Remote control and method for automatically adjusting the volume output of an audio device

• US 8,314,893 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Network Technologies India Private Limited (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sling Media Pvt Ltd. (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Ravi, Deepak Malode
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/550,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20110051016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/632, 348/738, 381/57, 381/104, 381/107, 381/92, 381/111, 381/56, 381/105
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/02 Remote control of amplification, tone or bandwidth combined with remote tuning or selection of resonant circuits H03J
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals

Abstract

Embodiments of a remote control and a method are provided for automatically adjusting the volume output of an audio device, such as a television. In one embodiment, the remote control includes a wireless transmitter configured to transmit command signals to the audio device, a microphone configured to monitor sound levels external to the remote control, a memory storing a first threshold, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) determine a signal-to-noise ratio as a function of the sound levels detected by the microphone, and (ii) transmit via the wireless transmitter a first command to adjust the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio passes the first threshold.

Claims

1. A remote control configured to automatically adjust the volume output of an audio device, the remote control comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit command signals to the audio device;

a microphone configured to monitor sound levels external to the remote control;

a memory storing a first threshold and a second threshold different from the first threshold;

a volume down input; and

a controller configured to;

(i) determine a signal-to-noise ratio as a function of the sound levels detected by the microphone, (ii) transmit via the wireless transmitter a first-command to decrease the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio is greater than the first threshold, (iii) transmit via the wireless transmitter a second command to increase the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio is less than the second threshold, and (iv) to decrease the values of the first and second thresholds, as stored in the memory, when the volume down input is actuated.

2. A remote control according to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to determine the signal level as a function of average the minimum volume levels detected by the microphone over a given time period.

3. A remote control according to claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to determine the noise level as a function of the average maximum volume levels detected by the microphone over a given time period.

4. A remote control according to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to further transmit via the wireless transmitter the first command to decrease the volume output of the audio device when the volume down input is actuated.

5. A remote control according to claim 4 wherein the controller is further configured to pause for a predetermined time period after the first command is transmitted.

6. A remote control according to claim 1 further comprising a second user input operatively coupled to the controller, the controller further configured to increase the value of the first threshold and the value of the second threshold stored in the memory when the second user input is actuated.

7. A remote control according to claim 6 wherein the second user input comprises a volume up input, and wherein the controller is configured to further transmit via the wireless transmitter the second command to increase the volume output of the audio device when the volume up input is actuated.

8. A remote control according to claim 1 wherein the remote control further comprises a housing, and wherein the microphone is mounted to the housing adjacent the transmitter.

9. A remote control for automatically adjusting the volume output of an audio device, the remote control comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to selectively transmit command signals to the audio device;

a microphone configured to monitor sound levels external to the remote control;

a memory storing a first threshold and a second threshold different from the first threshold; and

a controller configured to;

(i) determine the signal level of the audio device as a function of at least two successive peaks in the sound levels monitored by the microphone, (ii) determine the noise level as a function of at least two successive troughs in the sound levels monitored by the microphone, (iii) transmit via the wireless transmitter a first command to decrease the volume output of the audio device if a ratio of the signal level to the noise level (the “

signal-to-noise ratio”

) is greater than the first threshold, and (iv) transmit via the wireless transmitter a second command to increase the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio is less than the second threshold.

10. A remote control according to claim 9 further comprising a volume down button operatively coupled to the controller, the controller further configured to decrease the value of the first threshold and the value of the second threshold stored in the memory when the volume down button is depressed.

11. A remote control according to claim 10 further comprising a volume up button operatively coupled to the controller, the controller further configured to increase the value of the first threshold and the value of the second threshold stored in the memory when the volume up button is depressed.

12. A remote control according to claim 9 wherein the remote control further comprises a housing, and wherein the microphone is mounted to the housing adjacent the transmitter.

13. A method executable by a controller in a remote control for automatically adjusting the volume output of an audio device, the method comprising:

storing a first threshold and a second threshold in a memory the first threshold is different from the second threshold;

monitoring sound levels external to the remote control utilizing a single microphone;

determining in the controller a signal-to-noise ratio as a function of the sound levels detected by the microphone;

transmitting via a wireless transmitter a first command to decrease adjust the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio is greater than passes the first threshold;

transmitting via a wireless transmitter a second command to increase the volume output of the audio device if the signal-to-noise ratio is less than the second threshold; and

adjusting the value of the first and second thresholds, as stored in the memory, in response to actuation of at least one user input provided on the remote control.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the determining comprises:

determining in the controller the signal level as a function of the average the minimum volume levels detected by the microphone over a given time period; and

determining in the controller the noise level as a function of the average maximum volume levels detected by the microphone over a given time period.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the remote control further-comprises a volume down input and a volume up input coupled to the controller, and wherein adjusting comprises:

decreasing the value of the first threshold and the value of the second threshold stored in the memory when the volume down input is actuated; and

increasing the value of the first threshold and the value of the second threshold stored in the memory when the volume up input is actuated.