60633 results about "Audio frequency" patented technology

An adaptive interface for a programmable system, for predicting a desired user function, based on user history, as well as machine internal status and context. The apparatus receives an input from the user and other data. A predicted input is presented for confirmation by the user, and the predictive mechanism is updated based on this feedback. Also provided is a pattern recognition system for a multimedia device, wherein a user input is matched to a video stream on a conceptual basis, allowing inexact programming of a multimedia device. The system analyzes a data stream for correspondence with a data pattern for processing and storage. The data stream is subjected to adaptive pattern recognition to extract features of interest to provide a highly compressed representation that may be efficiently processed to determine correspondence. Applications of the interface and system include a video cassette recorder (VCR), medical device, vehicle control system, audio device, environmental control system, securities trading terminal, and smart house. The system optionally includes an actuator for effecting the environment of operation, allowing closed-loop feedback operation and automated learning.

A portable wireless communications subscriber audio and / or video player apparatus and system and method for selecting, requesting, downloading, and playing audio and / or video data content files from an Internet-based database server. The wireless link is preferably implemented in accordance with the WiFi protocol, which allows connectivity to the Internet by being in proximity with a local base station or WiFi hotspot (i.e., publicly available local wireless access hub connected to the Internet). The portable wireless communications subscriber audio and / or video player apparatus and system preferably include a security means for monitoring and blocking unauthorized use of the player apparatus and system. The player apparatus further preferably has the capability to communicate with other neighboring player apparatus for the purpose of exchanging content data files, playlists and personal messages.

A watermark system includes an embedder, detector, and reader. The watermark embedder encodes a watermark signal in a host signal to create a combined signal. The detector looks for the watermark signal in a potentially corrupted version of the combined signal, and computes its orientation. Finally, a reader extracts a message in the watermark signal from the combined signal using the orientation to approximate the original state of the combined signal. While adapted for images, video and audio, the watermark system applies to other electronic and physical media. For example, it can be applied to mark graphical models, blank paper, film and other substrates, texturing objects for ID purposes, etc.

The present invention is directed to a method and system for disaggregating and connecting A / V components, and communicating A / V content stream information. An A / V stream from a source device is packaged for transmission over an IP network to one or more output devices. A brick device enables the integration of legacy A / V systems into the network supported A / V system. The brick device operates to provide analog signal and IP protocol conversion, along with the synchronization of received A / V stream data packets. The rendering and play of the A / V stream content on multiple output devices is synchronized to overcome distortions and other network idiosyncrasy and to facilitate a pleasant user experience.

Support structures for positioning sensors on a physiologic tunnel for measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters of the body and to produce an action according to the measured value of the parameters. The support structure includes a sensor fitted on the support structures using a special geometry for acquiring continuous and undisturbed data on the physiology of the body. Signals are transmitted to a remote station by wireless transmission such as by electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared, sound and the like or by being reported locally by audio or visual transmission. The physical and chemical parameters include brain function, metabolic function, hydrodynamic function, hydration status, levels of chemical compounds in the blood, and the like. The support structure includes patches, clips, eyeglasses, head mounted gear and the like, containing passive or active sensors positioned at the end of the tunnel with sensing systems positioned on and accessing a physiologic tunnel.

An adaptive interface for a programmable system, for predicting a desired user function, based on user history, as well as machine internal status and context. The apparatus receives an input from the user and other data. A predicted input is presented for confirmation by the user, and the predictive mechanism is updated based on this feedback. Also provided is a pattern recognition system for a multimedia device, wherein a user input is matched to a video stream on a conceptual basis, allowing inexact programming of a multimedia device. The system analyzes a data stream for correspondence with a data pattern for processing and storage. The data stream is subjected to adaptive pattern recognition to extract features of interest to provide a highly compressed representation which may be efficiently processed to determine correspondence. Applications of the interface and system include a VCR, medical device, vehicle control system, audio device, environmental control system, securities trading terminal, and smart house. The system optionally includes an actuator for effecting the environment of operation, allowing closed-loop feedback operation and automated learning.

A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that most closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample. The method can be used for any type of sound or music, and is particularly effective for audio signals subject to linear and nonlinear distortion such as background noise, compression artifacts, or transmission dropouts. The sample can be identified in a time proportional to the logarithm of the number of entries in the database; given sufficient computational power, recognition can be performed in nearly real time as the sound is being sampled.

