U.S. patent application number 10/826528 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-21 for method and apparatus for wireless audio delivery.
Invention is credited to Cheung, Kwok Wai, Thomas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P..
Application Number | 20040208325 10/826528 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33303910 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040208325 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheung, Kwok Wai ; et
al. |
October 21, 2004 |
Method and apparatus for wireless audio delivery
Abstract
Techniques for providing wireless delivery of audio sounds from
audio systems to personal audio devices are disclosed. These
techniques can permit users of the personal audio device to be
mobile yet still acquire the audio sounds. These techniques can
also optionally provide customization (or personalization) of the
audio sounds to the user's hearing and/or modification of the audio
sounds in view of environmental conditions. According to one aspect
of the invention, audio output from an audio system or a personal
audio device can be delivered in a directionally constrained
manner. According to another aspect of the invention, a wireless
adapter can serve as an after market modification to an audio
system.
Inventors: |
Cheung, Kwok Wai; (Hong
Kong, CN) ; Tong, Peter P.; (Mountain View, CA)
; Thomas, C. Douglass; (Campbell, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IPVENTURE, INC.
5150 EL CAMINO REAL
SUITE A-22
LOS ALTOS
CA
94022
US
|
Family ID: |
33303910 |
Appl. No.: |
10/826528 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60462570 |
Apr 15, 2003 |
|
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|
60469221 |
May 12, 2003 |
|
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60493441 |
Aug 8, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
381/79 ;
381/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 25/554 20130101;
H04M 1/0214 20130101; H04R 25/405 20130101; H04R 27/00 20130101;
H04R 2217/03 20130101; H04R 1/403 20130101; H04M 1/03 20130101;
H04R 2201/401 20130101; H04H 20/61 20130101; H04S 1/00 20130101;
H04S 3/00 20130101; H04R 2201/023 20130101; H04R 2225/55 20130101;
H04M 1/6091 20130101; H04H 20/72 20130101; H04M 1/19 20130101; H04M
1/605 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
381/079 ;
381/077 |
International
Class: |
H04B 003/00; H04B
005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for enhancing an audio system, the audio system
delivers audio output to an audio output terminal, said system
comprising: a wireless transmitter that connects to the audio
output terminal and wirelessly transmits the audio output provided
by the audio system; and a personal audio device usable by a user
to hear the audio output, said personal audio device including at
least: a wireless receiver capable of receiving the audio output
transmitted by said wireless transmitter; a data store for storing
user information; a controller operatively connected to said data
store and said wireless receiver, said controller operates to
produce customized audio output by modifying the audio output
received by said wireless receiver based on the user information;
and a speaker operatively connected to said controller, said
speaker produces an audio sound output in accordance with the
customized audio output.
2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said speaker is a
directional speaker.
3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said controller produces
ultrasonic drive signals based on the customized audio output and
supplies the ultrasonic drive signals to said directional speaker
for output of the audio sound output in a directionally constrained
manner.
4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user information
comprises a user hearing profile.
5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user information
comprises at least one user preference.
6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said personal audio
device further obtains environmental information pertaining to the
vicinity of said personal audio device, and wherein the customized
audio output produced by said controller is dependent on the
environmental information.
7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the environmental
information includes at least a noise level, and wherein the output
volume of the audio sound is dependent on the noise level.
8. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein said personal audio
device further comprises: at least one environmental sensor that
acquires the environmental information.
9. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the environmental
information is determined based on a position of said personal
audio device or the user.
10. A system for enhancing an audio system, the audio system
delivers audio output to an audio output terminal, said system
comprising: a wireless transmission apparatus that connects to the
audio output terminal to receive audio output from the audio system
and wirelessly transmits a customized audio output, said wireless
transmission apparatus including at least: a data store for storing
user information; and a first controller operatively connected to
said data store, said first controller operates to produce the
customized audio output by modifying the audio output received by
said wireless transmission apparatus based on the user information;
and a personal audio device usable by a user to hear the customized
audio output, said personal audio device including at least: a
wireless receiver capable of receiving the customized audio output
transmitted by said wireless transmission apparatus; a second
controller operatively connected to said wireless receiver to
receive the customized audio output that has been received, said
second controller further converts the customized audio output into
audio output signals; and a speaker operatively connected to said
second controller, said speaker produces an audio sound output in
accordance with the audio output signals.
11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said speaker is a
directional speaker.
12. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein the audio output
signals produced by said second controller are ultrasonic drive
signals based on the customized audio output, and the ultrasonic
drive signals are supplied to said directional speaker for output
of the audio sound output in a directionally constrained
manner.
13. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the user information
comprises a user hearing profile.
14. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the user information
comprises at least one user preference.
15. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said personal audio
device further obtains environmental information pertaining to the
vicinity of said personal audio device, and wherein the customized
audio output produced by said first controller is dependent on the
environmental information.
16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein said personal audio
device further comprises: at least one environmental sensor that
acquires the environmental information.
17. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the environmental
information is wirelessly transmitted to said first controller.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of: (i) U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/462,570, filed Apr. 15, 2003, and
entitled "WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS OR DEVICES, HEARING
ENHANCEMENT SYSTEMS OR DEVICES, AND METHODS THEREFOR," which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference; (ii) U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/469,221, filed May 12, 2003, and entitled
"WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS OR DEVICES, HEARING ENHANCEMENT
SYSTEMS OR DEVICES, DIRECTIONAL SPEAKER FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE,
PERSONALIZED AUDIO SYSTEMS OR DEVICES, AND METHODS THEREFOR," which
is hereby incorporated herein by reference; and (iii) U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/493,441, filed Aug. 8, 2003,
and entitled "WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS OR DEVICES, HEARING
ENHANCEMENT SYSTEMS OR DEVICES, DIRECTIONAL SPEAKER FOR ELECTRONIC
DEVICE, AUDIO SYSTEMS OR DEVICES, WIRELESS AUDIO DELIVERY, AND
METHODS THEREFOR," which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
[0002] This application is also related to: (i) U.S. patent
application No. ______, filed concurrently, and entitled,
"DIRECTIONAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS," which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference; (ii) U.S. patent application No.
______, filed concurrently, and entitled, "DIRECTIONAL HEARING
ENHANCEMENT SYSTEMS," which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference; (iii) U.S. patent application No. ______, filed
concurrently, and entitled, "DIRECTIONAL SPEAKER FOR PORTABLE
ELECTRONIC DEVICE," which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference; and (iv) U.S. patent application No. ______, filed
concurrently, and entitled, "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOCALIZED
DELIVERY OF AUDIO SOUND FOR ENHANCED PRIVACY," which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to audio systems and, more
particularly, to wireless audio delivery from audio systems to
personal audio devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Audio systems provide audio sounds to one or more users.
Audio systems, for example, include stereo systems, DVD players,
VCRs, and televisions. These audio systems utilize one or more
speakers to provide audio sounds to a wide area. For example, an
audio system can be internal to a building (e.g., house) and
produce audio sounds from its speakers provided in a particular
room. When a user desires to hear the audio output in another room
(remote room) far from the audio system, the user is likely unable
to hear the audio sounds produced by the audio system.
Traditionally, a user would have to provide one or more speakers
(e.g., floor, wall, desktop, or book shelve type) in the remote
room by running wires from the audio system to the one or more
speakers in the remote room. More recently, wireless speakers have
become available and can thus eliminate the need to provide such
wiring.
[0005] In any case, the audio sounds are provided primarily in the
one or more rooms that contains the speakers, and, to a certain
degree, to other adjoining rooms. While the ability to hear audio
sounds anywhere in the particular room and other adjoining rooms is
beneficial if other persons in these rooms desire to hear the audio
sounds, unfortunately, however, many times the other persons in the
particular room or the adjoining rooms do not desire to hear the
audio output. Indeed, these other persons are disturbed by the
audio sounds being produced for the enjoyment of others. In effect,
to these others, the unwanted audio sounds are a form of noise
pollution.
[0006] If the user in the remote room has a headset available, the
user can wear the headset to reduce the disturbance to others. The
headset needs to be wireless in order to retain mobility.
Regardless of whether wired or wireless, wearing a headset can be
uncomfortable and significantly hinders one's ability to hear other
sounds.
[0007] Today, there are no satisfactory solutions to reducing such
noise pollution. The user (or users) desirous of hearing audio
sounds can reduce the volume of the audio sounds or close openings
(e.g., doors) to adjoining rooms. These approaches are of limited
usefulness as audio sounds pass through doors and walls and
reducing volume is often not desirous by the user (or users)
desiring to hear the audio sounds. Alternatively, the user desirous
of hearing the audio sounds can wear a headset that contains one or
a pair of speakers. For example, if the user in the remote room has
a headset available, the user can wear the headset to hear the
audio sounds instead of using room speakers, and thus reduce the
disturbance to others. Wearing a headset is often not acceptable
because it substantially limits the user's ability to hear other
sounds. When more than a single person is desirous of hearing the
audio sounds, often they also want to simultaneously interact with
each other or otherwise hear other sounds. However, the use of a
headset usually means that only the user can hear the audio sounds
(but typically not other sounds) and requires a wired or wireless
connection to the audio system. Moreover, as noted above, wearing a
headset can often be uncomfortable for the user.
