Patents by Inventor Tobias Münch

Tobias Münch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9014391
    Abstract: A system for controlling audio reproduction may include an interface operable to receive a data stream of an audio signal. The system may also include a processor. The processor may be operable to: analyze the data stream; divide the data stream into segments; associate audio classes with respective segments in accordance with audio classifications and the analysis of the data stream; and replace one or more of the segments associated with a specific audio class, with an audio file, based on information regarding the audio file and information regarding the specific audio class. Further, the system may include another interface operable to output a signal derived from the audio file, to drive a loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Münch, Philipp Schmauderer, Christoph Benz, Andreas Körner
  • Patent number: 8897904
    Abstract: Media content playback includes providing a plurality of media contents; providing for each of the media contents information identifying the respective media content; receiving from a user selection instructions that effect selecting or deselecting of a specific media content; providing context data based on measurements of at least one of absolute time, absolute position and of at least one physical quantity at or in the vicinity of the location where the selected media content is to be reproduced; providing or adapting a user profile that assigns for each specific media content user instructions to the context data provided at the time of receipt of the respective instruction; selecting according to the user profile one of the media contents dependent on the context data at the time of selection; and reproducing the selected media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Muench, Christoph Benz, Andreas Koerner, Philipp Schmauderer
  • Patent number: 8744606
    Abstract: A receiving device for mobile reception of a receive signal including an audio signal associated with a currently received piece of music, and a method for playback in a mobile receiver are disclosed. A receiving circuit receives the receive signal and outputs the audio signal and information associated with the audio signal. The information includes one or more information fields associated with the currently received piece of music. An arithmetic unit evaluates the information associated with the audio signal. A database is configured for storing database entries. Each database entry includes data fields and associated audio data. The arithmetic unit assigns the information to an assigned database entry by comparing the information fields with the data fields. The arithmetic unit outputs the audio data of the assigned database entry based on a detected disturbance in the reception of the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Münch, Philipp Schmauderer, Christoph Benz, Andreas Körner
  • Publication number: 20140029771
    Abstract: A system and method for switching between multiple audio input signals to select one of the audio input signals as audio output signal are disclosed which include receiving the audio input signals, receiving a control signal, and switching controlled by the control signal from a first one of the audio input signals to a second one of the audio input signals. Prior to switching, the first one of the audio input signals is muted and upon switching, the second one of the audio input signals is unmuted in one of multiple unmute modes based on one or more signal parameters characterizing the second one of the audio input signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Muench, Frank Baehren, Ludwig Guenther
  • Publication number: 20130251157
    Abstract: A system for reproducing an audio signal may start a selection mode to retrieve the audio signal based on a first user input, and reproduce, in the selection mode, a first audio signal and a second audio signal. The system may filter the first audio signal and the second audio signal in the selection mode so that the first audio signal at a first location and the second audio signal at a second location are separated acoustically in a virtual acoustic space by the filtering. In the selection mode, in order to select the first audio signal the first location in the virtual acoustic space may be positioned acoustically closer to a listening position of a user than the second location of the second audio signal. The selection mode may end, if a time out of a time counter is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Münch, Philipp Schmauderer, Christoph Benz, Andreas Körner
  • Publication number: 20130003986
    Abstract: A system for controlling audio reproduction may include an interface operable to receive a data stream of an audio signal. The system may also include a processor. The processor may be operable to: analyze the data stream; divide the data stream into segments; associate audio classes with respective segments in accordance with audio classifications and the analysis of the data stream; and replace one or more of the segments associated with a specific audio class, with an audio file, based on information regarding the audio file and information regarding the specific audio class. Further, the system may include another interface operable to output a signal derived from the audio file, to drive a loudspeaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Münch, Philipp Schmauderer, Christoph Benz, Andreas Körner
  • Patent number: 8340908
    Abstract: A tracking device may be used to detect a position or movement of an object. The tracking device may include a housing that supports an emitter. The emitter may transmit a first signal. A measurement device within the housing may measure rotational movement of an object. Circuitry may receive a second signal in response to the first signal. The circuitry may reset an angle value to a predetermined value based on the second signal. The angle value may be determined by a measurement of the rotational movement of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hess, Tobias Münch, Hans-Jürgen Nitzpon
  • Patent number: 8121319
    Abstract: A tracking system may determine the orientation or position of a movable object. The tracking system includes a signal generator that generates a non-audible detection signal in an audible frequency range. A transmitting device transmits the detection signal to a detection device. The transmitting device or the detection device may be positioned on the movable object, and the other may be positioned at a remote location. A processor may determine an orientation or position of the moveable object based on the transmission time between the transmitting device and the detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Seyed-Ali Azizi, Tobias Münch
  • Patent number: 8098138
    Abstract: A tracking system determines the orientation of an object. A transceiver transmits a signal and detects responses from multiple transponders. A processing unit determines an orientation parameter of the object by comparing the responses from the multiple transponders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Münch, Wolfgang Hess, Stefan Beyer
  • Publication number: 20120002515
    Abstract: Media content playback includes providing a plurality of media contents; providing for each of the media contents information identifying the respective media content; receiving from a user selection instructions that effect selecting or deselecting of a specific media content; providing context data based on measurements of at least one of absolute time, absolute position and of at least one physical quantity at or in the vicinity of the location where the selected media content is to be reproduced; providing or adapting a user profile that assigns for each specific media content user instructions to the context data provided at the time of receipt of the respective instruction; selecting according to the user profile one of the media contents dependent on the context data at the time of selection; and reproducing the selected media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Tobias Muench, Christoph Benz, Andreas Koerner, Philipp Schmauderer
  • Publication number: 20110202153
    Abstract: A receiving device for mobile reception of a receive signal including an audio signal associated with a currently received piece of music, and a method for playback in a mobile receiver are disclosed. A receiving circuit receives the receive signal and outputs the audio signal and information associated with the audio signal. The information includes one or more information fields associated with the currently received piece of music. An arithmetic unit evaluates the information associated with the audio signal. A database is configured for storing database entries. Each database entry includes data fields and associated audio data. The arithmetic unit assigns the information to an assigned database entry by comparing the information fields with the data fields. The arithmetic unit outputs the audio data of the assigned database entry based on a detected disturbance in the reception of the audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Münch, Philipp Schmauderer, Christoph Benz, Andreas Körner
  • Patent number: 7916039
    Abstract: A system is provided for conveying information to an occupant of a motor vehicle. In one example of an implementation, driving-relevant information is obtained for example using sensors or a navigation system. An audio message is determined based on the obtained driving-relevant information. Spatial characteristics for the audio message are also determined. The audio message is output in the motor vehicle with the determined spatial characteristic via loudspeakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hess, Tobias Münch, Hans-Jürgen Nitzpon