# US 11,907,612 B2 · Apparatus, systems and methods for limiting output volume of a media presentation device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,907,612 B2 - Document ID: US11907612B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/573,459 - Filed: 2022-01-11 - Published: 2022-04-28 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-28 - Assignees: DISH Technologies L.L.C. - Applicants: DISH Technologies L.L.C. - Inventors: Bernard A. McCarthy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11907612B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - H03G 3/32: the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level - H03G 7/007: {of digital or coded signals} - H04N 21/4852: {for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A media device configured to limit volume output from a media presentation device, comprising; an interface configured to receive a user specification that defines an enforcement period; an audio detector interface configured to receive audio information communicated by an audio detector; and a processor system communicatively coupled to the audio detector interface and the interface, wherein the processor system is configured to: determine a start time of the enforcement period, wherein the start time of the enforcement period corresponds to a start time of a user selected program; determine a volume level of a detected sound based on the audio information received from the audio detector, wherein the detected sound corresponds to the user selected program being presented by the media presentation device; compare the volume level of the detected sound with a predefined maximum volume limit in response to a real time reaching the start time of the enforcement period; and generate a volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit during the enforcement period. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The media device of claim 1, further comprising: a memory configured to store the predefined maximum volume limit and the user specification. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The media device of claim 2, wherein the processor system is further configured to: retrieve a duration of the enforcement period that has been previously stored in the memory of the media presentation device; determine an end time of the enforcement period, wherein the end time of the enforcement period is determined based on the start time of the enforcement period and the duration of the enforcement period; and compare current time with the determined end time; and reduce an output volume of the media presentation device in accordance with the volume output limit command until the current time reaches the end time of the enforcement period. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The media device of claim 2, wherein the processor system is further configured to: retrieve an end time of the enforcement period defined in the user specification that has been previously stored in the memory of the media presentation device; and compare current time with the retrieved end time; and reduce an output volume of the media presentation device in accordance with the volume output limit command until the current time reaches the end time of the enforcement period. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The media device of claim 1, wherein the user specification comprises: first information that defines the start time of the enforcement period; second information that defines at least one of a duration of the enforcement period and an end time of the enforcement period; and third information that defines the predefined maximum volume limit associated with the enforcement period. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The media device of claim 1, wherein the audio detector is implemented in a remote control using a microphone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The media device of claim 1, wherein the volume output limit command is configured to limit an output volume of the media presentation device that is presenting the detected sound to the predefined maximum volume limit associated with the enforcement period. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The media device of claim 1, wherein the processor system is further configured to generate an electronic program guide that is presented on a display. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The media device of claim 1, wherein the audio detector interface is configured to receive the audio information via an infrared signal or a radio frequency signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The media device of claim 1, wherein the volume output limit command is configured to modify an output volume of the media presentation device by clipping only a portion of the volume output whose level exceeds a threshold volume. ### Claim 11 A method to limit volume output from a media presentation device, comprising; receiving a user specification that defines an enforcement period; receiving audio information from an audio detector; determining, with a processor, a start time of the enforcement period, wherein the start time of the enforcement period corresponds to a start time of a user selected program; determining, with the processor, a volume level of a detected sound based on the audio information received from the audio detector, wherein the detected sound corresponds to the user selected program being presented by the media presentation device; comparing, with the processor, the volume level of the detected sound with a predefined maximum volume limit in response to a real time reaching the start time of the enforcement period; and generating, with the processor, a volume output limit command in response to the detected sound exceeding the predefined maximum volume limit during the enforcement period. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the predefined maximum volume limit and the user specification in a memory device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising retrieving a duration of the enforcement period that has been previously stored in the memory device; determining an end time of the enforcement period, wherein the end time of the enforcement period is determined based on the start time of the enforcement period and the duration of the enforcement period; and comparing current time with the determined end time; and reducing an output volume of the media presentation device in accordance with the volume output limit command until the current time reaches the end time of the enforcement period. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising retrieving an end time of the enforcement period defined in the user specification that has been previously stored in the memory device; and comparing current time with the retrieved end time and reducing an output volume of the media presentation device in accordance with the volume output limit command until the current time reaches the end time of the enforcement period. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the user specification comprise first information that defines the start time of the enforcement period; second information that defines at least one of a duration of the enforcement period and an end time of the enforcement period; and third information that defines the predefined maximum volume limit associated with the enforcement period. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the audio detector is implemented in a remote control using a microphone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the volume output limit command is configured to limit an output volume of the media presentation device that is presenting the detected sound to the predefined maximum volume limit associated with the enforcement period. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising generating an electronic program guide that is presented on a display. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the audio information from the audio detector comprises receiving an infrared signal or a radio frequency signal that carries the audio information. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the volume output limit command is configured to modify the volume output of the media presentation device by clipping only a portion of the volume output whose level exceeds a threshold volume.