Apparatus and method for parental monitoring of audio content in a vehicle

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus and method for monitoring audio content played in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a memory and a media controller. The media controller includes a memory and is programmed to deliver first media content desired by one or more first vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a first zone and deliver second media content desired by one or more second vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a second zone. The media controller is further programmed to receive instructions from the one or more first vehicle occupants to deliver the second media content to the seating area of ​​the first zone and, based on the instructions, deliver the second media content for monitoring by the one or more first vehicle occupants in the seating area of ​​the first zone.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 979,838, filed February 21, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION Aspects disclosed herein generally relate to apparatus and methods for monitoring audio content in a vehicle. These and other aspects are described in more detail herein. [Background technology]

[0003] In a sound zone scenario, multiple users can listen to their own type of audio in their respective zones, where competing audio from other or adjacent zones can be reduced or eliminated. One common use case for a multiple sound zone scenario in an automobile space is when parents sit in the front row of the car listening to music and one or more children sit in the back row of the car watching a movie. A common issue in this use case is parental control. Parents often want to monitor the media their children, especially teenagers, are consuming. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In at least one embodiment, an apparatus and method for monitoring audio content played in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a memory and a media controller. The media controller includes the memory and is programmed to deliver first media content desired by one or more first vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a first zone and to deliver second media content desired by one or more second vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a second zone. The media controller is further programmed to receive instructions from the one or more first vehicle occupants to deliver the second media content to the seating area of ​​the first zone and, based on the instructions, deliver the second media content for monitoring by the one or more first vehicle occupants in the seating area of ​​the first zone.

[0005] In at least another embodiment, a computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided that is programmed to monitor audio content being played in a vehicle. The computer program product includes instructions for delivering first media content desired by one or more first vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a first zone and delivering second media content desired by one or more second vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a second zone. The computer program product further includes receiving, at a media controller, instructions from the one or more first vehicle occupants to deliver the second media content to the seating area of ​​the first zone, and delivering the second media content for monitoring by the one or more first vehicle occupants in the seating area of ​​the first zone based on the instructions.

