Operating a digital audio player in a collaborative audio session

• US 20040024478A1
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Mark Taylor, Hans, Mathieu Claude
• Granted Patent: US 8,060,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/46 Volume control
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/241 Scratch effects, i.e. emulating playback velocity or pitch manipulation effects normally obtained by a disc-jockey manually rotating a LP record forward and backward
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/056 MIDI or other note-oriented file format
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355

Abstract

A digital audio system configured to facilitate a collaborative audio session comprises a first digital audio device operable by a first user, a second digital audio device operable by a second user independently of the first digital audio device, and a server configured to communicate with the first digital audio device and the second digital audio device over a network, receive a request from at least one of the digital audio devices for participation in a collaborative audio session, and facilitate communication between the first digital audio device and the second digital audio device.

Claims

1. A method for operating a digital audio device in a DJ mode, thereby facilitating a collaborative audio session with another digital audio device, comprising:

(a) at a first digital audio device operated by a first user, obtaining a first digital audio stream;

(b) joining a second user having a second digital audio device as a participant in a collaborative audio session with said first digital audio device;

(i) said second digital audio device being under independent operational control of said first digital audio device;

(c) obtaining a second digital audio stream from said second digital audio device;

(d) digitally integrating at least a portion of said first digital audio stream and said second digital audio stream; and

(e) providing said integrated digital audio stream to at least said second digital audio device.

2. The method of claim 1 where said (e) is performed in substantially real time.

3. The method of claim 1 where said integrating includes mixing.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to at least said (d), digitally manipulating at least one of said first and second digital audio streams to achieve a desired sound effect.

5. The method of claim 4 where said sound effect includes scratching at least a portion of said manipulated digital audio stream.

6. The method of claim 4 where said sound effect includes looping at least a portion of said manipulated digital audio stream.

7. The method of claim 4 where said sound effect includes echoing at least a portion of said manipulated digital audio stream.

8. The method of claim 4 where said sound effect includes filtering at least a portion of said manipulated digital audio stream.

9. The method of claim 4 where said sound effect includes reverse playing at least a portion of said manipulated digital audio stream.

10. The method of claim 1 where said (b) includes:

(i) transmitting a solicitation to said second digital audio device; and

(ii) receiving an affirmative response to said solicitation.

11. The method of claim 1 where said (b) occurs in response to a request from said second digital audio device.

12. The method of claim 1 where:

(y) said first digital audio device and second digital audio device are networked; and

(z) a request for said participation adheres to a protocol known as SIP.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing a user of a device performing said method to control at least one of said (a)-(e) via a user interface.

14. The method of claim 1 where said (e) includes transmitting said integrated digital audio stream to a digital audio device having a similar capability to perform said recited method on a plurality of digital audio streams.

15. The method of claim 1 where said (e) includes transmitting said integrated digital audio stream to a digital audio device of a different configuration than the digital audio device performing said recited method.

16. The method of claim 1 where said (d) is collectively performed by a plurality of computing devices within a distributed computing environment.

17. A digital audio device operable in a DJ mode to establish a collaborative audio session with another digital audio device, comprising:

(a) a memory configured to store a first digital audio stream;

(b) an interface connectable to a second digital audio device operated by a collaborator wishing to interact with a user of said digital audio device in a joint audio production;

(c) a memory configured to receive a second digital audio stream from said second digital audio device;

(d) programmed logic configured to digitally integrate at least a portion of said first digital audio stream and said second digital audio stream; and

(e) an output module configured to provide said integrated digital audio stream to at least said second digital audio device.

18. The device of claim 17 where said (e) is performed in substantially real time.

19. The device of claim 17 where said (d) includes a mixer.

20. The device of claim 17 where said programmed logic is further configured to digitally manipulate at least one of said first and second digital audio streams to achieve a desired sound effect, prior to completion of said integration.

21. The device of claim 17 where said programmed logic is further configured to be operable in response to a request for collaboration from said second digital audio device.

