Patents Examined by Joseph Saunders, Jr.
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Patent number: 10368171Abstract: An audio apparatus includes an analog module that receives a digital left (L) channel signal and a digital right (R) channel signal and outputs first and second analog L signals and first and second analog R signals, a first output port that includes first to fifth conductors, through which the first and second analog L signals, the first and second analog R signals, and a ground voltage are provided, and a second output port that includes sixth to ninth conductors, through which the first and second analog L signals and the first and second analog R signals are provided. When an audio jack including first to third terminals is inserted into the first output port, the first and second conductors are connected to the first terminal, the third and fourth conductors are connected to the second terminal, and the fifth conductor is connected to the third terminal.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: RADSONE INC.Inventors: Chul-Jae Yoo, Woo Suk Lee
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Patent number: 10360259Abstract: A content providing apparatus, including a biometric information acquiring unit acquiring a biometric information of a passenger, a feeling estimating unit estimating a passenger feeling based on the biometric information acquired, a content instructing unit instructing to acquire a content based on the passenger feeling estimated, a content acquiring unit acquiring the content instructed to be acquired, and a content output unit outputting the content acquired to the passenger. The content instructing unit instructs to change the content to be acquired from a first content to a second content, in accordance with the passenger feeling estimated after the first content is output.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Satoshi Murata
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Patent number: 10354676Abstract: Input media data with an input playing speed is received and divided into input media data subsets. A first rate of audio utterance is determined for a first input media data subset in the media data subsets. A second different rate of audio utterance is determined for a second input media data subset in the media data subsets. Audio output media data is generated with an output playing speed at which audio utterance in the audio output media data is played at a preferred rate of audio utterance. The audio output media data comprises (a) a first output audio media data subset generated based on the preferred rate, the first rate, and the first input media data subset and (b) a second output audio media data subset generated based on the preferred rate, the second rate, and the second input media data subset.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.Inventor: Robert Watts
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Patent number: 10346124Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for benchmarking an audio processing algorithm (“APA”) while the APA is executed in a manner simulating expected real time execution by a deployed system. Other embodiments include a method including steps of determining a synthetic APA which corresponds to a counterpart APA (intended for real use by a first deployed system), and benchmarking the synthetic APA while it is executed in a manner simulating expected real time execution of the synthetic APA by a contemplated deployed system. Other aspects include a system or device configured to implement any embodiment of the inventive method, or including a memory which stores data indicative of at least one synthetic APA determined in accordance with, or a benchmark generated by, an embodiment of the inventive method or steps thereof, and a computer readable medium which stores code for implementing any embodiment of the inventive method or steps thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Andrew P. Reilly, Marcus Altman, Niall Battson, Nicholas Engel
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Patent number: 10346334Abstract: An audio processor for digital audio data is provided, which comprises at least a host interface for connection to a digital audio host to transfer the digital audio data between the digital audio host and the audio processor; a device interface for connection to a user audio device; and a processing unit, connected with the host interface and the device interface. To allow a user to employ an audio device, such as a speaker or a pair of headphones of their choice when connecting to different digital audio hosts, said processing unit is configured to at least conduct a configuration procedure, in which the processing unit communicates with said digital audio host in one of at least a first communication mode and a second communication mode, wherein the communication modes differ from each other, and wherein the communication mode is selected according to the setting of a communication mode selector.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.Inventors: Barry C Ferris, Carl Andrew Kochalko
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Patent number: 10349201Abstract: Disclosed is an audio signal processing device for performing binaural rendering on an input audio signal. The audio signal processing device includes a reception unit configured to receive the input audio signal, a binaural renderer configured to generate a 2-channel audio by performing binaural rendering on the input audio signal, and an output unit configured to output the 2-channel audio. The binaural renderer performs binaural rendering on the input audio signal based on a distance from a listener to a sound source corresponding to the input audio signal and a size of an object simulated by the sound source.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Gaudio Lab, Inc.Inventors: Yonghyun Baek, Hyunoh Oh, Taegyu Lee, Jeonghun Seo, Sewoon Jeon
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Patent number: 10339950Abstract: Systems and methods for beamforming audio signals received from a microphone array. One method includes receiving, with an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the microphone array, a plurality of audio signals from the microphone array. The method includes generating a plurality of beams based on the plurality of audio signals. The method includes detecting that an electronic device is in a body-worn position. The method includes, in response to the device being in the body-worn position, determining at least one restricted direction based on the body-worn position. The method includes generating, for each of the plurality of beams, a likelihood statistic. The method includes, for each of the beams, assigning a weight to the likelihood statistic based on the at least one restricted direction to generate a weighted likelihood statistic. The method includes generating an output audio stream from the plurality of beams based on the weighted likelihood statistic.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Kurt S. Fienberg, David Yeager
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Patent number: 10330316Abstract: A flow control apparatus includes a flow control signal generation device for generating a DC control signal based on an audio signal and at least one proportional valve. The flow control signal generation device includes an audio receiving module, a filter rectifier module, a microprocessor and a proportional valve control signal generation module. The filter rectifier module generates at least one DC audio signal by filtering the audio signal provided by the audio receiving module. The microprocessor generates a plurality of period attenuated values based on the DC audio signal. The proportional valve control signal generation module filters the audio signal, attenuates the signal based on the period attenuated values, and then performs filtering and rectification processing to generate the DC control signal, such that the proportional valve may control the opening ratio of the proportional valve based on the DC control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2018Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Inventors: Chung-Yang Chen, Stephen James Paladino Paladino, Robert John Buckley
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Patent number: 10310805Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and apparatus for enhancing a sexual intercourse experience. A first sensor is worn on a first person engaging in sexual intercourse with a second person. A second sensor is worn on the second person. The proximity of the first and second sensors is communicated to a sound module that outputs sound, music, and/or lights that are synchronized to the thrusting motion occurring during the sexual intercourse.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Inventor: Maxine Lynn Barasch
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Patent number: 10303240Abstract: Techniques for controlling one or more audio amplifiers in or associated with a device coupled on a local area network are disclosed. The device receives at least one selected source from other devices also coupled on the network According to one aspect of the techniques, an automatic shutdown control module is provided in the device to power down the audio amplifiers when there is no audio data flow coming to the device or power up the audio amplifiers when there is audio data flow coming to the device. In one embodiment, the procedure to power down or power up the amplifiers is in accordance with a hysteresis, wherein the hysteresis, being lagging of an effect behind its cause, protects the amplifiers and makes the powering-down or powering-up procedure unnoticeable to a user.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Steve F. Holmgren, John L. MacFarlane
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Patent number: 10303430Abstract: An electronic device may comprise audio processing circuitry, pace tracking circuitry, and positioning circuitry. The pace tracking circuitry may be operable to selects songs to be processed for playback, and/or control time stretching applied to such songs, by the audio processing circuitry based on position data generated by the positioning circuitry, a desired tempo, and whether the songs are stored locally or network-accessible. The position data may indicate the pace of a runner during a preceding, determined time interval. The pace tracking circuitry may control the song selection and/or time stretching based on a runner profile data stored in memory of the music device. The profile data may include runner's distance-per-stride data. The electronic device may include sensors operable to function as a pedometer. The pace tracking circuitry may update the distance-per-stride data based on the position data and based on data output by the one or more sensors.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2018Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.Inventors: Richard Kulavik, Christopher Church
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Patent number: 10303434Abstract: A person can use a portable electronic device to electronically purchase or otherwise request a product, service or other deliverable related to audio programming to which the person is listening at the time they initiate the request. The request is fulfilled by a service that analyzes the audio content to identify the deliverable the person desires.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: NCR CorporationInventors: Michael Cain Finley, Michael Dudgeon, Lehman Zellosis Smith, IV, John Wade, David Griffin, David Edward McCaw, Jr., James Lee Fortuna
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Patent number: 10296285Abstract: An electronic device that coordinates a playback operation is described. In particular, an interface circuit in the electronic device may calculate, based on differences between transmit times when packets were transmitted by a second electronic device and receive times of the packets, relative drift as a function of time between a clock in the interface circuit and a second clock in the second electronic device. Then, the interface circuit may adjust, based on the relative drift, a clock circuit that provides the clock to eliminate the relative drift, and may determine a remaining time offset between the clock and the second clock. Next, the interface circuit may modify a future time when the second electronic device is to perform the playback operation based on the remaining time offset to determine a corrected future time, and may transmit information to the second electronic device specifying the corrected future time.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Eva Automation, Inc.Inventors: Leo Lay, Adrian Harold Chadd, Haisong Wang, Shiwei Zhao, Li Li, Gaylord Yu
