Conversation management in a personal audio device
First Claim
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1. A portable consumer audio playback device, comprising:
- a compact consumer audio device housing;
an audio output adapted for connection to at least one headphone for transforming one or more output electrical signals to sound;
a microphone input for connection to a microphone element for sensing ambient sounds external to the housing and producing an ambient measuring audio signal;
an audio program source for providing input of audio program information; and
an audio processor for detecting speech in the ambient sounds from the ambient measuring audio signal, wherein the audio processor adjusts a characteristic of the audio program information in response to detection of the speech, wherein the audio processor further determines a direction of the speech in the ambient sounds and adjusts the characteristic of the audio program information in response to the direction of the speech indicating that the speech is not speech of a user of the portable consumer audio playback device.
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Abstract
A personal audio device that detects speech provides for improved interaction with others. When speech is detected in a microphone output signal of a microphone that measures ambient audio sounds, the audio program being reproduced by the personal audio device may be altered, by attenuating, muting or interrupting the program material. The speech may be provided to a headset that reproduces the program material. The direction of the speech can be used to determine whether the speech is from a person other than the use of the personal audio device.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A portable consumer audio playback device, comprising:
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a compact consumer audio device housing; an audio output adapted for connection to at least one headphone for transforming one or more output electrical signals to sound; a microphone input for connection to a microphone element for sensing ambient sounds external to the housing and producing an ambient measuring audio signal; an audio program source for providing input of audio program information; and an audio processor for detecting speech in the ambient sounds from the ambient measuring audio signal, wherein the audio processor adjusts a characteristic of the audio program information in response to detection of the speech, wherein the audio processor further determines a direction of the speech in the ambient sounds and adjusts the characteristic of the audio program information in response to the direction of the speech indicating that the speech is not speech of a user of the portable consumer audio playback device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of processing audio program information in a portable consumer audio playback device, the method comprising:
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reproducing audio program information by providing one or more output electrical signals to at least one headphone; sensing ambient sounds external to a housing of the portable consumer audio device housing; detecting speech in the ambient sounds sensed by the sensing; determining a direction of the speech; and adjusting a characteristic of the audio program information in response to the detection of the speech and in response to the direction of the speech indicating that the speech is not speech of a user of the portable consumer audio playback device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An integrated circuit for implementing at least a portion of a portable consumer audio playback device, comprising:
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an audio output adapted for connection to at least one headphone for transforming one or more output electrical signals to sound; a microphone input for connection to a microphone element for sensing ambient sounds external to the housing and producing an ambient measuring audio signal; a program input for receiving audio program information; an audio processor for detecting speech in the ambient sounds from the ambient measuring audio signal, wherein the audio processor adjusts a characteristic of the audio program information in response to detection of the speech, wherein the audio processor further determines a direction of the speech in the ambient sounds and adjusts the characteristic of the audio program information in response to the direction of the speech indicating that the speech is not speech of a user of the portable consumer audio playback device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification