US 10,705,788 B2Granted

Method and apparatus for controlling audio output

AssigneeNokia Technologies Oy

InventorHenna Katriina Petainen

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Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to enhance the experience of a user of a computing device, such as a computing device having a plurality of speakers. In the context of a method, content is caused to be presented upon the display. The content is associated with a representation of an audio source. The method also includes determining a location of the representation of the audio source relative to the display. The method further includes preferentially directing audio signals generated by the audio source to one or more of a plurality of speakers that have different respective positions relative to the display. In this regard, the method may preferentially direct the audio signals by preferentially directing audio signals based upon the location of the representation of the audio source relative to the display and also based upon the respective positions of the speakers relative to the display.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

causing content to be presented upon a display, the content being associated with a first representation of a first audio source and a second representation of a second audio source;
determining a location of each of the first representation of the first audio source and the second representation of the second audio source relative to the display;
identifying one or more of a plurality of speakers, the plurality of speakers having different positions relative to the display, and the identifying based at least upon the location of each of the first representation of the first audio source and the second representation of the second audio source relative to the display, and the identifying further based at least upon the different positions of the plurality of speakers relative to the display;
outputting the first audio signal generated by the first audio source and the second audio signal generated by the second audio source by at least directing, to the identified one or more of the plurality of speakers, the first audio signal generated by the first audio source and the second audio signal generated by the second audio source, the first audio signal being output at a first volume and the second audio signal being output at a second volume;
in response to the first representation of the first audio source being scrolled off the display, continuing to output the first audio signal generated by the first audio source at a third volume that is inversely proportional to a first distance the content is scrolled in order for the first representation of the first audio source to be presented on the display, the third volume being further dependent on a first direction in which the first representation of the first audio source is scrolled in order for the first representation of the first audio source to be presented on the display;
and
in response to the second representation of the second audio source being scrolled off the display, continuing to output the second audio signal generated by the second audio source at a fourth volume that is inversely proportional to a second distance the content is scrolled in order for the second representation of the second audio source to be presented on the display, the fourth volume being further dependent on a second direction in which the second representation of the second audio source is scrolled in order for the second representation of the second audio source to be presented on the display,
wherein the display and the plurality of speakers comprise and/or are comprised in an apparatus.

5 more elements

An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

cause content to be presented upon a display, the content being associated with a first representation of a first audio source and a second representation of a second audio source;
determine a location of each of the first representation of the first audio source and the second representation of the second audio source relative to the display;
identify one or more of a plurality of speakers, the plurality of speakers having different positions relative to the display, and the identifying based at least upon the location of each of the first representation of the first audio source and the second representation of the second audio source relative to the display, and the identifying further based at least upon the different positions of the plurality of speakers relative to the display;
output the first audio signal generated by the first audio source and the second audio signal generated by the second audio source by at least directing, to the identified one or more of the plurality of speakers, the first audio signal generated by the first audio source and the second audio signal generated by the second audio source, the first audio signal being output at a first volume and the second audio signal being output at a second volume;
and
in response to the first representation of the first audio source being scrolled off the display, continue to output the first audio signal generated by the first audio source at adjusting a third volume that is inversely proportional to a first distance the content is scrolled in order for the first representation of the first audio source to be presented on the display, the third volume being further dependent on a first direction in which the first representation of the first audio source is scrolled in order for the first representation of the first audio source to be presented on the display;
and
in response to the second representation of the second audio source being scrolled off the display, continuing to output the second audio signal generated by the second audio source at a fourth volume that is inversely proportional to a second distance the content is scrolled in order for the second representation of the second audio source to be presented on the display, the fourth volume being further dependent on a second direction in which the second representation of the second audio source is scrolled in order for the second representation of the second audio source to be presented on the display,
wherein the display and the plurality of speakers comprise and/or are comprised in the apparatus.

6 more elements

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code portions stored thereon, the program code portions configured, upon execution, to at least:

cause content to be presented upon a display, the content being associated with a first representation of a first audio source and a second representation of a second audio source;
determine a location of each of the first representation of the first audio source and the second representation of the second audio source relative to the display;
identify one or more of a plurality of speakers, the plurality of speakers having different positions relative to the display, and the identifying based at least upon the location of each of the first representation of the first audio source and the second representation of the second audio source relative to the display, and the identifying further based at least upon the different positions of the plurality of speakers relative to the display;
output the first audio signal generated by the first audio source and the second audio signal generated by the second audio source by at least directing, to the identified one or more of the plurality of speakers, the first audio signal generated by the first audio source and the second audio signal generated by the second audio source, the first audio signal being output at a first volume and the second audio signal being output at a second volume;
and
in response to the first representation of the first audio source being scrolled off the display, continue to output the first audio signal generated by the first audio source at a third volume that is inversely proportional to a first distance the content is scrolled in order for the first representation of the first audio source to be presented on the display, the third volume being further dependent on a first direction in which the first representation of the first audio source is scrolled in order for the first representation of the first audio source to be presented on the display;
and
in response to the second representation of the second audio source being scrolled off the display, continuing to output the second audio signal generated by the second audio source at a fourth volume that is inversely proportional to a second distance the content is scrolled in order for the second representation of the second audio source to be presented on the display, the fourth volume being further dependent on a second direction in which the second representation of the second audio source is scrolled in order for the second representation of the second audio source to be presented on the display,
wherein the display and the plurality of speakers comprise and/or are comprised in an apparatus.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/902,666Filed 9 Jul 2013
Published: US 2016/0170707 A116 Jun 2016
Granted: 7 Jul 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G06F 3/165
Sound input; Sound output: management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
G06F 3/0485
For the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a…:…
H04R 3/12
Circuits for transducers: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers
H04R 2430/01
Signal processing covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups: aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems