Including Amplitude Or Volume Control Patents (Class 381/104)
  • Patent number: 11962870
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining, by a content-presentation device, a media-device loudness of content that is provided to the content-presentation device by a media device, with the content portion being provided to the content-presentation device prior to an upcoming content-modification opportunity; (ii) determining, by the content-presentation device, that the media-device loudness is less than a threshold; (iii) based on determining that the media-device loudness is less than the threshold, obtaining, by the content-presentation device, a reference loudness of the content portion; and (iv) using, by the content-presentation device, the reference loudness as a basis for determining whether or not to carry out a content-modification operation in connection with the upcoming content-modification opportunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Roku, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Grover
  • Patent number: 11962279
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for processing an audio signal in an audio processing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes receiving an audio signal and a parameter, the parameter indicating a location of an auditory event boundary. An audio portion between consecutive auditory event boundaries constitutes an auditory event. The method further includes applying a modification to the audio signal based in part on an occurrence of the auditory event. The parameter may be generated by monitoring a characteristic of the audio signal and identifying a change in the characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Brett G. Crockett, Alan J. Seefeldt
  • Patent number: 11941321
    Abstract: An example playback device is a first playback device in a media system. The first playback device is configured to resolve audio conflicts with one or more other playback devices in the media system by: (i) capturing, via a microphone of the first playback device, audio content played back by a second playback device, (ii) identifying the second playback device as a source of the captured audio content; and (iii) responsive to identifying the second playback device as the source of the captured audio content, altering a playback characteristic of the second playback device or the first playback device to reduce an audio interference between the first and second playback devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Dayn Wilberding
  • Patent number: 11909784
    Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for performing automated actions in a conferencing service. Distractions can be detected and users can be muted. Breakout rooms can be suggested to attendees based upon the user's identity. Additionally, event summaries and recaps can be generated for users who are late-arriving or who depart and return to the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Rohit Pradeep Shetty, Ravish Chawla, Adam Chow
  • Patent number: 11895480
    Abstract: A method and system for processing an obstacle effect in a virtual acoustic space are disclosed. The method includes receiving a parameter for an obstacle candidate plane extracted from spatial information, determining, in response to the parameter, whether the obstacle candidate plane is an obstacle related to a path between a position of a virtual sound source and a position of a user, and applying a sound effect according to the obstacle to an audio signal when the obstacle candidate plane is the obstacle. The obstacle candidate plane is a plane of an object that may become the obstacle in a sound propagation path between the virtual sound source and the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Dae Young Jang, Kyeongok Kang, Jae-hyoun Yoo, Yong Ju Lee
  • Patent number: 11893978
    Abstract: An audio sample including speech and ambient sounds is transmitted to a vehicle computer. Recorded audio is received from the vehicle computer, the recorded audio including the audio sample broadcast by the vehicle computer and recorded by the vehicle computer and recognized speech from the recorded audio. The recognized speech and text of the speech are input to a machine learning program that outputs whether the recognized speech matches the text. When the output from the machine learning program indicates that the recognized speech does not match the text, the recognized speech and the text are included in a training dataset for the machine learning program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Omar Makke, Oleg Gusikhin, Haysam M. Kadry
  • Patent number: 11875762
    Abstract: An effect imparting device, control method and non-transitory computer readable medium are provided. This effect imparting device has: a plurality of effect units that provide effects to a sound that has been input; a storage part for storing a plurality of patches each including a collection of parameters to be applied to the effect units; an input part for receives a designation of a patch; an application part for applying the parameters included in the designated patch to the effect units; an output part for outputting the sound to which effects have been provided in accordance with the parameters applied to the effect units; and a muting means for temporarily muting the effects—provided sound to be outputted when the effects units include an effect unit in which the type of an effect is changed through changing of the designated patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Shigeno
  • Patent number: 11863142
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine automated gain control parameters for an automated gain control protocol are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first tuner to amplify an audio signal. Disclosed example apparatus also include a second tuner to amplify the audio signal. Disclosed example apparatus also include a first controller to tune the first tuner to apply a first gain representative of a first range of gains to the audio signal to determine a first amplified audio signal and tune the second tuner to apply a second gain representative a second range of gains to the audio signal to determine a second amplified audio signal, the second range of gains lower than the first range of gains. Disclosed example apparatus also include a second controller to select the first range of gains to be utilized in an automated gain control protocol when the first gain results in clipping of the first amplified audio signal and the second gain does not result in clipping of the second amplified audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NIELSEN COMPANY (US) LLC
    Inventors: John T. Livoti, Rajakumar Madhanganesh, Stanley Wellington Woodruff, Ryan C. Lehing, Charles Clinton Conklin
  • Patent number: 11852900
    Abstract: Eyeglasses with audio playback function include a front body adapted to retain at least one lens and includes first and second lateral ends to which respectively a first temple and a second temple for fixing the eyeglasses to the head of the user are connected. The eyeglasses also include electronic components, which include at least one audio driver. The eyeglasses are configurable at least in an open condition, which allows the eyeglasses to be worn by the user and in which the first temple and the second temple are arranged substantially parallel to each other and at right angles to the front body. The electronic components are accommodated exclusively inside the two temples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: LUXOTTICA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Fabio Borsoi, Valerio Oliana
  • Patent number: 11818430
    Abstract: A first playback is configured to (i) determine that it is connected to a local data network using a first networking protocol, (ii) receive a command to join a second playback device in a group of playback devices that are configured for synchronous playback of audio content from an audio source, (iii) determine that the second playback device is connected to the local data network using a second networking protocol different from the first networking protocol, (iv) based on determining that the second playback device is connected to the local data network using a second networking protocol different from the first networking protocol, configure the first playback device as a group coordinator of the group of playback devices, and (v) while rendering the audio content, (a) receive the audio content from the audio source and (b) forward at least a portion of the received audio content to the second playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Hrishikesh Gossain, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 11800307
    Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) worn on a head of a first person that provides an electronic call between the first person and a second person. The HMD includes or more sensors that determine a size of a physical environment where the first person is located and objects in the physical environment. A display displays a virtual image of the second person during the electronic call, and one or more processors adjust a voice of the second person played to the first person to compensation for sound reverberation. The HMD include speakers that play the voice of the second person in binaural sound compensated for the sound reverberation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Glen A. Norris, Philip Scott Lyren
  • Patent number: 11789691
    Abstract: A method can include identifying an audio output device having a first audio status. In the first audio status, the audio output device can be configured to receive first audio data of at least one software application of a set of software applications of a computing device. In the first audio status, the audio output device can be configured to emit, based on the first audio data, first audio content corresponding to the at least one software application. The method can include identifying a priority software application of the computing device. The method can include assigning, in response to the identifying the priority software application, a second audio status to the audio output device. The assigning can include preventing the audio output device from emitting the first audio content. The assigning can further include configuring the audio output device to emit second audio content of the priority software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KYNDRYL, INC.
    Inventors: Cesar Augusto Rodriguez Bravo, David Alonso Campos Batista, Mohamed Zouhaier Ramadhane, Adan Edoardo Herrera Hidalgo
  • Patent number: 11778360
    Abstract: The present invention provide a method and system of audio sharing aimed to revolutionize the way people listen and share music and to give multiple uses to a wireless headphone referred to as HEDphone. A communication protocol referred to as HEDtech protocol is used in a HED system to allow users to share music amongst a plurality of HEDphones while using a single audio source. A wireless connection is established between the HEDphone and a mobile device including an audio source while simultaneously having the capability of allowing other HEDphone users to join wirelessly and listen to the same audio source. A feature of Super Human Hearing (SHH) goes beyond conventional ANR (ambient noise reduction) with additional features that allow the user to control their aural environment by being able to directionally increase or decrease selective frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HED Technologies SARL
    Inventors: Timothy Degraye, Liliane Huguet
  • Patent number: 11750881
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining, by a content-presentation device, a media-device loudness of content that is provided to the content-presentation device by a media device; (ii) sending, by the content-presentation device to a computing system, a request for supplemental content for use in connection with performing a content-modification operation during a content-modification opportunity, with the request including an indication of the media-device loudness; (iii) based on sending the request, receiving, by the content-presentation device from the computing system, a version of a supplemental content segment having a loudness corresponding to the media-device loudness, with the version of the supplemental content segment selected from among multiple versions of the supplemental content segment having different respective loudnesses; (iv) and performing, by the content-presentation device, the content-modification operation using the version of the supplemental content segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Grover
  • Patent number: 11748055
    Abstract: In one aspect, an example method includes (i) determining, by a playback device, a first loudness level of a first portion of first media content from a first source while the playback device presents the first media content, with the first portion having a first length; (ii) switching, by the playback device, from presenting the first media content from the first source to presenting second media content from a second source; (iii) based on the switching, determining, by the playback device, second loudness levels of second portions of the first media content while the playback device presents the second media content, with the second portions having a second length that is shorter than the first length; and (iv) while the playback device presents the second media content, adjusting, by the playback device, a volume of the playback device based on one or more of the second loudness levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ROKU, INC.
