Information processing apparatus processing notification sound and audio-based contents, and information processing method thereof

An information processing method comprising:

• reading out from memory and then reproducing an audio signal included in content;
• allocating, when a notification sound for notifying a user of predetermined information needs to be produced while the audio signal is being reproduced, the frequency bands each to an audio signal being reproduced and to the notification sound in a different pattern;
• producing the notification sound;
• extracting and synthesizing an allocated frequency band component from each of a reproduced audio signal and a produced notification sound in the pattern of an allocated frequency band;
• and
• outputting a synthesized audio signal as an audio.

A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program comprising:

• a module operative to read out from memory and then reproduce an audio signal included in contents;
• a module operative to allocate, when a notification sound for notifying a user of predetermined information needs to be produced while the audio signal is being reproduced, frequency bands each to an audio signal being reproduced and to the notification sound in a different pattern;
• a module operative to produce the notification sound;
• a module operative to extract and synthesize an allocated frequency band component from each of a reproduced audio signal and a produced notification sound in the pattern of an allocated frequency band;
• and
• a module operative to output a synthesized audio signal as an audio.