Sharing of custom audio processing parameters

• US 9,584,899 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Doppler Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Jeff, Lanman, III, Richard Fritz, Jaffe, Matthew J., Kraft, Noah, Klimanis, Gints
• Primary Examiner(s): Teshale, Akelaw
• Application Number:
  US15/052,682
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 381/107, 381/111, 381/120, 381/104, 381/108, 381/307, 381/56, 381/57, 381/71.1, 381/94.4, 381/94.7, 381/94.8, 381/18, 381/5, 381/8, 381/71.6, 381/74, 381/110, 381/309, 381/317, 381/58, 381/1, 381/121, 381/122, 381/123, 381/151, 381/26, 381/312, 381/313, 381/375, 381/380, 381/384, 381/71.11, 381/71.14, 381/72, 381/73.1, 381/94.1, 381/94.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/146 Markers for unambiguous identification of a particular session, e.g. session cookie or URL-encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/07 Use of position data from wide-area or local-area positioning systems in hearing devices, e.g. program or information selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Personal audio systems and methods are disclosed. The personal audio system includes a processor configured to generate a processed ambient audio stream by processing the ambient audio stream in accordance with a selected set of processing parameters selected from the plurality of processing parameter sets stored in the memory, a communications interface configured to receive a new set of processing parameters, selected by someone other than the user, and a controller configured to instruct the processor to begin generating the processed ambient audio stream by using the new set of processing parameters.

Claims

1. A personal audio system, comprising:

a housing configured to interface with a user'"'"'s ear;

an input subsystem disposed within the housing and comprising a microphone, a preamplifier and an analog to digital converter coupled to one another, the input subsystem configured to convert ambient sound into an ambient audio stream;

a memory storing data defining a plurality of processing parameter sets;

a processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the input subsystem, the processor configured to generate a processed ambient audio stream by processing the ambient audio stream in accordance with a selected set of processing parameters selected from the plurality of processing parameter sets stored in the memory;

a communications interface in communication with a controller and the processor, the communications interface configured to receive a new set of processing parameters, selected by someone other than the user;

a geo-locator configured to determine a current location of the personal audio system, wherein the current location is transmitted using the communications interface to a sound knowledgebase for use in determining if the current location is associated with a location-specific set of processing parameters that may be used by the personal audio system as the new set of processing parameters, and wherein when the location-specific set of processing parameters associated with the current location exists, the communications interface receiving the location-specific set of processing parameters for use as the new set of processing parameters;

the controller, in communication with the processor and the communications interface, the controller configured to instruct the processor to begin generating the processed ambient audio stream by using the new set of processing parameters; and

an output subsystem disposed within the housing and coupled to the processor, the output subsystem comprising a digital to analog converter, an amplifier and a speaker coupled to one another, the output subsystem configured to convert the processed ambient audio stream into processed output sound for the user'"'"'s ear.

2. The personal audio system of claim 1, wherein the housing is an earbud housing configured to fit, at least partially, within and be supported by a user'"'"'s ear.

3. The personal audio system of claim 1 wherein:

the processor is further configured to search for trigger data within the ambient audio stream, the trigger data identifying the new set of processing parameters that is available for use in processing the ambient sound; and

when the trigger data is present, the processor is further configured to access the memory to obtain the new set of processing parameters and instruct the processor to begin to processing the ambient audio stream using the identified new set of processing parameters.

4. The personal audio system of claim 3 wherein the communications interface is further configured to request download of the identified new set of processing parameters from the sound knowledgebase in response to the trigger data.

5. The personal audio system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive instructions from the user to manually attempt to obtain the new set of processing parameters, wherein

the controller is further configured to instruct the communications interface, in response to the instructions from the user, to search the sound knowledgebase for the new set of processing parameters available for use in processing the ambient sound and wherein

when the new set of processing parameters is available, the controller configured to instruct the communications interface to obtain the new set of processing parameters and to instruct the processor to begin processing the ambient audio stream using the new set of processing parameters.

