Apparatus, systems and methods for adjusting output audio volume based on user location

• US 10,178,492 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Ukraine LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EchoStar Ukraine LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Popova, Albina
• Primary Examiner(s): Paul, Disler
• Application Number:
  US15/249,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20160366531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 381104-109, 381103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation

Abstract

Systems and methods are operable to adjust an output audio volume level of presented audio content that is output as sound from one or more speakers in a media presentation environment. An exemplary embodiment detects movement of a user who is listening to the audio content; increases the output audio volume level when the detected user movement is away from a predefined location in the media presentation environment; and decreases the output audio volume level when the detected user movement is closer to the predefined location in the media presentation environment.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting output audio volume level of presented audio content that is output as sound from at least one speaker in a media presentation environment, the method comprising:

calibrating an automatic output audio volume adjuster, the calibrating comprising;

identifying a first location of a user in the media presentation environment;

associating a first output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the first location;

identifying a second location of the user in the media presentation environment;

associating a second output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the second location;

storing information defining the first location and the associated first output audio volume level;

storing information defining the second location and the associated second output audio volume level;

defining an output audio volume level function based on the first output audio volume level and the associated first location, and based on the second output audio volume level and the associated second location; and

storing information defining the output audio volume level function,

after calibration of the automatic output audio volume adjuster, the method further comprising;

detecting a current location of the user listening to presented audio content;

adjusting the output audio volume level to the first output audio volume level when the user is proximate to the first location;

adjusting the output audio volume level to the second output audio volume level when the user is proximate to the second location;

determining a third output audio volume level based on the current location of the user listening to presented audio content and based on the output audio volume level function; and

adjusting the output audio volume level to the third output audio volume level when the user is at the current location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one speaker is at least one front speaker, and wherein another speaker is a rear speaker, and further comprising:

adjusting the output audio volume level of the at least one front speaker to the first output audio volume level when the current location of the user is proximate to the first location; and

adjusting the output audio volume level of the rear speaker to a third output audio volume level when the current location of the user is proximate to the first location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating the automatic output audio volume adjuster further comprises:

receiving a first user specification of a first desired output audio volume level, wherein the first user specification corresponds to a first volume level heard by the user when the user is at the first location, and wherein the first output audio volume level is defined based on the first user specification; and

receiving a second user specification of a second desired output audio volume level, wherein the second user specification corresponds to a second volume level heard by the user when the user is at the second location, and wherein the second output audio volume level is defined based on the second user specification.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

associating the first user specification and the second user specification with a first type of media content, wherein the first output audio volume level and the second output audio volume level are used to adjust the output audio volume level of the presented audio content when a currently presented media content event corresponds to the first type of media content;

associating a fourth output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the first location, wherein the fourth output audio volume level is different from the first output audio volume level;

associating a fifth output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the second location, wherein the fifth output audio volume level is different from the second output audio volume level;

associating the fourth output audio volume level and the fifth output audio volume level with a second type of media content;

storing information defining the first location, the associated fourth output audio volume level and the associated second type of media content;

storing information defining the second location, the associated fifth output audio volume level and the associated second type of media content,

wherein the fourth output audio volume level and the fifth output audio volume level are used to adjust the output audio volume level of the presented audio content when the currently presented media content event corresponds to the second type of media content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location and the second location are locations in a media room where the at least one speaker resides, wherein a third location in a different room is defined, the method further comprising:

associating a predefined fourth output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the third location;

storing information defining the third location and the associated fourth output audio volume level, wherein the fourth output audio volume level is not based on the output audio volume level function;

adjusting the output audio volume level to the fourth output audio volume level when the current location of the user listening to presented audio content is proximate to the third location.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the output audio volume level function is defined based on a ratio between the first output audio volume level and the second output audio volume level and based on a function of distance from a reference location in the media presentation environment, and

wherein the third output audio volume level (L_new) that is determined based on the current location (L_current) of the user listening to presented audio content and based on the output audio volume level function [F(oavl)] is determined based on the function (L_new)=F(oavl)*(L_current).

7. The method of claim 6,

wherein the output audio volume level function is a first output audio volume level function that is associated with a first type of media content,

wherein the output audio volume level function is a second output audio volume level function that is associated with a second type of media content that is different from the first type of media content,

wherein the first output audio volume level function produces a louder volume than the second output audio volume level function at the current location of the user listening to presented audio content,

wherein the first output audio volume level function is used to adjust the output audio volume level of the presented audio content when the currently presented media content event corresponds to the first type of media content, and

wherein the second output audio volume level function is used to adjust the output audio volume level of the presented audio content when the currently presented media content event corresponds to the second type of media content.

8. The method of claim 6,

wherein the output audio volume level function is a first output audio volume level function that is associated with a first user preference,

wherein the output audio volume level function is a second output audio volume level function that is associated with a second type of user preference that is different from the first user preference,

wherein the first output audio volume level function produces a louder volume than the second output audio volume level function at the current location of the user listening to presented audio content,

wherein after calibration of the automatic output audio volume adjuster, the method further comprises:

receiving one of the first user preference or the second user preference from the user listening to presented audio content,

wherein the first output audio volume level is used to adjust the output audio volume level of the presented audio content when the currently presented media content event corresponds to the first type of user preference, and

wherein the second output audio volume level is used to adjust the output audio volume level of the presented audio content when the currently presented media content event corresponds to the second type of user preference.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein after calibration of the automatic output audio volume adjuster, the method further comprising:

detecting presence of at least one other user in the media presentation environment; and

deactivating operation of the automatic output audio volume adjuster in response to detecting the presence of the at least one other user in the media presentation environment,

wherein the adjusting of the output audio volume level to the first output audio volume level when the user is proximate to the first location is not performed, and

wherein the adjusting of the output audio volume level to the second output audio volume level when the user is proximate to the second location is not performed.

10. A method for adjusting output audio volume level of presented audio content that is output as sound from at least one speaker in a media presentation environment, the method comprising:

calibrating an automatic output audio volume adjuster, the calibrating comprising;

identifying a first location of a user in the media presentation environment;

associating a first output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the first location;

identifying a second location of the user in the media presentation environment;

associating a second output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the second location;

storing information defining the first location and the associated first output audio volume level; and

storing information defining the second location and the associated second output audio volume level,

wherein after calibration of the automatic output audio volume adjuster, the method further comprising;

detecting a current location of the user listening to presented audio content;

adjusting the output audio volume level to the first output audio volume level when the user is proximate to the first location;

adjusting the output audio volume level to the second output audio volume level when the user is proximate to the second location;

determining a ratio between the first output audio volume level and a predefined normalized output audio volume level, wherein the first output audio volume level is a current output audio volume level of the presented audio content that is output as sound from the at least one speaker;

detecting a movement of the user;

determining a distance of movement of the user based on the detected movement;

increasing the first output audio volume level to a third output audio volume level when the detected user movement is in a first direction that is farther away from a predefined location in the media presentation environment, wherein the increased third output audio volume level is equal to the determined distance of the user movement multiplied by a predefined output audio volume level function, and further multiplied by the determined ratio; and

decreasing the first output audio volume level to the third output audio volume level when the detected user movement is in a second direction that is closer to the predefined location in the media presentation environment, wherein the decreased third output audio volume level is equal to the determined distance of user movement multiplied by the predefined output audio volume level function, and further multiplied by the determined ratio.

11. A media device, comprising:

a media content stream interface configured to receive streaming media content, wherein the streaming media content comprises at least audio content that;

a presentation device interface configured to output the audio content to a media presentation device that controls audio output from at least one speaker, wherein the audio content is output as sound from the at least one speaker into a media presentation environment;

a memory that stores audio control logic; and

a processor system communicatively coupled to the presentation device interface, the memory and the media content stream interface,

wherein the processor system is configured to calibrate the audio control logic, the calibrating comprising;

identifying a first location of a user in the media presentation environment;

associating a first output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the first location;

identifying a second location of the user in the media presentation environment;

associating a second output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the second location;

storing information in the memory defining the first location and the associated first output audio volume level;

storing information in the memory defining the second location and the associated second output audio volume level;

defining an output audio volume level function based on the first output audio volume level and the associated first location, and based on the second output audio volume level and the associated second location; and

storing information defining the output audio volume level function,

wherein the processor system is configured to adjust output audio volume after the calibration of the audio control logic, the adjusting of the volume comprising;

determine a current location of the user listening to the presented audio content;

adjusting the output audio volume level to the first output audio volume level when the user is proximate to the first location;

adjusting the output audio volume level to the second output audio volume level when the user is proximate to the second location;

determining a third output audio volume level based on the current location of the user listening to presented audio content and based on the output audio volume level function; and

adjusting the output audio volume level to the third output audio volume level when the user is at the current location.

12. The media device of claim 11, further comprising:

a detector configured to detect a movement of the user from the first location to the second location in the media presentation environment,

wherein the processor determines the current location of the user based on information received from the detector.

13. The media device of claim 11, further comprising:

a detector configured to detect a movement of the user to a current location relative to the first location and the second location in the media presentation environment,

wherein the processor determines the current location of the user based on information received from the detector.

14. The media device of claim 11, further comprising:

an external detector interface configured to receive information from an external detector that detects a movement of the user from the first location to the second location in the media presentation environment,

wherein the processor determines the current location of the user based on information received from the external detector.

15. The media device of claim 14, wherein the external detector resides in an infrared (IR) blaster that is external to the media device, and wherein the IR blaster further comprises:

an IR interface configured to transmit an infrared signal comprising information that is used to determine the current location of the user.

16. The media device of claim 11, further comprising:

a remote interface configured to receive information from a remote control being operated by the user listening to the presented audio content,

wherein the remote interface receives a first user specification of a first desired output audio volume level, wherein the first user specification corresponds to a first volume level heard by the user when the user is at the first location, and wherein the first output audio volume level is defined based on the first user specification; and

wherein the remote interface receives a second user specification of a second desired output audio volume level, wherein the second user specification corresponds to a second volume level heard by the user when the user is at the second location, and wherein the second output audio volume level is defined based on the second user specification.

17. The media device of claim 11,

wherein the output audio volume level function is a first output audio volume level function,

wherein the first output audio volume level function is associated with a first type of media content,

wherein the calibrating by the processor system further comprises:

associating a fourth output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the first location;

associating a fifth output audio volume level of the sound output from the at least one speaker with the first location;

storing information in the memory defining the first location and the associated fourth output audio volume level; and

storing information in the memory defining the second location and the associated fifth output audio volume level,

wherein a second output audio volume level function is defined by the processor system based on the fourth output audio volume level and the associated first location, and based on the fifth output audio volume level and the associated second location,

wherein the second output audio volume level function is associated with a second type of media content that is different from the first type of media content,

wherein the first output audio volume level function produces a louder volume than the second output audio volume level function at the current location of the user listening to presented audio content,

wherein the first output audio volume level function is used when the currently presented media content event corresponds to the first type of media content, and

wherein the second output audio volume level function is used when the currently presented media content event corresponds to the second type of media content.

18. The media device of claim 11, wherein after calibration, the processor system if further configured to:

determine a presence of at least one other user in the media presentation environment; and

deactivate operation of the audio control logic in response to detecting the presence of the at least one other user in the media presentation environment,

wherein the adjusting of the output audio volume level to the first output audio volume level when the user is proximate to the first location in not performed,

and

wherein the adjusting of the output audio volume level to the second output audio volume level when the user is proximate to the second location in not performed.