INTELLIGENT AUDIO CONTROL

• US 20170374481A1
• Filed: 06/27/2016
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: LECTION, David B., RAKSHIT, Sarbajit K., STEVENS, Mark B., WILSON, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,440,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/323 for loudspeakers H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/025 Transducer mountings or cabinet supports enabling variable orientation of transducer of cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

Embodiments for manipulating an audio environment by a processor. A noncalibrative stimulus is detected in the audio environment. In response to the detected noncalibrative stimulus, a component in the audio environment is caused to modify an audio characteristic in order to change a physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating an audio environment by a processor, comprising:

detecting a noncalibrative stimulus in the audio environment using a camera or sonar-based device to determine the noncalibrative stimulus is within a predetermined proximity to a component in the audio environment, the predetermined proximity being set and adjusted by the processor; and

in response to the detected noncalibrative stimulus, causing the component in the audio environment to modify an audio characteristic in order to change a physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic further includes causing a modification in an amplitude, a direction, or a phase to change the physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic further includes causing the component in the audio environment to deform, in order to change the physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic further includes:

causing a change in a position of the component to cause the sound to emanate in a differing direction, or

causing the component to produce a higher or lower sound pressure level.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic further includes causing a housing, mounting frame, or a surface of the component to deform in the audio environment.

6. The method of claim 5, further including instructing an electromagnetic signal to be sent through an electroactive polymer (EAP) in mechanical communication with the component in the audio environment to cause the component to deform.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the noncalibrative stimulus in the audio environment further includes:

detecting a noncalibrative acoustical stimulus from a source external to the component,

detecting a noncalibrative physical stimulus within the predetermined proximity to the component,

receiving acoustical feedback input from the audio environment subsequent to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, to determine if the modification to the audio characteristic meets a predetermined criteria, or

upon detecting the noncalibrative stimulus, providing an alert notification to a user of the detected noncalibrative stimulus within the audio environment.

8. A system for manipulating an audio environment, comprising:

a processor, operable to receive input from the audio environment, that;

detects a noncalibrative stimulus in the audio environment using a camera or sonar-based device to determine the noncalibrative stimulus is within a predetermined proximity to a component in the audio environment, the predetermined proximity being set and adjusted by the processor, and

in response to the detected noncalibrative stimulus, causes the component in the audio environment to modify an audio characteristic in order to change a physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor, pursuant to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, causes a modification in an amplitude, a direction, or a phase to change the physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor, pursuant to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, causes the component in the audio environment to deform, in order to change the physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor, pursuant to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic:

causes a change in a position of the component to cause the sound to emanate in a differing direction, or

causes the component to produce a higher or lower sound pressure level.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor, pursuant to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, causes a housing, mounting frame, or a surface of the component to deform in the audio environment.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor instructs an electromagnetic signal to be sent through an electroactive polymer (EAP) in mechanical communication with the component in the audio environment to cause the component to deform.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor:

detects a noncalibrative acoustical stimulus from a source external to the component,

detects a noncalibrative physical stimulus within the predetermined proximity to the component,

receives acoustical feedback input from the audio environment subsequent to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, to determine if the modification to the audio characteristic meets a predetermined criteria, or

upon detecting the noncalibrative stimulus, provides an alert notification to a user of the detected noncalibrative stimulus within the audio environment.

15. A computer program product for manipulating an audio environment by a processor, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion that detects a noncalibrative stimulus in the audio environment using a camera or sonar-based device to determine the noncalibrative stimulus is within a predetermined proximity to a component in the audio environment, the predetermined proximity being set and adjusted by the processor; and

an executable portion that, in response to the detected noncalibrative stimulus, causes the component in the audio environment to modify an audio characteristic in order to change a physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further including an executable portion that, pursuant to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, causes a modification in an amplitude, a direction, or a phase to change the physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further including an executable portion that, pursuant to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, causes the component in the audio environment to deform, in order to change the physical property of sound generated in the audio environment.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, further including an executable portion that, pursuant to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic:

causes a change in a position of the component to cause the sound to emanate in a differing direction, or

causes the component to produce a higher or lower sound pressure level.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, further including an executable portion that, pursuant to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, causes a housing, mounting frame, or a surface of the component to deform in the audio environment.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further including an executable portion that instructs an electromagnetic signal to be sent through an electroactive polymer (EAP) in mechanical communication with the component in the audio environment to cause the component to deform.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, further including an executable portion that:

detects a noncalibrative acoustical stimulus from a source external to the component;

detects a noncalibrative physical stimulus within the predetermined proximity to the component;

receives acoustical feedback input from the audio environment subsequent to causing the component in the audio environment to modify the audio characteristic, to determine if the modification to the audio characteristic meets a predetermined criteria;

or

upon detecting the noncalibrative stimulus, provides an alert notification to a user of the detected noncalibrative stimulus within the audio environment.