[0006] In at least another embodiment, a method for providing monitoring of audio content played in a vehicle is provided, the method comprising: delivering first media content desired by one or more first vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a first zone; and delivering second media content desired by one or more second vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a second zone. The method further includes receiving, at the media controller, instructions from the one or more first vehicle occupants to deliver second media content to a seating area of ​​the first zone, and delivering, based on the instructions, the second media content for monitoring by the one or more first vehicle occupants in the seating area of ​​the first zone. The present specification also provides, for example, the following: (Item 1) 1. An apparatus for monitoring audio content played in a vehicle, comprising: Memory and the memory, delivering first media content desired by one or more first vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a first zone; delivering second media content desired by one or more second vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​the second zone; receiving instructions from the one or more first vehicle occupants to deliver the second media content to a seating area in the first zone; transmitting the second media content for viewing by the one or more first vehicle occupants in a seating area of ​​the first zone based on the instruction; and a media controller programmed to: The device comprising: (Item 2) 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first media content and the second media content corresponds to at least one of audio content or video content. (Item 3) Item 10. The device of item 1, wherein the media controller includes a sub-media controller located at one or more seats in the seating area of ​​the second zone. (Item 4) Item 10. The device of item 1, wherein the media controller is programmed to receive the instruction from a user interface. (Item 5) Item 5. The apparatus of item 4, wherein the user interface includes a switch that enables the one or more first vehicle occupants to send voice commands to one or more speakers in a seating area of ​​the second zone. (Item 6) 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the user interface includes a switch that sends the instruction to the media controller to send the second media content to the seating area of ​​the first zone. (Item 7) Item 5. The device of item 4, wherein the user interface includes a switch that enables the one or more first vehicle occupants in the first zone seating area to control volume limits for the second media content in the second zone seating area while the media controller is playing the first media content in the first zone seating area. (Item 8) 1. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium programmed to monitor audio content played in a vehicle, the computer program product comprising: delivering first media content desired by one or more first vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a first zone; delivering second media content desired by one or more second vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​the second zone; receiving, at a media controller, instructions from the one or more first vehicle occupants to deliver the second media content to a seating area in the first zone; transmitting the second media content for viewing by the one or more first vehicle occupants in a seating area of ​​the first zone based on the instruction; and said computer program product comprising instructions for performing (Item 9) Item 9. The computer program product of item 8, wherein each of the first media content and the second media content corresponds to at least one of audio content or video content. (Item 10) Item 9. The computer program product of item 8, further comprising instructions for receiving the instruction from a user interface. (Item 11) Item 11. The computer program product of item 10, further comprising instructions for enabling the one or more first vehicle occupants to issue voice commands via the user interface to one or more speakers in a seating area of ​​the second zone. (Item 12) Item 11. The computer program product of item 10, further comprising instructions for sending the instruction via the user interface to the media controller to send the second media content to a seating area in the first zone. (Item 13) Item 11. The computer program product of item 10, further comprising instructions for sending the instruction via the user interface to the media controller to send the second media content to a seating area in the first zone. (Item 14) 11. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising: enabling the one or more first vehicle occupants in the first zone seating area to control, via the user interface, a volume limit for the second media content in the second zone seating area while the media controller is playing the first media content in the first zone seating area. (Item 15) 1. A method for providing monitoring of audio content played in a vehicle, comprising: delivering first media content desired by one or more first vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a first zone; delivering second media content desired by one or more second vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​the second zone; receiving, at a media controller, instructions from the one or more first vehicle occupants to deliver the second media content to a seating area in the first zone; transmitting the second media content for viewing by the one or more first vehicle occupants in a seating area of ​​the first zone based on the instruction; and The method comprising: (Item 16) Item 16. The method of item 15, wherein each of the first media content and the second media content corresponds to at least one of audio content or video content. (Item 17) Item 16. The method of item 15, further comprising receiving the instruction from a user interface. (Item 18) Item 16. The method of item 15, further comprising enabling the one or more first vehicle occupants to issue voice commands via a user interface to one or more speakers in the seating area of ​​the second zone. (Item 19) 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising instructions for sending the instruction via a user interface to the media controller to send the second media content to the seating area of ​​the first zone. (Item 20) Item 16. The method of item 15, further comprising enabling the one or more first vehicle occupants in the first zone seating area to control, via a user interface, a volume limit for the second media content in the second zone seating area while the media controller is playing the first media content in the first zone seating area.

[0007] While the embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, other features of the various embodiments will become more apparent and will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a system for providing parental control and monitoring of audio in a vehicle, according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates an example of a display on a media controller that allows a user (i.e., or parent) to select a corresponding option to monitor audio being played in the rear zone of the vehicle while in the front zone of the vehicle, according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates a method for providing parental control and monitoring of audio in a vehicle, according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates another method for providing parental control and monitoring of video and / or audio, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Where necessary, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art how the present invention may be variously used.

[0010] It will be appreciated that at least one controller disclosed herein may include various microprocessors, integrated circuits, memory devices (e.g., FLASH, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or other suitable variations thereof), and software that cooperate with one another to perform the operation(s) disclosed herein. Additionally, at least one controller disclosed herein utilizes one or more microprocessors to execute computer programs embodied in non-transitory computer-readable media that are programmed to perform any number of the disclosed functions. Additionally, the controller(s) provided herein include a housing and various numbers of microprocessors, integrated circuits, and memory devices (e.g., FLASH, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) disposed within the housing. The disclosed controller(s) also include hardware-based inputs and outputs, respectively, for receiving and sending data from other hardware-based devices, as discussed herein.

[0011] In a sound zone scenario, multiple users can listen to their own type of audio in their respective zones, where competing audio from other or adjacent zones can be reduced or eliminated. One common use case for a multiple sound zone scenario in an automobile space is when parents sit in the front row of the car listening to music and one or more children sit in the back row of the car watching a movie. A common issue in this use case is parental control. Parents often want to monitor the media their children, especially teenagers, are consuming.

[0012] The embodiments described herein may provide a user interface that provides a human-machine interface (HMI) located in a front zone of a vehicle (e.g., an instrument panel, a front driver's seat, and / or a passenger seat). The user interface may include a touchscreen button (or a touchscreen switch), a physical button, or any other suitable type of human input device that can be pressed to temporarily automatically transfer audio content playing in a rear zone of the vehicle to the front zone. This aspect may enable front-row passengers (e.g., parents) to quickly and seamlessly monitor media content in the rear row without interrupting the content in the front row. Additionally, parental controls on the HMI may restrict certain sources that parents do not want their children to access or listen to. For example, Netflix®, Spotify®, YouTube®, or other streaming services, or movies above a given rating (e.g., PG-13). These and other aspects are described in more detail below.