6. A personal audio system, comprising:

a housing configured to interface with a user'"'"'s ear;

an input subsystem disposed within the housing and comprising a microphone, a preamplifier and an analog to digital converter coupled to one another, the input subsystem configured to convert ambient sound into an ambient audio stream;

a memory storing data defining a plurality of processing parameter sets;

a processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the input subsystem, the processor configured to generate a processed ambient audio stream by processing the ambient audio stream in accordance with a selected set of processing parameters selected from the plurality of processing parameter sets stored in the memory;

a communications interface in communication with a controller and the processor, the communications interface configured to receive a new set of processing parameters, selected by someone other than the user, wherein the communications interface is further configured to listen for trigger data within a network data broadcast, the trigger data identifying the new set of processing parameters that is available for use in processing the ambient sound and when the trigger data is present, the communications interface is further configured to pass the trigger data to the controller which is further for configured to instruct the processor to begin processing the ambient audio stream using the identified new set of processing parameters and wherein the communications interface is further configured to download of the identified new set of processing parameters from a sound knowledgebase in response to the trigger data;

the controller, in communication with the processor and the communications interface, configured to instruct the processor to begin generating the processed ambient audio stream by using the identified new set of processing parameters; and

an output subsystem disposed within the housing and coupled to the processor, the output subsystem comprising a digital to analog converter, an amplifier and a speaker coupled to one another, the output subsystem configured to convert the processed ambient audio stream into processed output sound for the user'"'"'s ear.

7. The personal audio system of claim 6, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive instructions from the user to manually attempt to obtain the new set of processing parameters,

wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the communications interface, in response to the instructions from the user, to search the sound knowledgebase for the new set of processing parameters available for use in processing the ambient sound and

wherein when the new set of processing parameters is available, the controller configured to instruct the communications interface to obtain the new set of processing parameters and to instruct the processor to begin processing the ambient audio stream using the new set of processing parameters.

8. A personal audio system, comprising:

a housing configured to interface with a user'"'"'s ear;

an input subsystem disposed within the housing and comprising a microphone, a preamplifier and an analog to digital converter coupled to one another, the input subsystem configured to convert ambient sound into an ambient audio stream;

a memory storing data defining a plurality of processing parameter sets;

a processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the input subsystem, the processor configured to generate a processed ambient audio stream by processing the ambient audio stream in accordance with a selected set of processing parameters selected from the plurality of processing parameter sets stored in the memory;

a communications interface in communication with a controller and the processor, the communications interface configured to receive a new set of processing parameters, selected by someone other than the user, wherein the communications interface is further configured to listen for trigger data within a network data broadcast, the trigger data identifying the new set of processing parameters that is available for use in processing the ambient sound, when the trigger data is present, the communications interface is further configured to pass the trigger data to the controller which is further configured to instruct the processor to begin processing the ambient audio stream using the identified new set of processing parameters, wherein the trigger data is broadcast by one of (a) network equipment at a location and (b) another, nearby user of a similar personal audio device;

the controller, in communication with the processor and the communications interface, configured to instruct the processor to begin generating the processed ambient audio stream by using the identified new set of processing parameters; and

an output subsystem disposed within the housing and coupled to the processor, the output subsystem comprising a digital to analog converter, an amplifier and a speaker coupled to one another, the output subsystem configured to convert the processed ambient audio stream into processed output sound for the user'"'"'s ear.

9. The personal audio system of claim 8, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive instructions from the user to manually attempt to obtain the new set of processing parameters,

wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the communications interface, in response to the instructions from the user, to search the sound knowledgebase for the new set of processing parameters available for use in processing the ambient sound and

wherein when the new set of processing parameters is available, the controller configured to instruct the communications interface to obtain the new set of processing parameters and to instruct the processor to begin processing the ambient audio stream using the new set of processing parameters.

