Ambient sound responsive media player

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method of adjusting an output of a media player comprising capturing an ambient audio signal; processing the ambient audio signal to determine whether one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal; and reducing an output of a media player from a first volume to a second volume if the one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal. The characteristic forms may be, for example, a name or personal identifier of a user of the media player, the voice of a user of the media player, or an alarm or siren.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 267,079 filed Nov. 3, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 665,291 filed Mar. 26, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 648,197 filed Jan. 27, 2005, all of which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. [0002] This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 223,368 filed Sep. 9, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 644,417 filed Jan. 15, 2005, both of which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. [0003] This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 610,615 filed Dec. 14, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 793,214 filed Apr. 19, 2006, both of which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. [0004] This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Pr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] In some embodiments, the invention can be characterized as a method of adjusting an output of a media player comprising capturing an ambient audio signal; processing the ambient audio signal to determine whether one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal; and reducing an output of a media player from a first volume to a second volume if the one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal.

[0013] In some embodiments, the invention can be characterized as a method of adjusting an output of a media player comprising capturing an ambient audio signal; processing the ambient audio signal to determine whether one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal; and mixing at least a portion of the ambient audio signal with a first output of a media player to generate a second output of the media player if the one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal.

[0014] In some embodiments, the invention can be characterized as a An apparatus for use in a media player comprising a microphone; and one or more processors adapted to: process an ambient audio signal received by the microphone to determine whether one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal, and adjust an output of a media player if the one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, users often miss important sound events within the real world when listening to music through headphones of a portable media player.

For example, another person might be talking to the media player user but because of the music playing through their headphones, the user is unable to hear the fact that they have been verbally addressed.

Similarly, a siren or alarm may sound in the environment of a headphone-wearing media player user, but they may not hear the warning sound effectively, thus creating a dangerous situation for the user.

Finally, a headphone-wearing media player user may try to talk to someone else within their immediate environment, but because they cannot hear their own voice, they may find themselves talking substantially too loud for the current situation.

This may create an embarrassing situation for the user.

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