Methods and devices responsive to ambient audio

• US 7,587,602 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song; Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US11/331,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 380 54- 55, 380/270, 380200-203, 713/176, 713/165, 713/167, 713/170, 705 57- 59, 705/51, 382/100, 382/115, 726 26- 33
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1418 the inserts being deformed or preformed, e.g. by the injection pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/634 Query by example, e.g. query by humming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1447 extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 : Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00007 : Time or data compression or expansion audio compression based on psychoacoustics G10L19/00; data processing for reproducing audio data at different playback speeds G10L21/04; video compression H04N19/00; data compression per se H03M7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 : Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00144 : involving a user identifier, e.g. a unique customer ID
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00195 : using a device identifier associated with the player or recorder, e.g. serial numbers of playback apparatuses or MAC addresses
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 : embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 : using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/84 : combined with power distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 : which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/50 : characterised by the use of watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/63 : for services of sales data processing systems or methods specially adapted for electronic commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 : using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 : relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00037 : Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 : remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 : from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 : embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3216 : using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32203 : Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32219 : involving changing the position of selected pixels, e.g. word shifting, or involving modulating the size of image components, e.g. of characters H04N1/32224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32229 : with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected regions of the image H04N1/32213 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32261 : in binary data H04N1/32256 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32304 : Embedding different sets of additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32352 : Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 : involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 : sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 : involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3239 : using a plurality of different authentication information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A portable device uses a microphone to listen to ambient audio, derives data from captured audio signals, and uses the derived data to request delivery of the audio or related information to the user'"'"'s home or other location. The device is desirably pocket-sized, or suitable for carrying on a key-ring. The device may also detect a watermark signal that is present in the user'"'"'s environment (e.g., played through a public address speaker system) to aid the user in recalling the context from which the audio was requested.

Claims

1. A device comprising a housing sized for carrying in a user'"'"'s pocket and including:

a transducer to receive ambient audio and to output electrical signals corresponding thereto;

a watermark detector system coupled to the transducer and adapted to produce payload information by extracting a digital watermark embedded in the electrical signals corresponding to the ambient audio;

a memory storing first identification information; and

an interface that receives at least some of both the decoded payload information and the first identification information for transmission from said device;

wherein the watermark detector system is adapted to decode watermarks encoded by plural different techniques.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the watermark detector is adapted to decode watermarks having plural different payload formats.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the watermark detector is adapted to cyclically apply different watermark decoding techniques, and check for valid output data.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the watermark detector system provides data from two different decoded payloads to the interface, for transmission from the device.

5. A device comprising a housing sized for carrying in a user'"'"'s pocket and including:

a transducer to receive ambient audio and to output electrical signals corresponding thereto;

a processor coupled to the transducer and adapted to transform the electrical signals corresponding to the ambient audio, to produce transformed data based thereon;

a memory storing first identification information; and

an interface that receives at least some of both the transformed data and the first identification information for transmission to a remote station;

wherein the first identification information comprises information identifying a model of the device.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising a graphical user interface displayed on a screen, the graphical user interface including a control by which a user can signal interest in the ambient audio.

7. The device of claim 5 further comprising a gesture interface by which a user can signal interest in the ambient audio.

8. The device of claim 5 including a data store that stores information about audio previously encountered by the user, and a user interface operable by the user to scroll back through the stored information and make a selection therefrom.

9. The device of claim 5 wherein the processor comprises a digital watermark decoder.

10. A method employing a device sized for carrying in a user'"'"'s pocket, the method comprising the acts:

through a user interface of the device, receiving a user input signaling interest in ambient audio;

capturing the ambient audio with a microphone;

converting the captured ambient audio into digital form;

providing the digital form of the ambient audio to a processor;

receiving data corresponding to the ambient audio back from the processor;

recalling first identification information from a memory, the first identification information comprising information identifying a model of the device;

transmitting both the received data and the recalled first identification information to a remote computer, together with information relating to a location at which the ambient audio was received;

receiving information relating to the ambient audio in response; and

controlling an operational aspect of the device in accordance with the received information.

11. The method of claim 10 that additionally includes, at the processor, deriving said data from the digital form, and transmitting the data to the device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the deriving comprises applying a digital watermark decoding procedure to the digital form.

13. A method employing a device sized for carrying in a user'"'"'s pocket, the method comprising the acts:

through a user interface of the device, receiving a user input signaling interest in ambient audio;

capturing the ambient audio with a microphone;

converting the captured ambient audio into digital form;

providing the digital form of the ambient audio to a processor;

receiving data corresponding to the ambient audio back from the processor;

recalling first identification information from a memory, the first identification information comprising information identifying a model of the device;

transmitting both the received data and the recalled first identification information to a remote computer, together with context information including information identifying a further device;

receiving information relating to the ambient audio in response; and

controlling an operational aspect of the device in accordance with the received information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the transmitted context information includes information identifying a further device proximate to the user device.

15. The method of claim 13 that additionally includes, at the processor, deriving said data from the digital form, and transmitting the data to the device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the deriving comprises applying a digital watermark decoding procedure to the digital form.

17. A method employing a device sized for carrying in a user'"'"'s pocket, the method comprising the acts:

through a user interface of the device, receiving a user input signaling interest in ambient audio;

capturing the ambient audio with a microphone;

converting the captured ambient audio into digital form;

providing the digital form of the ambient audio to a processor;

receiving data corresponding to the ambient audio back from the processor;

recalling first identification information from a memory, the first identification information comprising information identifying a model of the device;

transmitting both the received data and the recalled first identification information to a remote computer;

receiving information relating to the ambient audio in response; and

controlling an operational aspect of the device in accordance with the received information;

wherein the device includes a data store in which information relating to previously encountered audio is stored, and the method includes scrolling back and selecting from said stored information.

18. The method of claim 17 that additionally includes, at the processor, deriving said data from the digital form, and transmitting the data to the device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the deriving comprises applying a digital watermark decoding procedure to the digital form.