    Inventors: Markus K. Cremer, Shashank Merchant, Robert Coover, Todd J. Hodges, Joshua Ernest Morris
  • Patent number: 11736540
    Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing a voice communications link between multiple users accessing a media asset are provided. A media asset is accessed using a first user device, the first user device being associated with a first user at a first location. A second user who is accessing the media asset using a second user device is identified, wherein the second user is associated with the first user and is at a second location. A voice communications link between the first and second user devices that enables the first and second users to speak to each other while accessing the media asset is established. A volume level of audio received via the voice communications link is set based on content of the media asset, causing the audio received via the voice communications link from the second user to be presented to the first user at the set volume level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve M. DiBello, Samir Desai, Robert Barr Thompson
  • Patent number: 11736851
    Abstract: Disclosed in the present disclosure are a wireless playback device, a playback control method thereof, and a head-mounted wireless headset system. The device includes: a housing, a headband detection device, a processor, a power amplifier (PA) operational amplification device, and a speaker. The headband detection device collects connection condition data of a headband device and the housing. The processor is connected to the headband detection device and controls the PA operational amplification device to adjust an operation power mode of the speaker according to the connection condition data. The PA operational amplification device is connected to the processor and the speaker, respectively, and adjusts the operation power mode of the speaker according to control of the processor. Therefore, the function automatically switching the headphone function and a small speaker function is realized, and the user experience is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Zongxu Yang, Tao Sui, Haizhu Xu, Feixiang Liu
  • Patent number: 11726634
    Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors and memory, and in communication with a display and an audio system presents, under control of the electronic device, via the audio system, a first audio output, the first audio output having a volume and an audio property other than volume (e.g., a reverberation time, a low-pass filter cutoff, or a stereo balance). While the audio system presents a first audio output, the device receives an input that corresponds to a request to present a second audio output, and in response, the device concurrently presents, via the audio system, an adjusted version of the first audio output in which the audio property other than volume of the first audio output has been adjusted and the second audio output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Marcos Alonso Ruiz, Nathan de Vries, David C. Graham, Freddy A. Anzures, Hugo D. Verweij, Afrooz Family, Matthew I. Brown
  • Patent number: 11709648
    Abstract: A distributed audio processing system is disclosed, for providing users with the capability of producing a personalized audio mix of a plurality of signals from a plurality of audio sources. The system includes a wireless transmitter for each audio source and, for each user, a wireless receiver. The receiver comprises a programmable audio signal processor configured to process and mix a plurality of audio tracks received via a radio broadcast of a multi-track audio signal comprising the audio signals from the plurality of sources, said processing and mixing being programmable via received commands, instructions and/or parameters. The transmitters are configured to process the audio signals received from their respective sources, according to received commands, instructions and/or parameters. According to an embodiment, a user may provide commands, instructions and/or parameters to any of the receivers and/or transmitters of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TYXIT SA
    Inventors: Gaétan Fuchs, Raphaël Buache
  • Patent number: 11711062
    Abstract: Volume leveler controller and controlling method are disclosed. In one embodiment, A volume leveler controller includes an audio content classifier for identifying the content type of an audio signal in real time; and an adjusting unit for adjusting a volume leveler in a continuous manner based on the content type as identified. The adjusting unit may configured to positively correlate the dynamic gain of the volume leveler with informative content types of the audio signal, and negatively correlate the dynamic gain of the volume leveler with interfering content types of the audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Wang, Lie Lu, Alan J. Seefeldt
  • Patent number: 11670278
    Abstract: A method and system directed to controlling audio devices with active noise reduction. The system detects an instability condition in a first headphone; generates one or more control signals to adjust one or more ANR parameters of the first headphone using a first controller, wherein the one or more ANR parameters are adjusted to change the first headphone from a first ANR state to a second ANR state to mitigate the instability condition; and synchronizes the one or more ANR parameters of the first headphone with second headphone. In an example, the system returns the first headphone to the first ANR state after detecting that the first headphone was removed from an ear of a user at the first time and detecting that the first headphone was engaged with the ear at the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Emery M. Ku, David R. Minich
  • Patent number: 11647317
