2093 results about "Digital audio" patented technology

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.

A digital audio content aggregation, delivery and sharing system and method are provided. The system and method delivers high-quality personalized digital audio directly to mobile handsets. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the digital audio content may be podcasts. The system also provides a unique way to monetize audio content that benefits consumers, podcasters, mobile network operators, brands and advertisers. The system empowers a consumer to easily find, filter, store, organize, listen, and recommend audio content distributed across the Internet as podcasts. The system organizes the digital audio content by topic.

A portable multimedia player is used to wirelessly access and control a media server that is streaming digital media by way of a wireless interface to a media unit such as a stereo/speakers in the case of streaming digital audio. In one embodiment, the portable multimedia player is wirelessly synchronized to a selected one(s) of a number of digital media files stored on the media server in such a way that digital media file metadata (song title, author, etc.) associated with the selected digital media file(s) only is transferred from the media server to be stored in the portable media player.

Digital audio and video files are created corresponding to selected scenes from a creative production and are provided with a processing system that enables dialog to be selected from a scene and replaced by a user's dialog which is automatically synchronized with the original dialog so as to be in synchronism with lip movements displayed by the accompanying video display. The processing further includes a graphical user interface that presents the user with the video, the text of the dialog, and cues for rehearsal and recording of replacement dialog by the user. Replay of the user's dialog is accompanied by the video and part of the original audio except that the original dialog corresponding to the user's dialog is muted so that the user's dialog is heard as a replacement. Singing or other sounds associated with visible action may also be replaced by the same processes.

A technique for enhancing audio signals generated from compressed digital audio files is described. The technique uses a Bass Maximizer module, a Harmonic Exciter module and a Quasi Stereo module. The Bass Exciter module enhances the intensity, depth and punch of the bass audio content by creating harmonic sequences from low frequency components contained in the original input signal. The Harmonic Exciter module adds to the treble audio content of the original input signal by generating harmonic series from the high frequency components contained in the input signal. The Quasi Stereo Module creates a stereo image of the enhanced input signal by adding and subtracting delayed and filtered versions of the enhanced input signal with itself to create left and right channeled stereo-like outputs. The technique provides a useful tool to regenerate from an audio signal more pleasant and joyful sounds.

One or more of the embodiments of a dual band stacked patch antenna described herein employ an integrated arrangement of a global positioning system (GPS) antenna and a satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) antenna. The dual band antenna receives right hand circularly polarized GPS signals in a first frequency band, left hand circularly polarized SDARS signals in a second frequency band, and vertical linear polarized SDARS signals in the second band. The dual band antenna includes a ground plane element, an upper radiating element (which is primarily utilized to receive SDARS signals), dielectric material between the ground plane element and the upper radiating element, and a lower radiating element (which is primarily utilized to receive GPS signals) surrounded by the dielectric material. The dual band antenna uses only one conductive signal feed to receive both GPS and SDARS signals.

System and methods for distributing audio content from plural audio sources to plural client terminals located on a network. The system includes an audio source interface that is coupled to receive raw audio from a first audio source, and converts the raw audio into a digital audio clip that is incorporated into a digital audio packet, which further contains a timestamp and a channel identity corresponding to the first audio source. A network audio server is coupled to receive the digital audio packet from the audio source interface, and operates to format the digital audio packet into a digital audio file that is compliant with the network, and store the digital audio file at a network address. The network audio server generates a directory packet that includes the network address of the digital audio file, the channel identity, and the timestamp, and couples the directory packet to a directory server located on the network. The directory server receives the directory packet and generates a directory stream, including at least a portion of the directory packet, and couples the directory stream through the network to a first client terminal. The first client terminal receives the directory stream and selectively identifies the directory packet according to a client profile, and subsequently communicates an audio file request through the network, requesting the digital audio file from the network audio server. Then, upon receipt of the audio file request, the audio server responds by coupling the digital audio file to the client terminal through the network.

A method is provided for synchronizing the playback of a digital audio broadcast on a plurality of network output devices by inserting an audio waveform sample in an audio stream of the digital audio broadcast. The method includes the steps of outputting a first unique signal as part of an audio signal which has unique identifying characteristics and is regularly occurring, outputting a second unique signal so that the time between the first and second unique signals must be significantly greater than the latency between sending and receiving devices, and coordinating play of audio by an audio waveform sample assuring the simultaneous output of the audio signal from multiple devices. An algorithm in hardware, software, or a combination of the two identifies the audio waveform sample in the audio stream. The digital audio broadcast from multiple receivers does not present to a listener any audible delay or echo effect.

Content maintained in an online social network or other online communities is tracked for changes and updates. The content may include user profiles, digital photos, digital audio and video files, testimonials, and identification of users who are friends. When such change or update occurs, users of the online social network or online community are notified according to various criteria that they have set. The notification may be provided by e-mail, an RSS feed, or a web page when accessed. With this feature, users can browse through content of other users with efficiency.

A wearable wireless audio device includes a support, an electronics circuit, and a speaker. The support includes a first ear stem and an orbital, and is configured to support at least one lens in a wearer's field of view. The electronics circuit is supported by the support and is configured to receive at least one digital audio file and generate an audio signal indicative of the at least one digital audio file. The speaker is supported by the support, and is directed toward at least one of the wearer's ears. The speaker is configured to convert the audio signal into sound. The speaker has a speaker face, and the speaker is configured to rotate from a first position in which the speaker face is substantially parallel to a yz-plane to a second position in which the speaker is inclined at an angle with respect to the yz-plane. The speaker is coupled to the support with a speaker pivot, and is configured to rotate about the speaker pivot while maintaining the speaker face substantially parallel to a yz-plane. The speaker is configured to move along an axis substantially parallel to a z-axis with respect to the support.

A method of conducting a search using a mobile electronic device may include playing digital audio content at the mobile electronic device, and accepting user input at the mobile electronic device to capture a portion of the digital audio content. Search criteria may be provided wherein the search criteria is based on the captured portion of the digital audio content and on information separate from the captured portion of the digital audio content. A search may be conducted using the search criteria based on the captured portion of the digital audio content and on the information separate from the captured portion of the digital audio content. A result of the search may be provided at the mobile electronic device, and the result of the search may be displayed at the mobile electronic device.

A method is provided for synchronizing the playback of a digital audio broadcast on a plurality of network output devices using a microphone near a source, embedded control codes, and the audio patterns from the network output devices. An optional, additional manual adjustment method relies on a graphical user interface for adjustment and audible pulses from the devices which are to be synchronized. Synchronization of the audio is accomplished with clock synchronization of the network output devices. The digital audio broadcast from multiple receivers does not present to a listener any audible delay or echo effect.

A portable digital audio recorder provides a first set of control or editing options with respect to a first category of voice data files stored in the recorder, and provides a different set of control or editing options with respect to a second category of voice data files stored in the recorder. The recorder may also be conveniently shared among a number of users and adapts various operating parameters to the preferences of the current user.

A portable digital voice recorder is interfaced for data communication with a personal computer. Voice data files are stored in the portable recorder together with header data which indicates the status of the voice data files. In response to a batch upload command, selected ones of the voice data files are uploaded to the personal computer, depending on the status of the voice data files as indicated by the status data. Graphical user interface software running in the PC causes the PC to display icons indicative of voice data files stored in the portable recorder. The header data in the portable recorder may be changed by operation of the PC's graphical user interface. For example, file designations indicated by header data in the portable recorder may be changed by editing corresponding fields displayed by the PC.

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for RSS content administration for rendering RSS content on a digital audio player. Embodiments include retrieving, through an RSS feed, RSS content; extracting text from the RSS content; creating a media file; and storing the extracted text of the RSS content as metadata associated with the media file. Embodiments also typically include extracting one or more images from the RSS content; and storing the extracted images as metadata associated with the media file. Embodiments also typically include extracting text from the RSS content for audio rendering on the digital audio player; converting the text to speech; and recording the speech in the audio portion of the media file. Many embodiments also include storing the media file on a digital audio player; displaying the metadata describing the media file; and playing the audio portion containing the speech.

A digital audio file search method and apparatus for digital audio files is provided that allows a user to navigate the audio files by generating speech sounds related to the information of the audio files to facilitate searching and playback. The digital audio file search method and apparatus searches for audio files in a portable digital audio player in combination with an automobile audio system through speech sounds by utilizing text-to-speech processing and by prompting response from a user in response to the generated speech sounds. The text-to-speech technology is utilized to generate the speech sound based on tag-data of the audio files. When hearing the speech sounds, the user gives instruction for searching the files without being distracted from driving the automobile.

A method and apparatus for predictive buffering in a media recorder, the method comprising the steps of predictively determining at least one program of interest to a user, and buffering a portion of the program. The program is selected using various criteria based on user profiles. User profiles are selected based on user behavior and direct information from the user.

A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). In one particular embodiment, the MMR system includes an MMR user, a MMR computer, a user printer that produces a printed document, a networked media server, an office portal, a service provider server, an electronic display that is electrically connected to a set-top box, a document scanner, a network, a capture device, a cellular infrastructure, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) technology, Bluetooth® technology, infrared (IR) technology, wired technology, and a geo location mechanism. The MMR system of the present invention provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types, such as printed paper as a first medium and a digital photograph, digital movie, digital audio file, or web link as a second medium. Furthermore, the MMR system of the present invention facilitates business methods that take advantage of the combination of a portable electronic device, such as a cellular camera phone, and a paper document.

A portable audio/visual program player comprising a video display, electrical-audio transducer, a central processing unit and associated logic and memory circuits. The portable audio/visual player is able to play pre-recorded programs from a memory device, which includes compress digital audio and video program information and a decoder program. The digital compression method comprises a series of compression methods to greatly reduce the amount of digital data. The data compression method is particularly suitable for motion video comprising cartoons and similar images, but is also suitable for other applications.

Method and apparatus for bridging between voicemail and electronic message media types in a communication system. In one example, a voice message is received at a voicemail server in response to an incoming call. Digital audio in the voice message is converted to text data of a text message. An electronic message is formed using the text message. The electronic message is sent using at least one electronic messaging protocol to at least one destination address. The electronic message may comprise a e-mail or an instant message. In one embodiment, a response electronic message is received at the voicemail server. Text data in the response electronic message is converted to digital audio data of a response voice message. An outgoing call is placed to an originator of the incoming call. The response voice message is played in response to the outgoing call being answered.

A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types, such as printed paper as a first medium and a digital photograph, digital movie, digital audio file, or web link as a second medium. Furthermore, the MMR system facilitates business methods that take advantage of the combination of a portable electronic device, such as a portable video player or a portable audio player, and a paper document for the portable electronic device to provide information.

Digital audio sensors receive and digitize audio signals and transmit the digitized signals to a central monitoring station for monitoring by an operator. The system can allow load balancing and other improvements.

An information handling system includes a signal processor such as an audio accelerator based sub-system with the capabilities to define output connectors such that the same set of connectors which provide, for example, home theatre AC3 (Dolby Digital) decoded signals (front, rear, cent/LFE) can provide, for example, 3 discrete stereo channels meant to be routed to different zones in, for example, a living or business space. The information handling system can provide a home theatre experience with one application, taking advantage of audio accelerator capabilities for AC3 signal decode, and provide multi-zone audio distribution, taking advantage of audio accelerator capabilities for decoding multiple streams of compressed digital audio. Home computing architectures that utilize a consumer personal computer (PC) are, thus, now suitable as the audio storage and manipulation center. In one embodiment, the PC provides DSP/decode pre-amplification functions and routes audio output to a generic 6-channel amplifier. In one embodiment, the system also includes a simple to use user interface (UI) to (i) select and initiate processing of multiple streams of audio for playback and (ii) map routing of the audio signals to stereo signal compatible jacks. Each pair of stereo output signals can be associated with a zone. Each zone can be represented in the UI such that the user can direct the desired audio stream to the desired zone. In another embodiment such as a broadcast situation, one stream can be sent to multiple zones, accomplishing distributed coverage with one audio stream.