A self-contained wireless interactive speech recognition control device and system that integrates with automated systems and appliances to provide totally hands-free speech control capabilities for a given space. Preferably, each device comprises a programmable microcontroller having embedded speech recognition and audio output capabilities, a microphone, a speaker and a wireless communication system through which a plurality of devices can communicate with each other and with one or more system controllers or automated mechanisms. The device may be enclosed in a stand-alone housing or within a standard electrical wall box. Several devices may be installed in close proximity to one another to ensure hands-free coverage throughout the space. When two or more devices are triggered simultaneously by the same speech command, real time coordination ensures that only one device will respond to the command.

A powerful, scaleable, and reconfigurable image processing system and method of processing data therein is described. This general purpose, reconfigurable engine with toroidal topology, distributed memory, and wide bandwidth I / O are capable of solving real applications at real-time speeds. The reconfigurable image processing system can be optimized to efficiently perform specialized computations, such as real-time video and audio processing. This reconfigurable image processing system provides high performance via high computational density, high memory bandwidth, and high I / O bandwidth. Generally, the reconfigurable image processing system and its control structure include a homogeneous array of 16 field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) and 16 static random access memories (SRAM) arranged in a partial torus configuration. The reconfigurable image processing system also includes a PCI bus interface chip, a clock control chip, and a datapath chip. It can be implemented in a single board. It receives data from its external environment, computes correspondence, and uses the results of the correspondence computations for various post-processing industrial applications. The reconfigurable image processing system determines correspondence by using non-parametric local transforms followed by correlation. These non-parametric local transforms include the census and rank transforms. Other embodiments involve a combination of correspondence, rectification, a left-right consistency check, and the application of an interest operator.

A computer based graphical user interface for facilitating the selection and display of transmitted audio, video and data includes a main menu state with a first multi-segment display having an active video / audio segment and a tuning segment. The active video segment displays a currently tuned program and the tuning segment includes an elongated graphic bar. The elongated graphic bar is dynamically sub-divided into a plurality of contiguous regions so that each of the regions uniquely corresponds to a program parsed from a multi-program data stream. The tuning segment also includes a graphic slider that overlays the graphic bar and that is movable along the length of the graphic bar so that the currently tuned program corresponds to the portion of the graphic bar underlying the current position of the graphic slider.

An apparatus for collecting data from a plurality of diverse data sources, the diverse data sources generating input data selected from the group including text, audio, and graphics, the diverse data sources selected from the group including real-time and recorded, human and mechanically-generated audio, single-speaker and multispeaker, the apparatus comprising: means for dividing the input data into one or more data segments, the dividing means acting separately on the input data from each of the plurality of diverse data sources, each of the data segments being associated with at least one respective data buffer such that each of the respective data buffers would have the same number of segments given the same data; means for selective processing of the data segments within each of the respective data buffers; and means for distributing at least one of the respective data buffers such that the collected data associated therewith may be used for further processing.

In an encoder, multiple channels of audio information representing multidimensional sound fields are split into subband signals and the subband signals in one or more subbands are combined to form composite signals. The composite signals, the subband signals not combined into a composite signal and information describing the spectral levels of subband signals combined into composite signals are assembled into an encoded output signal. The spectral level information conveys either the amplitude or power of the combined subband signals or the apparent direction of the sound field represented by the combined subband signals. In digital implementations, adaptive bit allocation may be used to reduce the informational requirements of the encoded signal.

A communication component modifies production of an audio waveform at determined modification segments to thereby mitigate the effects of a delay in processing and / or receiving a subsequent audio waveform. The audio waveform and / or data associated with the audio waveform are analyzed to identify the modification segments based on characteristics of the audio waveform and / or data associated therewith. The modification segments show where the production of the audio waveform may be modified without substantially affecting the clarity of the sound or audio. In one embodiment, the invention modifies the sound production at the identified modification segments to extend production time and thereby mitigate the effects of delay in receiving and / or processing a subsequent audio waveform for production.

