U.S. patent application number 11/654850 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-31 for methods and apparatuses for recording and playing back audio signals.
Invention is credited to William Berson.
Application Number | 20070121958 11/654850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36617021 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070121958 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Berson; William |
May 31, 2007 |
Methods and apparatuses for recording and playing back audio
signals
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for recreating audio signals to sound as
though the signals had been recorded in a different acoustic
environment are provided. The methods and apparatus may include one
or more inputs that receive an audio signal and an input that
receives a selected acoustic environment signal, as well as
processing circuitry that produces one or more output signals
representative of the audio signal being played in the selected
acoustic environment. The input, output and characterization
signals may be processed and recorded to storage media, either
individually or together. In some embodiments, the present
invention interfaces with other technology and circuitry and in
other embodiments the present invention is a complete stand-alone
system, such as a piece of consumer electronics.
Inventors: |
Berson; William; (Weston,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & NEAVE IP GROUP;ROPES & GRAY LLP
1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036-8704
US
|
Family ID: |
36617021 |
Appl. No.: |
11/654850 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11219514 |
Sep 2, 2005 |
7184557 |
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11654850 |
Jan 16, 2007 |
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60658635 |
Mar 3, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
381/61 ; 381/310;
G9B/20.014; G9B/27.012 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 27/034 20130101;
G11B 20/10527 20130101; G11B 2020/10546 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
381/061 ;
381/310 |
International
Class: |
H03G 3/00 20060101
H03G003/00; H04R 5/02 20060101 H04R005/02 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for playing back altered audio signals, said
apparatus comprising: a piece of consumer electronics comprising: a
user interface; song display circuitry that displays on a display
screen one or more song names of one or more prerecorded songs;
venue display circuitry that displays on a display screen one or
more venue names of one or more actual venues; selection circuitry
that receives inputs from said user interface, wherein said inputs
correspond with a consumer's selection of a displayed name of a
prerecorded song and a consumer's selection of a displayed name of
an actual venue; and processing circuitry that processes said
prerecorded song and a characterization that corresponds with said
actual venue into an output signal representative of said
prerecorded song being played-back in said actual venue.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said song display circuitry
displays said one or more song names as a list.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising said piece of
consumer electronics receiving said characterizations as streaming
media.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said song display circuitry
displays said one or more venue names as a list.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising said piece of
consumer electronics generating said characterization.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising said piece of
consumer electronics retrieving said characterization from a
storage device.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising said piece of
consumer electronics storing said characterization on a storage
device.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising said piece of
consumer electronics storing said output signal on a storage
device.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said song display circuitry
displays said one or more song names while said venue display
circuitry displays said one or more venue names.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said venue display circuitry
displays a plurality of locations in said actual venue; said
selection circuitry selects a location from said plurality of
locations based on an input by said consumer; and said processing
circuitry process said prerecorded song based on said location to
produce an output signal representative of said prerecorded song
being played-back at said location in said actual venue.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said piece of consumer
electronics further comprises said display screen.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display screen is a
computer monitor.
13. A method for producing altered audio signals, said method
comprising: displaying one or more song names of one or more
prerecorded songs with a piece of consumer electronics; displaying
one or more venue names of one or more actual venues with said
piece of consumer electronics; receiving inputs from a user
interface of said piece of consumer electronics, wherein said
inputs correspond with a consumer's selection of a displayed name
of a prerecorded song and a consumer's selection of a displayed
name of an actual venue; and processing with said piece of consumer
electronics said prerecorded song and a characterization that
corresponds with said actual venue into an output signal
representative of said prerecorded song being played-back in said
actual venue.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying said one or more
song names comprises displaying a list of said one or more song
names.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving said
characterizations as streaming media.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying said one or more
venue names comprises displaying a list of said one or more venue
names on said display screen.
17. The method of claim 13 further comprising generating said
characterization with said piece of consumer electronics.
18. The method of claim 13 further comprising retrieving said
characterization from a storage device.
19. The method of claim 13 further comprising storing said
characterization on a storage device.
20. The method of claim 13 further comprising storing said output
signal on a storage device.
21. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying said one or more
song names and displaying said one or more venue names occur
simultaneously.
22. The method of claim 13 further comprising: displaying a
plurality of locations in said actual venue; choosing for
processing a location from said plurality of locations based on a
selection by said consumer of said location from said plurality of
locations; and processing said prerecorded song based on said
location to produce an output signal representative of said
selected prerecorded song being played-back at said location in
said actual venue.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/219,514, filed Sep. 2, 2005, which is a
nonprovisional of U.S. Patent Provisional Application No.
60/658,635, filed Mar. 3, 2005. All of these prior applications are
hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to multi-media recording, processing
and playback of audio signals. More particularly, this invention
relates to reproducing stored audio signals in a manner such that
the reproduced signals sound as if the stored audio signals had
been recorded in a particular acoustic environment.
[0003] An acoustic environment is the culmination of anything that
may affect the production, propagation or reverberation of an audio
signal. More particularly, the acoustic environment is how sound
waves interact with the surroundings.
[0004] Audio signal recording, processing and playback techniques
have traditionally been utilized to capture and playback sound.
Audio signal recording techniques involve creating both
representative and storage signals, which may be of different
domains (e.g., mechanical, optical, electrical, etc.) than the
original analog sound signals. For example, the audio signals may
be converted into representative signals of electrical pulses,
which may then be converted into storage signals such as the
physical grooves in a vinyl record or the optical grooves in a
compact disc (CD). The translation from the audio domain to a
storage domain usually requires that the audio signals are
processed by various audio, mechanical and/or electrical equipment
(e.g., such as a microphone, audio mixer, digitizer, CD burner,
etc.).
[0005] In some instances, a microphone or other transducer may be
used to convert the audio signals into representative signals. The
representative signals may be further processed by a sound mixer
and/or stored by a CD burner to a CD. The stored signals may be
further processed and/or played back from the stored form.
[0006] Audio, representative and storage signals are often
processed by various types of equipment. The processing of the
signals may result in improvements in the fidelity and accuracy of
the sound compared to how the audio signals originally sounded.
Current sound processing techniques, however, do not permit an
audio signal recorded in one acoustic environment to be played back
to sound as if it was originally recorded in one or more
user-selectable other acoustic environments.
[0007] High quality sound stereo systems enable a user to
experience the finest quality of sound from the comfort of their
home. However, even the most advanced or expensive sound systems do
not currently allow users to experience audio performances that
sound, for example, "live," unless the original recording was a
"live" recording (versus a studio recording). This is because even
the most advanced and expensive systems are limited to playing back
the audio signals that were recorded with minor, uncoordinated
modifications (such as adjusting bass or treble).
[0008] For example, a person might have a recording of the songs
from The Phantom of the Opera on CD or own a copy of The Phantom of
the Opera on DVD (theatrically released in December of 2004). The
audio of the CD or DVD will likely not sound the same in a user's
home as the songs sounded when they are performed live in the
Majestic Theater in New York City. One of the reasons for this is
because sounds on CDs and DVDs are generally recorded in a
recording studio (or other acoustically controlled environment).
Each time a listener wants to hear how The Phantom of the Opera
sounds live, the listener must purchase a ticket and attend a
performance, regardless of their current home entertainment system
(unless a "live" recording was made in the Majestic Theater).
[0009] Some home entertainment systems may provide a user with a
more advanced ability to alter the audio signals, such as surround
sound or through an equalizer, but even this added capability does
not permit a user to hear the sound as it would have been
influenced by the acoustic environment during a "live"
performance.
[0010] Moreover, even "live" performances may not necessarily sound
"live" when played back from a CD or DVD. This is because even when
audio signals are recorded live (i.e., not in a recording studio)
the signals are generally captured at the source of audio signals
(e.g., near a speaker placed directly in front of the performer),
which may prevent the audio signals from being affected by the
acoustic environment of the venue.
[0011] In addition, even when the audio signals are allowed to be
influenced by the acoustics of a venue, the audio signals recorded
are still limited to the acoustic environment of the location of
the sound capturing device (e.g., microphone). For example, a live
recording of the Broadway Musical The Phantom of the Opera in the
Majestic Theater may differ depending where the recording
transducer is located. When the recording apparatus is located in
the balcony, the recorded audio signals will likely be influenced
by a different acoustic environment than if the recording apparatus
is located center stage. The prior art simply does not account for
these differences in acoustic environments.
