Audio/video reproducing systems, methods and computer program products that modify audio/video electrical signals in response to specific sounds/images

• US 20070127879A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel, Tischer, Steven, Starr, Robert, Frank, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,936,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/234
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10

Abstract

An audio/video reproducing system is automatically electronically controlled in response to specific sensed sounds, specific sensed images and/or specific sensed patterns of nonvisible electromagnetic radiation that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds, a predefined set of specific images and/or a predefined set of electromagnetic radiation patterns. User preferences may be set to identify specific combinations of sensed patterns. The sensed patterns may be ambient sensed patterns and/or remote sensed patterns. Related systems, methods and computer program products are also described.

Claims

1. An audio/video reproducing system comprising:

an audio/video electronics system that is configured to produce audio/video electrical signals from an audio/video program source;

an ambient sound sensor;

a signal processor that is configured to identify specific ambient sounds selected from a predefined set of specific ambient sounds in response to the ambient sound sensor; and

a controller that is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to modify the audio/video electrical signals that are produced from the audio/video program source in response to the specific ambient sounds that are identified by the signal processor.

2. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1 further comprising:

an image sensor;

wherein the signal processor is further configured to identify specific images selected from a predefined set of specific images in response to the image sensor; and

wherein the controller is further configured to control the audio/video electronics system to modify the audio/video electrical signals that are produced from the audio/video program source in response to the specific ambient sounds and/or the specific images that are identified by the signal processor.

3. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 2 further comprising:

a nonvisible electromagnetic radiation sensor;

wherein the signal processor is further configured to identify specific nonvisible electromagnetic radiation patterns selected from a predefined set of specific electromagnetic radiation patterns in response to the nonvisible electromagnetic radiation sensor; and

wherein the controller is further configured to control the audio/video electronics system to modify the audio/video electrical signals that are produced from the audio/video program source in response to the specific ambient sounds, the specific images and/or the specific nonvisible electromagnetic radiation patterns that are identified by the signal processor.

4. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1 wherein the audio/video reproducing system is a portable audio/video reproducing system that further comprises earpiece acoustical transducers and wherein the controller is configured to modify the electrical signals that are produced from the audio/video program source to warn a wearer of the earpiece acoustical transducers of specific ambient sounds.

5. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1 further comprising an electrical-to-audio/video transducer that is configured to convert the audio/video signals that are modified into sounds/images.

6. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to train the signal processor to recognize the predefined set of specific ambient sounds in a training mode of operations.

7. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to control the signal processor to download the predefined set of specific ambient sounds.

8. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1 further comprising:

an external sound sensor;

wherein the signal processor is configured to identify specific ambient and/or external sounds selected from a predefined set of specific sounds in response to the ambient sound sensor and the external sound sensor; and

wherein the controller is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to modify the audio/video electrical signals that are produced from the audio/video program source in response to the specific ambient and/or external sounds that are identified by the signal processor.

9. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to control a device that is external to the audio/video electronics system in response to the specific ambient sounds that are identified by the signal processor.

10. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to increase or decrease the audio electrical signals, to add a voice synthesized message to the audio electrical signals, to add a text message to the video electrical signals and/or to add the specific ambient sounds to the audio electrical signals in response to the specific ambient sounds that are identified by the signal processor.

11. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to increase or decrease the audio electrical signals, to add a voice synthesized message to the audio electrical signals, to add a text message to the video electrical signals, to add the specific ambient sounds to the audio electrical signals and/or to add the specific image to the video electrical signals in response to the specific ambient sounds and/or the specific images that are identified by the signal processor.

12. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1:

wherein the specific ambient sounds comprise a baby crying and/or a telephone and/or bell ringing; and

wherein the controller is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to decrease the audio electrical signals, to add a voice synthesized message to the audio electrical signals, to add a text message to the video electrical signals and/or to add the sounds of the baby crying and/or the telephone and/or the bell ringing to the audio electrical signals, in response to the baby crying and/or the telephone and/or bell ringing that are identified by the signal processor.

13. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1:

wherein the specific ambient sounds comprise a user snoring; and

wherein the controller is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to discontinue the audio/video electrical signals in response to the user snoring that is identified by the signal processor.

14. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1:

wherein the specific ambient sounds comprise specific home appliance sounds; and

wherein the controller is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to increase the audio electrical signals in response to the home appliance sounds that are identified by the signal processor to mask the specific home appliance sounds.

15. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to store user preferences of combinations of specific ambient sounds selected from the predefined set of specific ambient sounds and wherein the controller is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to modify the audio/video electrical signals that are produced from the audio/video program source in response to the specific ambient sounds that are identified by the signal processor and the user preferences that are stored.

16. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 2:

wherein the specific ambient sounds comprise a siren approaching;

wherein the specific images comprise blue lights flashing; and

wherein the controller is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to decrease the audio electrical signals, to add a voice synthesized message to the audio electrical signals, to add a text message to the video electrical signals and/or to add the sounds of the siren approaching and/or the image of the blue lights flashing to the audio/video electrical signals in response to the siren approaching and the blue lights flashing that are identified by the signal processor.

17. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 16 wherein the audio/video reproducing system is a portable or vehicular audio/video reproducing system.

18. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 9:

wherein the specific ambient sounds comprise a baby crying and/or a telephone and/or bell ringing; and

wherein the controller is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to decrease the audio electrical signals, to add a voice synthesized message to the audio electrical signals, to add a text message to the video electrical signals and/or to add the sounds of the baby crying and/or the telephone and/or bell ringing to the audio electrical signals, and to increase ambient lighting external to the audio/video reproducing system in response to the baby crying and/or the telephone and/or bell ringing that are identified by the signal processor.

19. An audio/video reproducing system according to claim 9:

wherein the specific ambient sounds comprise a user snoring; and

wherein the controller is configured to control the audio/video electronics system to discontinue the audio/video electrical signals and to decrease ambient lighting external to the audio/video reproducing system in response to the user snoring that is identified by the signal processor.

20. An audio/video reproducing method comprising:

automatically electrically controlling an audio/video reproducing system in response to specific sensed sounds and/or specific sensed images that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds and/or a predefined set of specific images.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein automatically electronically controlling comprises automatically electronically controlling an audio/video reproducing system in response to specific sensed sounds, specific sensed images and/or specific sensed patterns of nonvisible electromagnetic radiation that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds, a predefined set of specific images and/or a predefined set of nonvisible electromagnetic radiation patterns.

22. A method according to claim 20 wherein the audio/video reproducing system is a portable audio/video reproducing system that further comprises earpiece acoustical transducers and wherein automatically electronically controlling comprises modifying sounds produced in the earpiece acoustical transducers to warn a wearer of the earpiece acoustical transducers of specific sensed sounds and/or specific sensed images that are identified electronically.

23. A method according to claim 20 wherein automatically electronically controlling is preceded by training the audio/video reproducing system to recognize the predefined set of specific sounds and/or the predefined set of specific images.

24. A method according to claim 20 wherein automatically electronically controlling is preceded by downloading the predefined set of specific sounds and/or the predefined set of specific images into the audio/video reproducing system.

25. A method according to claim 20 wherein automatically electronically controlling is preceded by defining combinations of specific sounds from the predefined set of specific sounds and/or specific images form the predefined set of specific images to be used to control the audio/video reproducing system based on user preferences.

26. A method according to claim 20 wherein automatically electronically controlling comprises automatically electronically controlling an audio/video reproducing system in response to specific sensed ambient and/or remote sounds and/or specific sensed ambient and/or remote images that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds and/or a predefined set of specific images.

27. A method according to claim 20 wherein automatically electronically controlling further comprises automatically electronically controlling a device that is external to the audio/video reproducing system in response to specific sensed ambient and/or remote sounds and/or specific sensed ambient and/or remote images that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds and/or a predefined set of specific images.

28. A method according to claim 20 wherein automatically electronically controlling comprises increasing or decreasing audio volume, adding a voice synthesized message, adding a text message and/or adding the specific ambient sounds and/or the specific image to program material that is playing, in response to the specific sensed sounds and/or specific sensed images that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds and/or a predefined set of specific images.

29. A computer program product for controlling an audio/video reproducing system, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to control the audio/video reproducing system in response to specific sensed sounds and/or specific sensed images that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds and/or a predefined set of specific images.

30. A computer program product according to claim 29 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to control comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to control an audio/video reproducing system in response to specific sensed sounds, specific sensed images and/or specific sensed patterns of nonvisible electromagnetic radiation that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds, a predefined set of specific images and/or a predefined set of nonvisible electromagnetic radiation patterns.

31. A computer program product according to claim 29 wherein the audio/video reproducing system is a portable audio/video reproducing system that further comprises earpiece acoustical transducers and wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to control comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to modify sounds produced in the earpiece acoustical transducers to warn a wearer of the earpiece acoustical transducers of specific sensed sounds and/or specific sensed images that are identified electronically.

32. A computer program product according to claim 29 further comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to train the audio/video reproducing system to recognize the predefined set of specific sounds and/or the predefined set of specific images.

33. A computer program product according to claim 29 further comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to download the predefined set of specific sounds and/or the predefined set of specific images.

34. A computer program product according to claim 29 further comprising

computer-readable program code that is configured to define combinations of specific sounds from the predefined set of specific sounds and/or specific images from the predefined set of specific images to be used to control the audio/video reproducing system based on user preferences.

35. A computer program product according to claim 29 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to control comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to control an audio/video reproducing system in response to specific sensed ambient and/or remote sounds and/or specific sensed ambient and/or remote images that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds and/or a predefined set of specific images.

36. A computer program product according to claim 29 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to control further comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to control a device that is external to the audio/video reproducing system in response to specific sensed ambient and/or remote sounds and/or specific sensed ambient and/or remote images that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds and/or a predefined set of specific images.

37. A computer program product according to claim 29 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to control comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to increase or decrease audio volume, add a voice synthesized message, add a text message and/or add the specific ambient sounds and/or the specific image to program material that is playing, in response to the specific sensed sounds and/or specific sensed images that are identified electronically from a predefined set of specific sounds and/or a predefined set of specific images.