Patents Examined by Paul C McCord
  • Patent number: 11429502
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide methods and systems for managing a sound profile. An example playback device includes a network interface and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions executable by the processor. When executed by the processor, the instructions are to configure the playback device to receive, via the network interface over a local area network (LAN) from a controller device, an instruction. The example playback device is to obtain, based on the instruction, via the network interface from a location outside of the LAN, data comprising a sound profile. The example playback device is to update one or more parameters at the playback device based on the sound profile. The example playback device is to play back an audio signal according to the sound profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson
  • Patent number: 11429343
    Abstract: An example method includes, based on an adjustment to a first displayed volume control, instructing the first playback device to adjust playback volume level; based on an adjustment to a second displayed volume control, instructing the second playback device to adjust playback volume level; after sending the commands, instructing the first and/or second playback device to process an audio stream into a first and/or second channel and to reproduce a respective one of the first and second channel, wherein the grouped first and second playback devices provide multi-channel sound; and based on an adjustment to a third displayed volume control, instructing the first and/or second playback device to adjust a group volume level for both the first and second playback devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne
  • Patent number: 11423079
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to detect media watermarks in magnetic field data are disclosed herein. Example media monitors disclosed herein include a magnetic field estimator to determine first magnetic field data, the magnetic field estimator in communication with a magnetometer. Disclosed example media monitors also include a correlator to correlate the first magnitude field data with a reference sequence to determine second magnetic field data. Disclosed example media monitors further include a watermark decoder to process the second magnetic field data to detect an audio watermark encoded in an audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Topchy, Venugopal Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11416685
    Abstract: Artificial intelligence based document analysis systems and methods are disclosed. Embodiments of document analysis systems may allow the reuse of coded datasets defined in association with a particular code by allowing these datasets to be bundled to define a dataset for another code, where that code may be associated with a target corpus of documents. A model can then be trained based on that dataset and used to provide predictive scores for the documents of the target corpora with respect to the code. Furthermore, this code can be applied not just to the target corpus of documents, but additionally can be applied against any other corpora.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: CS DISCO, INC.
    Inventors: Alan Justin Lockett, Verlyn Michael Fischer, Richard Alan Vestal, Jesse Abraham Ramos, Robert Duane Harrington, Brian Daniel Luskey
  • Patent number: 11418233
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor a media presentation are disclosed. An example system includes a monitoring device to monitor a media presentation and generate research data identifying the media. A bridge device includes a housing dimensioned to receive the monitoring device, a receiver carried by the housing to receive a first audio signal via a wireless data connection from an audio source device using a wireless communication protocol, the first audio signal associated with the media. The bridge device includes an audio emitter to emit the audio signal for receipt by the monitoring device, and a transmitter to transmit the audio signal to an audio receiver device using the wireless communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: William K. Krug, James Zhang
  • Patent number: 11416209
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are playback devices, groups of playback devices, and methods of operating playback devices and groupings thereof to cause the playback devices in a group of playback devices to play audio content together in synchrony based on playback timing and clock timing, where the audio content and playback timing and the clock timing for use with playing the audio content according to the clock timing are provided by different playback devices in the group of playback devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Vega Zayas, Ted M. Lin
  • Patent number: 11417349
    Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for transfer of multiple digital data streams, especially of digital audio data over a single communications link such as a single wire. The application describes audio interface circuitry comprising a pulse-length-modulation (PLM) modulator. The PLM is responsive to a plurality of data streams (PDM-R, PDM-L), to generate a series of data pulses (PLM) with a single data pulse having a rising and falling edge in each of a plurality of transfer periods defined by a first clock signal (TCLK). The timing of the rising and falling edge of each data pulse is dependent upon a combination of the then current data samples from the plurality of data streams. The duration and position of the data pulse in the transfer window in effect defines a data symbol encoding the data. Circuitry for receiving and extracting the data is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Lesso, Peter John Frith, John Laurence Pennock
  • Patent number: 11409959
    Abstract: A rule having text is pre-processed by replacing terms with dummy tokens. A first machine learning model (MLM) uses the dummy tokens to generate a dependency graph with nodes related by edges tagged with dependency tags. A second MLM uses the dependency graph to generate a canonical version with node labels. The node labels are sorted into a lexicographic order to form a document. A third MLM uses the document to generate a machine readable vector (MRV) that embeds the document as a sequence of numbers representative of a structure of the rule. The MRV is compared to additional MRVs corresponding to additional rules for which computer useable program code blocks have been generated. A set of MRVs is identified that match the MRV within a range. The set of MRVs correspond to a set of rules from the additional rules. The set of rules is displayed to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Hrishikesh Ganu, Mithun Ghosh
  • Patent number: 11403062
    Abstract: The examples provided herein involve multiple groups in a playback system. An example method involves, based on receiving one or more inputs defining a zone scene of a media playback system that comprises a plurality of zone players, defining configuration data corresponding to the zone scene, wherein the configuration data comprises an identification of at least a first zone player and a second zone player. The method further involves causing a remote computing device to store the configuration data and presenting a user-interface element that, when selected via the user interface, causes the zone scene to be invoked. The method additionally involves, in response to receiving an input indicative of a selection of the user-interface element, causing the remote computing device to invoke the zone scene at the media playback system such that the first zone player and the second zone player playback audio content in synchrony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Keyser-Allen, Jillian Garber, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11388532
    Abstract: In general, techniques of controlling a plurality of multimedia players in groups are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is provided to allow a user to group some of the players according to a theme or scene, where each of the players is located in a zone. When the scene is activated, the players in the scene react in a synchronized manner. For example, the players in the scene are all caused to play a multimedia source or music in a playlist, wherein the multimedia source may be located anywhere on a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Lambourne
  • Patent number: 11385858
    Abstract: An example method includes, based on an adjustment to a first displayed volume control, instructing the first playback device to adjust playback volume level; based on an adjustment to a second displayed volume control, instructing the second playback device to adjust playback volume level; after sending the commands, instructing the first and/or second playback device to process an audio stream into a first and/or second channel and to reproduce a respective one of the first and second channel, wherein the grouped first and second playback devices provide multi-channel sound; and based on an adjustment to a third displayed volume control, instructing the first and/or second playback device to adjust a group volume level for both the first and second playback devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoper Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne
  • Patent number: 11368790
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating a description of a combined audio scene, includes: an input interface for receiving a first description of a first scene in a first format and a second description of a second scene in a second format, wherein the second format is different from the first format; a format converter for converting the first description into a common format and for converting the second description into the common format, when the second format is different from the common format; and a format combiner for combining the first description in the common format and the second description in the common format to obtain the combined audio scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Guillaume Fuchs, Jürgen Herre, Fabian Küch, Stefan Döhla, Markus Multrus, Oliver Thiergart, Oliver Wübbolt, Florin Ghido, Stefan Bayer, Wolfgang Jaegers
  • Patent number: 11366850
    Abstract: Apparatus, articles of manufacture, and systems for audio matching based on a harmonogram are disclosed. An example apparatus includes memory, and hardware to execute instructions to determine a first dominant frequency in a time slice of audio data based on a segment of a first spectrogram associated with the audio data, the first dominant frequency indicative of a first harmonic component of the time slice, determine a second dominant frequency indicative of a second harmonic component of the time slice, the second harmonic component less dominant than the first, generate a query harmonogram of the audio data, different segments of the query harmonogram representative of aggregate energy values of dominant frequencies in different time slices of the audio data, the dominant frequencies including at least one of the first or second dominant frequencies, and identify query sound based on a comparison of the query harmonogram to a reference harmonogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: GRACENOTE, INC.
    Inventor: Zafar Rafii
  • Patent number: 11363128
    Abstract: A method on a mobile device for processing an audio input is described. A trigger for the audio input is received. At least one parameter is determined for an audio processor based on at least one input characteristic for the audio input. The audio input is routed to the audio processor with the at least one parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Ondo, Michael P. Labowicz, Hideki Yoshino
  • Patent number: 11351630
    Abstract: A processing state detecting device for detecting a processing state of a workpiece processed by laser processing includes: a sound collecting unit that measures sound while the workpiece is being processed by laser processing; an installation position evaluating unit that determines whether an installation position of the sound collecting unit needs to be changed, on the basis of the sound measured by the sound collecting unit; and an evaluation result informing unit that provides information on a result of evaluation of the installation position evaluating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki Tanaka, Teruaki Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 11347469
    Abstract: An example method includes, based on an adjustment to a first displayed volume control, instructing the first playback device to adjust playback volume level; based on an adjustment to a second displayed volume control, instructing the second playback device to adjust playback volume level; after sending the commands, instructing the first and/or second playback device to process an audio stream into a first and/or second channel and to reproduce a respective one of the first and second channel, wherein the grouped first and second playback devices provide multi-channel sound; and based on an adjustment to a third displayed volume control, instructing the first and/or second playback device to adjust a group volume level for both the first and second playback devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoper Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne
  • Patent number: 11347472
    Abstract: A method for generating sound with a motor, including: generating a motor-driving signal having an audio signal component; applying the motor-driving signal to the motor, wherein the motor-driving signal drives the motor to generate a sound corresponding to the audio signal component; applying a bandpass filter to the motor-driving signal to generate a filtered motor-driving signal; and applying the filtered motor-driving signal to a speaker to present audio content consistent with the sound generated by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiu Lan, Wenlong Xiao
  • Patent number: 11335357
    Abstract: Audio systems and methods are provided that enhance a portion of audio content relative to other portions of the audio content. The systems and methods select the portion to be enhanced and calculate an intelligibility metric of the selected portion, such as a dialogue portion. The systems and methods determine a gain based at least in part upon the intelligibility metric and apply the gain to the selected portion to provide an enhanced portion. The systems and methods provide an audio signal, based at least in part upon the enhanced portion, to an output for conversion to an acoustic signal, such as by an acoustic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Gaalaas
  • Patent number: 11328699
    Abstract: A music analysis method includes estimating a plurality of provisional points that are candidates for a specific point that has musical meaning in a musical piece from an audio signal of the musical piece by using a first process, selecting a part of a plurality of candidate points, which include the plurality of provisional points and a plurality of division points that divide intervals between the plurality of provisional points, as a plurality of selection points, and estimating a plurality of specific points in the musical piece from a result of calculating a probability that each of the plurality of selection points is the specific point by using a second process which is different from the first process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Maezawa
  • Patent number: 11327864
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide methods and systems for managing a sound profile. An example playback device includes a network interface and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions executable by the processor. When executed by the processor, the instructions are to configure the playback device to receive, via the network interface over a local area network (LAN) from a controller device, an instruction. The example playback device is to obtain, based on the instruction, via the network interface from a location outside of the LAN, data comprising a sound profile. The example playback device is to update one or more parameters at the playback device based on the sound profile. The example playback device is to play back an audio signal according to the sound profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson