Communication devices

• US 8,259,957 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Frohlich, David, Brown, Lorna, Durrant, Abigail, Lindley, Sian, Oleksik, Gerard, Robson, Dominic, Rumsey, Francis, Sellen, Abigail, Williamson, John
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THAO P
• Application Number:
  US11/972,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20090180623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 381/77
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices

Abstract

The disclosure relates to communication devices which monitor an audio environment at a remote location and convey to a user a representation of that audio environment. The “representation” may be an abstraction of the audio environment at the remote location or may be a measure of decibels or some other quality or parameter of the audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are two-way devices which allow users at remote locations to share an audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are one way devices. In some embodiments, the communication devices may have the form of a window and be arranged to present sound in a manner that mimics sound received through a window. In such embodiments, the more open the window is, the more sound is relayed by the communication device.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a flap that receives a selection that sets a degree for which audio data pertaining to an audio environment at a remote location is abstracted;

a processor that receives the audio data pertaining to the audio environment at the remote location in accordance with the degree selected and processes the audio data to create output audio data which conveys a representation of the audio environment in accordance with the degree selected;

one or more speakers that present the representation of the audio environment to a user of the communication device; and

a transmitter/receiver unit arranged to allow two-way communication with a second communication device at the remote location.

2. A communication device according to claim 1, wherein the audio data pertaining to the audio environment is based at least in part on measured parameters at the remote location.

3. A communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a privacy selector that allows the user to choose a level of privacy.

4. A communication device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of the following that abstracts the audio data in accordance with the set degree:

a moveable portion of the communication device;

a motion detector;

or

a proximity sensor.

5. A communication device according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator to indicate when a local audio environment is being transmitted to the second communication device.

6. A communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory that stores a record of an assessed audio environment.

7. A communication device according to claim 6, further comprising a display that displays the stored record.

8. A communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory that holds parameters associated with acceptable limits for the audio environment and the processor detects when the audio environment exceeds those limits.

9. A communication device according to claim 1, wherein the audio environment is monitored at the remote location.

10. A communication device according to claim 1, wherein the degree for which the audio data pertaining to the audio environment at the remote location is abstracted is associated with a clarity of the representation of the audio environment presented by the one or more speakers.

11. A communication device according to claim 1, wherein the degree for which the audio data pertaining to the audio environment at the remote location is based, at least in part, on a distance between a physical location of a source of the audio data and the second device at the remote location.

12. A method comprising:

receiving a selection that sets a degree for which audio data pertaining to an audio environment at a remote location is abstracted;

receiving, via a receiving unit coupled to a processor, the audio data pertaining to the audio environment at the remote location;

abstracting the audio data to generate output audio data in accordance with the degree selected; and

presenting, via one or more speakers, the output audio data.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising receiving a privacy selection that sets a level of privacy.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the degree for which the audio data pertaining to the audio environment at the remote location is abstracted is associated with a desired clarity of the audio environment indicated by the selection.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the degree for which the audio data pertaining to the audio environment at the remote location is abstracted is based, at least in part, on a distance between a physical location of a source of the audio data and a device that receives the audio data at the remote location.

16. One or more computer memories storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure a computer to perform operations comprising:

receiving a selection that sets a degree for which audio data pertaining to an audio environment at a remote location is abstracted;

receiving, via a receiving unit coupled to a processor, the audio data pertaining to the audio environment at the remote location;

muffling the audio data to generate output audio data in accordance with the degree for which the audio data pertaining to the audio environment at the remote location is abstracted; and

presenting, via one or more speakers, the output audio data.

17. One or more computer memories according to claim 16, wherein the degree for which the audio data pertaining to the audio environment at the remote location is abstracted is associated with a desired clarity of the audio environment indicated by the selection.

18. One or more computer memories according to claim 16, wherein the degree for which the audio data pertaining to the audio environment at the remote location is abstracted is based, at least in part, on a distance between a physical location of a source of the audio data and a device that receives the audio data at the remote location.