[0012] Another deficiency with known recordings of audio signals is
the requirement that the origin of the audio signal or signals has
to be present in the acoustic environment with the sound capturing
device to capture how that acoustic environment influences the
sound. For example, if the late Johnny Cash never performed in the
Majestic Theater, then it would be impossible to hear a Johnny Cash
recording played back as it would have sounded "live" at the
Majestic Theater.
[0013] Along those same lines, if somebody always wanted to hear
what they would sound like singing the National Anthem at Yankee
Stadium, they would have had to have a recording made of them
actually singing at Yankee Stadium. The user is unable to select
different audio signals to be altered by user selected acoustic
environments. These limitations currently exist regardless of the
complexity or superiority of a user's home entertainment system
(e.g., surround sound, Dolby digital, quadraphonic, and virtual
sound imaging systems, to list a few).
[0014] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention
to provide methods, systems and computer readable media to record,
process and playback recreated acoustic signals as though the
signals were influenced by one or more acoustic environments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] These and other objects of the present invention are
accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present
invention by providing circuitry that utilizes at least two inputs
to produce at least one output. In some embodiments of this
invention, an audio signal input and a selected acoustic
environment characterization input may be processed together to
produce a modified audio output signal that essentially sounds as
if it were recorded and/or played back in the acoustic environment
represented by the selected acoustic characterization even though
such a recording is not readily available.
[0016] In other embodiments of the present invention, the audio
signal input may be one or more audio signals emitted from an audio
source or any other signal(s) representing such audio signals
(e.g., digital signals stored on a hard drive in MP3 format). The
acoustic environment input may be signals that represent the
acoustics or acoustical characteristics of a particular acoustic
environment (e.g., an actual concert hall, stadium, bar, etc.).
[0017] In still more embodiments, the present invention may model
one or more acoustic environments. The model of the acoustic
environment may be used as the acoustic environment input of the
present invention.
[0018] The output signal may, in some embodiments of this
invention, be one or more audio signals or other type of signals,
which are substantially the same as the signal produced when the
audio signal of the first input is acoustically influenced by the
acoustic environment of the second input. Any input and/or output
signal or signals may be recorded or saved on storage media.
[0019] The input signals may, in other embodiments of the present
invention, be provided by a storage medium, downloaded from a
remote location (e.g., via the Internet), and/or provided from a
sensor or other apparatus as streaming media. One or more of the
input signals may be processed and/or played back by the present
invention.
[0020] It may be desirable, in some embodiments of the present
invention, for the output to be a reproduction of audio signals
that sound as if the audio signals have been influenced by an
acoustic environment.
[0021] In other embodiments of this invention, the output of the
invention may be enhanced to provide an acoustical presence. For
example, surround sound systems or other presently available
technology may be utilized in connection with the present invention
to provide a more realistic reproduction of the effects that an
acoustic environment may have on an audio signal. In this manner,
the present invention may improve upon existing recording,
processing and projection of audio signals.
[0022] The present invention may reduce the cost of recording live
performances. For example, in some embodiment, a performer would no
longer need to perform in a venue for their performance to be
influenced by the venue's acoustical environment. In this manner, a
live performance may be recreated without the actual performer ever
performing in a particular venue.
[0023] In still other embodiments of the present invention, the
performance characteristics of an acoustic environment may be
independently productized and distributed over the internet, in
retail stores or by other means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The above and other features of the present invention, its
nature and various advantages will be more apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of a system of
recording audio signals in accordance with the principles of the
present invention in which the audio signals are recorded,
processed and stored;
[0026] FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of a system for
characterizing an acoustic environment in accordance with the
principles of the present invention in which at least one signal
representing the characteristics of the acoustic environment may be
recorded, analyzed, stored on media and/or provided to the
internet;
[0027] FIG. 3 is an illustration of one embodiment of a playback
filtering process in accordance with the principles of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 4 is an illustration of one embodiment of a system for
filtering the input signals and playing the output signals in
accordance with the principles of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a distribution and payment
process for acoustic characterizations in accordance with the
principles of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] FIG. 1 shows system 100 that includes circuitry that may be
used in accordance with the principles of the present invention to
create altered audio recordings. System 100, which is particularly
directed at acquiring the audio signals to be altered, includes
audio source 102 that emits audio signals in acoustic environment
104.
[0031] Audio source 102, which includes at least one sound emitting
body, or object, may also include a collection of sound emitting
bodies, instruments, objects and/or devices. For example, audio
source 102 may be one or more people producing sound (e.g.,
singing, talking, stomping their feet, clapping their hands,
crying, breathing, etc.), musical instruments, alarms, firearms,
audio speakers, electronic devices and/or animals (e.g., dog,
dolphin, cat, etc.).
[0032] Audio source 102 may also be a quiet object that does not
usually generate sound (e.g., a door, water, rocks), unless one or
more forces are applied to the object (e.g., slamming a door, the
ocean crashing on rocks, etc.). For example, a normally quiet tree
may make a "creaking" sound when a gentle breeze is present.
Fingernails and a chalkboard are examples of objects incapable of
emitting sound on their own, yet when fingernails are dragged
across a chalkboard a very distinct noise may be emitted.
[0033] Acoustic environment 104 is any actual place that audio
signals may be present and/or influenced. Thus, acoustic
environment 104 may be any location in a venue in which
performances occur, such as a concert hall, sports stadium,
recording studio, etc. Acoustic environment 104 may be more
specific, such as a particular seat in a particular venue. Acoustic
environment 104 may also be, for example, any room of any structure
(e.g., any room in any home, the oval office, the kitchen in a
submarine, etc.), a shower (with or without water coming out of the
shower head), a local bar or restaurant, etc., or any place in
nature (e.g., the beach, the Grand Canyon, the Redwood forest,
etc.).
[0034] In general, audio signals emitted by audio source 102 are
influenced by the acoustic properties of environment 104. This
includes the geometry, materials, temperature, spacing and
orientation of environment 104. For example, recorded audio signals
produced by source 102 will be effected differently when the walls
of acoustic environment 104 are made out of steel versus rubber,
even if all other factors are the same. For many audio recordings
(e.g., commercially produced musical CDs, movie sound effects,
etc.), acoustic environment 104 is often a recording studio
designed to minimize the affect of the environment on the sounds
emitted by audio source 102.
[0035] Capturing device 106 captures audio signals emitted by audio
source 102 as influenced (or not) by acoustic environment 104.
Capturing device 106 may include one or more microphones or other
transducers that may convert analog audio signals into
representative signals of a different domain (e.g., electrical,
magnetic, optical, mechanical, etc.). These representative signals
are then processed by processor 108, digitized by digitizer 110,
stored on storage media by recording device 112, uploaded to
Internet 116, and/or they may be recorded in analog form on
magnetic tape (not shown) for later use.
[0036] Processor 108, if used, processes the representative signals
by, for example, amplifying, filtering, mixing, modifying or
otherwise controlling the signals that represent the captured audio
signals. Processor 108 may be similar to audio equipment found in
the most sophisticated professional recording studios or it may be
simple as a basic amplifier. Alternatively, in some embodiments,
processor 108 may not be included in system 100.
[0037] In some embodiments of the present invention, system 100
also includes digitizer 110 to convert the representative signals
captured by capturing device 106 into digital signals (i.e., a
series of ones and zeros). The digital signals created by digitizer
110 would then be provided to processor 108 for processing (i.e.,
additional processing or initial processing depending on whether
the signal was processed prior to being digitized).
[0038] Ultimately, the audio signals produced by audio source 102
are stored by recording device 112 on storage media as recording
114. This may occur after the signals have been processed and/or
digitized, or they may be recorded directly in analog form. For
example, recording 114 may be stored on a CD, DVD, memory card,
memory stick, USB storage device, magnetic tape, Read Only Memory
(ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), palm pilot, cellular phone, mini
disk or any other media that may be used to store audio signals or
representative signals. Recording device 112 can support multiple
types of storage media as shown in FIG. 1 and may be able to
transmit information wirelessly (e.g., infrared or otherwise) to
storage media when creating recording 114.
[0039] Capturing device 106, processor 108, digitizer 110, recorder
112 and internet 118 may exchange data and communicate with each
other over communications paths such as communications paths 118,
120, 122 and 124. Paths 118, 120, 122 and 124 may be cables or
other wired connections, free-space connections (e.g., wireless
signals), satellite links, or any other suitable link or
combination of links.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows system 200 that includes circuitry that also
may be used in accordance with the principles of the present
invention to create altered audio recordings. In particular, system
200 is used to create characterization 214 of acoustic environment
204. System 200 includes: excitation device 202 (which may be
substantially similar to audio source 102 described above),
capturing device(s) 206, recording device 112 (which may be
omitted) and analysis system 230.
[0041] Acoustic environment 204 refers to any acoustic environment
where audio signals may be present or introduced. Acoustic
environment 204 may be characterized or defined by one or more sets
of equations, algorithms, formulae, data and relationships
containing information. For example, reverberation, absorption,
reflection, amplification, frequency shift, noise, as well as other
parameters as a function of the source, location, atmospheric
conditions, listener's location, etc. may be used to create
characterization 214. Acoustic environment 204 can be anyplace
where sound occurs, including but not limited to all of the
environments discussed above with respect to environment 104.
[0042] In some embodiments of system 200, a plurality of capturing
devices 206 (e.g., microphones) are strategically positioned in
environment 204 to increase the resolution of characterization 214.
For example, microphones having desired sensitivity and pickup
pattern may be placed at various audience locations in acoustic
environment 204 to obtain a representative survey of acoustic
environment 204 at common listening locations (e.g., front row
center, orchestra center, front row balcony left, etc.).
[0043] The signals emitted by excitation device 202 are influenced
by acoustic environment 204 in the same manner as described above
with respect to system 100 of FIG. 1. The emitted signals are
captured by device 206 which may convert them into representative
signals of a different domain, if desired. The captured signals are
then provided to recorder 112, Internet 116 and/or analysis system
230 and/or any other system or device.
[0044] Analysis system 230 receives signals via communication path
222, which may be from recording device 112 or Internet 116.
Analysis system 230 utilizes any combination of these inputs to
determine how acoustic environment 204 influences the signals
emitted from excitation device 202. For example, analysis system
230 may compare data (e.g., pitch, frequency, timing, amplitude and
other characteristics) related to the signals emitted by excitation
device 202 to the data received by each of the capturing devices
206. In this manner, analysis system generates characterization 214
as a representation of how acoustic environment 204 influences
sound, and records or stores characterization 214 in the same
manner as described above with respect to the storage media used to
store recording 114.
[0045] In some embodiments of the present invention, the sounds
emitted by excitation device 202 could be at least one test audio
signal. A test audio signal is a sample of music or other type of
signal that enhances how acoustic environment 204 influences a
particular type of sound. A test audio signal may be, for example,
music recorded on a CD or signals developed for the purpose of
being a test audio signal. For example, a test audio signal may be
a rock and roll song that tests how acoustic environment 204
influences rock and roll music (i.e., the combination of electric
guitar sounds with drum sounds and other popular rock and roll
sounds). As another example, the test audio signal or signals may
be one or more samples of classical music (e.g., the combination of
piano sounds, violin sounds, etc.), country music (e.g., banjo
sounds, guitar sounds, harmonica sounds, etc.), jazz music, blues
music and/or any other combination of musical tones.
[0046] As described above, analysis system 230 processes the
resultant singles (i.e., the test audio signals and the test audio
signals as influenced by acoustic environment 204) together to find
the similarities between all the signals. Analysis system 230 may
then extract those commonalities and use them to generate
characterization 214, which may be directed towards characterizing
an acoustic environment for a particular type of music.
[0047] In some embodiments of the present invention, analysis
system 200 may be used to create one or more libraries of
characterizations (not shown). A library of characterizations can
include one or more characterizations, such as characterization
214, that are grouped with one or more other characterizations. The
library of characterizations may be stored on storage media or be
electronically transferred (e.g., via the Internet), such that
similar characterizations to be organized together. For example, a
library of characterizations may include a plurality of
characterizations for different locations of the Majestic Theater
(e.g., characterizations for the front row center, orchestra
center, front row balcony left, etc.), or it may include a
plurality of characterizations for how different types of music are
affected by the Majestic Theater (e.g., Opera, Rock, Jazz, Hip-Hop,
etc.). Alternatively, a library of characterizations may also be a
random assortment of unrelated characterizations, such as different
venues, or may be characterizations grouped together by a user or
other system.
[0048] Libraries of characterizations may be licensed and/or sold
through conventional sales channels (such as by selling a library
stored on CD-ROM in an electronics store, as computer software is
often distributed), or they may be downloaded from the Internet,
etc. Under these circumstances, some or all of the
characterizations associated with the library may be available as a
single product.
[0049] Alternatively, each characterization of the library may also
be available as an individual product. In this manner, an entire
library may be distributed together, but rights to use particular
characterizations of the library can be purchased on an individual
basis. For example, a library of characterizations including
characterizations of how the Majestic Theater influences different
types of music may be distributed as a single product, but users
would be limited to accessing only the characterizations they
purchased, such as those associated with Opera music. In that case,
the remaining characterizations in the library would be locked to
prevent unauthorized use.
[0050] In alternative embodiments of the present invention,
characterization 214 may also be created by system 200 using
analytical or theoretical characterizations. In this manner,
analysis system 230 is used to create characterization 214 without
the use of excitation device 202, capturing device 206, Internet
116 and/or recorder 112. In that circumstance, analysis device 230
receives specifications of acoustic environment 204 as inputs from
a user or via some form of storage media. For example, the acoustic
properties and characteristics (e.g., the acoustic reflection,
absorption coefficients, interference properties, spatial
dimensions and layouts, temperature settings, etc.) of acoustic
environment 204 may be input or selected from a list of choices
displayed by analysis system 230, rather than using excitation
source 202 and capturing devices 206 to detect the
characterization.
[0051] In this manner, characterization 214 may be generated
analytically without the experimentation characterization described
above (or the two methods may be combined to form characterization
214). In this manner, acoustic environment 204 need not actually
exist or be physically accessible because an acoustic model of an
actual venue may be made using actual measurements of the
dimensions, layout and other acoustical properties, which may be
obtained without physically accessing the acoustic environment 204.
For example, the demolished Three Rivers Stadium that stood in
Pittsburg, Pa. could be used as acoustic environment 204. A
characterization of that environment may be generated by analysis
system 230 based upon computer assisted drawings (CAD) or other
information contained in the blue prints of the stadium (including,
for example, the material composition of the seats in the
stadium).
[0052] This application of the present invention could also be
applied to create acoustic environments that never existed. In this
manner, the acoustical characteristics of a virtual location having
ideal acoustical properties, or a location that is impossible or
difficult to actually measure may be represented by
characterization 214. Examples of such fantastic, fictional, or
imaginary acoustic environments that may be represented by
characterization 214 are a jungle on prehistoric earth, a space
habitat on Mars, a dormant volcano on Jupiter, a crater on the
moon, and settings of books or movies such as the Lord of the
Rings, as well as settings of video games and cartoons.
[0053] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of process 300 that may be used
in accordance with the principles of the present invention to
produce altered audio signals based on a selected environment.
Process 300 may be used to alter recording 114 in accordance with a
selected characterization 214. As a result of this process,
recording 114 is reproduced and played back to sound as if the
audio signals of audio source 102 stored on recording 114 were
captured in and/or influenced by acoustic environment 204. Persons
skilled in the art will appreciate that process 300 can alternately
be used to remove the influences acoustic environment 104 may have
on the signals recorded on recording 114 (so that recording 114
sounds "cleaner," as if it were made in a recording studio).
[0054] In steps 302, 304 and 306 the acoustic environment (e.g., a
venue, stadium, etc.), location in the acoustic environment (e.g.,
a particular seat or section) and other venue parameters (e.g.,
height above the seat, temperature, amount of people in the venue,
etc.) are selected by the user (if such options are available). In
step 308, the audio data for processing (e.g., a song on a CD) is
selected.
[0055] In steps 310 and 312, characterization 214 and recording 114
are utilized to condense the data selected in steps 302, 304, 306
and/or 308. Steps 310 and 312 would also include any preprocessing
necessary so that the characterization and audio signals are
compatible and ready for processing. For example, if the audio
signals were recorded in analog form on magnetic tape, step 312
would include converting the analog signal to a digital signal
(assuming the characterization is digital).
[0056] In step 314, the data from step 312 is filtered/processed
with the data from step 314 to produce an altered audio signal. The
altered audio signal is representative of what the original audio
signal would have sounded like if it had been recorded and/or
played back in the selected environment (if that option is
selected). Alternatively, step 314 may also be used to remove the
influences of acoustic environment 104 when one or more other steps
(not shown for simplicity, but similar to steps 302, 304, 306 and
310) is included that provides a characterization of acoustic
environment 104, so that the resultant signal is a "clean" version
of audio signal 102.
[0057] In step 316, the resultant signal from recording 114 as
filtered/processed with respect to characterization 214 is further
processed (e.g., amplified, mixed, enhanced, etc.). The processed
signal may be stored to a storage device, uploaded to the Internet,
and/or played back to the user. This resultant signal may be
provided to, for example, any system, apparatus and any other
electrical or storage device.
[0058] FIG. 4 shows system 400 which is an example of a stereo
component (e.g., a receiver, etc.) that incorporates circuitry that
operates in accordance with the principles of the present
invention. System 400 may be utilized to play back recording 114 as
it would sound when influenced by the acoustic environment
represented by characterization 214. System 400 may be operated
and/or interfaced with other stereo components, systems and
electronic device (e.g., as part of a home theater system,
professional mixing system, sound controls of a venue, etc.), or
its functionality may be built into other stereo, computer, or
electrical components (e.g., a CD player, MP3 player, iPod, DVD
player, car radio, speaker system, etc.) so that it is not a
stand-alone component.
[0059] System 400 may include the ability to read one or more
different forms of storage medium via media slots 412 and 414. Like
the other systems of the present invention, system 400 may
implement at least some of the steps of process 300 as described
above. For example, a user may insert a CD into slot 414 which
includes recording 114 (e.g., a CD of songs from The Phantom of the
Opera as recorded in a recording studio). System 400 may then
display selectable names or other identifying data of one or more
selectable audio signals on any of its display screens. The user,
for example, chooses recording 114. The user may also insert a
memory card into slot 412 which includes characterization 214
(e.g., the Majestic Theater in New York City). System 400 may also
display one or more selectable names or other identifying data of
the characterizations stored on the memory card. The user, for
example, chooses characterization 214.
[0060] When the user selects "PLAY," system 400 selects, for
example, recording 114 and characterization 214. The particular
recording and characterization that are selected may be based on
user selections, system selections or a combination of user and
system selections. System 400 then processes, for example, audio
signal 114 and characterization 214 to produce an output signal.
When the output signal is emitted, it sounds substantially similar
to what would be heard in the acoustic environment represented by
characterization 214 (e.g., the Majestic Theater) if recording 114
was played-back in the acoustic environment.
[0061] The memory card including the characterization of the
Majestic Theater (discussed above) could also include a
characterization of Three Rivers Stadium. Alternatively, the user
may remove the memory card as discussed above and replace it with
one having a characterization of Three Rivers Stadium. When "PLAY"
is selected, system 400 selects the characterization of Three
Rivers Stadium and the output signals produced by system 400 are
substantially similar to the signals that would have been produced
in a user-selectable seat of Three Rivers Stadium if The Phantom of
the Opera was performed in Three Rivers Stadium. The user may also
use system 400 to move their listening location to a different seat
of Three Rivers Stadium (e.g., by navigating and selecting a
different seat displayed on at least on of the display screens of
system 400), to hear how The Phantom of the Opera would sound while
sitting in the different seat.
[0062] As mentioned above and shown in FIG. 4, system 400 may
include various displays to aide the user in the operation (e.g.,
the navigation and selection of an audio signal, characterization
of an acoustic environment, location in an acoustic environment,
etc.) of the system. For example, a venue display 402, location
display 404 and recording display 406 are all options that can be
included in system 400 (other options, such as changing the
material of the recording environment, can also be provided to the
user). Venue display 402 can display a selectable list of venues
and/or the particular venue currently being utilized by system 400.
Location display 404 can display a selectable list of seats and/or
the particular seat or section currently being utilized by system
400. Recording display 406 may display, for example, the song or
track on the CD currently being played and/or one or more
selectable lists of tracks available to system 400. Alternatively,
one skilled in the art will appreciate that the functionality of
each display 402, display 404 and display 406 may be combined into
a single display screen.
[0063] System 400 can be coupled to one or more devices (such as
system 100, system 200, system 300, speakers 408, etc.). Each of
these devices can receive signals via communication paths 418, as
described above with respect to other communication paths.
[0064] For example, if system 400 is coupled to speakers 408, the
user can listen to the altered audio signals. Speakers 408 may be a
surround-sound system or other type of speaker system that may help
emphasize the presence of the reproduced audio signals, or they may
consist of something as simple as a pair of headphones. System 400
also provides the user with the ability to select the volume,
characterization, audio input signals, etc. through controls
416.
[0065] FIG. 5 shows process 500 that may be utilized for the
collection of royalty or other fees associated with the use of some
embodiments of the present invention. For example, when a computer
or computer controlled playback system is utilized, the environment
provider (such as the Majestic Theater) or record label may
sell/license a consumer access to an acoustic environment or
recording. In this case, the provider could charge a one time fee
for unlimited use or arrange any other desired payment system
(e.g., charges for each individual access, charges for a monthly
subscription, etc.). In this manner, owners of acoustic environment
characterizations or audio recordings may be able to further
commercialize their assets (e.g., their acoustic venue, sports
stadium, local bar, song, comedy routine, concert, etc.). For
simplicity, system 500 only shows acoustic environment
characterizations being sold. Persons skilled in the art will
appreciate that the same system can be used to sell/license audio
signals or any other data a consumer may desire to use in
accordance with the principles of the present invention.
[0066] In step 502, a consumer begins to use a data network that
can access stored characterizations (e.g., such as the internet,
prepaid system, etc.). The consumer requests a characterization of
an acoustic environment in step 504, via the network, internet,
world wide web, etc.
[0067] In steps 506 and 508, the system determines whether the
requested characterization is available by inquiring with and/or
searching through a database of acoustic environment
characterizations. The user is notified that the requested
characterization is not available by returning to step 504 (and
providing the appropriate message). If the characterization
requested by the user is available, the system proceeds to step 510
to charge, process and/or confirm authorization of the payment from
the consumer for the requested characterization.
[0068] In step 512, the fee paid by the consumer is allocated to
the system and, in step 514, the user is provided with access to
the database of environment characterizations. The system also
processes the royalty payment, if any, for the owner of the
purchased characterization. If a royalty payment is due, it may be
allocated to the environment owner in step 518.
[0069] The acoustic environment owner may collect the royalty
payment(s) in step 520 , as well as control access by process 500
to the selected characterizations. If additional characterizations
are to be added to the system, those environments are characterized
in step 522 (in accordance with the process described in connection
with FIG. 2 above). Once processed, the new acoustic environment
characterizations are sent to the database of acoustic environment
characterizations in step 524.
[0070] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the
detection systems described above in accordance with the principles
of the present invention are provided as illustrations of the
invention only, and that the invention is not limited by the
specific configurations described above. For example, the
embodiment shown in FIG. 4 may be combined with the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Combining these embodiments may be
beneficial because, for example, system 400 may have access to the
Internet and any songs and/or characterizations on the Internet
(not shown).
[0071] Additionally, persons skilled in the art may consider
combining the system of FIG. 4 with system of FIG. 2 in a manner
that may allow system 400 to characterize the acoustic environment
that speakers 408 are in. This characterization may be used as
feedback, allowing system 400 to monitor the sound emitted and
compensate for the acoustic environment speakers 408 are emitting
the sound in. For example, the user's living room that The Phantom
of the Opera is being played in may influence the sound after the
recording was filtered by the Majestic Theater characterization.
System 400 may characterize the room with equipment similar to
system 200 and adjust the audio outputted from speakers 408 to
compensate for any influence the acoustic environment of the room
may have.
[0072] Moreover, it may also be understood by those skilled in the
art that the various components of the detection systems according
to the present invention may be manufactured together, or
individually. They may be assembled as a single item or as multiple
items to be linked together. However, as explained above, it is
also contemplated that some or all of these components may utilize
remote controls and/or displays, and that in certain embodiments,
some components may be excluded (or combined with other
components).
[0073] The invention is not limited in these manners. The
above-described embodiments of the present invention are presented
for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present
invention is limited only by the claims that follow.
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