# US 2022/0035593 A1 · Smart Background Noise Estimator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0035593 A1 - Document ID: US20220035593A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/282,234 - Filed: 2020-06-23 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-23 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google LLC - Inventors: Jae Lee; Manas Maheshwari - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220035593A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - H03G 3/32: the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level - G10L 21/0216: characterised by the method used for estimating noise - G10L 21/0316: by changing the amplitude - H03G 7/002: {in untuned or low-frequency amplifiers, e.g. audio amplifiers (H03G7/007, H03G7/001, H03G7/008, H03G7/02, H03G7/06 take precedence)} - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING - 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) ## Abstract The present disclosure provides systems and methods for applying a volume gain to change the playback volume of a device by calculating a smoothed noise estimate. The smoothed noise estimate may calculated using an exponential smoothing method. The exponential smoothing method may include applying a weight factor to both a background noise estimate and a historical smoothed noise estimate. The weight factor may place more emphasis on either the background noise estimate or the historical smoothed noise estimate depending on the value of the weight factor. The value of the weight factor may change based on the type of environment the device is in, the speed of the background noise transitions, and/or historical data. The calculated smoothed noise estimate may be used to calculate a volume gain. The volume gain may be applied over a period of time such that the playback volume of the device changes smoothly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device, comprising: one or more microphones; and one or more processors in communication with the one or more microphones, the one or more processors being configured to: determine a background noise level; smooth the determined background noise level by applying a weight factor to the determined background noise level; calculate, based on the smoothed noise level, a volume gain; compare the calculated volume gain to a threshold gain; and apply the calculated volume gain to increase or decrease a playback volume of the device when the calculated volume gain is less than the threshold gain. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein when the calculated volume gain is equal to the threshold gain the one or more processors are further configured to re-smooth the background noise level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the weight factor corresponds to a change in intensity of background noise. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the weight factor is larger for a first transition from a first background noise level to a second background noise level than a second transition from a third background noise level to a fourth background noise level, the first transition being quicker than the second transition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein smoothing the determined background noise further includes applying the weight factor to a second smoothed noise level. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the smoothed noise level is calculated at a first time and the second smoothed noise level is calculated at a second time, the second time occurring before the first time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive an input for adjusting the playback volume, wherein the input differs from the calculated volume gain; and adjust the playback volume based on the received input. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein applying the volume gain occurs over a period of time such that the playback volume gradually increases or decreases. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive content such that smoothing the determined background noise level and calculating the volume gain occurs when the one or more processors are receiving the content. ### Claim 10 A method, comprising: determining, using one or more processors, a background noise level; smoothing, using the one or more processors, the determined background noise level by applying a weight factor to the determined background noise level; calculating, using the one or more processors based on the smoothed noise level, a volume gain; comparing, using the one or more processors, the calculated volume gain to a threshold gain; and applying, using the one or more processors, the calculated volume gain to increase or decrease a playback volume of a device when the calculated volume gain is less than the threshold gain. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising re-smoothing, using the one or more processors, the background noise level when the calculated volume gain is equal to the threshold gain. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the weight factor corresponds to a change in intensity of background noise. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the weight factor is larger for a first transition from a first background noise level to a second background noise level than a second transition from a third background noise level to a fourth background noise level, the first transition being quicker than the second transition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the smoothing the determined background noise further includes applying, using the one or more processors, the weight factor to a second smoothed noise level. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the smoothed noise level is calculated at a first time and the second smoothed noise level is calculated at a second time, the second time occurring before the first time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving an input for adjusting the playback volume, wherein the input differs from the calculated volume gain; and adjusting the playback volume based on the received input . ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein applying the volume gain occurs over a period of time such that the playback volume gradually increases or decreases. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving content such that smoothing the determined background noise level and calculating the volume gain occurs when the device is receiving the content. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: determine a background noise level; smooth the determined background noise level by applying a weight factor to the determined background noise level; calculate, based on the smoothed noise level, a volume gain; compare the calculated volume gain to a threshold gain; and apply the calculated volume gain to increase or decrease a playback volume of a device when the calculated volume gain is less than the threshold gain. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the weight factor corresponds to a change in intensity of background noise such that the weight factor is larger for a first transition from a first background noise level to a second background noise level than a second transition from a third background noise level to a fourth background noise level, the first transition being quicker than the second transition.