# US 2023/0054597 A1 · Systems and methods for selectively providing audio alerts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0054597 A1 - Document ID: US20230054597A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/878,295 - Filed: 2022-08-01 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-16 - Assignees: Rovi Guides, Inc. - Applicants: Rovi Guides, Inc. - Inventors: Madhusudhan Seetharam; Vikram Makam Gupta; Sahir Nasir - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054597A1 ## CPC - G10K 11/17837: {by retaining part of the ambient acoustic environment, e.g. speech or alarm signals that the user needs to hear} - G10K 11/17823: {Reference signals, e.g. ambient acoustic environment} - G10K 11/17827: {Desired external signals, e.g. pass-through audio such as music or speech} - G10K 11/17883: {the reference signal being derived from a machine operating condition, e.g. engine RPM or vehicle speed} - H04R 1/1083: {Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06)} - H04R 5/04: Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} - H04S 7/40: {Visual indication of stereophonic sound image} - G10K 2210/1081: Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) - H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS ## Abstract Systems and methods for selectively providing audio alerts via a speaker device are disclosed herein. A system plays first audio content through a speaker. A microphone captures second audio content comprising an alert Output of the second audio content through the speaker is suppressed by using noise cancellation The system identifies the alert within the second audio content and determines a priority level of the alert. The system determines, based on the priority level, that the alert should be reproduced, and audibly reproduces the alert via the speaker, with the first audio content or instead of the first audio content. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-50. (canceled) ### Claim 51 A method for providing a listener audio environment via a speaker device, comprising: at least partially acoustically isolating the listener environment from an external audio environment; receiving first audio content at the speaker device; and generating the listener audio environment by playing the first audio content and sounds from the external audio environment through one or more speakers of the speaker device. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, further comprising receiving, at one or more microphones, audio content from the external audio environment. ### Claim 53 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, further comprising determining that the external audio environment comprises an alert comprising one or more sounds from the external audio environment that can be reproduced at the one or more speakers. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, further comprising: generating an audio fingerprint based on the one or more sounds from the external audio environment; and identifying the alert based on the generated audio fingerprint. ### Claim 55 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, wherein the determining that the external audio environment comprises the alert comprises generating an audio fingerprint based on the one or more sounds from the external audio environment and using the audio fingerprint to determine the alert. ### Claim 56 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, wherein the determining that the external audio environment comprises the alert is performed at a computing device separate from the speaker device, the method further comprising: transmitting, from the computing device, to the speaker device an indication; and in response to receiving the indication, generating the listener audio environment. ### Claim 57 (depends on 53) The method of claim 53, further comprising: determining a priority level of the alert; and in response to the determining, based on the priority level, that the alert should be reproduced, audibly reproducing the alert via the one or more speakers with the first audio content. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The method of claim 57, further comprising: determining, based on a location of a source of the alert source and a location of the speaker device, a distance between the alert source and the speaker device, wherein the determining the priority level is further based on the distance. ### Claim 59 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, wherein at least partially acoustically isolating the listener environment from the external audio environment comprises suppressing output of the external environment through the speaker by using noise cancellation. ### Claim 60 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, further comprising: determining a time shift for an alert from the external audio environment, wherein the alert comprises one or more sounds from the external audio environment that can be reproduced at the speaker; and wherein: generating the listener audio environment comprises playing the first audio content and sounds from the external audio environment, at a time based on the time shift, through the one or more speakers of the speaker device. ### Claim 61 A system for providing a listener audio environment via a speaker device, comprising: the speaker device; control circuitry configured to: at least partially acoustically isolate the listener environment from an external audio environment; receive first audio content at the speaker device; and generate the listener audio environment by playing the first audio content and sounds from the external audio environment through one or more speakers of the speaker device. ### Claim 62 (depends on 61) The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive, via one or more microphones, audio content from the external audio environment. ### Claim 63 (depends on 61) The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the external audio environment comprises an alert comprising one or more sounds from the external audio environment that can be reproduced at the one or more speakers. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The system of claim 63, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: generate an audio fingerprint based on the one or more sounds from the external audio environment; and identify the alert based on the generated audio fingerprint. ### Claim 65 (depends on 63) The system of claim 63, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine that the external audio environment comprises the alert by generating an audio fingerprint based on the one or more sounds from the external audio environment and using the audio fingerprint to determine the alert. ### Claim 66 (depends on 63) The system of claim 63, wherein a computing device separate from the speaker device determines that the external audio environment comprises the alert, and the computing device is configured to transmitting, from the computing device, to the speaker device an indication, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to generate the listener audio environment in response to receiving the indication. ### Claim 67 (depends on 63) The system of claim 63, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: determine a priority level of the alert; and in response to the determining, based on the priority level, that the alert should be reproduced, audibly reproduce the alert via the one or more speakers with the first audio content. ### Claim 68 (depends on 67) The system of claim 67, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: determine, based on a location of a source of the alert source and a location of the speaker device, a distance between the alert source and the speaker device, wherein the determining the priority level is further based on the distance. ### Claim 69 (depends on 61) The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is configured to at least partially acoustically isolate the listener environment from the external audio environment by suppressing output of the external environment through the speaker by using noise cancellation. ### Claim 70 (depends on 61) The system of claim 61, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: determine a time shift for an alert from the external audio environment, wherein the alert comprises one or more sounds from the external audio environment that can be reproduced at the speaker; and generate the listener audio environment by playing the first audio content and sounds from the external audio environment, at a time based on the time shift, through the one or more speakers of the speaker device.