to a first setting of the training mode on/off switch, store the digitized received audio ring signal in one of a memory device and a storage device associated with the processor as a predetermined digitized audio ring signal;

in response to a second setting of the training mode on/off switch, compare the digitized received audio ring signal with one or more predetermined digitized audio ring signals, wherein each of the one or more predetermined digitized audio ring signals is associated with a corresponding device and is pre-stored in one of the memory device and the storage device; and

generate a muting signal based on the comparison when at least a component of the digitized received audio ring signal matches one of the one or more pre-stored predetermined digitized audio ring signals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio signal detector includes a transducer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an amplifier in communication with the audio signal detector.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an analog to digital signal converter in communication with the audio signal detector.

5. An apparatus for generating a muting signal, the apparatus comprising;

means for detecting an audible ring signal transmitted via an acoustic medium;

means for converting the detected audible ring signal into a digitized detected audio ring signal;

means for selecting a training mode of the apparatus;

means for pre-storing one or more predetermined digitized audio ring signals in response to a training mode setting selected by the selecting means, wherein each of the one or more pre-stored predetermined digitized audio ring signals is associated with a corresponding device;

means for comparing the digitized detected audio ring signal with the one or more pre-stored predetermined digitized audio ring signals in response to a second setting selected by the selecting means; and

means for generating a muting signal based on the comparison when at least a component of the digitized detected audio ring signal matches one of the one or more pre-stored predetermined digitized audio ring signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for amplifying the detected audio signal.

7. An apparatus for generating a muting signal, the apparatus comprising:

a transducer for remotely detecting an audible ring signal transmitted via an acoustic medium and generating a detected audio ring signal corresponding thereto;

an amplifier connected to the transducer for amplifying the detected audio ring signal and for generating an amplified detected audio ring signal;

an analog to digital signal converter connected to the amplifier for converting the amplified detected audio ring signal to a digitized detected audio ring signal;

a training mode on/off switch;

one of a memory device and a storage device connected to the converter; and

a digital signal processor connected to the one of a memory device and a storage device and configured to;

in response to a first setting of the training mode on/off switch, store the digitized detected audio ring signal in one of a memory device and a storage device associated with the processor as a predetermined digitized audio ring signal;

in response to a second setting of the training mode on/off switch, compare the digitized detected audio ring signal with one or more predetermined digitized audio ring signals, wherein each of the one or more predetermined digitized audio ring signals is associated with a corresponding device and is pre-stored in the one of a memory device and a storage device; and

generate a muting signal based on the comparison when at least a component of the digitized detected audio ring signal matches one of the one or more pre-stored predetermined digitized audio ring signals.

8. A method for generating a muting signal, the method comprising:

detecting an audible ring signal transmitted via an acoustic medium;

converting the detected audible ring signal into a digitized detected audio ring signal;

determining whether the detected audible ring signal is for training;

in response to the detected audible ring signal being for training, pre-storing the detected audible ring signal as one of a plurality of predetermined digitized audio ring signals in one of a memory device and a storage device, wherein each of the one or more pre-stored predetermined digitized audio ring signals is associated with a corresponding device;

in response to the detected audible ring signal not being for training, comparing the digitized detected audio ring signal with the one or more pre-stored predetermined digitized audio ring signals; and

generating a muting signal based on the comparison when at least a component of the digitized detected audio ring signal matches one of the one or more pre-stored predetermined digitized audio ring signals.

9. An audio device, comprising:

a training mode on/off switch;

an audio signal detector for remotely receiving an audible ring signal transmitted via an acoustic medium; and

a processor in communication with the detector, wherein the processor is configured to;

convert the received audible ring signal into a digitized received audio ring signal;

in response to a first setting of the training mode on/off switch, store the digitized received audio ring signal in one of a memory device and a storage device associated with the processor as a predetermined digitized audio ring signal;

in response to a second setting of the training mode on/off switch, compare the digitized received audio ring signal with one or more predetermined digitized audio ring signals, wherein each of the one or more predetermined digitized audio ring signals is associated with a corresponding device other than the audio device and is pre-stored in one of the memory device and the storage device; and

mute the audio device based on the comparison when at least a component of the digitized received audio ring signal matches one of the one or more pre-stored predetermined digitized audio ring signals.

10. The audio device of claim 9, wherein the audio device is selected from the group consisting of a radio, a television, a stereo system, a CD player and a DVD player.

11. The audio device of claim 9, further comprising a muting on/off switch.

12. The audio device of claim 9, further comprising a storage key that is operative to assign a storage location to the digitized received audio ring signal in response to a first setting of the training mode on/off switch.