[0008] Thus, there is a need for improved approaches to providing
wireless delivery of audio sounds from audio systems to personal
audio devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention pertains to techniques for providing wireless
delivery of audio sounds from audio systems to personal audio
devices. Typically, audio systems are stationary and personal audio
devices are portable. These techniques can permit users of the
personal audio device to be mobile yet still acquire the audio
sounds. Based on the invention, audio systems can be readily
adapted to provide the wireless delivery of audio sounds. These
techniques can also optionally provide customization (or
personalization) of the audio sounds to user's hearing and/or
modification of the audio sounds in view of environmental
conditions.
[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, audio output from
an audio system can be delivered to one or more persons desirous of
hearing the audio output. Each person can have a personal audio
device. The personal audio device causes audio sound corresponding
to audio output from the audio system to be output to its
associated person, in a directionally constrained manner.
Consequently, other persons not desirous of hearing the audio
output do not receive substantial amounts of the audio sounds.
Thus, they are less disturbed by the unwanted audio sounds.
[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, a wireless
adapter can serve as an after market modification to an audio
system. The wireless adapter enables audio signals output by the
audio system to be wirelessly transmitted to one or more personal
audio devices. Each personal audio device receives the audio sounds
and produces audio sound for its user.
[0012] The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including
as a method, system, device, apparatus, and a computer readable
medium.
[0013] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way
of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The invention will be readily understood by the following
detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements,
and in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote audio delivery system
according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a remote audio delivery system
according to another embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a remote audio delivery system
according to yet another embodiment of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a building layout illustrating use of
several embodiments of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a remote audio delivery process
according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 6A is a flow diagram of an environmental accommodation
process according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 6B is a flow diagram of audio personalization process
according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0022] FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating an ultrasonic
transducer according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram of audio systems that
provide directional audio delivery to interested users.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.
[0024] The invention pertains to techniques for providing wireless
delivery of audio sounds from audio systems to personal audio
devices. Typically, audio systems are stationary and personal audio
devices are portable. These techniques can permit users of the
personal audio device to be mobile yet still acquire the audio
sounds. Based on the invention, audio systems can be readily
adapted to provide the wireless delivery of audio sounds. These
techniques can also optionally provide customization (or
personalization) of the audio sounds to user's hearing and/or
modification of the audio sounds in view of environmental
conditions.
[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, audio output from
an audio system can be delivered to one or more persons desirous of
hearing the audio output. Each person can have a personal audio
device. The personal audio device causes audio sound corresponding
to audio output from the audio system to be output to its
associated person in a directionally constrained manner.
Consequently, other persons not desirous of hearing the audio
output do not receive substantial amounts of the audio sounds.
Thus, they are less disturbed by the unwanted audio sounds.
[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, a wireless
adapter can serve as an after market modification to an audio
system. The wireless adapter enables audio signals output by the
audio system to be wirelessly transmitted to one or more personal
audio devices. Each personal audio device receives the audio
signals and produces audio sound for its user.
[0027] Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with
reference to FIGS. 1-8. However, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with
respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the
invention extends beyond these limited embodiments.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote audio delivery system
100 according to one embodiment of the invention. The remote audio
delivery system 100 includes an audio system 102 that produces an
audio output. The audio system 102 is, for example, a television, a
Compact Disc (CD) player, Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) player, a
stereo, a computer with speakers etc. In one embodiment, the audio
system 102 can also be referred to as an entertainment system. In
one implementation, the audio system 102 is stationary--meaning
that the audio system 102, although movable, generally remain in a
fixed location. In any case, the audio output from the audio system
102 is supplied to a wireless transmission apparatus 104. In one
implementation, the wireless transmission apparatus 104 is coupled
to an audio output port (e.g., terminal, connector, receptacle,
etc.) of the audio system 102. The coupling can be directly to the
audio output port of the audio system 102 or can be coupled to the
audio output port by way of a cable. In one embodiment, the
wireless transmission apparatus 104 can also be referred to as a
wireless audio adapter because it is able to adapt the audio system
102 for wireless audio delivery without requiring changes to the
audio system 102.
[0029] The wireless transmission apparatus 104 receives the audio
output from the audio system 102 and transmits the audio output
over a wireless channel 105 (or wireless link) to a wireless
receiver 106 of a personal audio device 107. The wireless channel
105 is typically a short range wireless link, for example, such as
available using Bluetooth, WiFi or other dedicated frequency (e.g.,
900 MHz, 2.4 GHz) techniques. As is well known, the wireless
channel 105 carries the audio output, but the wireless channel 105
uses one or more frequencies not within the audio frequency range.
The wireless receiver 106 receives the audio output that is
transmitted by the wireless transmission apparatus 104 over the
wireless channel 105. The received audio output is then supplied to
control circuitry 108. The control circuitry 108 converts the
received audio output into speaker drive signals. The speaker drive
signals are then used to activate a directional speaker 110 which
produces output sound. The output sound from the directional
speaker 110 is directionally confined for enhanced privacy.
Optionally, as discussed in detail below, the control circuitry 108
can also provide customization or personalization to the person
and/or the environment.
[0030] The directionally confined output sound produced by the
directional speaker 110 allows the user of the personal audio
device 107 to hear the audio sound even though neither of the
user's ears touches or coupled against the directional speaker 110.
However, in one embodiment, the directional nature of the output
sound is towards the user (e.g., user's ear(s)) and thus provides
privacy by restricting the output sound to a confined directional
area. In other words, bystanders in the vicinity of the personal
audio device but not within the confined directional area would not
be able to directly hear the output sound, or otherwise hear a
significant portion of the output sound, produced by the
directional speaker 110. The bystanders might be able to hear a
degraded version of the output sound after it reflects from a
surface. The reflected output sound, if any, that reaches the
bystander would be at a reduced decibel level (e.g., at least a 20
dB reduction) making it difficult for bystanders to hear and
understand the output sound. In another embodiment, the directional
nature of the output sound, such as via an ultrasonic beam, is
considered directed towards the ear as long as any portion of the
beam, or the cone of the beam, is immediately proximate to, such as
within 7 cm of, the ear. The direction of the beam does not have to
be directed at the ear. It can even be orthogonal to the ear, such
as propagating up from one's shoulder, substantially parallel to
the face of the person.
[0031] In one embodiment, the directional speaker 110 is an
ultrasonic speaker, and the control circuitry 208 converts the
received audio output into ultrasonic drive signals that are used
to drive the ultrasonic speaker. The ultrasonic drive signals are
supplied to the ultrasonic speaker to generate ultrasonic output.
The ultrasonic output is subsequently transformed, for example, by
air, into audio output. In one embodiment, the frequency spectrum
of the resulting audio output (after such transformation) is
similar to the audio output from the audio system 102. In another
embodiment, the frequency spectrum of the resulting audio output is
altered so as to provide customized hearing (e.g., enhanced
hearing), or to adapt to environmental conditions or physical
conditions of the user.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a remote audio delivery system
200 according to another embodiment of the invention. The remote
audio delivery system 200 includes an audio system 202 and a
wireless transmitter 204. In one embodiment, the wireless
transmitter 204 can also be referred to as a wireless audio
adapter. It is able to adapt the audio system 202 for wireless
audio delivery without requiring physical changes to the audio
system 202. In one implementation, the wireless transmitter 204 is
coupled to the audio system 202 via an audio output port of the
audio system 202. Such coupling can be achieved by a connector
alone or in combination with a cable. In another embodiment, the
wireless transmitter 204 is integral and thus part of the audio
system so that no connector or cable is necessary. The audio system
202 and the wireless transmitter 204 together form a wireless audio
delivery system.
[0033] Audio output from the audio system 202 is supplied to the
wireless transmitter 204 via the audio output port of the audio
system 202 or other means. Then, the wireless transmitter 204
transmits the audio output over a wireless channel (wireless link)
205 to a wireless receiver 206 of a personal audio device 207. The
received audio output at the wireless receiver 206 is then supplied
to control circuitry 208. The control circuitry 208 can receive
user information pertaining to the user from a data storage device
202. For example, the user information can pertain to an audio
profile associated with the user. An audio profile contains or is
based on hearing characteristics of an associated user. The user
information can be stored in a data storage device 210. The data
storage device 210 can be a dedicated or removable data storage
medium. Examples of removable data storage medium include a memory
card (Flash memory card, memory stick, credit card with data
storage, PC card (PCMCIA), etc.).
[0034] The control circuitry 208 produces speaker drive signals
that are used to drive a speaker 212. In this embodiment, the
speaker drive signals are produced by the control circuitry 208
based upon not only the received audio output but also the user
information. In other words, the control circuitry 208 can modify
the drive signals being supplied to the speaker 212 based upon the
user information. As such, the audio sound being produced by the
speaker 212 can be customized for (or personalized to) the user.
For example, when the user information pertains to hearing
characteristics and/or user preferences of the user, the control
circuitry 208 is able to produce customized drive signals for the
speaker 212 such that the resulting audio output by the speaker 212
is customized for the hearing characteristics and/or user
preferences of the user.
[0035] The remote audio delivery system 200 shown in FIG. 2 can
make use of customization of the audio output at the personal audio
device 207. Note that, as shown in FIG. 2, the personal audio
device 207 can include the wireless receiver 206, the control
circuitry 208, the data storage device 210 and the speaker 212.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the customization could also
be performed elsewhere. For example, the audio system 202 or the
wireless transmitter 204 can further include control circuitry (not
shown) that would obtain user information and then customize audio
output prior to its transmission to the personal audio device 207.
Such an implementation could provide centralized customization of
the audio output for one or more personal audio devices.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a remote audio delivery system
300 according to yet another embodiment of the invention. The
remote audio delivery system 300 includes an audio system 302, a
wireless network 304, and personal audio devices 306 and 308. The
wireless network 304 can be a wireless local area network, such as
a Bluetooth or WiFi network. Here, the remote audio delivery system
300 illustrates that the audio system 302 can supply audio output
to one or more personal audio devices 306 and 308 over a wireless
network 304. The wireless network 304 can, for example, be used in
the vicinity of a home or business. The audio output from the audio
system 302 can be broadcast, multicast or unicast over the wireless
network 304. In other words, the audio output from the audio system
302 can be directed to one or more of the personal audio devices
306 and 308. In one implementation, a different network address is
associated with each of the personal audio devices, and thus the
audio output can be transmitted to the appropriate one or more of
the personal audio devices via the wireless network 304 using the
associated network addresses. Although FIG. 3 illustrates only the
personal audio devices 306 and 308, it should be understood that
the remote audio delivery system 300 can support many personal
audio devices, and such personal audio devices can be of the same
type or of different types.
[0037] As described above, the wireless audio adapter 204 can be
matched to the personal audio device 207. In other words, each
wireless audio adapter can have a corresponding personal audio
device.
[0038] In other embodiments, wireless signals from a wireless audio
adapter 204 can be received by multiple personal audio devices.
This can be done, for example, by broadcasting the audio output
over a wireless channel and having the multiple personal audio
devices tune to the wireless channel. The broadcast can be
performed in the analog domain or in the digital domain. For the
latter case, the broadcast can be performed in Layer 3 (e.g. IP
multicast) or Layer 2 (e.g. IEEE 802.11). If personal customization
is desired, each of the personal audio device 207 can be first
initialized with the wireless audio adapter 204. The initializing
process can be performed by requiring each audio device to
transmit, wirelessly or through a wired connection, an identifier
to the adapter. The adaptor then transmits the personalization
information to the corresponding personal audio device according to
the identifier. After the personalization information is received,
the personal audio device can be configured accordingly and then
start to receive the audio output.
[0039] In yet another embodiment, a personal audio device can be
configured to be selected by a specific wireless audio adapter or
an audio system. Such configurations would be applicable for
after-market sales. The selection can be achieved through a number
of approaches. For example, there can be switches on both the
personal audio device and the wireless audio adapter, or both can
have a number of channels. These switches or channels can be
changed by users. When both set of switches or channels are
matched, then the personal audio device is configured for the
wireless audio adapter. Another approach is based on the Media
Address Control (MAC) layer address, IP address or TCP or UDP port
numbers. For example, the personal audio device and the wireless
audio adapter can agree on a specific TCP or UDP port number. They
can then be configured to receive packets or signals from only that
port. The personal audio device and the wireless audio adapter can
also be identified by their specific addresses, such as IP
addresses or MAC layer addresses.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a building layout 400 illustrating
use of several embodiments of the present invention. The building
layout 400 illustrates a representative floor plan having a first
room 402, second room 404 and a third room 406. The first room 402
includes an audio system (AS) 408 that includes a wireless
transmission apparatus 410, or a wireless audio adapter, coupled to
the audio system 408. The audio system 408 can use a traditional
speaker and/or a directional speaker to direct audio sound to one
or more of a first user (u-1) and a second user (u-2) located
within the first room 401. Further, using the wireless transmission
apparatus 410, the audio output from the audio system 408 can also
be transmitted over a wireless channel (link) to one or more other
users that are relatively nearby the wireless transmission
apparatus 410. In other words, the type of the wireless channel
sets the range. Typically, the range is relatively short, such as
less than 400 meters. Hence, using the wireless channel, any one or
more of a third user (u-3), a fourth user (u-4) and a fifth user
(u-5) are able to hear the audio output by way of a personal audio
device that receives the audio output over a wireless channel. As
shown in FIG. 4, the fifth user (u-5) has a personal audio device
412 attached or proximate thereto. In one embodiment, the fifth
user (u-5) wears the personal audio device 412, and is able to hear
the audio output from the audio system 408 even though the fifth
user (u-5) is, for example, outside of the building, such as in the
backyard. The personal audio device 412 thus allows a remote user
(e.g., u-5) to hear the audio output from the audio system 408 even
though they are not within the same room or building as the audio
system 408. So long as the remote user is within communication
range of the wireless channel, the remote user can hear the audio
output even as the remote user moves around. Since the third user
(u-3) and the fourth user (u-5) do not have personal audio devices,
these users will not hear the audio output from the audio system
408 unless the audio output from the traditional speaker (if any)
at the audio system 408 permeates the entire building layout 400
shown in FIG. 4.
[0041] In one embodiment, the personal audio devices can be
wearable by users. Additional details on audio-related devices can
be found, for example, in the above-referenced U.S. patent
applications, which have been incorporated herein by reference.
[0042] Besides directionally constraining audio sound that is to be
delivered to a user, the audio sound can optionally be additionally
altered or modified in view of the user's hearing characteristics
or preferences, or in view of the environment in the vicinity of
the user.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a remote audio delivery process
500 according to one embodiment of the invention. The remote audio
delivery process 500 is, for example, performed by a remote audio
delivery system, such as the remote audio delivery system 100, 200,
or 300.
[0044] The remote audio delivery process 500 begins with audio
signals being received 502 at a wireless audio adapter (or a
wireless transmission apparatus). Typically, however, prior to
receiving 502 the audio signals, the wireless audio adapter would
have been attached to the audio system that initially provides the
audio signals. In any case, the audio signals that are received 502
are thereafter wirelessly transmitted 504 to a personal audio
device. Typically, the audio signals are wirelessly transmitted a
predetermined personal audio device. In other words, the wireless
audio adapter can be configured to transmit audio signals to be
wirelessly received by a predetermined personal audio device.
However, the audio signals may be transmitted to a plurality of
predetermined personal audio devices. To direct the audio signals
to be received by the appropriate one or more personal audio
devices, a number of methods can be used, for example,
predetermined frequencies, encoding and/or network identifiers
(e.g., addresses).
[0045] After the audio signals are wirelessly transmitted 504, the
audio signals are received 506 at the personal audio device. At
this point, additional processing can be performed to enhance the
resulting audio sound that will eventually be delivered to a user
of the personal audio device. A decision 508 determines whether
user personalization is to be performed. When the decision 508
determines that user personalization is to be performed, then the
audio signals are modified 510 based on user information. For
example, the user information can be provided by a data storage
device, such as the data storage device 212 as illustrated in FIG.
2.
[0046] In one implementation, the user information is related to an
audio profile that pertains to the hearing characteristics of the
user. In another implementation, the user information is related to
the physical conditions of the user. Such physical conditions can
be detected by a sensor, which can be embedded in the personal
audio device, or wirelessly supplied to the personal audio device.
As an example, if the user is sleeping, the volume of the output
sound should be reduced or even turned off. Determining physical
conditions can be dynamically performed. For example, a sensor can
keep track of the user's heart beat and identify patterns
accordingly.
[0047] Following the modifying 510 or directly following the
decision 508 when user personalization is not to be performed, a
decision 512 determines whether environmental adjustments are to be
performed. When the decision 512 determines that environmental
adjustments are to be performed, the audio signals are modified 514
based on environmental characteristics. Such environmental
characteristics can be detected or sensed by the personal audio
device, which can include one or more environmental sensors. As an
example, the environmental sensor(s) can measure ambient or
background noise. The environmental characteristics could also be
wirelessly transmitted to the personal audio device.
[0048] Following the modifying 514 based on environmental
characteristics or directly following the decision 512 when no
environmental adjustments are to be made, the audio signals are
converted 516 to ultrasonic drive signals. The ultrasonic drive
signals are then used to drive 518 a directional speaker that, in
turn, outputs ultrasonic sound in a directionally constrained
manner. The ultrasonic sound is directed to the user of the
personal audio device and interacts with air such that audio sound
is present when the acoustic output from the directional speaker is
in the vicinity of the head (or ears) of the user. However, since
the ultrasonic (and resulting audio) sound produced is
directionally constrained, it is delivered in a targeted way to the
user. Thus, other users in the vicinity of the user will not hear
any substantial amount of the audio sound, and therefore will not
be disturbed thereby.
[0049] FIG. 6A is a flow diagram of an environmental accommodation
process 600 according to one embodiment of the invention. The
environmental accommodation process 600 determines 602
environmental characteristics. In one implementation, the
environmental characteristics can pertain to measured sound (e.g.,
noise) levels at the vicinity of the user. The sound levels can be
measured by a pickup device (e.g., microphone) at the vicinity of
the user. The pickup device can be incorporated in the personal
audio device. In another implementation, the environmental
characteristics can pertain to estimated sound (e.g., noise) levels
at the vicinity of the user. The sound levels at the vicinity of
the user can be estimated based on a position of the user/device
and a linking of position with an estimated sound level for the
particular environment. The position of the user can, for example,
be determined by GPS or network triangulation. After the
environmental accommodation process 600 determines 602 the
environmental characteristics, the audio signals are modified based
on the environmental characteristics. For example, if the user were
in an area with a lot of noise (e.g., ambient noise), such as a
confined space with various persons or where construction noise is
present, the audio signals could be processed to attempt to
suppress (or cancel) the unwanted noise and/or the audio signals
(e.g., in a desired frequency range) could be amplified. In the
case of amplification, if noise levels are excessive, the
amplification might not occur as the user might not be able to
safely hear the desired audio signals. In other words, there can be
a limit to the amount of amplification and there can be negative
amplification (even complete blockage) when excessive noise levels
are present. Noise suppression and amplification can be achieved
through conventional digital signal processing, amplification
and/or filtering. The environmental accommodation process 600 can,
for example, be performed periodically or for every new audio
stream.
[0050] A user might have a hearing profile that contains the user's
hearing characteristics. Hence, the audio sound provided to the
user can optionally be customized or personalized to the user by
altering or modifying the audio signals in view of the user's
hearing characteristics. By customizing or personalizing the audio
signals to the user, the audio output can be enhanced for the
benefit of the user. Additional details on hearing enhancement can
be found, for example, in U.S. patent application No. ______, filed
concurrently, and entitled, "DIRECTIONAL HEARING ENHANCEMENT
SYSTEMS," which has been incorporated herein by reference.
[0051] FIG. 6B is a flow diagram of audio personalization process
620 according to one embodiment of the invention. The audio
personalization process 620 retrieves 622 an audio profile
associated with the user. The hearing profile contains information
that specifies the user's hearing characteristics. For example, the
hearing characteristics may have been acquired by the user taking a
hearing test. Then, the audio signals are modified 624 based on the
audio profile associated with the user.
[0052] The hearing profile can be supplied to a personal audio
device or to a directional audio delivery system that performs the
personalization process 620 in a variety of different ways. For
example, the audio profile can be electronically provided to the
personal audio device or the directional audio delivery system
through a network. As another example, the audio profile can be
provided by way of a removable data storage device (e.g., memory
card). Additional details on audio profiles and personalization can
be found in the above-referenced U.S. patent applications, which
have been incorporated herein by reference.
[0053] The environmental accommodation process 600 and/or the audio
personalization process 620 can optionally be performed together
with any of the processes used to produce the directionally
confined output sound, as discussed above. For example, the
environmental accommodation process 600 and/or the audio
personalization process 620 can optionally be performed together
with any of the remote audio delivery systems 100, 200 or 300
embodiments discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1, 2 or 3, or the
remote audio delivery process 500 discussed above in FIG. 5. With
respect to the remote audio delivery process 500 shown in FIG. 5,
the environmental accommodation process 600 or the audio
personalization process 620 can be performed at the operation 514
or the operation 510, respectively.
[0054] FIG. 7A is a perspective diagram of an ultrasonic transducer
700 according to one embodiment of the invention. The ultrasonic
transducer 700 can implement a directional speaker as discussed
herein. The ultrasonic transducer 700 produces the ultrasonic sound
utilized as noted above.
