Mobile device audio playback

• US 9,235,203 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Izo, Tomas, Chechik, Gal
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US14/505,036
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/636 by using biological or physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/737 Characterised by transmission of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. infrared waves

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to providing audio playback to a mobile device user. According to one aspect of this disclosure, a mobile device may be to modify audio playback in response to detecting an inclination of the mobile device (and thereby a user) with respect to a reference plane. According to another aspect of this disclosure, a mobile device may be configured to automatically identify an audible sound that may be motivational to a user, and store an indication of the audible sound in response to the identification. According to another aspect of this disclosure, a mobile device may automatically play back a previously identified motivational song in response to detection of user movement.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing, by a computing device, first audio data corresponding to a first audible sound, wherein the first audible sound is output to a user;

determining, based on at least one signal received from at least one sensor coupled to the computing device, a first indication of user movement in response to providing the first audio data;

after determining the first indication of user movement, providing, by the computing device and for a first time of multiple times, second audio data corresponding to a second audible sound, wherein the second audible sound is output to the user, and wherein the second audible sound is different than the first audible sound;

in response to providing the second audio data for the first time;

determining, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a second indication of user movement, the second indication of user movement being different from the first indication of user movement; and

determining a motivational score associated with the second audible sound;

providing, by the computing device and for a second time of the multiple times, the second audio data corresponding to the second audible sound that is output to the user;

in response to providing the second audio data for the second time;

determining, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a third indication of user movement that is different from the first indication of user movement; and

in response to determining that the third indication of user movement is different from the first indication of user movement, increasing the motivational score associated with the second audible sound, wherein increasing the motivational score of the second audible sound indicates one or more of an increased likelihood that the second audible sound is motivational to the user or that the second audible sound causes a motivational effect for the user; and

identifying, by the computing device and based on the motivational score, that the second audible sound is motivational to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying that the second audible sound is motivational to the user occurs while the second audible sound is output to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first indication of user movement and determining the second indication of user movement each comprises determining one of a tempo of user movement, a heart rate of the user, an inclination of the user with respect to a reference plane, or a speed of movement of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a fourth indication of user movement; and

identifying, based on the fourth indication of user movement, a motivational condition indicating that the user desires motivation,

wherein providing the second audio data occurs in response to the identifying of the motivational condition.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing at least one indication in association with the second audible sound, the at least one indication representing a motivational attribute of the second audible sound.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one indication stored in association with the second audible sound indicates that outputting the second audible sound to the user caused the second indication of user movement to be different than the first indication of user movement.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining at least one characteristic of a third audible sound; and

identifying the third audible sound as a motivational sound based on comparing the at least one characteristic of the third audible sound to the at least one indication stored in association with the second audible sound.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after providing the second audio data, providing, by the computing device, third audio data corresponding to a third audible sound, the third audible sound being output to the user, and the third audible sound being different from the second audible sound;

determining, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a fourth indication of user movement in response to providing the third audio data;

comparing the second indication of user movement to the first and fourth indications of user movement; and

determining, based on the comparing, that the second indication of user movement occurred in response to the second audible sound.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a motivational condition indicating that the user desires motivation,

wherein providing the second audio data comprises, in response to the identifying of the motivational condition, providing the second audio data based on the motivational score for the second audible sound.

10. A computing device, comprising:

one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

provide first audio data corresponding to a first audible sound, wherein the first audible sound is output to a user;

determine, based on at least one signal received from at least one sensor coupled to the computing device, a first indication of user movement in response to providing the first audio data;

after determining the first indication of user movement, provide, for a first time of multiple times, second audio data corresponding to a second audible sound, wherein the second audible sound is output to the user, and wherein the second audible sound is different than the first audible sound;

in response to providing the second audio data for the first time;

determine, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a second indication of user movement, the second indication of user movement being different from the first indication of user movement, and

determine a motivational score associated with the second audible sound;

provide, for a second time of the multiple times, the second audio data corresponding to the second audible sound that is output to the user;

in response to providing the second audio data for the second time;

determine, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a third indication of user movement that is different from the first indication of user movement; and

in response to determining that the third indication of user movement is different from the first indication of user movement, increase the motivational score associated with the second audible sound, wherein increasing the motivational score of the second audible sound indicates one or more of an increased likelihood that the second audible sound is motivational to the user or that the second audible sound causes a motivational effect for the user; and

identify, based on the motivational score, that the second audible sound is motivational to a user.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are configured to identify that the second audible sound is motivational to the user while the second audible sound is output to the user.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to store at least one indication in association with the second audible sound, the at least one indication representing a motivational attribute of the second audible sound.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the at least one indication stored in association with the second audible sound indicates that providing outputting the second audible sound to the user caused the second indication of user movement to be different than the first indication of user movement.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine at least one characteristic of a third audible sound; and

identify the third audible sound as a motivational sound based on comparing the at least one characteristic of the third audible sound to the at least one indication stored in association with the second audible sound.

15. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a fourth indication of user movement; and

identify, based on the fourth indication of user movement, a motivational condition indicating that the user desires motivation,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to provide the second audio data in response to the identifying of the motivational condition.

16. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

identify a motivational condition indicating that the user desires motivation; and

in response to the identifying of the motivational condition, provide the second audio data based on the motivational score for the second audible sound.

17. The computing device of claim 10,

wherein after the one or more processors provide the second audio data, the one or more processors are further configured to provide third audio data corresponding to a third audible sound, the third audible sound being output to the user, and the third audible sound being different from the second audible sound, and

wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine a fourth indication of user movement in response to providing the third audio data;

compare the second indication of user movement to the first and fourth indications of user movement; and

determine, based on the comparing, that the second indication of user movement occurred in response to second audible sound.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions configured to cause a computing device to:

provide first audio data corresponding to a first audible sound, wherein the first audible sound is output to a user;

determine, based on at least one signal received from at least one sensor coupled to the computing device, a first indication of user movement in response to providing the first audio data;

after determining the first indication of user movement, provide, for a first time of multiple times, second audio data corresponding to a second audible sound, wherein the second audible sound is output to the user, and wherein the second audible sound is different than the first audible sound;

in response to providing the second audio data for the first time;

determine, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a second indication of user movement, the second indication of user movement being different from the first indication of user movement, and

determine a motivational score associated with the second audible sound;

provide, for a second time of the multiple times, the second audio data corresponding to the second audible sound that is output to the user;

in response to providing the second audio data for the second time;

determine, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a third indication of user movement that is different from the first indication of user movement; and

in response to determining that the third indication of user movement is different from the first indication of user movement, increase the motivational score associated with the second audible sound, wherein increasing the motivational score of the second audible sound indicates one or more of an increased likelihood that the second audible sound is motivational to the user or that the second audible sound causes a motivational effect for the user; and

identify, based on the motivational score, that the second audible sound is motivational to a user.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the computing device to identify that the second audible sound is motivational to the user while the second audible sound is output to the user.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions that are configured to cause the computing device to store at least one indication in association with the second audible sound, the at least one indication representing a motivational attribute of the second audible sound.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the at least one indication stored in association with the second audible sound indicates that outputting the second audible sound to the user caused the second indication of user movement to be different than the first indication of user movement.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions for causing the computing device to:

determine at least one characteristic of a third audible sound; and

identify the third audible sound as a motivational sound based on comparing the at least one characteristic of the third audible sound to the at least one indication stored in association with the second audible sound.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions that are configured to cause the computing device to:

determine, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a fourth indication of user movement; and

identify, based on the fourth indication of user movement, a motivational condition indicating that the user desires motivation,

wherein the providing of the second audio data occurs in response to the identifying of the motivational condition.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions configured to cause the computing device to:

identify a motivational condition indicating that the user desires motivation; and

in response to the identifying of the motivational condition, provide the second audio data based on the motivational score for the second audible sound.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions configured to cause the computing device to:

after providing the second audio data, provide third audio data corresponding to a third audible sound, the third audible sound being output to the user, and the third audible sound being different from the second audible sound;

determine, based on the at least one signal received from the at least one sensor, a fourth indication of user movement in response to providing the third audio data;

compare the second indication of user movement to the first and fourth indications of user movement; and

determine, based on the comparing, that the second indication of user movement occurred in response to second audible sound.