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display device including a display panel configured to display an image and include first to sixth regions, at least one first vibration device and at least one second vibration device respectively at the first region and the second region, at least one third vibration device, at least one fourth vibration device, and at least one fifth vibration device respectively at the fourth to sixth regions, a first partition between the first region and the third region, a second partition between the second region and the third region, a third partition between the fourth region and the sixth region, and a fourth partition between the fifth region and the sixth region, wherein a length of one or more among the first partition and the second partition differs from a length of one or more among the third partition and the fourth partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd
    Inventors: YeongRak Choi, Sungtae Lee, Kwangho Kim, Sungsu Ham, Joongsup Han
  • Patent number: 11641556
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides a hearing device with selective adjustment of processor settings based on various characteristics of an input sound, in response to adjustment of output sound volume by a user. This addresses problems of undesirable sound effects resulting from applying same changes to processor settings to input sounds of all levels, frequencies, and classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Swapan Gandhi, Karrie LaRae Recker, Donald James Reynolds
  • Patent number: 11640829
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that includes a processing system having a processor and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, where the operations include determining parameters for adapting audio in the content to the device, wherein the device renders the content, and wherein the parameters are based on semantic metadata embedded in the content, adapting the audio in the content based on the parameters, and rendering the content, as adapted by the parameters, to represent a semantic in the semantic metadata. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric Zavesky, Jason DeCuir, Robert Gratz
  • Patent number: 11632495
    Abstract: A shooting method that includes: adjusting a sound volume of a collected sound according to a focusing distance in the image collection process, and displaying volume information corresponding to the sound volume on an image preview interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiujun Han, Haipo Zhang, Chong Jia
  • Patent number: 11595730
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums for loudness adjustment for an audio scene associated with an MPEG-I immersive audio stream. One apparatus includes processing circuitry that receives a first syntax element indicating a number of sound signals included in the audio scene. The processing circuitry determines whether one or more speech signals are included in the sound signals indicated by the first syntax element. The processing circuitry determines a reference speech signal from the one or more speech signals based on the one or more speech signals being included in the sound signals. The processing circuitry adjusts a loudness level of the reference speech signal of the audio scene based on an anchor speech signal. The processing circuitry adjusts loudness levels of the sound signals based on the adjusted loudness level of the reference speech signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TENCENT AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Jun Tian, Xiaozhong Xu, Shan Liu
  • Patent number: 11582556
    Abstract: An audio apparatus comprises a receiver (201) receiving data describing an audio scene. The data comprises audio data for a set of audio elements corresponding to audio sources in the scene and further includes metadata comprising at least an audio rendering property indicator for a first audio element of the set of audio elements. A first renderer (205) renders audio elements by generating a first set of audio signals for a set of loudspeakers and a second renderer (207) renders audio elements by generating a second set of audio signals for a headphone. Further, a selector (209) is arranged to select between the first renderer and the second renderer for rendering of at least a first part of the first audio element in response to the first audio rendering property indicator. The approach may for example provide improved virtual reality experiences using loudspeakers and headphone hybrid rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Werner Paulus Josephus De Bruijn, Nathan Souviraa-Labastie
  • Patent number: 11545949
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods for volume adjustment are disclosed herein. An example method includes collecting data corresponding to a volume of an audio signal as the audio signal is output through a device, when an average volume of the audio signal does not satisfy a volume threshold for a specified timespan, determining a difference between the average volume and a desired volume, and applying a gain to the audio signal to adjust the volume of the audio signal to the desired volume, the gain determined based on the difference between the average volume and the desired volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Coover, Jeffrey Scott, Markus K Cremer, Aneesh Vartakavi
  • Patent number: 11545168
    Abstract: An audio processing device is disclosed. The audio processing device includes a filter and an output circuit. The filter is configured to receive an audio signal to generate a filtered audio signal, wherein the filter includes a plurality of parameters that are adjustable for changing a bandwidth, a center frequency or a gain of response of the filter. The output circuit is configured to receive the filtered audio signal to generate an output audio signal to a speaker. When the parameters of the filter are changed, the filter reduces changes in the audio signal caused by the parameters, and the output circuit continuously receives the filtered audio signal to generate the output audio signal for the speaker to play without interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Chia-Che Wu
  • Patent number: 11533033
    Abstract: A system for controlling the gain of an input signal in an audio signal amplifier. The system includes a user-operable gain control, and analog and digital circuit elements that together are configured to modify the gain of the input signal in response to the user-operable gain control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Sennett, Robert John Currie, Christopher J. Perkins, Thomas S. Daly, Craig Small
  • Patent number: 11533578
    Abstract: At a collaboration computing device, a method for selecting a subset of audio streams for delivery to a client device includes receiving a plurality of audio streams from a plurality of source devices, each source device associated with a different spatial position within a virtual environment. For each audio stream, the collaboration computing device determines a source audio energy value and computes a client-centric audio energy value by modifying the source audio energy value using a corresponding source attenuation value associated with the source device that transmitted the audio stream. The collaboration computing device generates a source prioritization list by sorting the plurality of source devices by their client-centric audio energy values. A subset of the audio streams are selected and delivered to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ashutosh Vidyadhar Tatake, Noel Richard Cross
  • Patent number: 11528002
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing an output signal to an audio transducer comprises: one or more signal paths for receiving respective digital audio input signals, applying respective digital gains, and outputting respective amplified digital audio input signals; one or more inputs for receiving one or more volume parameters associated with the digital audio input signals; converter circuitry, coupled to the one or more signal paths, for converting the one or more amplified digital audio input signals into the analogue domain, and outputting an analogue audio input signal; an analogue gain element, for applying an analogue gain to the analogue audio input signal and outputting the output signal; and a control circuit, coupled to the one or more signal paths, operative to select the analogue gain based on a comparison of the volume parameters and the one or more digital audio input signals as multiplied by the volume parameters, and to select the respective digital gains for each digital audio input signal so that an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Morgan Timothy Prior, Pradeep Saminathan, Mehul Mistry
  • Patent number: 11523216
    Abstract: An audio system includes an audio/video receiver, a power supply/wireless audio distribution assembly connected to the audio/video receiver, speaker wire, and speakers compatible with the power supply/wireless audio distribution assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Dennis A. Tracy
  • Patent number: 11500609
    Abstract: A content reproducing electronic apparatus includes a communicator including circuitry, an audio output device, and a processor configured to receive state information indicating a state of an external electronic apparatus from the external electronic apparatus located around the electronic apparatus via the communicator, obtain noise information corresponding to the received state information, and control the audio output device to output an audio signal of a content based on a volume corresponding to the obtained noise information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byeol Park, Gohwoon Jeong, Sangshin Park, Changkun Park, Daewon Yoon, Heeran Lee, Namsu Ha
  • Patent number: 11495240
    Abstract: A device-management system performs processing, such as audio processing, in an instance of a virtual machine corresponding to a functionally limited (local) device. To register the local device, the device-management system receives a registration request that includes device information, encryption data, and an indication of an associated user account. The device-management system then sends this registration data to a service-provider system, which returns a shared encryption key. The device-management system and the local device may use this shared encryption key to securely communicate. The device-management system may de-allocate the instance upon detecting a period of inactivity of the local device and may re-allocate the instance when new activity is detected. The device-management system may further determine when and if audio data to be sent to the local device is encoded using a codec not implemented by the local device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventors: Sebastian Pierce-Durance, Kenneth Edward Cecka, Adam Stevens, Sanjay Devireddy, Po-Chen Paul Yang, Naveen Kumar Devaraj, Federico Dan Rozenberg, Pete Baldridge, Rajiv Jain, Pranov Rai, Todd Greenwalt, Yusuf Goren
  • Patent number: 11483657
    Abstract: The present application relates to a human-machine interaction method and device, a computer apparatus, and a storage medium. The method comprises: measuring the current output volume, and if the output volume is less than a first preset threshold, enabling a voice recognition function; acquiring a user's voice message, and measuring the size of the user's voice volume and responding to a user's voice operation; and if the user's voice volume is greater than a second preset threshold, turning down the output volume, and returning to the step of measuring the current output volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: Guohua Liu
  • Patent number: 11432065
    Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to a method for automatically activating ambient sound pass-through in an earphone in response to a detected keyword in the ambient sound field of the earphone user, the steps of the method comprising at least receiving at least one ambient sound microphone (ASM) signal; receiving at least one audio content (AC) signal; and comparing the ASM signal to a keyword and if the ASM signal matches a keyword then an AC gain is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
    Inventor: John Usher
  • Patent number: 11423912
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a device and method for processing an audio signal by using a setting related to a volume of an audio signal in an electronic device. The electronic device may comprise a sound output device and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: check a setting related to a volume of an audio signal to be output using the sound output device; when the setting related to the volume falls into a first designated range, process the audio signal in a state where the range of the volume is set to have a first resolution; when the setting related to the volume falls into a second designated range, process the audio signal in a state where the range of the volume is set to have a second resolution; and output the audio signal by using the sound output device, the audio signal having been processed in a state where the range of the volume is set to have a resolution corresponding to one of the first resolution and the second resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sangsoo Park, Jaeha Park, Dongmoon Ok, Gangyoul Kim, Kiwon Kim, Hyunjoong Kim, Vadim Kudryavtsev, Mira Seo, Chulmin Choi, Hochul Hwang
  • Patent number: 11423921
    Abstract: Compensation accuracy is increased with respect to clip compensation in a case where signals from a plurality of microphones are subjected to an echo cancellation process. A signal processing device according to an embodiment of the present technology includes an echo cancellation unit that performs an echo cancellation process of canceling an output signal component from a speaker on signals from a plurality of microphones, a clip detection unit that performs a clip detection for signals from the plurality of microphones, and a clip compensation unit that compensates for a signal after the echo cancellation process of clipped one of the microphones on the basis of a signal of non-clipped one of the microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Tateishi, Shusuke Takahashi, Akira Takahashi, Kazuki Ochiai, Yoshiaki Oikawa
  • Patent number: 11425480
    Abstract: An in-ear audio listening device comprising a user input element, the user input element comprising a force-sensitive resistor (FSR) and a contact portion configured to receive a user input and, in turn, exert a force upon the FSR, wherein the FSR is configured to detect the force from the contact portion and generate an output for use in controlling operation of an electronic device associated with the in-ear audio listening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Zound Industries International AB
    Inventors: André Hedh, Daniel Andersson, Axel Bluhme
  • Patent number: 11404071
    Abstract: An audio processing unit (APU) is disclosed. The APU includes a buffer memory configured to store at least one frame of an encoded audio bitstream, where the encoded audio bitstream includes audio data and a metadata container. The metadata container includes a header and one or more metadata payloads after the header. The one or more metadata payloads include dynamic range compression (DRC) metadata, and the DRC metadata is or includes profile metadata indicative of whether the DRC metadata includes dynamic range compression (DRC) control values for use in performing dynamic range compression in accordance with at least one compression profile on audio content indicated by at least one block of the audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Riedmiller, Michael Ward
  • Patent number: 11403935
    Abstract: A communication circuit communicates with a right earphone worn on a right ear of a user and a left earphone worn on a left ear of the user to receive a first output signal generated by a first motion sensor provided in the right earphone and a second output signal generated by a second motion sensor provided in the left earphone. A detector detects whether a third party has approached the user based on a difference value between the first output signal and the second output signal received by the communication circuit. A notification unit notifies the user that the third party has approached the user when the detector detects that the third party has approached the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: JVCKENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aki Hamada, Masaki Takei, Toru Kaiwa, Hiromitsu Asaka, Misa Suzuki, Masashi Uemoto, Miharu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11394356
    Abstract: A system configured to perform audio limiting using block-based processing to reduce acoustic distortion and/or computational cost. While sample-by-sample processing would apply a plurality of gain ramps to a single audio sample, the block-based processing applies a single gain ramp to ensure that the audio sample is below a threshold value. To perform block-based processing, an audio limiter component identifies a maximum amplitude value across all channels for a selected audio frame of an audio signal. Using the maximum amplitude value and the threshold value, the audio limiter component determines a block gain value associated with the selected audio frame and selects between attack processing, hold processing, or release processing. Using the selected processing and the block gain value, the audio limiter component determines instantaneous gain values for the audio samples within the audio frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Guillermo Daniel Garcia
  • Patent number: 11381209
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating an audio signal processing apparatus playing content including an audio signal. The method includes receiving the audio signal, receiving metadata including information related to a loudness of the audio signal, the metadata including loudness distribution information indicating, for each of a plurality of steps separated according to a loudness magnitude, a ratio between an amount of the audio signal corresponding to each of the plurality of steps of the audio signal and a total amount of the audio signal, and adjusting the loudness of the audio signal based on the metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: GAUDIO LAB, INC.
    Inventors: Hyunjoo Chung, Sangbae Chon, Hyunoh Oh, Jeonghun Seo
  • Patent number: 11368776
    Abstract: Signal energy in auditory sub-bands of an input audio signal is determined. Sound pressure level, SPL, in those sub-bands is then determined, based on the signal energy and based on sound output sensitivity of the against-the-ear audio device. In one instance, at least first and second gain lookup tables are determined based on a hearing profile of a user of the against-the-ear audio device. Sub-band gains that are to be applied to the input audio signal are determined based on the determined SPL. When the input audio signal is for example telephony the sub-band gains are computed using the first gain lookup table, and when the input audio signal is for example media the sub-band gains are computed using the second gain lookup table. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: John Woodruff, Jing Xia, Yacine Azmi
  • Patent number: 11315541
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include applying, via a sound reproduction system, sound cancellation that reduces an amplitude of various sound signals. The method further includes identifying, among the sound signals, an external sound whose amplitude is to be reduced by the sound cancellation. The method then includes analyzing the identified external sound to determine whether the identified external sound is to be made audible to a user and, upon determining that the external sound is to be made audible to the user, the method includes modifying the sound cancellation so that the identified external sound is made audible to the user. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Lovitt, Antonio John Miller, Philip Robinson, Scott Selfon
  • Patent number: 11315579
    Abstract: A system for encoding and applying Dynamic Range Control/Compression (DRC) gain values to a piece of sound program content is described. In particular, a set of DRC gain values representing a DRC gain curve for the piece of content may be divided into frames corresponding to frames of the piece of content. A set of fields may be included with an audio signal representing the piece of content. The additional fields may represent the DRC gain values using linear or spline interpolation. The additional fields may include 1) an initial gain value for each DRC frame, 2) a set of slope values at particular points in the DRC curve, 3) a set of time delta values for each consecutive pair of slope values, and/or 4) one or more gain delta values representing changes of DRC gain values in the DRC gain curve between points of the slope values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Frank M. Baumgarte
  • Patent number: 11297432
    Abstract: An audio signal processing method of an audio signal distribution device including a receiver, a determiner, and a transmitter. The receiver receives information relating to capabilities of a distribution destination device to which an audio signal is distributed. The determiner, based on the capabilities of the distribution destination device in received information, determines a role of processing of the audio signal of each device including an own device and the distribution destination device and generates processing information according to the processing of the audio signal. The transmitter distributes the processing information and the audio signal to the distribution destination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Hironari Kawai
  • Patent number: 11276396
    Abstract: Systems and methods for handling responses from voice services. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include: a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, cause the IHS to: transmit an audio instruction to a voice services engine, receive a response to the audio instruction, and output a notification associated with the response using an output setting selected based upon a context of the IHS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Marc Randall Hammons, Todd Erick Swierk, Tyler Ryan Cox, William D. T. Nix
  • Patent number: 11231902
    Abstract: Volume limiting systems and methods are operable to limit volume output from media presentation devices. An exemplary embodiment detects a sound using a microphone, wherein the sound corresponds to an audio output of at least one controlled media presentation device, and wherein the microphone is remotely located from the at least one controlled media presentation device; compares a level of the detected sound with a predefined maximum volume limit; generates a volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit; and communicates the volume output limit command to the media presentation device. The media presentation device then reduces a volume level of its audio output. In some instances, volume may be limited during user specified periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventor: Bernard A. McCarthy