[0055] FIG. 7B is a diagram that illustrates the ultrasonic
transducer 700 with its beam 704 being produced to output
ultrasonic sound. The beam 704 can have its attributes, such as its
beam width, varied in a variety of different ways. Additional
details on the ultrasonic transducer 700 can be found, for example,
in the above-referenced U.S. patent applications, which have been
incorporated herein by reference.
[0056] An audio system of the present invention can include or
couple to a set top box that includes the wireless audio adapter or
permits attachment thereto. A set-top box enables a television set
to receive and decode digital television broadcasts. Typically, the
set-top box is positioned proximate to the television set.
[0057] FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram of an audio system that
provides directional audio delivery to interested users. The figure
illustrates an audio system 800 that includes a television 802, a
set-top box 804 and a directional speaker 806. The directional
speaker 806 provides delivery of audio signals in a constrained
direction. Further, the directionally constrained audio signals can
be controlled as to the target distance for its users as well as
for the width of the resulting audio signals. The directional
speaker 806 outputs ultrasonic sound by way of an emitter surface
808. The emitter surface 808 can be comprised of a single or
multiple ultrasonic transducers.
[0058] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the directional speaker 806
can be mounted to the set-top box 804 such that it is able to be
rotated with respect to the set-top box 804 as well as the
television 802. The rotation of the directional speaker 806 causes
a change in the direction in which the directionally constrained
audio signals are delivered. In another embodiment, the directional
speaker 806 can control the direction in which the directionally
constrained audio signals are delivered, such as by beam steering
techniques. Additional details on different embodiments of set-top
boxes can be found, for example, in the above-referenced U.S.
patent applications, which have been incorporated herein by
reference.
[0059] Besides the ability of the audio system 800 to include
optionally directional speaker 806, the audio system 800
illustrated in FIG. 8 can utilize the various methods and processes
discussed above to provide wireless audio delivery to personal
audio devices. More particularly, the set-top box 804 can also
include a wireless audio adapter as discussed above. For example,
in one embodiment, the set-top box 804 can include the wireless
transmission apparatus 104 (and possibly the audio system 102). In
another embodiment, the set-top box 804 can include the wireless
transmitter 204 (and possibly the audio system 202) of the remote
audio delivery system 200. Optionally, the set-top box with
directional speakers shown in FIG. 8 is able to transform
conventional televisions into televisions whose audio systems have
directional audio delivery (as well as wireless delivery to
personal audio devices).
[0060] In one embodiment, the ultrasonic beam is considered
directed towards the ear as long as any portion of the beam, or the
cone of the beam, is immediately proximate to, such as within 7 cm
of, the ear. The direction of the beam does not have to be directed
at the ear. It can even be orthogonal to the ear, such as
propagating up from one's shoulder, substantially parallel to the
face of the person.
[0061] The various embodiments, implementations and features of the
invention noted above can be combined in various ways or used
separately. Those skilled in the art will understand from the
description that the invention can be equally applied to or used in
other various different settings with respect to various
combinations, embodiments, implementations or features provided in
the description herein.
[0062] The invention can be implemented in software, hardware or a
combination of hardware and software. A number of embodiments of
the invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a
computer readable medium. The computer readable medium is any data
storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by
a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include
read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, magnetic tape,
optical data storage devices, and carrier waves. The computer
readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled
computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and
executed in a distributed fashion.
[0063] The advantages of the invention are numerous. Different
embodiments or implementations may yield different advantages. One
advantage of the invention is that audio output from an audio
system can be wirelessly transmitted to a personal audio device
without requiring modification to the audio system. Another
advantage of the invention is that audio output produced for a user
by a personal audio device can be directionally constrained so as
to provide directional audio delivery. The directionally
constrained audio output can provide less disturbance to others in
the vicinity who are not desirous of hearing the audio output.
Still another advantage of the invention is that audio output
produced for a user by a personal audio device can be customized
for the user and/or to the environment of the user.
[0064] Numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide
a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that the invention may be
practiced without these specific details. The description and
representation herein are the common meanings used by those
experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the
substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other
instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and
circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily
obscuring aspects of the present invention.
[0065] In the foregoing description, reference to "one embodiment"
or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be
included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The
appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in
the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually
exclusive of other embodiments. Further, the order of blocks in
process flowcharts or diagrams representing one or more embodiments
of the invention do not inherently indicate any particular order
nor imply any limitations in the invention.
[0066] The many features and advantages of the present invention
are apparent from the written description and, thus, it is intended
by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of
the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation as
illustrated and described. Hence, all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to as falling within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *