Techniques for acoustic management of entertainment devices and systems

• US 9,781,484 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran, Booth, Cory J., Andersen, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Laura
• Application Number:
  US13/819,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20130315038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,230 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/20 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/635 Overlay text, e.g. embedded captions in a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 : PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 : Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 : Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 : Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 : Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 : Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4508 : Management of client data or end-user data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 : involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63 : Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 : using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 : Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 : specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 : Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 : Television signal processing therefor

Abstract

Techniques for acoustic management of entertainment devices and systems are described. Various embodiments may include techniques for acoustically determining a location of a remote control or other entertainment device. Some embodiments may include techniques for controlling one or more entertainment components using voice commands or other acoustic information. Other embodiments may include techniques for establishing a voice connection using a remote control device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing, from an entertainment system, one or more acoustic signals to two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices;

receiving acoustic relay information from a remote control device operative to receive one or more acoustic sound waves produced from the one or more acoustic signals by the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices;

determining a distance between the remote control device and each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices based on the acoustic relay information;

determining a location of the remote control relative to a display of the entertainment system based on the determined distances and the acoustic relay information; and

providing a control directive to the display operative to adjust one or more entertainment parameters of a graphical user interface (GUI) element to be presented on the display based on the determined location, the one or more entertainment parameters comprising size or orientation of the GUI element;

the method further comprising;

correlating the one or more acoustic signals, the one or more acoustic sound waves and the acoustic relay information;

determining a transmission time for the one or more acoustic sound waves from each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices to the remote control device;

determining the distance between the remote control device and each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices based on the determined transmission time; and

triangulating a location of the remote control device based on the determined distances to determine the location of the remote control relative to the display;

the method further comprising;

calculating a first delay associated with the one or more acoustic signals or the one or more acoustic sound waves;

calculating a second delay associated with the acoustic relay information; and

accounting for the delays when correlating the one or more acoustic signals and the acoustic relay information, wherein accounting for the delays includes adjusting the determined transmission time or the determined distance between the remote control device and each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving location information for the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining a location of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices based on a known location of the remote control device.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

adjusting a volume for the entertainment system based on the determined location.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

generating a graphical user interface (GUI) view having a GUI element representing the determined location for the remote control device on one or more digital displays.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

generating a graphical user interface (GUI) view having a GUI element representing the remote control device in an augmented reality room representing a physical room containing the remote control device.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising:

sending a reveal request to the remote control device, wherein the reveal request is a control directive to instruct the remote control device to generate a visual, audio or tactile notification.

8. The method of claim 1, the acoustic reproduction devices comprising stereo speakers.

9. The method of claim 1, the one or more acoustic signals comprising acoustic entertainment signals or acoustic calibration signals.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a media management module operative to send a control directive to an entertainment system operative to provide one or more acoustic signals to two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices; and

a transceiver operative to receive acoustic relay information from a remote control device operative to receive one or more acoustic sound waves produced from the one or more acoustic signals by the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices;

the media management module operative to;

determine a distance between the remote control device and each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices based on the acoustic relay information;

determine a location of the remote control relative to a display of the entertainment system based on the determined distances and the acoustic relay information; and

send a control directive to the display operative to adjust one or more entertainment parameters of a graphical user interface (GUI) element to be presented on the display based on the determined location, the one or more entertainment parameters comprising size or orientation of the GUI element;

the media management module further operative to;

correlate the one or more acoustic signals, the one or more acoustic sound waves and the acoustic relay information to determine a transmission time for the one or more acoustic sound waves from each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices to the remote control device, determine the distance between the remote control device and each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices based on the determined transmission time, and triangulate a location of the remote control device based on the determined distances to determine the location of the remote control relative to the display;

the media management module further operative to;

calculate a first delay associated with the one or more acoustic signals or one or more acoustic sound waves and a second delay associated with the acoustic relay information and to account for the delays when correlating the one or more acoustic signals and the acoustic relay information, wherein accounting for the delays includes adjusting the transmission time or the determined distance between the remote control device and each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the media management module operative to send a control directive to adjust a volume of the entertainment system based on the determined distances.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, the one or more acoustic signals comprising acoustic entertainment signals or acoustic calibration signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the acoustic calibration signals comprising one or more impulses, chirps or swoops comprising inaudible ultrasonic frequencies.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, the media management module operative to receive location information for the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, the media management module operative to determine a location for the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices based on a known location of the remote control device.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, the media management module operative to display a graphical user interface (GUI) element representing the determined location of the remote control device in a GUI view on one or more digital displays.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, the media management module operative to display a graphical user interface (GUI) element representing the remote control device in an GUI view of an augmented reality room representing a physical room containing the apparatus and the remote control device on one or more digital displays.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, the media management module operative to send a reveal request to the remote control device, wherein the reveal request is a control directive to instruct the remote control device to generate a visual, audio or tactile notification.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, the acoustic reproduction devices comprising stereo speakers.

20. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising a processor arranged to execute the media management module.

21. An article comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that when executed by a processor enable an entertainment system to:

provide a control directive to an entertainment device operative to provide one or more acoustic signals to two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices;

receive acoustic relay information from a remote control device operative to receive one or more acoustic sound waves produced from the one or more acoustic signals by the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices;

receive acoustic relay information from a remote control device operative to receive one or more acoustic sound waves produced from the one or more acoustic signals by the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices;

determine a distance between the remote control device and each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices based on the acoustic relay information;

determine a location of the remote control device relative to a display of the entertainment system based on the determined distances and the acoustic relay information; and

provide a control directive to the display operative to adjust one or more entertainment parameters of a graphical user interface (GUI) element to be presented on the display based on the determined location, the one or more entertainment parameters comprising size or orientation of the GUI element;

the instructions that when executed further enable the system to;

correlate the one or more acoustic signals, the one or more acoustic sound waves and the acoustic relay information;

determine a transmission time for the one or more acoustic sound waves from each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices to the remote control device;

determine the distance between the remote control device and each of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices based on the determined transmission times; and

triangulate a location of the remote control device based on the determined distances to determine the location of the remote control relative to the display;

the instructions that when executed further enable the system to;

calculate a first delay associated with the one or more acoustic signals or one or more acoustic sound waves;

calculate a second delay associated with the acoustic relay information; and

account for the delays when correlating the one or more acoustic signals and the acoustic relay information.

22. The article of claim 21, comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to:

adjust a volume of the entertainment system based on the determined distances.

23. The article of claim 21, comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to:

receive location information for the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices.

24. The article of claim 21, comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to:

determine a location of the two or more spatially distinct acoustic reproduction devices based on a known location of the remote control device.

25. The article of claim 21, comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to:

display a graphical user interface (GUI) view having a GUI element representing the determined location of the remote control device on one or more digital displays.

26. The article of claim 21, comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to:

display a graphical user interface (GUI) view having a GUI element representing the remote control device in an augmented reality room representing a physical room containing the remote control device.

27. The article of claim 21, comprising instructions that when executed enable the system to:

send a reveal request to the remote control device, wherein the reveal request is a control directive to instruct the remote control device to generate a visual, audio or tactile notification.