[0013] 1 illustrates a system 100 for providing parental control and monitoring of audio within a vehicle 102, according to one embodiment. Vehicle 100 includes a vehicle audio system 104 configured to play audio within a listening environment 106 (or listening room) of vehicle 102. Vehicle 100 generally includes a first zone seating area 110, a second zone seating area 112, and a third zone seating area 114. It will be appreciated that the number of zone seating areas arranged within vehicle 100 may vary based on the desired criteria of a particular implementation.

[0014] The seating area 110 of the first zone may include a first seat and a second seat 120a and 120b, respectively. The first seat 120a may correspond to the driver's seat, and the second seat 120b may correspond to the passenger seat. The seating area 112 of the second zone may include a first seat and a second seat 122a and 122b. The first seat 122a may correspond to the left rear passenger seat, and the second seat 122b may correspond to the right rear passenger seat. Similarly, the seating area 114 of the third zone may include a first seat and a second seat 124a and 124b. The first seat 124a may correspond to the left rear passenger seat, and the second seat 124b may correspond to the right rear passenger seat. The first seat and second seat 124a and 124b of the seating area 112 of the third zone may form a unitary bench 125 that connects the first seat and second seat 124a and 124b to one another. While the various zones 110, 112, 114 shown in FIG. 1 correspond to a vehicle row including at least two seats, it is recognized that such zones 110, 112, 114 may be configured to correspond to a single seat, and the zones are not intended to be limited to having a complete row configuration for purposes of applying aspects related to this disclosure.

[0015] The vehicle 100 also includes an instrument panel 130 and a media controller (or media controller) 132 disposed on the instrument panel 130. Various speakers 134 may be disposed around the vehicle 102 for playing audio processed by the media controller 132. It will be appreciated that the various headrests 126 disposed in the seats 120a, 120b, 122a, and 122b may include speakers 134, which are headrest speakers for playing audio to vehicle occupants located rearward relative to the corresponding seats 120a, 120b, 122a, and 122b. Various displays (not shown) may also be disposed in the headrests 126 to provide desired video content to vehicle occupants in the second and third zone seating areas 112 or 114. Implementation of the headrest speakers 134 may be optional. It is also recognized that any one or more of the headrests 126 may include a secondary media controller (or secondary media controller) 136 that processes audio data for passengers seated in any one or more of the seats 122a, 122b, 124a, and 124b. Various occupants within the vehicle 100 may pair their corresponding mobile devices 123 via a wireless communication protocol (e.g., BLUETOOTH or other suitable protocol) such that the mobile devices 123 provide audio data to the media controller 132 and / or secondary media controller 136 for playback through particular speakers 134 within the vehicle 100.

[0016] Generally speaking, passengers located in the first zone seating area 110 may be playing audio data that differs from the audio being played in one or more of the second zone seating area 112 and the third zone seating area 114. Similarly, passengers seated in seats 122a, 122b, 124a, and 124b may be listening to different audio from one another, assuming that the corresponding seats in front of them include corresponding secondary media controllers. One non-limiting scenario of this aspect may include a parent being located in the first zone seating area 110 and a child being located in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114. It will be appreciated that the embodiments disclosed herein may generally apply to any user located in the first zone seating area 110 who wishes to listen to and / or watch audio and / or video being played in at least one of the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114.

[0017] At times, parents seated in the first zone seating area 110 may desire to monitor audio content being played by one or more of the secondary media controllers 136 associated with their respective seats 120a, 120b, 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b (or in the second zone seating area 112 and the third zone seating area 114). The media controllers 132 typically include a user interface 150 (e.g., a human interface machine (HMI)) that enables one or more parents (or other users, e.g., but not limited to parents)) to control the media controller 132 to route, via speakers 134 in the first zone seating area 110, the audio being played by one or more of the secondary media controllers 136 located at the various seats 120a, 120b, 122a, 122b, 124a, and / or 124b for monitoring. The media controller 132 may attenuate the audio being played for the parent so that the speaker 134 plays the audio data being played (e.g., the child's audio) in the first zone seating area 110 for parental monitoring. In another example, the media controller 132 may simply mute the audio being played for the parent so that the media controller 132 can play the audio data being played (e.g., the child's audio) in the first zone seating area 110 for parental monitoring. It will also be appreciated that the media controller 132 can control a single sub-media controller 136 located in the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114 to bypass the audio being played, allowing the media controller 132 to play such audio in the first zone seating area 110 for parental monitoring. This may therefore be particularly useful if two children are in either the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114 and are playing different audio from each other.

