Patents Examined by Thomas H Maung
  • Patent number: 10387107
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to methods and systems for playback of adaptive music corresponding to an athletic activity. A user input is received from a user selecting an existing song for audible playback to the user, the song comprising a plurality of audio layers including at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. Augmented playback of the existing song to the user is initiated by audibly providing the first layer but not the second layer. Physical activity information derived from a sensor corresponding to a real-time physical activity level of a user is received. If the physical activity level of the user is above a first activity level threshold, the augmented playback of the existing song is continued by audibly providing the first layer and the second layer to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Fraga, Harold L. Lindstrom, Jr., Willoughby H. Walling, Christopher Andon, Kristopher J. Schultz, Eric S. Mcgary
  • Patent number: 10346125
    Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program product detect a clipping event in audio signals. The method includes digitalizing audio signals having limited frequency bands, at a sampling frequency which is greater than two times as large as the maximum frequency component of the audio signal; and detecting a clipping event of the audio signals, based on magnitudes of spectrum in a bandwidth which is greater than or equal to the limited frequency band. The sampling frequency may be greater than or equal to three times as large as the maximum frequency component of the audio signal. The detection of a clipping event may include determining, for each frame, whether or not a sum or average of the magnitudes of spectrum at the bandwidth which is greater than or equal to the limited frequency band is larger than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Fukuda, Osamu Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10348786
    Abstract: Distributed conferencing systems and methods provide local meeting contents to remote participants. In accordance with various example embodiments, a plurality of authorized source units generate media content responsive to and representative of respective content for a meeting. In response to the generated media content, one or more data streams are developed at each authorized source, each stream being a separately-decodable real-time representation of at least a portion of the media content generated at the respective authorized source. The separate data streams are transmitted by each authorized source to a common multicast IP group address for retrieval/access by remote participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: 8x8, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Petit-Huguenin
  • Patent number: 10341785
    Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device comprising a) an input unit for delivering a time varying electric input signal representing an audio signal comprising at least two sound sources, b) a cyclic analysis buffer unit of length A adapted for storing the last A audio samples, c) a cyclic synthesis buffer unit of length, where L is smaller than A, adapted for storing the last L audio samples, which are intended to be separated in individual sound sources, d) a database having stored recorded sound examples from said at least two sound sources, each entry in the database being termed an atom, the atoms originating from audio samples from first and second buffers corresponding in size to said synthesis and analysis buffer units, where for each atom, the audio samples from the first buffer overlaps with the audio samples from the second buffer, and where atoms originating from the first buffer constitute a reconstruction dictionary, and where atoms originating from the second buffer constitute an analysis d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Barker, Tuomas Virtanen, Niels Henrik Pontoppidan
  • Patent number: 10331098
    Abstract: A playback control method, a player device, and a storage medium are provided. The method comprises: establishing the correspondence between a playback device and an account; establishing a connection between the playback device and the player device; allowing the account login via the correspondence between the playback device and the account; receiving and executing the playback control operation instruction of the playback device. By establishing a correspondence between the playback device and the account, once the connection between the playback device and the player is established, the account login can be directly allowed via the correspondence between the player and the account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU KUGOU COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bo Song
  • Patent number: 10324681
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuous playback of a sound file are described. The method includes: receiving a first playback instruction, where the first playback instruction is used for playing continuously a sample sound file; obtaining, according to the first playback instruction, a time point for ending continuous playback corresponding to the first playback instruction; searching, according to the time point for ending the continuous playback, for a playback time value of the sample sound file corresponding to the time point; and starting, at the time point for ending the continuous playback, to play sound data of the sample sound file after the playback time value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xiayu Wu, Rong Wan
  • Patent number: 10296959
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automated analysis of audio recordings and/or automated recommendations of audio recordings. The audio recordings may be automatically analyzed based on power, frequency, tempo, complexity, dimensionality, other audio features, and/or some combination thereof. Automated recommendations of audio recordings may be provided based at least on the variability levels. User interfaces may be provided to receive user feedback of preferred audio recordings and to select audio recordings to recommend based on the user feedback and the automated analysis. The automated recommendations may be further based on user purchase data and/or listening history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Audible, Inc.