10. A personal audio system, comprising:

a housing configured to interface with a user'"'"'s ear;

an input subsystem disposed within the housing and comprising a microphone, a preamplifier and an analog to digital converter coupled to one another, the input subsystem configured to convert ambient sound into an ambient audio stream;

a memory storing data defining a plurality of processing parameter sets;

a processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the input subsystem, the processor configured to generate a processed ambient audio stream by processing the ambient audio stream in accordance with a selected set of processing parameters selected from the plurality of processing parameter sets stored in the memory;

a communications interface in communication with a controller and the processor, the communications interface configured to receive a new set of processing parameters, selected by someone other than the user, wherein the communications interface is further configured to listen for trigger data within a network data broadcast, the trigger data identifying the new set of processing parameters that is available for use in processing the ambient sound and when the trigger data is present, the communications interface is further configured to pass the trigger data to the controller which is further configured to instruct the processor to begin processing the ambient audio stream using the identified new set of processing parameters, wherein the trigger data identifies a secondary audio stream for inclusion in the processed ambient sound as modified by the new set of processing parameters;

the controller, in communication with the processor and the communications interface, configured to instruct the processor to begin generating the processed ambient audio stream by using the identified new set of processing parameters; and

an output subsystem disposed within the housing and coupled to the processor, the output subsystem comprising a digital to analog converter, an amplifier and a speaker coupled to one another, the output subsystem configured to convert the processed ambient audio stream into processed output sound for the user'"'"'s ear.

11. The personal audio system of claim 10, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive instructions from the user to manually attempt to obtain the new set of processing parameters,

wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the communications interface, in response to the instructions from the user, to search the sound knowledgebase for the new set of processing parameters available for use in processing the ambient sound and

wherein when the new set of processing parameters is available, the controller configured to instruct the communications interface to obtain the new set of processing parameters and to instruct the processor to begin processing the ambient audio stream using the new set of processing parameters.

12. A method for processing ambient sound in a personal audio system, comprising:

converting ambient sound into an ambient audio stream using an input subsystem disposed within a housing and comprising a microphone, a preamplifier and an analog to digital converter coupled to one another;

storing data, in a memory, the data defining a plurality of processing parameter sets;

generating a processed ambient audio stream by using a processor disposed within a housing and coupled to the input subsystem to process the ambient audio stream in accordance with a selected set of processing parameters selected from the plurality of processing parameter sets stored in the memory;

receiving a new set of processing parameters, selected by someone other than the user, using a communications interface in communication with a controller and the processor;

determining, using a geo-locator, a current location of the personal audio system, wherein the current location is transmitted, using a communications interface, to a sound knowledgebase for use in determining if the current location is associated with a location-specific set of processing parameters that may be used by the personal audio system as the new set of processing parameters and when the location-specific set of processing parameters associated with the current location exists, the communications interface receiving the location-specific set of processing parameters for use as the new set of processing parameters;

instructing, by the controller, the processor to begin generating the processed ambient audio stream by using the new set of processing parameters; and

converting the processed ambient audio stream into processed output sound for the user'"'"'s ear using an output subsystem disposed within the housing and coupled to the processor, the output subsystem comprising a digital to analog converter, an amplifier and a speaker coupled to one another.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the housing is an earbud housing configured to fit, at least partially, within and be supported by a user'"'"'s ear.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

listening for trigger data within a network data broadcast using the communications interface, the trigger data identifying the new set of processing parameters that is available for use in processing the ambient sound; and

when the trigger data is present, instructing the processor to begin processing the ambient audio stream using the identified new set of processing parameters.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising requesting download of the identified new set of processing parameters from a sound knowledgebase in response to the trigger data.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the trigger data is broadcast by one of (a) network equipment at a location and (b) another, nearby user of a similar personal audio device.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the trigger data identifies a secondary audio stream for inclusion in the processed ambient sound as modified by the new set of processing parameters.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

listening for trigger data within the ambient audio stream, the trigger data identifying the new set of processing parameters that is available for use in processing the ambient sound; and

when the trigger data is present, beginning to process the ambient audio stream using the identified new set of processing parameters.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising downloading the identified new set of processing parameters from a sound knowledgebase in response to the trigger data.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving, via a user interface, instructions from the user to manually attempt to obtain the new set of processing parameters;

searching a sound knowledgebase, in response to the instructions from the user, for the new set of processing parameters available for use in processing the ambient sound; and

when the new set of processing parameters is available, obtaining the new set of processing parameters and beginning to process the ambient audio stream using the new set of processing parameters.