[0018] 2 illustrates an example of a display 200 on a media controller 132 that allows a user (i.e., or parent) to select corresponding options for monitoring audio being played in rear zones (e.g., second zone seating area 112 and third zone seating area 114) of vehicle 100 while in a front zone (e.g., first zone seating area 110) of vehicle 100, according to one embodiment. It will be appreciated that display 200 may also be located on (or implemented as part of) mobile device 123 and may wirelessly send instructions to media controller 132 via a radio protocol. Display 200 includes an intercom selection field 202 (e.g., a first switch), a listening selection field 204 (e.g., a second switch), and a rear adjustment field 206 (e.g., a slider bar or a third switch). When selected, the intercom selection field 202 allows a parent (or other user) to speak into a microphone (not shown) to transmit audio from one or more users to the speakers 134 in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114. The listen selection field 204, when selected by a user in the first zone seating area 110, may route audio data being played in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114 to the media controller 132 located in the first zone seating area 110, allowing the user (e.g., a parent) to monitor the audio being played for other users (e.g., children) in one or more of the second zone seating area and the third zone seating areas 112 and 114. An example of this functionality may involve a car full of adults, where the adults sitting in the back row of the car begin laughing uncontrollably. In this case, an adult seated in the first zone seating area 110 can select the listening selection field 204 to "find out what's so funny" or "find out what all the fuss is about" in the back row of the vehicle.

[0019] In one example, the rear adjustment field 206, when selected, may allow a parent (or other user located in the first zone seating area 110) to move the field to correspond to a particular seat of interest (e.g., 120a, 120b, 122a, 122b, 124a, 124b) such that audio for that particular seat of interest in the given zone seating area 112 or 114 is played on the media controller 132. In another example, the rear adjustment field 206 may correspond to the amount of volume attributable to audio being played from the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114 compared to the volume being played on the media controller 132 in the first zone seating area 110. The rear adjustment field 206 includes a volume limit switch 208 that limits the volume of audio being played in the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114.

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 for providing monitoring for audio within a vehicle 100, according to one embodiment.

[0021] In operation 302, the media controller 132 plays audio for a user (e.g., a parent) located in the first zone seating area 110, and one or more secondary media controllers 136 located in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114 play audio for a person or passenger (e.g., a child, teen, etc.) located in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114. It will be appreciated that the secondary media controller(s) 136 may be integrated with the media controller 132. Alternatively or additionally, the secondary media controller(s) 136 may be formed as standalone controllers located in the second zone seating area 112 and the third zone seating area 114 separate from the media controller 132.

[0022] At operation 304, the media controller 132 determines whether a vehicle occupant (e.g., either the driver or a first row passenger) has selected the listening selection field 204 to monitor audio being played by a user (e.g., a child or teen) located in the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114. If the listening selection field 204 has not been selected, the method moves to operation 306. If the listening selection field 204 has been selected, the method 300 moves to operation 308.

[0023] In operation 306, the method 300 returns to operation 304.

[0024] At operation 308, the media controller 132 attenuates the volume of the audio being played (e.g., audio desired to be played in the seating area 110 of the first zone for the enjoyment of the occupants (e.g., parents) of the vehicle 104). In another example, the media controller 132 may simply mute the audio being played for the enjoyment of the users (e.g., parents) of the seating area 110 of the first zone.

[0025] At operation 310, the media controller 132 diverts audio being played in the second zone seating area or the third zone seating area 112 or 114 for a user (e.g., a child (or teen)) to be played through the speakers 134 of the first zone seating area 110 for monitoring by a user (e.g., a parent) located in the first zone seating area 110.

[0026] At operation 312, the media controller 132 determines whether the listening selection field 204 is still selected (or turned on) by a vehicle occupant (or parent) located in the first zone seating area 110. If this condition is true, the method 300 returns to operation 310. Otherwise, the method 300 moves to operation 314.

[0027] At operation 314, the media controller 132 restores audio playback of the audio in the first zone seating area 110 to play the audio for the enjoyment of the occupant (e.g., a parent). For example, if such audio was muted to allow audio to be played from the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114, the audio desired to be played for the enjoyment of the user (e.g., a parent) will be restored.

[0028] At operation 316, the media controller 132 restores the volume of audio playing in the seating area 110 in the first zone to the previous volume of such audio before the listening selection field 204 was selected.

[0029] After operation 316 is performed, the method 300 returns to operation 304 .

[0030] Additional embodiments of the disclosed system 100 and method 300 may include providing an option in the media controller 132 that allows a user (e.g., a parent) of the first zone seating area 110 to disable audio being played in the second zone seating area and / or the third zone seating area 112 or 114 if the parent deems the audio content inappropriate for children located in the second zone seating area 112 and the third zone seating area 114 to hear.

[0031] Similarly, it will be appreciated that video / images being played via displays located in the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114 (e.g., located on the headrests 134) can also be diverted to the displays 200 on the media controller 132. In this case, assuming that corresponding mobile devices 123 (e.g., cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) belonging to one or more passengers in the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114 are operably coupled to various secondary media controllers 136 (e.g., via BLUETOOTH® or other suitable alternative protocol), the media controller 132 may control the secondary media controllers 136 to divert the video being played in the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114 to the displays 200 of the media controller 132. In this case, a user (e.g., a parent) seated in the first zone seating area 110 can monitor videos being played by users (e.g., children) in the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114. Similarly, if a user (e.g., a parent) finds that videos being played in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114 are inappropriate for the users (e.g., children) in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114, the user (e.g., a parent) in the first zone seating area 110 can disable such videos via a selection on the media controller 132.

[0032] Similar to the audio example above and the diversion of audio from the secondary media controller 136 to the media controller 132, the media controller 132 can control a single secondary media controller 136 located in the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114 to divert the video and audio being played therein, allowing the media controller 132 to play such video and audio in the first zone seating area 110 for user (e.g., parent) monitoring. This can be particularly useful when two users (e.g., children) are in either the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114 and are playing different video / audio from each other. The secondary media controller 132 can divert audio / video data from the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114 via a multimedia communication protocol, such as Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) or other suitable multimedia communication protocol.

[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 for video and audio surveillance within a vehicle 100 according to another embodiment.

[0034] At operation 402, media controller 132 receives an instruction via display 200 to enable a parent (or other user) located in first zone seating area 110 to transmit video / audio data being played on mobile devices 124 located in second zone seating area 112 and third zone seating area 114. For example, if a user located in first zone seating area 110 is listening to video and / or audio (e.g., first media content), while the user wishes to watch and / or listen to video and / or audio (e.g., second media content) being played in second zone seating area 112 and / or third zone seating area 114, the user may select listening selection field 204. It will be appreciated that a user may have the option of selecting the video and audio of the media being played in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114, only the audio of the media being played in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114, and / or only the video of the media being played in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114. With the latter option, the user may decide to just watch the video being played so that any video playing along with the video does not interfere with the actual audio data being played (and desired) by the user(s) located in the first zone seating area 110.

[0035] In operation 404, the media controller 132 routes video / audio data or video-only data from the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114 to the display 200. As described above, in one example, the mobile device(s) 123 located in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114 may be wirelessly coupled to the media controller 132 via a wireless protocol such as Bluetooth or another suitable protocol. In this case, the media controller 132 may display video being received from the mobile device(s) 123 via the wireless protocol. In another example, the sub-media controller 132 located in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114 may transmit video / audio or video-only data to the media controller 136 via a MOST communication bus or other suitable multimedia communication bus.

[0036] In operation 406, the media controller 132 determines whether the listening field 204 remains actively engaged by the user. The media controller 132 determines whether the listening selection field 204 continues to be selected (or turned on) by a vehicle occupant (or parent) located in the seating area 110 of the first zone. If this condition is true, the method 400 returns to operation 404. Otherwise, the method 400 proceeds to operation 408.

