Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification based on mood and/or behavior information

• US 9,769,564 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Goran, Charles, Liu, Eric HC, Brune, Kevin, Valz, Duane Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, YOGESHKUMAR G
• Application Number:
  US14/619,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20160234595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 600590
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/002 Damping circuit arrangements for transducers, e.g. motional feedback circuits

Abstract

Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.

Claims

1. A method for ambient background noise modification, the method comprising:

identifying, using a hardware processor, at least one noise present in a household of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user;

determining, using the hardware processor, a target activity for the user based on the activity the user is currently engaged in and the physical or emotional state of the user;

determining, using the hardware processor, a target ambient noise to be produced in the household based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, the physical or emotional state of the user, and the target activity for the user;

identifying, using the hardware processor, at least one device located in the household of the user associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise, wherein at least one of the identified devices has a fan;

determining, using the hardware processor, sound outputs corresponding to each of the identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise;

causing, using the hardware processor, at a first time point, the identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs by modulating a speed of the fan associated with the at least one of the identified devices based on the physical or emotional state of the user;

determining, using the hardware processor, at a second time point, whether the user is performing the target activity; and

in response to determining that the user is not performing the target activity, causing, using the hardware processor, the identified devices to continue producing the determined sound outputs by continuing to modulate the speed of the fan associated with the at least one of the identified devices until the user begins performing the target activity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining sound output capabilities associated with the identified devices associated with the user device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the identified devices is based at least in part on the determined sound output capabilities.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined sound outputs are to be produced through an audio output associated with at least one of the identified devices.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a sound level associated with the noises present in the household.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the target ambient noise comprises the noises present in the household at a lower sound level relative to the determined sound level associated with the one or more noises present in the household.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user feedback related to the determined target ambient noise; and

determining that the sound outputs are to be produced based on the received user feedback.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the sound outputs has an associated rating and wherein the method further comprises:

retrieving the rating associated with the sound outputs; and

modifying the rating based on the received user feedback.

9. A system for ambient background noise modification, the system comprising:

a hardware processor that is programmed to;

identify at least one noise present in a household of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user;

determine a target activity for the user based on the activity the user is currently engaged in and the physical or emotional state of the user;

determine a target ambient noise to be produced in the household based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, the physical or emotional state of the user, and the target activity for the user;

identify at least one device located in the household of the user associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise, wherein at least one of the identified devices has a fan;

determine sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise;

cause, at a first time point, the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs by modulating a speed of the fan associated with the at least one of the identified devices based on the physical or emotional state of the user;

determine, at a second time point, whether the user is performing the target activity; and

in response to determining that the user is not performing the target activity, cause the identified devices to continue producing the determined sound outputs by continuing to modulate the speed of the fan associated with the at least one of the identified devices until the user begins performing the target activity.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to determine sound output capabilities associated with the identified devices associated with the user device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the identified devices is based at least in part on the determined sound output capabilities.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the determined sound outputs are to be produced through an audio output associated with at least one of the identified devices.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to determine a sound level associated with the noises present in the household.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the target ambient noise comprises the noises present in the household at a lower sound level relative to the determined sound level associated with the one or more noises present in the household.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to:

receive user feedback related to the determined target ambient noise; and

determine that the sound outputs are to be produced based on the received user feedback.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the sound outputs has an associated rating and wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to:

retrieve the rating associated with the sound outputs; and

modify the rating based on the received user feedback.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for ambient background noise modification, the method comprising:

identifying at least one noise present in a household of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user;

determining a target activity for the user based on the activity the user is currently engaged in and the physical or emotional state of the user;

determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the household based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, the physical or emotional state of the user, and the target activity for the user;

identifying at least one device located in the household of the user associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise, wherein at least one of the identified devices has a fan;

determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise;

causing, at a first time point, the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs by modulating a speed of the fan associated with the at least one of the identified devices based on the physical or emotional state of the user;

determining, at a second time point, whether the user is performing the target activity; and

in response to determining that the user is not performing the target activity, causing the identified devices to continue producing the determined sound outputs by continuing to modulate the speed of the fan associated with the at least one of the identified devices until the user begins performing the target activity.