Use of voice-to-remaining audio (VRA) in consumer applications

• US 8,170,884 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Akiba Electronics Institute LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Vaudrey, Michael A., Saunders, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abebe, Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US11/971,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20080130924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 704/500, 381/10
• US Class Current: 704/500
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00992 Circuits for stereophonic or quadraphonic recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10592 specifically adapted for recording or reproducing multichannel signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/89 using three or more audio channels, e.g. triphonic or quadraphonic
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/43 Electronic input selection or mixing based on input signal analysis, e.g. mixing or selection between microphone and telecoil or between microphones with different directivity characteristics H04R25/407 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• 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 2400/11 Positioning of individual sound objects, e.g. moving airplane, within a sound field H04S2420/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field

Abstract

Systems provide an audio/visual output to each of a plurality of listeners in a manner that permits individualized audio adjustment, wherein audio comprises a first signal that is substantially voice and a second signal that is substantially other than voice. The systems may include a video device, a storage medium, and a transmitter that transmits the first and second signals to a plurality of personal listening devices. Each of the plurality of personal listening devices may include first and second receivers, first and second adjustment devices, an audio signal combining device, and one or more transducers, wherein the systems permit each of the plurality of listeners to adjust the first and second signals independently of other ones of the plurality of listeners in an audience.

Claims

1. A personal listening device useful in a listening environment having a plurality of listeners, the personal listening device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first audio signal and a second audio signal, the first audio signal including substantially a voice signal and the second audio signal including a remaining audio, the first audio signal being different than the second audio signal;

an adjustment device configured to allow a listener to adjust the first audio signal and the second audio signal independent of each other; and

a transducer configured to receive the adjusted first and/or second audio signals, combine the received first and second audio signals, and output an audible sound based on the combined first and second audio signals to the listener without interfering with other listeners in the listening environment.

2. The personal listening device of claim 1 wherein the personal listening device is chosen from a group consisting of a headphone, a hearing aid, an assisted listening device, a cochlear implant, an eyewear, a wearable computer, or a combination thereof.

3. The personal listening device of claim 1 wherein the receiver is chosen from a group consisting of Digital Theater Sound (DTS) receiver, Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS) receiver, Dolby Digital receiver, and other multi-channel format decoder.

4. The personal listening device of claim 1 wherein the second audio signal comprises a combination of left, right, left surround, right surround, center, and subwoofer analog outputs.

5. The personal listening device of claim 1 wherein the first audio signal and the second audio signal comprise digital signals that require decoding.

6. The personal listening device of claim 1 wherein the adjustment device is configured to adjust the second audio signal and a sum of the first audio signal and the adjusted second audio signal.

7. The personal listening device of claim 1 wherein the adjustment device is configured to adjust:

a balance between the first and second audio signals, and

a balanced combination of the first and second audio signals.

8. The personal listening device of claim 7 wherein the balance adjustment is based on a sum of:

a ratio of actual and stored values of a first audio signal standard deviation, and

a ratio of actual and stored values of a second audio signal standard deviation.

9. A broadcasting apparatus, comprising:

a storage medium holding a first audio signal and a second audio signal corresponding to the first audio signal, the first audio signal including substantially a voice signal and the second audio signal including a remaining audio; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the first and second audio signals to a plurality of receivers, wherein the first and/or second audio signals are configured to be independently adjusted at each of the plurality of receivers and subsequently combined to produce an audible sound.

10. The broadcasting apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a personal listening device chosen from a group consisting of a headphone, a hearing aid, an assisted listening device, a cochlear implant, an eyewear, a wearable computer, or a combination thereof.

11. The broadcasting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the receivers are chosen from a group consisting of Digital Theater Sound (DTS) receiver, Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS) receiver, Dolby Digital receiver, and other multi-channel format decoder.

12. The broadcasting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second audio signal is a combination of left, right, left surround, right surround, center, and subwoofer analog outputs.

13. The broadcasting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first audio signal and the second audio signal are digital signals that require decoding.

14. The broadcasting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the adjustment comprises adjusting the second audio signal and adjusting a sum of the first audio signal and the adjusted second audio signals.

15. The broadcasting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the independent adjustment comprises:

adjusting a balance between the first and second audio signals, and

adjusting a balanced combination of the first and second audio signal.

16. The broadcasting apparatus of claim 15 wherein the balance adjustment is based on a sum of:

a ratio of actual and stored values of a first audio signal standard deviation, and

a ratio of actual and stored values of a second audio signal standard deviation.

17. A personal listening device useful in a listening environment having a plurality of listeners, the personal listening device comprising:

means for receiving a first audio signal and a second audio signal, the first audio signal including a voice signal and the second audio signal including a remaining audio, wherein the first audio signal is different than the second audio signal;

means for adjusting the first audio signal and the second audio signal independent of each other by a listener; and

means for receiving the adjusted first and/or second audio signals, combining the received first and second audio signals, and outputting an audible sound based on the combined first and second audio signals to the listener without interfering with other listeners in the listening environment.