Systems and methods for delivery of personalized audio

• US 10,484,813 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2019
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Patel, Mehul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thang V
• Application Number:
  US16/368,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20190222952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 236 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/175 using interference effects; Masking sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2203/12 Beamforming aspects for stereophonic sound reproduction with loudspeaker arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation

Abstract

There is provided a device for use in a system to play a content having an audio content, where the system has a plurality of speakers. The device includes a memory configured to store a software application, and a processor configured to execute the software application to obtain a position of a user with respect to each of the plurality of speakers, to play the content, play, during the playing of the content, the audio content using the plurality of speakers based on the position of the user with respect to each of the plurality of speakers, track the position of the user while delivering the audio content to the user via the plurality of speakers, and adjust the delivery of first audio content to the user via the plurality of speakers based on the tracked position of the user and the positions of the plurality of speakers.

Claims

1. A device for use in a system including a plurality of speakers, the device comprising:

a memory configured to store a software application; and

a processor configured to execute the software application to;

transmit one or more audio calibration signals to the plurality of speakers for emission of sounds by the plurality of speakers in an environment;

receive information relating to a detection of the sounds emitted by the plurality of speakers;

analyze the information to determine positions of the plurality of speakers in the environment;

detect a position of a user in the environment;

track the position of the user while delivering an audio signal to the user; and

adjust the delivery of the audio signal to the user via the plurality of speakers based on the tracked position of the user and the positions of the plurality of speakers.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the software application to analyze the information to determine how the sounds travel in the environment.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to determine echoes in the environment, and provide different audio signals to each of the plurality of speakers to cancel the echoes after determining how the sounds travel in the environment.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a different level of audio signals to each of the plurality of speakers after determining how the sounds travel in the environment.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to transmit a same one or more audio calibration signals to each of the plurality of speakers for emission.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein when tracking the user determines that the user has left the environment, the processor is further configured to stop the delivery of the audio signal to the user using the plurality of speakers.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the information to determine positions of walls in the environment, and wherein the processor is further configured to provide different audio signals to each of the plurality of speakers after determining the positions of walls in the environment.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein transmitting the one or more audio calibration signals includes:

transmitting first one or more audio calibration signals to a first speaker of the plurality of speakers for emission by the first speaker; and

transmitting second one or more audio calibration signals to a second speaker of the plurality of speakers for emission by the second speaker;

wherein the first one or more audio calibration signals are different than the second one or more audio calibration signals.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein transmitting the one or more audio calibration signals includes:

transmitting the one or more audio calibration signals to a first speaker of the plurality of speakers at a first time; and

transmitting the one or more audio calibration signals to a second speaker of the plurality of speakers at a second time;

wherein the first time is different than the second time.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises camera, and wherein the position of the user is tracked using the camera.

11. A device for use in a system to play a content having an audio content, the system including a plurality of speakers, the device comprising:

a memory configured to store a software application;

a processor configured to execute the software application to;

obtain a position of each of the plurality of speakers;

obtain a position of a user with respect to the position of each of the plurality of speakers;

play the content;

play, during the playing of the content, the audio content using the plurality of speakers based on the position of the user with respect to the position of each of the plurality of speakers;

track the position of the user while delivering the audio content to the user via the plurality of speakers; and

adjust the delivery of first audio content to the user via the plurality of speakers based on the tracked position of the user with respect to the position of each of the plurality of speakers.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the content is a movie.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises camera, and wherein the position of the user is obtained using the camera.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises camera, and wherein the position of the user is tracked using the camera.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an audio profile of the user, and play the audio content further based on the audio profile.

16. A method for use by a device in a system for playing a content having an audio content, the system including a plurality of speakers, the method comprising:

obtaining a position of each of the plurality of speakers;

obtaining a position of a user with respect to the position of each of the plurality of speakers;

playing the content;

playing, during the playing of the content, the audio content using the plurality of speakers based on the position of the user with respect to the position of each of the plurality of speakers;

tracking the position of the user while delivering the audio content to the user via the plurality of speakers; and

adjusting the delivery of first audio content to the user via the plurality of speakers based on the tracked position of the user with respect to the position of each of the plurality of speakers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the content is a movie.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises camera, and wherein the position of the user is obtained using the camera.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises camera, and wherein the position of the user is tracked using the camera.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an audio profile of the user, and play the audio content further based on the audio profile.