# US 2017/0289728 A1 · Function control apparatus and program

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2017/0289728 A1
- Document ID: US20170289728A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/491,444
- Filed: 2017-04-19
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-07
- Assignees: Sony Corporation
- Applicants: Sony Corporation
- Inventors: Kosei YAMASHITA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170289728A1

## CPC

- H04S 7/302: {Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation (H04S7/301 takes precedence)}
- G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)}
- G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback}
- G06F 21/31: User authentication
- G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
- H04S 2420/01: Enhancing the perception of the sound image or of the spatial distribution using head related transfer functions [HRTF's] or equivalents thereof, e.g. interaural time difference [ITD] or interaural level difference [ILD]
- H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An electronic device includes processing circuitry configured to produce an audio sound from a virtual sound source position. The circuitry also acquires from a user-input a sound position information of a perceived sound source position, and then controls an enable or disable of a function of the electronic device based on a relationship between the virtual sound source position and the perceived sound source position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic device, comprising:
circuitry configured to:
acquire an attribute of a user;
produce a virtual sound effect at a virtual sound source position based on the acquired attribute of the user;
acquire a user input that indicates a perceived sound source position;
compare the perceived sound source position with the virtual sound source position; and
control a function of the electronic device based on the comparison.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the user input is a gaze of a user or a line of sight of the user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a head mount display (HMD).

### Claim 4

An electronic device including processing circuitry, configured to:
acquire an attribute of a user;
produce a virtual sound effect at a first locus determined based on the acquired attribute of the user;
acquire a user input that indicates a second locus of a perceived sound source position; and
control a function of the electronic device based on a relationship between the first locus and the second locus of the perceived sound source position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the user input is a locus of a gaze of a user.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the user input is a gesture of a user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein a virtual sound effect is produced based on a detection of a determined gesture of a user.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the function of the electronic device is an unlock process of the electronic device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the function of the electronic device is a display of a virtual content on the electronic device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the attribute of the user is an average head-related transfer function (HRTF) of a plurality of users having a common attribute.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the HRTF is an average head-related transfer function of a plurality of users having a common attribute.

### Claim 12

An information processing method, comprising:
in an electronic device:
acquiring an attribute of a user;
producing a virtual sound effect at a virtual sound source position based on the acquired attribute of the user;
acquiring a user input indicating a perceived sound source position;
comparing the perceived sound source position with the virtual sound source position; and
controlling a function of the electronic device based on the comparison.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The information processing method according to claim 12, wherein the user input is a gaze of a user or a line of sight of the user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The information processing method according to claim 12, wherein the function of the electronic device is an unlock process of the electronic device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The information processing method according to claim 12, wherein the function of the electronic device is a display of a virtual content on the electronic device.

### Claim 16

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a processor of an electronic device, cause the processor to execute operations, the operations comprising:
acquiring an attribute of a user;
producing a virtual sound effect at a virtual sound source position based on the acquired attribute of the user;
acquiring a user input indicating a perceived sound source position;
comparing the perceived sound source position with the virtual sound source position; and
controlling a function of the electronic device based on the comparison.