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Patent number: 10290291Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a decision unit configured to decide, in accordance with playback target content, a processing pattern of processing to be executed in association with playback of the content, from among a plurality of processing patterns.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Takamoto Tsuda, Kohei Takada, Yusuke Otani, Yusuke Doyama, Yoji Hirose, Taro Takamoto
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Patent number: 10284985Abstract: Latency on different devices (e.g., devices of differing brand, model, vintage, etc.) can vary significantly and tens of milliseconds can affect human perception of lagging and leading components of a performance. As a result, use of a uniform latency estimate across a wide variety of devices is unlikely to provide good results, and hand-estimating round-trip latency across a wide variety of devices is costly and would constantly need to be updated for new devices. Instead, a system has been developed for crowdsourcing latency estimates.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: SMULE, INC.Inventors: Amanda Chaudhary, David Steinwedel, John Shimmin, Lance Jabr, Randal Leistikow
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Patent number: 10275685Abstract: A method is disclosed for audio object extraction from an audio content which includes identifying a first set of projection spaces including a first subset for a first channel and a second subset for a second channel of the plurality of channels. The method may further include determining a first set of correlations between the first and second channels, each of the first set of correlations corresponding to one of the first subset of projection spaces and one of the second subset of projection spaces. Still further, the method may include extracting an audio object from an audio signal of the first channel at least in part based on a first correlation among the first set of correlations and the projection space from the first subset corresponding to the first correlation, the first correlation being greater than a first predefined threshold. Corresponding system and computer program products are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing CorporationInventors: Mingqing Hu, Lie Lu, Lianwu Chen
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Patent number: 10278001Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provide a high fidelity, rich, and engaging experience for spectators of streaming video services. The techniques disclosed herein enable a system to receive, process and, store session data defining activity of a virtual reality environment. The system can generate recorded video data of the session activity along with rendered spatial audio data, e.g., render the spatial audio in the cloud, for streaming of the video data and rendered spatial audio data to one or more computers. The video data and rendered spatial audio data can provide high fidelity video clips of salient activity of a virtual reality environment. In one illustrative example, the system can automatically create a video from one or more camera positions and audio data that corresponds to the camera positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Philip Andrew Edry, Todd Ryun Manion, Robert Norman Heitkamp, Steven Marcel Elza Wilssens
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Patent number: 10275206Abstract: A digital audio workstation software package is provided with computer readable instructions that, when executed, direct a multi-core processor to perform acts comprising accessing an audio signal. The digital audio workstation software package further includes computer-readable instructions that, when executed, direct the processor to utilize, at least in part, pipeline parallelism to enable a plurality of serially ordered plug-ins in an effects rack to process the audio signal utilizing a plurality of available processing cores to create a processed audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: BANDLABInventors: Noel Borthwick, Logan Thomas
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Patent number: 10268444Abstract: Techniques for controlling audio volume output by a paired device are described. A first notification indicative of a change to a first volume by a first audio output device generated. The first notification comprises a first identifier of the first audio output device. A first record indicative of a volume of audio is stored. The first record is indexed by the first identifier. A second notification indicative of an audio stream being redirected from the first audio output device to a second audio output device is generated. The second notification comprises a second identifier of the second audio output device. A second record indicative of a second volume of audio output by the second device is retrieved. The second record is retrieved based at least in part on the second identifier. The second audio output device outputs audio at the second volume, based at least in part on the second record.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Naiyi Jiang, Ying N. Chin, Robert Zhu, Satyendra Bahadur, Qian Zhou, Roger W. Porter, Carlos Picoto, Daryl A. Welsh
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Patent number: 10268441Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for extending media playback. In an example implementation, during playback of one or more first media items populated in a queue, a control device extends playback time of the queue. Extending playback time of the queue may involve determining when the one or more first media items will be finished playing; and before the first media items are finished playing, determining one or more second media items that correspond in substantial likeness to the one or more first media items and sending an instruction that causes the first playback device to insert the determined one or more second media items into the queue such that play time of the queue is extended.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2018Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventor: Robert Reimann