System and method for control by audible device

• US 8,616,973 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Osman, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US11/418,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20070060350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,798 Days
• Field of Search: 463 35- 39
• US Class Current: 463/35
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A system and method is provided for controlling a device through air pressure waves, or “sound”. The system and method involve receiving a sound and analyzing the sound to determine whether or not it has one or more predetermined characteristics. If it is determined that the sound does have one or more predetermined characteristics, at least one control signal is generated for the purpose of controlling at least one aspect of the device.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a device through sound, comprising:

a transducer for receiving sound and converting the sound into an electrical signal; and

a processor for analyzing the electrical signal to determine whether or not the electrical signal includes at least one control tone of a fixed frequency, and for generating at least one control signal when it is determined that the electrical signal does include at least one control tone of a fixed frequency, the control signal(s) being generated proportional to an amplitude of the electrical signal and being used to control at least one aspect of the device other than sound generation, such that an action performed in response to the control signal is performed in proportion to the amplitude of the electrical signal.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an A/D converter for converting the electrical signal generated by the transducer into a plurality of digital samples, and wherein the processor analyzes the plurality of digital samples.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the processor performs a frequency domain transformation on the digital samples.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device is a video game system including a video game console, the transducer is located outside the console, and the processor is located within the console.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device is a video game system including a video game console, and the transducer and processor are located inside the console.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an A/D converter for performing A/D conversion on signals received from the transducer and a buffer for storing digital samples generated by the A/D converter.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a sound-generating element.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the sound-generating element is a handheld controller.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the sound-generating element is a whistle.

10. A method for controlling a device through sound, comprising the steps of:

receiving sound;

converting the sound into an electrical signal;

analyzing the electrical signal to determine whether or not the electrical signal includes at least one control tone of a fixed frequency; and

generating at least one control signal when it is determined that the electrical signal does include at least one control tone of a fixed frequency, the control signal(s) being generated proportional to an amplitude of the electrical signal and being used to control at least one aspect of the device other than sound generation, such that an action performed in response to the control signal is performed in proportion to the amplitude of the electrical signal.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of converting comprises converting the sound into a plurality of digital samples.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of analyzing comprises performing a frequency domain transformation on the digital samples.

13. A video game system in which a player interacts with the system through sound, comprising:

a sound-generating element for producing sound in response to manipulation by the player;

a transducer for receiving the sound generated by the sound-generating element and converting the sound to an electrical signal; and

a processor for analyzing the electrical signal to determine whether or not the electrical signal includes at least one control tone of a fixed frequency, and for generating at least one control signal when it is determined that the electrical signal does include at least one control tone of a fixed frequency, the control signal(s) being generated proportional to an amplitude of the electrical signal and being used to control at least one aspect of the video game system other than sound generation, such that an action performed in response to the control signal is performed in proportion to the amplitude of the electrical signal.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising an A/D converter for receiving the electrical signal generated by the transducer and converting the electrical signal into a plurality of digital samples, and wherein the processor analyzes the digital samples.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the processor performs a frequency domain transformation on the digital samples.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sound-generating element is a handheld controller.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sound-generating element is a whistle.

18. A system for controlling a device through sound, comprising a processor for analyzing a received sound to determine whether or not the sound includes at least one control tone of a fixed frequency, and for generating at least one control signal when it is determined that the sound includes at least one control tone of a fixed frequency, the control signal(s) being generated proportional to an amplitude of the sound and being used to control at least one aspect of the device other than sound generation, such that an action performed in response to the control signal is performed in proportion to the amplitude of the electrical signal.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising a transducer for converting the received sound into an electrical signal, and wherein the processor analyzes the electrical signal to determine whether or not the sound includes at least on e control tone of a fixed frequency.

20. A method for controlling a device through sound, comprising the steps of:

receiving sound;

analyzing the sound to determine whether or not the sound includes at least one control tone of a fixed frequency; and

generating at least one control signal when it is determined that the sound does include at least one control tone of a fixed frequency, the control signal(s) being generated proportional to an amplitude of the sound and being used to control at least one aspect of the device other than sound generation, such that an action performed in response to the control signal is performed in proportion to the amplitude of the electrical signal.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of converting the sound into and electrical signal, and wherein the step of analyzing comprises analyzing the electrical signal to determine whether or not the sound includes at least one control tone of a fixed frequency.