A system is provided for delivering Internet and digital content to a variety of thin client devices. A web portal for accessing and selecting content is used in conjunction with graphical user interfaces on a personal computer for setting up and controlling the content channels. The user interfaces, scheduling, and communication management are controlled by a system control software application running on a local server with an Internet connection. A high speed local area network provides for streaming content from the Internet or local server to thin client devices. A digital audio playback device is connected to the local server via the local area network connection and decodes streamed audio files, and converts them into analog audio signals for input into a conventional stereo. Digital content is streamed automatically from the local server to another Internet playback device, based on end user content preferences and schedule selections.

Position information of equipment at an event, such as a ball, one or more players, or other items in a game or sporting event, is used in selecting camera, camera shot type, camera angle, audio signals, and / or other output data for providing a multimedia presentation of the event to a viewer. The position information is used to determine the desired viewer perspective. A network of feedback robotically controlled Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ), manually controlled cameras and stationary cameras work together with interpolation techniques to create a 2D video signal. The position information may also be used to access gaming rules and assist officiating of the event. The position information may be obtained through a transceiver(s), accelerometer(s), transponder(s), and / or RADAR detectable element(s) fitted into the ball, apparel or equipment of players, the players themselves, or other playing equipment associated with the game or sporting event. Other positioning methods that can be used include infrared video-based tracking systems, SONAR positioning system(s), LIDAR positioning systems, and digital signal processing (DSP) image processing techniques such as triangulation.

An adaptive interface for a programmable system, for predicting a desired user function, based on user history, as well as machine internal status and context. The apparatus receives an input from the user and other data. A predicted input is presented for confirmation by the user, and the predictive mechanism is updated based on this feedback. Also provided is a pattern recognition system for a multimedia device, wherein a user input is matched to a video stream on a conceptual basis, allowing inexact programming of a multimedia device. The system analyzes a data stream for correspondence with a data pattern for processing and storage. The data stream is subjected to adaptive pattern recognition to extract features of interest to provide a highly compressed representation which may be efficiently processed to determine correspondence. Applications of the interface and system include a VCR, medical device, vehicle control system, audio device, environmental control system, securities trading terminal, and smart house. The system optionally includes an actuator for effecting the environment of operation, allowing closed-loop feedback operation and automated learning.

A video-audio surveillance system for a motor vehicle is suitable for observing blind spots as well as for providing security for the vehicle and its contents. The system includes audio-video transmission modules positioned at selected locations on the exterior and interior of the vehicle. An operator or observer either in the vehicle or otherwise monitors the video and audio signals from the modules through a monitoring unit.

Interactive digital media platform, methods and apparatus for detecting and dynamically synchronizing to media content (e.g., television (TV) programs or movies) that a viewer is watching while providing related content on a second screen for enhancing the viewer experience. In one embodiment, the primary content is determined by detecting an audio signal of the primary content via the second screen device; the audio signal may then be processed to generate a fingerprint for comparison with a data store of primary content. The primary content can be classified by various categories (e.g., unique program, advertising, repeat airing, theme song . . . ) and the classification used to aid in the identification and / or in selection of the content to be presented on the interactive second screen device. The system allows a substantially real time comparison and recognition of what primary content a viewer is watching on a first screen device and presentation to the user of content that is substantially synchronous to the viewer's location in the primary content. The viewer can actively engaged with the content presented and can share the content with others via social networking and the like.

An interactive directed beam system is provided. In one implementation, the system includes a projector, a computer and a camera. The camera is configured to view and capture information in an interactive area. The captured information may take various forms, such as, an image and / or audio data. The captured information is based on actions taken by an object, such as, a person within the interactive area. Such actions include, for example, natural movements of the person and interactions between the person and an image projected by the projector. The captured information from the camera is then sent to the computer for processing. The computer performs one or more processes to extract certain information, such as, the relative location of the person within the interactive area for use in controlling the projector. Based on the results generated by the processes, the computer directs the projector to adjust the projected image accordingly. The projected image can move anywhere within the confines of the interactive area.

Various dynamic audio ducking techniques are provided that may be applied where multiple audio streams, such as a primary audio stream and a secondary audio stream, are being played back simultaneously. For example, a secondary audio stream may include a voice announcement of one or more pieces of information pertaining to the primary audio stream, such as the name of the track or the name of the artist. In one embodiment, the primary audio data and the voice feedback data are initially analyzed to determine a loudness value. Based on their respective loudness values, the primary audio stream may be ducked during the period of simultaneous playback such that a relative loudness difference is generally maintained with respect to the loudness of the primary and secondary audio streams. Accordingly, the amount of ducking applied may be customized for each piece of audio data depending on its loudness characteristics.

A wearable modular interface strap device for supporting multiple module units comprising a flexible strap with a plurality of electrically connected nodes acting as docking points to serial bus interface and mechanically connect removable modules, with the strap being 10 mechanically lockable in a loop by a clasp containing hub and host circuitry to enable network communication between modules and to a universal connector plug for recharging and data-exchange. Said strap containing a plurality of electrical wires between control circuitry and nodes and arranged to be wearable as a wristband, alternatively as a wrist device that when opened forms a curved handset with audio input and outputs at alternate ends, or arranged in a necklace configuration. Said device capable of supporting interchangeable modules such as displays, control devices, rechargeable batteries, a module with removable earpiece units, and a plurality of functional modules suitable for communication, data storage, location and environment sensing.

The invention relates to video and music distribution systems and, more particularly, to a system that blanket transmits video / audio content such as movies (for example, via satellite downlink transmission) to each customer's recording, storage and playback system. Customers may preselect from a list of available movies or other content in advance using an interactive screen selector, and pay for the video / audio content that is actually viewed.

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and / or wireless communications network. The devices include audio / visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video / audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and / or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

A method and system is described which allows users to identify (pre-recorded) sounds such as music, radio broadcast, commercials, and other audio signals in almost any environment. The audio signal (or sound) must be a recording represented in a database of recordings. The service can quickly identify the signal from just a few seconds of excerption, while tolerating high noise and distortion. Once the signal is identified to the user, the user may perform transactions interactively in real-time or offline using the identification information.

Audio frames are classified as either speech, non-transient background noise, or transient noise events. Probabilities of speech or transient noise event, or other metrics may be calculated to indicate confidence in classification. Frames classified as speech or noise events are not used in updating models (e.g., spectral subtraction noise estimates, silence model, background energy estimates, signal-to-noise ratio) of non-transient background noise. Frame classification affects acceptance / rejection of recognition hypothesis. Classifications and other audio related information may be determined by circuitry in a headset, and sent (e.g., wirelessly) to a separate processor-based recognition device.

Athletic performance monitoring systems include components for sensing performance data and / or displaying desired information to users. Electronic interface systems facilitate transfer of the data from the performance sensing system to a display device, e.g., to enable the display of athletic performance data on an electronic display device, including conventional electronic display devices that are known and commercially available (e.g., cellular telephones, PDAs, pagers, beepers, MP3 or other audio players, radios, portable televisions, portable DVD players, other video playing devices, watches, etc.). The sensing systems, as well as any data transfer systems associated therewith, may be included as part of an article of footwear, an article of clothing, a piece of athletic equipment, or the like, or even included as part of the interface device.

A method and system for the automatic identification of audio, video, multimedia, and / or data recordings based on immutable characteristics of these works. The invention does not require the insertion of identifying codes or signals into the recording. This allows the system to be used to identify existing recordings that have not been through a coding process at the time that they were generated. Instead, each work to be recognized is “played” into the system where it is subjected to an automatic signal analysis process that locates salient features and computes a statistical representation of these properties. These features are then stored as patterns for later recognition of live input signal streams. A different set of features is derived for each audio or video work to be identified and stored. During real-time monitoring of a signal stream, a similar automatic signal analysis process is carried out, and many features are computed for comparison with the patterns stored in a large feature database. For each particular pattern stored in the database, only the relevant characteristics are compared with the real-time feature set. Preferably, during analysis and generation of reference patterns, data are extracted from all time intervals of a recording. This allows a work to be recognized from a single sample taken from any part of the recording.

A method for voice activation of a software agent from a standby mode. In one embodiment, an audio recording (2) is buffered in an audio buffer (6) and at the same time, the audio recording is input to a secondary voice recognition process (7) which is economical in terms of energy and has an increased false positive rate. When a keyword is recognized, a primary voice recognition process (8) is activated from an inactive state, which converts the audio buffer to text and inputs it to a dialog system (9) which analyzes as to whether there is a relevant question made by the user. If this is the case, the user gets an acoustic reply (3), and if this is not the case, the dialog system and the primary voice recognition process immediately return to the inactive state and transfer the control to the secondary voice recognition process.