System and method for enhanced streaming audio

• US 7,467,021 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DTS, Inc. (Xperi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SRS Labs Incorporated (Xperi Inc.)
• Inventors: Kraemer, Alan D., Yuen, Thomas C. K., Cortright, Charles R. Jr., Claar, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flanders; Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US10/992,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 381/1, 381/119, 381/20, 381/22, 381/310, 381/80, 700/94, 704/500, 704/501, 709/217, 709/219, 709/231
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for enhancement and management of streaming audio is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system provides a client-side decoder that is compatible with numerous audio formats, so that a user can enjoy relatively high-quality audio from various sources, even from sources that do not provide multi-channel or high-quality audio data. The system and method also include a management system for managing and controlling the use of licensed signal processing software to further enhance an audio stream. In one embodiment, the management system is used to manage a signal processing module that provides psychoacoustic audio processing to create a wider soundstage, an acoustic correction process to increase the perceived height and clarity of the audio image, and bass enhancement processing to create the perception of low bass from the small speakers or headphones typically used with multi-media systems and portable audio players.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing audio data, the method comprising:

receiving audio data from a broadcast computer;

receiving universal resource locator data from the broadcast computer;

sending the universal resource locator data to a remote server;

obtaining from the remote server an indication whether the broadcast computer is a member of a qualified group, wherein each member of the qualified group holds a license associated with the enhancement of audio information, and wherein the license associated with the enhancement of the audio information is in addition to a license to distribute the audio information;

enhancing the audio data with audio enhancement software and playing the enhanced audio data if the broadcast computer is a member of the qualified group, wherein the enhancing of the audio data comprises;

correcting a perceived height of an apparent sound stage associated with the audio data;

enhancing a bass response associated with the audio data; and

correcting a perceived width of the apparent sound stage associated with the audio data; and

playing the audio data if the broadcast computer is not a member of the qualified group.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a customized user interface if the broadcast computer is a member of the qualified group.

3. A method of enhancing audio data, the method comprising:

receiving audio data from a broadcast computer;

determining whether the broadcast computer is a member of a qualified group, wherein each member of the qualified group holds a license associated with the enhancement of audio information, and wherein the license associated with the enhancement of the audio information is different than a license to distribute the audio information;

enhancing the audio data with audio enhancement software and playing the enhanced audio data if the broadcast computer is a member of the qualified group, wherein the enhancing of the audio data comprises;

correcting a perceived height of an apparent sound stage associated with the audio data;

enhancing a bass response associated with the audio data; and

correcting a perceived width of the apparent sound stage associated with the audio data; and

playing the audio data if the broadcast computer is not a member of the qualified group.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the enhancing of the audio data further comprises using 5-2-5 matrix techniques.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the enhancing of the audio data further comprises using multi-channel audio enhancement techniques.

6. A method of enhancing audio data, the method comprising:

receiving at a client computer audio data from a broadcast computer;

obtaining from a remote computer an indication whether the broadcast computer is part of a qualified group, wherein each member of the qualified group holds a license associated with the enhancement of audio information, and wherein the license associated with the enhancement of the audio information is different than a license to distribute the audio information;

displaying a customized user interface associated with the broadcast computer if the broadcast computer is part of the qualified group, and wherein the customized user interface has audio enhancement software associated therewith;

enhancing the audio data with the audio enhancement software and playing on the client computer the enhanced audio at the client computer if the broadcast computer is part of the qualified group, wherein the enhancing of the audio data comprises;

correcting a perceived height of an apparent sound stage associated with the audio data;

enhancing a bass response associated with the audio data; and

correcting a perceived width of the apparent sound stage associated with the audio data; and

playing on the client computer the audio data if the broadcast computer is not part of the qualified group.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising enhancing the audio data with the audio enhancement software if an operator of the broadcast computer is part of the qualified group.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising displaying a user interface associated with the operator if the operator of the broadcast computer is part of the qualified group.

9. A method of enhancing audio data, the method comprising:

storing audio data on a client computer;

obtaining an identifier associated with a broadcast computer;

determining whether the broadcast computer is a member of a qualified group, wherein each member of the qualified group holds a license associated with the enhancement of audio information, and wherein the license associated with the enhancement of the audio information is different than a license to distribute the audio information;

enhancing the audio data stored on the client computer with audio enhancement software and playing the enhanced audio data if the broadcast computer is a member of the qualified group, wherein the enhancing of the audio data comprises;

correcting a perceived height of an apparent sound stage associated with the audio data;

enhancing a bass response associated with the audio data; and

correcting a perceived width of the apparent sound stage associated with the audio data; and

playing the audio data if the broadcast computer is not a member of the qualified group.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the identifier is a universal resource locator.

11. A method for managing and operating a software application comprising:

accessing a network source from a client computer;

operating audio enhancement software to enhance the audio data when the network source is a member of a qualified group, the audio enhancement software residing on computer readable media executable on a client computer, wherein operating the audio enhancement software to enhance the audio data comprises;

correcting a perceived height of an apparent sound stage associated with the audio data;

enhancing a bass response associated with the audio data; and

correcting a perceived width of the apparent sound stage associated with the audio data;

disabling the audio enhancement software when the network source is not a member of the qualified group, wherein each member of the qualified group holds a license associated with the enhancement of audio information, and wherein the license associated with the enhancement of the audio information is different than a license to distribute the audio information;

playing the enhanced audio data when the network source is a member of a qualified group; and

playing the audio data when the network source is not a member of the qualified group.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying a customized message associated with the network source on a display of the client computer when the client computer is accessing a locally stored file.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the locally stored file is an audio file.