# US 12,114,123 B2 · Sound input-output control apparatus, sound input-output control method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

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- Number: US 12,114,123 B2
- Document ID: US12114123B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/898,441
- Filed: 2022-08-29
- Published: 2022-12-29
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-24
- Assignees: JVCKENWOOD Corporation
- Applicants: JVCKENWOOD Corporation
- Inventors: Hiroyuki Kumakura; Katsumi Tomizawa; Ryo Miyakuchi; Hideki Takehara; Naribumi Omata; Jeong-ju Choe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114123B2

## CPC

- H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)}
- H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)}
- G08C 17/00: Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
- H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
- H04Q 9/02: Automatically-operated arrangements
- H04S 7/302: {Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation (H04S7/301 takes precedence)}
- H04R 5/033: Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)}
- H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
- H04R 2430/01: Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G)
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A sound input-output control apparatus that can provide wider usage to a sound output apparatus are provided. The sound input-output control apparatus includes a distance determination unit configured to determine whether the distance between at least two of a plurality of sound output apparatuses each independently mounted on a user and configured to output sound toward the user is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance, and an operation control unit configured to control each of the sound output apparatuses to perform first operation when the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is shorter than the predetermined distance, and control each of the sound output apparatuses to perform second operation when the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sound input-output control apparatus configured to control a plurality of sound output apparatuses each independently mounted on at least one user to output sound toward the at least one user, the sound input-output control apparatus comprising:
a distance determination unit configured to determine whether a distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance; and
an operation control unit configured to control each of the sound output apparatuses to perform first operation when it is determined by the distance determination unit that the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is shorter than the predetermined distance, and control each of the sound output apparatuses to perform second operation when it is determined by the distance determination unit that the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance, wherein:
at least one of the sound output apparatuses includes a sound input unit configured to collect voice of a user on which the one sound output apparatus is mounted;
the operation control unit controls the one sound output apparatus to output a voice signal in accordance with the voice collected by the sound input unit of the one sound output apparatus to any other sound output apparatus when it is determined by the distance determination unit that the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance; and
the operation control unit controls the other sound output apparatus to receive the voice signal and to output the voice toward the user in accordance with the voice signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sound input-output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance determination unit determines whether the distance among the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance based on a signal state in communication between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The sound input-output control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a format of communication used by the distance determination unit for determination of the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is different from a format of communication used for sound signal transmission and reception between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sound input-output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance determination unit determines whether the distance among the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance based on position information of each of at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses.

### Claim 5

A sound input-output control method in which a plurality of sound output apparatuses each independently mounted on at least one user to output sound toward the at least one user are controlled by a sound input-output control apparatus, wherein the sound input-output control apparatus:
determines whether a distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance,
controls each of the sound output apparatuses to perform first operation when having determined that the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is shorter than the predetermined distance, and
controls each of the sound output apparatuses to perform second operation when having determined that the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance, wherein:
at least one of the sound output apparatuses includes a sound input unit configured to collect voice of a user on which the one sound output apparatus is mounted;
the sound input-output control apparatus controls the one sound output apparatus to output a voice signal in accordance with the voice collected by the sound input unit of the one sound output apparatus to any other sound output apparatus when it is determined that the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance; and
the sound input-output control apparatus controls the other sound output apparatus to receive the voice signal and to output the voice toward the user in accordance with the voice signal.

### Claim 6

A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a computer program that causes a sound input-output control apparatus to execute processing of controlling a plurality of sound output apparatuses each independently mounted on at least one user to output sound toward the at least one user, the computer program causing the sound input-output control apparatus to execute;
processing of determining whether a distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance; and
processing of controlling each of the sound output apparatuses to perform first operation when having determined that the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is shorter than the predetermined distance, and controlling each of the sound output apparatuses to perform second operation when having determined that the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance, wherein:
at least one of the sound output apparatuses includes a sound input unit configured to collect voice of a user on which the one sound output apparatus is mounted;
the computer program further causes the sound input-output control apparatus to execute:
processing of controlling the one sound output apparatus to output a voice signal in accordance with the voice collected by the sound input unit of the one sound output apparatus to any other sound output apparatus when it is determined that the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance; and
processing of controlling the other sound output apparatus to receive the voice signal and to output the voice toward the user in accordance with the voice signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sound input-output control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation control unit controls either the one sound output apparatus or the other sound output apparatus to stop voice collection by the sound input unit at the one sound output apparatus or the other sound output apparatus when it is determined by the distance determination unit that the distance between at least two of the plurality of sound output apparatuses is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance.