Patents Assigned to Hearing Enhancement Company LLC
  • Patent number: 6912501
    Abstract: A method for providing multiple users with voice-to-remaining audio (VRA) adjustment capability includes receiving at a first decoder a voice signal and a remaining audio signal and simultaneously receiving at a second decoder, the voice signal and the remaining audio signal, wherein the voice signal and the remaining audio signal are received separately; and separately adjusting by each of the decoders, the separately received voice and remaining audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Hearing Enhancement Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Vaudrey, William R. Saunders
  • Patent number: 6772127
    Abstract: The invention enables the inclusion of voice and remaining audio information at different parts of the audio production process. In particular, the invention embodies special techniques for VRA-capable digital mastering and accommodation of VRA by those classes of audio compression formats that sustain less losses of audio data as compared to any codecs that sustain comparable net losses equal or greater than the AC3 compression format. The invention facilitates an end-listener's voice-to-remaining audio (VRA) adjustment upon the playback of digital audio media formats by focusing on new configurations of multiple parts of the entire digital audio system, thereby enabling a new technique intended to benefit audio end-users (end-listeners) who wish to control the ratio of the primary vocal/dialog content of an audio program relative to the remaining portion of the audio content in that program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hearing Enhancement Company, LLC
    Inventors: William R. Saunders, Michael A. Vaudrey
  • Patent number: 6650755
    Abstract: A method for decoding an audio signal includes receiving a digital audio signal having a plurality of channels defined thereon, wherein one of the plurality of channels is a center channel and at least one of the other of said plurality of channels is a remaining audio channel; comparing the center channel with the at least one of the other of the plurality of channels to determine a ratio of the center channel to the other of the plurality of channels; and automatically adjusting the center channel and the at least one of the plurality of other channels when a predetermined value for the ratio is not met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hearing Enhancement Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Vaudrey, William R. Saunders
  • Patent number: 6442278
    Abstract: A method for decoding an audio signal includes receiving a digital audio signal having a plurality of channels defined thereon, wherein one of the plurality of channels is a center channel and at least one of the other of said plurality of channels is a remaining audio channel; comparing the center channel with the at least one of the other of the plurality of channels to determine a ratio of the center channel to the other of the plurality of channels; and automatically adjusting the center channel and the at least one of the plurality of other channels when a predetermined value for the ratio is not met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Hearing Enhancement Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Vaudrey, William R. Saunders
  • Patent number: 6351733
    Abstract: The invention enables the inclusion of voice and remaining audio information at different parts of the audio production process. In particular, the invention embodies special techniques for VRA-capable digital mastering and accommodation of VRA by those classes of audio compression formats that sustain less losses of audio data as compared to any codecs that sustain comparable net losses equal or greater than the AC3 compression format. The invention facilitates an end-listener's voice-to-remaining audio (VRA) adjustment upon the playback of digital audio media formats by focusing on new configurations of multiple parts of the entire digital audio system, thereby enabling a new technique intended to benefit audio end-users (end-listeners) who wish to control the ratio of the primary vocal/dialog content of an audio program relative to the remaining portion of the audio content in that program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Hearing Enhancement Company, LLC
    Inventors: William R. Saunders, Michael A. Vaudrey
  • Patent number: 6311155
    Abstract: A method for providing multiple users with voice-to-remaining audio (VRA) adjustment capability includes receiving at a first decoder a voice signal and a remaining audio signal and simultaneously receiving at a second decoder, the voice signal and the remaining audio signal, wherein the voice signal and the remaining audio signal are received separately; and separately adjusting by each of the decoders, the separately received voice and remaining audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Hearing Enhancement Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Vaudrey, William R. Saunders