22. The device of claim 17 further comprising a user interface allowing user control of said digital audio device.

23. The device of claim 17 where said programmed logic of said (d) is deployed among a plurality of computing modules.

24. A computer-readable medium including logic instructions for operating a digital player in a DJ mode, thereby facilitating a collaborative audio session with another digital player, said logic instructions that, if executed:

(a) obtain a first encoded sound recording from a first digital player operated by a first user;

(b) join a second user having a second digital player as a participant in a collaborative audio session with said first digital player;

(i) said second digital player being under independent operational control of said first digital player;

(c) obtain a second sound recording from said second digital player;

(d) in said first digital player, integrate at least a portion of said first and second sound recordings; and

(e) providing said integrated sound recording to said second digital player.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 where said (e) is performed in substantially real time.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 where said (d) includes mixing.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed, digitally manipulate at least one of said first and second sound recordings to achieve a desired audio characteristic, prior to at least said (d).

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed, process a request for participation from said second digital player, prior to at least said (b).

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 further comprising logic instructions that, if executed, provide a control mechanism for at least one of said (a)-(e).

30. A digital audio device capable of operation in a DJ mode, thereby facilitating a collaborative audio session with another digital audio device, comprising:

(a) means, at a first digital audio device operated by a first user, for obtaining a first digital audio stream;

(b) means for joining a second user having a second digital audio device as a participant in a collaborative audio session with said first digital audio device;

(i) said second digital audio device being under independent operational control of said first digital audio device;

(c) means for obtaining a second digital audio stream from said second digital audio device;

(d) means for digitally integrating at least a portion of said first digital audio stream and said second digital audio stream; and

(e) means for providing said integrated digital audio stream to at least said second digital audio device.

31. The device of claim 30 where said providing is performed in substantially real time.

32. The device of claim 30 where said integrating includes mixing.

33. The device of claim 30 further comprising means for digitally manipulating at least one of said first and second digital audio streams to achieve a desired sound effect, prior to at least said integrating.

34. The device of claim 30 where said joining in said (b) occurs in response to a request from said second digital audio device.

35. A digital audio system configured to facilitate a collaborative audio session therebetween, comprising:

(a) a first digital audio device operable by a first user configured to;

(i) provide a first digital audio stream;

(ii) join a second user having a second digital audio device as a participant in a collaborative audio session with said first digital audio device;

(A) said second digital audio device being under independent operational control of said first digital audio device;

(iii) obtain a second digital audio stream from said second digital audio device;

(iv) digitally integrate at least a portion of said first digital audio stream and said second digital audio stream; and

(v) provide said integrated digital audio stream to said second digital audio device; and

(b) a server configured to;

(i) communicate with said first digital audio device and said second digital audio device over a network;

(ii) receive a request from at least one of said digital audio devices for said joining in said (a)(ii); and

(iii) facilitate communication between said first digital audio device and said second digital audio device.

36. The system of claim 35 where said server is configured to assist in performing at least a portion of said (a).

37. In connection with a first digital audio device including a computer-readable memory for storing an encoded first digital audio stream, a processor for decoding said first digital audio stream, and an output interface for playing said decoded first digital audio stream;

an improvement comprising an add-on module for converting said first digital audio device into a personal DJ station, including;

(a) an interface to said first digital audio device;

(b) an interface to a second digital audio device;

(i) under operational control independent of said first digital audio device; and

(ii) configured to receive a second digital audio stream from said second digital audio device; and

(c) a mixer configured to;

(i) receive said first digital audio stream and said second digital audio stream;

(ii) integrate at least a portion of said first digital audio stream and said second digital audio stream; and

(iii) provide said integrated digital audio stream to at least one of said digital audio devices.

38. The system of claim 37 configured to perform said (c)(iii) in substantially real time.

39. The system of claim 37 where said mixer is further configured to digitally manipulate at least one of said first and second digital audio streams to achieve a desired sound effect, prior to completion of at least said (c)(ii).

40. The system of claim 37 where said add-on module is further configured to process a request for participation of said second digital audio device, prior to at least said (b)(ii).

41. The system of claim 37 where said add-on module further comprises a user interface for control thereof.

42. A method for operating a digital audio device in a DJ mode and facilitating a collaborative audio session, comprising:

(a) obtaining at least one digital audio stream from an external source;

(b) performing an audio manipulation on said at least one digital audio stream while the stream is being obtained; and

(c) providing said manipulated digital audio stream to at least one digital audio device.