    Inventors: Darya Chernikhova, Thomas Schaaf
  • Patent number: 10289378
    Abstract: Disclosed are a device and a method for outputting a sound wave for content synchronization between devices and operation control of an external device, and the external device. The device for outputting a sound wave according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a storage unit configured to store content data of content; a playing unit configured to play the content data; and an output unit configured to output a sound wave as a result of the playing of the content data, wherein the sound wave allows an external device to initiate an operation associated with the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: POWERVOICE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hee Suk Jeong, Se Hun Chin, Hyung Yup Lee
  • Patent number: 10284980
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a media playback system receiving message(s) indicating that a first playback device is available for configuration into a zone of a media playback system. The implementation may further involve identifying one or more second playback devices and determining that the first playback device and the one or more second playback devices are compatible with certain bonded zone configurations. The implementation may also involve detecting selection of a bonded zone configuration from among the compatible bonded zone configurations and displaying an indication of one or more particular second playback devices that are compatible with the selected bonded zone configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Sein Woo, Roy Pollock, Liesbeth van den Berg
  • Patent number: 10268759
    Abstract: Audio streams can be produced according to sequences of select content items. A first content item can be identified based on user input indicating tags associated with it. A second content item, and a content sequence for ordering the first content item and second item, are identified based on scores determined for various candidate content items. An audio stream is produced according to the content sequence and may then be transmitted to a client device for playback. The tags include metadata usable to selectively identify content items that can be combined to produce an optimal audio stream, such as based on the types of content items, the number of content items, the purpose of the content items to the audio stream, or more. Missing content items can be detected and signaled for production. An audio stream and content sequence therefor can be updated after initial production occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Empowering Trainers, LLC
    Inventors: Evan Witt, Michael Bressler
  • Patent number: 10261189
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for recording and archiving diverse communications over radio transmissions. The system and apparatus enables unattended airports within a geofenced area to generate a useful archive of all radio communications made by Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft and ground personnel. A combination of hardware and software components are provided to record and store radio transmissions in computer files. Once stored, the computer files may then be replayed for training and investigation purposes. Likewise, users may generate custom reports based upon the data embodied in the computer files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: INVISIBLE INTELLIGENCE, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Paul Cote, John Guimond
  • Patent number: 10262679
    Abstract: A gaming headset receives a plurality of audio channels comprising game audio channels and a chat audio channel during play of a particular game. The gaming headset monitors the received audio channels for predefined words that are associated with particular sounds in a data structure, and in response to detecting predefined words, filters out at least a portion of the detected predefined words from the received plurality of audio channels. The monitoring compares sounds on the received audio channels with the particular sounds in the data structure and also performs signal analysis on the audio channels during game play to detect the occurrence of the predefined words. The filtering mutes one or more of the plurality of audio channels so that the detected occurrence of the one of the predefined words is not output via speakers of the gaming headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Kulavik, Michael Jessup
  • Patent number: 10238333
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The embodied program instructions are executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to receive collected data from one or more data collection devices. The collected data is aggregated over a period of time lasting at least one month, and the collected data includes audio data of a user of the one or more data collection devices. The embodied program instructions also cause the processing circuit to store the audio data to a computer readable storage medium. Moreover, the embodied program instructions cause the processing circuit to analyze the audio data for indications of hearing loss in the user over the period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Inseok Hwang, Su Liu, Eric J. Rozner, Chin Ngai Sze
  • Patent number: 10236005
    Abstract: A method for generating a signature is disclosed. As part of the method, a first number of bits are identified in respective rows of an audio signature matrix that are determined to be the strongest bits in the row, bits of the audio signature matrix are replaced with respective cells having values depending on whether the respective bits are included in the first number of bits, a set of uniformly distributed numbers are generated within a range of numbered locations corresponding to cells of the audio signature matrix; numerical distances are determined, from respective numbers in the set of uniformly distributed numbers, to the numbered locations of the matrix, associated with nearest occurrences of a first value. A set of integers is generated based on the distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Venugopal Srinivasan, Alexander Topchy, Sadhana Gupta
  • Patent number: 10229716
    Abstract: A method comprises obtaining a playlist that comprises a plurality of audio items, and dividing the playlist into a plurality of coherent groups, wherein each coherent group comprises a respective sequence of audio items of the plurality of audio items with a common attribute. For a respective coherent group of the plurality of coherent groups, the method comprises determining a parameter value of a first audio item of the respective sequence and adjusting a parameter value of a second audio item of the respective sequence based on the determined parameter value of the first audio item, to form a transition between the first and second audio items. The first and second audio items are adjacent in the respective sequence. The transition is provided to a second electronic device for playback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Spotify AB
    Inventors: Tristan Jehan, Frej Connoly, Miles Lennon, Rachel Bittner, Mateo Rando, Ulf Karlsson
  • Patent number: 10225644
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a speaker system includes a plurality of filters and a plurality of speakers. The filters filter a first signal to generate a plurality of second signals. The speakers convert the second signals into respective sound waves. Each speaker has a diaphragm and a vibration source installed in the diaphragm. Diaphragms of the speakers have at least two different shapes. Respective transfer characteristics of the diaphragms are different from each other. Each filter corresponding to the respective transfer characteristics is set such that a transfer characteristic of a synthetic sound wave of the respective sound waves approaches a target transfer characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Goto, Akihiko Enamito, Osamu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10216369
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for employing perceptual characteristic similarity for item replacement in media content are presented. The system can include an identification component, a matching component and a replacement component. The identification component identifies at least a portion of an item in a media file. The matching component determines a replacement item from a set of candidate items based on a comparison between perceptual characteristics associated with the item and corresponding perceptual characteristics associated with the set of candidate items. The replacement component replaces the item in the media file with at least a portion of the replacement item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yading Song, Vivek Sharma, Robert Steven Glickstein
  • Patent number: 10154341
    Abstract: An audio system that comprises an audio server and individual speaker clients may be connected. Individual speaker clients may or may not be the same physical configuration. When the audio server detects each speaker client, the audio server configures each speaker to a particular purpose. This allows remote configurable speakers to be used for different features. Other audio devices may also be connected to the audio server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Lockett, Kurtis G. Heaton
  • Patent number: 10149029
    Abstract: Disclosed is a loudspeaker module applied inside a terminal, wherein, the terminal comprises a terminal housing, and the loudspeaker module is fixed inside the terminal. The loudspeaker module comprises a loudspeaker unit and a module housing for accommodating and fixing the loudspeaker unit. A closed space formed by the loudspeaker unit, an outer wall of the module housing, and the terminal housing is a rear sound cavity. By means of the loudspeaker module provided in the present invention, the usable space inside the terminal can be converted into the rear sound cavity, so that the space of the rear sound cavity is enlarged, and the acoustic performance of the loudspeaker module can be effectively improved. Therefore, the present invention makes full use of the inside space of the terminal to realize the thinning of the loudspeaker module without changing the inside space of the terminal, and achieves good acoustic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Wei Jia, Hua Shi