Method and apparatus for providing information about the source of a sound via an audio device

• US 9,105,187 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MMD Hong Kong Holding Limited
• Original Assignee: Woox Innovations Belgium NV (Gibson Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aliakseyeu, Dzmitry Viktorovich, Berezhnoy, Igor
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US13/320,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20120071997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 381/74, 381/57, 381104-105, 381107-109, 381/61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/24 Control dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing information about the source of a sound via an audio device is described. An ambient sound is detected (200) and specific sounds are identified in the detected ambient sound (202). Information about the source of the identified specific sounds is determined (204). An operational control characteristic of a generated audio stream rendered by an audio device is changed (206) and information about the source is provided to the audio device upon detection of said identified specific sounds (208).

Claims

1. A method for providing information about the source of a sound via an audio device, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting ambient sound;

identifying specific sounds in said detected ambient sound;

determining information about the source of said identified specific sounds;

determining the volume of a generated audio stream rendered by said audio device upon detection of said identified specific sounds;

changing an operational control characteristic of said generated audio stream upon detection of said identified specific sounds;

providing information about said source of said identified specific sounds to said audio device; and

providing a visual indication indicative of the likelihood of there being a discernible level of said ambient sound present within said audio device based on the volume of said generated audio stream.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining information about the source of said identified specific sounds comprises:

determining the direction said identified specific sounds travel from their source, and wherein the step of providing information about said source of said identified specific sounds comprises;

providing the direction said identified specific sounds travel from their source.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of determining information about the source of said identified specific sounds further comprises:

determining the distance from said source, and wherein the step of providing information about said source of said identified specific sounds further comprises;

providing the distance from said source.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said information about said source of said identified specific sounds is provided via said audio device using positional audio.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of changing an operational control characteristic of a generated audio stream rendered by an audio device comprises:

lowering the volume of a generated audio stream rendered by an audio device upon detection of said identified specific sounds.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of changing an operational control characteristic of a generated audio stream rendered by an audio device comprises:

pausing a generated audio stream rendered by an audio device upon detection of said identified specific sounds.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing information about said source of said identified specific sounds comprises the step of:

providing an audio indication upon detection of said identified specific sounds via said audio device.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said audio indication is one of a reproduction of said detected specific sounds or an electrically generated sound.

9. A machine programmed to operate in accordance with the methods according to anyone of the preceding claims.

10. Apparatus (100) for providing information about the source of a sound via an audio device, the apparatus comprising:

a detector (104) for detecting ambient sound;

a signal processor (106) for identifying specific sounds in said detected ambient sound, for determining information about the source of said identified specific sounds, and for monitoring the volume of a generated audio stream rendered by said audio device upon detection of said identified specific sounds;

a controller (108) for changing an operational control characteristic of said generated audio stream rendered by an audio device upon detection of said identified specific sounds; and

an output (110) for providing information about said source of said identified specific sounds to said audio device and for providing a visual indication indicative of the likelihood of there being a discernible level of said ambient sound present within said audio device based on the volume of said generated audio stream.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said audio device is one of a headphone, a CD player, a DVD player, an MPEG player, an MP-3 player, a TV, a mobile phone, a pager, a personal digital assistant, an electronic organizer, or a car audio system.