[0037] At operation 408, the media controller 132 restores audio playback of the audio in the first zone seating area 110 to play audio for the enjoyment of the occupants (e.g., parents). For example, if such audio was muted to allow video / audio to play from the second zone seating area 112 or the third zone seating area 114, the audio desired to be played for the parent's enjoyment will be restored.

[0038] As discussed throughout, to monitor audio and / or video consumption in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114, the user(s) in the first zone seating area 110 may correspond to, for example, parents, and the user(s) in the second zone seating area 112 and / or the third zone seating area 114 may correspond to, for example, children.

[0039] While exemplary embodiments have been described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the words used herein are words of description rather than limitation, and it will be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for monitoring audio content played in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising: Memory and the memory, delivering first media content desired by one or more first vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​the first zone; delivering second media content desired by one or more second vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a second zone; receiving instructions from the one or more first vehicle occupants via a user interface to deliver the second media content to a seating area of ​​the first zone for playback in the seating area of ​​the first zone; playing the second media content for viewing by the one or more first vehicle occupants in a seating area of ​​the first zone based on the instruction, the second media content including audio content; attenuating and muting audio on the first media content in the seating area of ​​the first zone while playing the second media content in the seating area of ​​the first zone; a media controller programmed to: An apparatus comprising:

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first media content and the second media content each correspond to audio content.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the media controller includes a sub-media controller disposed at one or more seats in the seating area of ​​the second zone.

4. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a switch that enables the one or more first vehicle occupants to issue voice commands to one or more speakers in a seating area of ​​the second zone.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a switch that sends the instruction to the media controller to send the second media content to the seating area of ​​the first zone.

6. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a switch that enables the one or more first vehicle occupants in the first zone seating area to control a volume limit for the second media content in the second zone seating area while the media controller is playing the first media content in the first zone seating area.

7. 1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations for monitoring audio content played in a vehicle, the operations comprising: delivering first media content desired by one or more first vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​the first zone; delivering second media content desired by one or more second vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a second zone; receiving, at a media controller, instructions from the one or more first vehicle occupants to deliver the second media content to the seating area of ​​the first zone for playback in the seating area of ​​the first zone; playing the second media content for viewing by the one or more first vehicle occupants in a seating area of ​​the first zone based on the instruction, the second media content including audio content; attenuating and muting audio on the first media content in the seating area of ​​the first zone while playing the second media content in the seating area of ​​the first zone; 1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the first media content and the second media content each correspond to audio content.

9. The operation is 8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising enabling the one or more first vehicle occupants to send voice commands via a user interface to one or more speakers in a seating area of ​​the second zone.

10. The operation is 8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising sending the instruction via a user interface to the media controller to deliver the second media content to a seating area of ​​the first zone.

11. The operation is 8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising: enabling the one or more first vehicle occupants in the first zone seating area to control, via a user interface, a volume limit for the second media content in the second zone seating area while the media controller is playing the first media content in the first zone seating area.

12. 1. A method for providing monitoring of audio content played in a vehicle, the method comprising: delivering first media content desired by one or more first vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​the first zone; delivering second media content desired by one or more second vehicle occupants located in a seating area of ​​a second zone; receiving, at a media controller, instructions from the one or more first vehicle occupants to deliver the second media content to the seating area of ​​the first zone for playback in the seating area of ​​the first zone; playing the second media content for viewing by the one or more first vehicle occupants in a seating area of ​​the first zone based on the instruction, the second media content including audio content; attenuating and muting audio on the first media content in the seating area of ​​the first zone while playing the second media content in the seating area of ​​the first zone; A method comprising:

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first media content and the second media content each correspond to audio content.

14. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising enabling the one or more first vehicle occupants to issue voice commands via a user interface to one or more speakers in a seating area of ​​the second zone.

15. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising instructions for sending the instruction via a user interface to the media controller to deliver the second media content to the seating area of ​​the first zone.

16. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising enabling the one or more first vehicle occupants in the first zone seating area to control, via a user interface, a volume limit for the second media content in the second zone seating area while the media controller is playing the first media content in the first zone seating area.

17. The device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first media content and the second media content further corresponds to video content.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first media content and the second media content further corresponds to video content.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first media content and the second media content further corresponds to video content.

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