System and method for optimizing digital audio playback
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A motor vehicle, comprising:
- at least one wheel, a steering device, and a passenger compartment configured to accommodate at least one human occupant;
an audio system capable of playing digital audio in an enhanced mode and a non-enhanced mode,wherein, in the enhanced mode, the audio system receives a signal of the digital audio and processes the signal to play the digital audio using enhancements comprising at least one of (i) using more than two audio channels and (ii) using algorithms that simulate more than two audio channels over two audio channels,wherein, in the non-enhanced mode, the audio system receives the signal and plays the digital audio without the enhancements; and
wherein the audio system automatically prevents the digital audio from being played in the enhanced mode if a bit rate associated with the digital audio is less than a predetermined criterion,wherein the predetermined criterion comprises a threshold bit rate, andwherein the audio system stores a plurality of threshold bit rates, each threshold bit rate of the plurality of threshold bit rates being associated with a different digital audio compression technique.
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Abstract
A system and method for optimizing digital audio playback is disclosed. The system and method can prevent playback of a digital audio file in an enhanced mode if the digital audio file does not meet a predetermined criterion, such as a particular bit rate. One example of an enhanced mode is a simulated multi-channel surround sound mode.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle, comprising:
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at least one wheel, a steering device, and a passenger compartment configured to accommodate at least one human occupant; an audio system capable of playing digital audio in an enhanced mode and a non-enhanced mode, wherein, in the enhanced mode, the audio system receives a signal of the digital audio and processes the signal to play the digital audio using enhancements comprising at least one of (i) using more than two audio channels and (ii) using algorithms that simulate more than two audio channels over two audio channels, wherein, in the non-enhanced mode, the audio system receives the signal and plays the digital audio without the enhancements; and wherein the audio system automatically prevents the digital audio from being played in the enhanced mode if a bit rate associated with the digital audio is less than a predetermined criterion, wherein the predetermined criterion comprises a threshold bit rate, and wherein the audio system stores a plurality of threshold bit rates, each threshold bit rate of the plurality of threshold bit rates being associated with a different digital audio compression technique. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A motor vehicle, comprising:
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at least one wheel, a steering device, and a passenger compartment configured to accommodate at least one human occupant; an audio system capable of playing digital audio in an enhanced mode and a non-enhanced mode, wherein, in the enhanced mode, the audio system receives a signal of the digital audio and processes the signal to play the digital audio using enhancements comprising at least one of (i) using more than two audio channels and (ii) using algorithms that simulate more than two audio channels over two audio channels, wherein, in the non-enhanced mode, the audio system receives the signal and plays the digital audio without the enhancements; and wherein the audio system automatically prevents the digital audio from being played in the enhanced mode if a bit rate associated with the digital audio is less than a predetermined criterion, wherein the predetermined criterion comprises a threshold bit rate, wherein the audio system stores a plurality of threshold bit rates, each threshold bit rate of the plurality of threshold bit rates being associated with a unique combination of a digital audio compression technique and an enhancement mode, wherein the audio system determines a digital audio compression technique of the digital audio and a determined enhancement mode, selects from the plurality of threshold bit rates the threshold bit rate associated with the determined digital audio compression technique and the determined enhancement mode, and prevents the digital audio from being played in the enhanced mode if the bit rate associated with the digital audio is less than the selected threshold bit rate. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An audio system, comprising:
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a digital audio source; and a central unit associated with the digital audio source; wherein the central unit automatically prevents play of digital audio from the digital audio source in an enhanced mode if a bit rate associated with the digital audio is less than a predetermined bit rate, wherein, in the enhanced mode, the central unit receives a signal of the digital audio and processes the signal to play the digital audio using enhancements comprising at least one of (i) using more than two audio channels and (ii) using algorithms that simulate more than two audio channels over two audio channels, wherein the audio system stores a plurality of predetermined bit rates, each predetermined bit rate of the plurality of predetermined bit rates being associated with a different digital audio compression technique. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for optimizing digital audio playback, comprising:
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determining a bit rate associated with a digital audio file; storing a plurality of threshold bit rates, each threshold bit rate of the plurality of threshold bit rates being associated with a different digital audio compression technique; determining a digital audio compression technique of the digital audio file; selecting from the plurality of threshold bit rates the threshold bit rate associated with the determined digital audio compression technique, wherein the selected threshold bit rate comprises a predetermined bit rate; comparing the bit rate with the predetermined bit rate; if the bit rate is lower than the predetermined bit rate, automatically preventing playback of the digital audio file in an enhanced mode that uses enhancements comprising at least one of (i) using more than two audio channels and (ii) using algorithms that simulate more than two audio channels over two audio channels, and automatically allowing playback of the digital audio file in a non-enhanced mode that plays the digital audio file without the enhancements; and if the bit rate is not lower than the predetermined bit rate, automatically allowing playback of the digital audio file in the enhanced mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for optimizing digital audio playback, comprising:
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determining a bit rate associated with a digital audio file; storing a plurality of threshold bit rates, each threshold bit rate of the plurality of threshold bit rates being associated with a unique combination of a digital audio compression technique and an enhancement mode, determining a digital audio compression technique of the digital audio file and a determined enhancement mode; selecting from the plurality of threshold bit rates the threshold bit rate associated with the determined digital audio compression technique and the determined enhancement mode, wherein the selected threshold bit rate comprises a predetermined bit rate; comparing the bit rate with the predetermined bit rate; if the bit rate is lower than the predetermined bit rate, automatically preventing playback of the digital audio file in an enhanced mode that uses enhancements comprising at least one of (i) using more than two audio channels and (ii) using algorithms that simulate more than two audio channels over two audio channels, and automatically allowing playback of the digital audio file in a non-enhanced mode that plays the digital audio file without the enhancements; and if the bit rate is not lower than the predetermined bit rate, automatically allowing playback of the digital audio file in the enhanced mode.
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Specification