US 10,884,696 B1Granted

Dynamic modification of audio signals

AssigneeHuman, Incorporated

InventorsBenjamin S. Willis, Joseph David Dieter, Joshua Debner, Gelmont Rios, Kyle Marcolini, Brian Jackson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Systems and methods are directed to an audio computing device and methods for modifying and/or blending an ambient-sound signal and a non-ambient-sound signal together into a blended signal having one or more desirable characteristics. In some embodiments, the audio computing device may obtain an ambient sound signal by capturing ambient sound with a microphone. The audio computing device may also obtain a non-ambient sound signal that does not represent ambient sounds. The audio computing device may modify one or both of the sound signals to change properties of the sound signals based at least in part on contextual information related to the sound signals, the audio computing device, or the like. The audio computing device may then blend the modified signals together and cause the blended signal to be output as sound via a speaker that provides an improved audio experience for a user of the audio computing device.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method implemented on an audio computing device, comprising:

obtaining an ambient-sound signal;
obtaining a non-ambient-sound signal;
determining contextual information related to the ambient-sound signal and the non-ambient-sound signal;
identifying, from a set of modification rules and based at least in part on the contextual information, a first set of modifications related to the ambient-sound signal;
identifying, from the set of modification rules and based at least in part on the contextual information, a second set of modifications related to the non-ambient-sound signal;
generating a blended signal using at least the first set of modifications, the second set of modifications, the ambient-sound signal, and the non-ambient-sound signal;
causing output of the blended signal;
determining that a user touch input has been received by the audio computing device during output of the blended signal, wherein the user touch input pauses playback of the non-ambient sound signal;
generating and storing a modified set of modification rules based at least in part on the user touch input, the contextual information, and the set of modification rules;
and
thereafter, generating a modified blended signal in accordance with the modified set of modification rules.

8 more elements

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of an audio computing device to perform operations comprising:

obtaining an ambient-sound signal;
obtaining a non-ambient-sound signal;
determining contextual information related to the ambient-sound signal and the non-ambient-sound signal;
identifying, from a set of modification rules and based at least in part on the contextual information, a first set of modifications related to the ambient-sound signal;
identifying, from the set of modification rules and based at least in part on the contextual information, a second set of modifications related to the non-ambient-sound signal;
generating a blended signal using at least the first set of modifications, the second set of modifications, the ambient-sound signal, and the non-ambient-sound signal;
causing output of the blended signal;
determining that a user touch input has been received by the audio computing device during output of the blended signal, wherein the user touch input pauses playback of the non-ambient sound signal;
generating and storing a modified set of modification rules based at least in part on the user touch input, the contextual information, and the set of modification rules;
and
thereafter, generating a modified blended signal in accordance with the modified set of modification rules.

8 more elements

An audio computing device comprising:

a microphone;
a memory configured to store processor-executable instructions;
and
a processor in communication with the memory and the microphone and configured to execute the processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
obtaining an ambient-sound signal;
obtaining a non-ambient-sound signal;
determining contextual information related to the ambient-sound signal and the non-ambient-sound signal;
identifying, from a set of modification rules and based at least in part on the contextual information, a first set of modifications related to the ambient-sound signal;
identifying, from the set of modification rules and based at least in part on the contextual information, a second set of modifications related to the non-ambient-sound signal;
generating a blended signal using at least the first set of modifications, the second set of modifications, the ambient-sound signal, and the non-ambient-sound signal;
causing output of the blended signal;
determining that a user touch input has been received by the audio computing device during output of the blended signal, wherein the user touch input pauses playback of the non-ambient sound signal;
generating and storing a modified set of modification rules based at least in part on the user touch input, the contextual information, and the set of modification rules;
and
thereafter, generating a modified blended signal in accordance with the modified set of modification rules.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/705,068Filed 14 Sep 2017 · us provisional application
Priority: 15 Sep 2016
Granted: 5 Jan 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G06F 3/165
Sound input; Sound output: management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
G10L 25/51
Specially adapted for particular use: for comparison or discrimination
H04R 29/00
Monitoring arrangements
G10L 25/48
Speech or voice analysis techniques not restricted to a single one of groups G10L15/00 - G10L21/00: specially adapted for particular use