Selective audio/sound aspects

• US 9,513,157 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2010
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K. Y., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Mangione-Smith, William Henry, Rinaldo, Jr., John D., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, JR., Lowell L., Cohen, Alexander J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paul, Disler
• Application Number:
  US12/924,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20110069845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,267 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56- 57, 381/74, 381/17, 381/73.1, 381/77
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/14 Measuring mean amplitude; Measuring mean power; Measuring time integral of power
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/24 Control dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/34 Muting amplifier when no signal is present or when only weak signals are present, or caused by the presence of noise signals, e.g. squelch systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/00 Two-channel systems H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

Certain aspects relate to providing an at least one audio source to at least one user. Certain aspects relate to selectively modifying an at least one first sound source to be provided to the at least one user, wherein the at least one first sound source is combined with an at least one second sound source, and wherein the selectively modifying is performed relative to the at least one audio source based at least in part on at least some specific information of the at least one first sound source. Other aspects relate to selectively modifying the at least one first sound source to be provided to the at least one user relative to the at least one second sound source based at least in part on at least some specific information of the at least one first sound source.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

circuitry for receiving information associated with a first sound originating from at least one environmental source and information associated with a second sound originating from another environmental source; and

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the recording of the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for receiving information associated with a first sound originating from at least one environmental source and information associated with a second sound originating from another environmental source comprises:

circuitry for receiving information associated with at least one device sound originating from at least one environmental source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for receiving information associated with a first sound originating from at least one environmental source and information associated with a second sound originating from another environmental source comprises:

circuitry for receiving information associated with at least one speech sound originating from at least one environmental source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined user-specified characteristic, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some audio being output by at least one audio device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source is associated with sound information of at least one sound library and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source is associated with sound information of at least one sound library, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some audio being output by at least one audio device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source is associated with sound information of at least one voice library and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source is associated with sound information of at least one voice library, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some audio being output by at least one audio device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some recorded audio being output by at least one audio device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some audiovisual content being output by at least one audiovisual device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some audio of at least some audiovisual content being output by at least one audiovisual device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some audio being output by at least one audio device by emphasis of the at least one sound.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some audio being output by at least one audio device without amplification of the at least one sound.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for emphasis of the at least one sound and de-emphasis of at least some audio being output by at least one audio device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for volume reduction of at least some audio being output by at least one audio device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for pausing of at least some audio being output by at least one audio device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some audio being output by at least one audio device during a duration of the at least one sound.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for temporary de-emphasis of at least some audio being output by at least one audio device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some audio being output by at least one personal audio player.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped comprises:

circuitry for processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic, signaling for de-emphasis of at least some audio being output by at least one entertainment system.

19. A method comprising:

receiving information associated with a first sound originating from at least one environmental source and information associated with a second sound originating from another environmental source; and

processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the recording of the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped.

20. One or more non-transitory media bearing one or more instructions for facilitating operations comprising:

receiving information associated with a first sound originating from at least one environmental source and information associated with a second sound originating from another environmental source; and

processing the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and the information associated with the second sound originating from at least another environmental source by determining whether the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes at least one predetermined characteristic and, if the information associated with the first sound originating from at least one environmental source includes the at least one predetermined characteristic, recording the first sound originating from at least one environmental source and playing back the recording of the first sound originating from at least one environmental source when the second sound originating from at least another environmental source is at least one of diminished or stopped.