144 results about "Earcon" patented technology

A portable apparatus (10) providing both substantially automated performance monitoring and audio entertainment features. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus (10) broadly comprises a portable housing (12); an attachment mechanism (14); a GPS component (16); a heart rate monitor component (17); an audio component (18); a user interface (20); a processor (26); and a power supply (30). The housing (12) may include a headset (1112a) wherein the GPS component (16) is located, and a second housing component (1112b) wherein the processor (26) is located, wherein the GPS component (16) communicates with the processor (26) in a wireless manner. The apparatus (10) is adapted to determine a number of laps or a distance, to provide an elapsed time, and to determine a speed.

The present invention discloses a solution for automated playback control for portable audio devices using environmental cues as indicators for interrupting playback. In the solution, an event handler can be responsive to environmental cues around the user of the portable audio device to determine if playback should be interrupted. Triggering events can be speech emanating from the user or another proximate entity, proximity detection of a person or device, user behavior changes / transitions, and the like. Device configuration can allow for user interaction to permit or deny playback interruption. User interactions can range from a “yes / no” speech response to motion sensitive headphones detecting a head “nod” or “shake” gesture to indicate approval or refusal.

The apparatus and methods for using earcons as user prompts in mobile communication devices described herein are directed to implementing a mode of communication in these communication devices having speech recognition capabilities wherein spoken prompts are disabled and replaced with short identifiable sound prompts such as the earcons. In general, according to one aspect of the invention, a method for operating a communication device that includes speech recognition capabilities, comprises implementing on the device a user interface that employs a plurality of different user prompts, wherein each user prompt is for soliciting a corresponding spoken input from the user or informing the user about an action or state of the device; implementing on the device a plurality of different earcons, each earcon being mapped to a corresponding different one of the plurality of user prompts; and when any selected one of said plurality of user prompts is issued by the user interface on the device, generating the earcon that is mapped to the selected user prompt. Each prompt of the plurality of user prompts has a corresponding language representation and wherein generating the earcon for the selected user prompts includes generating the corresponding language representation through the user interface.

An automated banking machine is operative to enable users to operate the machine to carry out transactions such as the dispensing of cash. The exemplary machine provides audible instructions which are output through external loudspeakers, a headphone, or a handset. Rotation of a rotatable knob (372, 382) or other movable item causes the output of user selectable characters, transaction types and / or amounts corresponding to each respective position. The user selects the audible output produced in the current position of the knob for receipt by the machine as a transaction input by pressing on the knob. Characters and other selectable inputs corresponding to knob positions can be varied by the computer in the machine to reduce the risk of a criminal intercepting the user's inputs to the machine.

A portable apparatus (10) providing both substantially automated performance monitoring and audio entertainment features. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus (10) broadly comprises a portable housing (12); an attachment mechanism (14); a GPS component (16); a heart rate monitor component (17); an audio component (18); a user interface (20); a processor (26); and a power supply (30). The housing (12) may include a headset (1112a) wherein the GPS component (16) is located, and a second housing component (1112b) wherein the processor (26) is located, wherein the GPS component (16) communicates with the processor (26) in a wireless manner. The apparatus (10) is adapted to determine a number of laps or a distance, to provide an elapsed time, and to determine a speed.

A system and method for interjecting ambient background sounds into a set of headphones is provided. The system monitors an ambient sound environment and compares the ambient sound environment to a preset set of sound characteristics (e.g., frequency signatures, amplitudes and durations) in order to detect important or critical background sounds (e.g., alarm, horn, directed vocal communications, crying baby, doorbell, telephone, etc.). When a critical background sound is detected, the system interjects either a notification signal or a portion of the ambient background into the audio stream, thus alerting a user of a potentially important sound or event occurring within their immediate vicinity.

A portable cooler with a powered cooling system is disclosed. Preferred embodiments include wheels large and flexible enough for rolling over sand, grass, and other uneven surfaces, and handles for carrying and / or pulling. Pulling handles can include an extension that can be rigid or flexible and can be retractable. Power sources include rechargeable and / or exchangeable batteries, and / or a solar panel. Accessories in preferred embodiments include a power outlet for a cellular telephone, a power outlet for an iPod, a docking station for an iPod, an AC electrical outlet, a radio, a CD player, a tape player, an MP3 player, a television, audio headset outlets, and one or more audio speakers. In preferred embodiments, some or all of the power source, the cooling system, and the accessories are protected from water and / or sand. Some embodiments include a beverage holder, and in some of these embodiments the beverage holder is cooled.

A headset is described herein for presenting audio information to the user as the user interacts with a space, e.g., as when a user navigates over a route within a space. The headset may include a set of input mechanisms for receiving commands from the user. The commands, in turn, invoke respective space-interaction-related functions to be performed by a space interaction (SI) module. The headset may operate with or without a separate user computing device.

Audio transducers (headphones, speakers, microphones) inherently do not accurately reproduce the signal presented to them at the input. This can be compensated for by taking into account the transducer characteristics and transforming the input signal using a digital signal processor (DSP) to counteract the inaccuracies. However, for the compensation to take place, the DSP needs to know the characteristics of the transducer. For systems with built-in transducers (like laptops with internal speakers) the characteristics of the internal speakers can be stored on the hard-drive of the laptop and the DSP can read this data and make the appropriate compensations. Because a transducer (headphone, speaker, microphone) has its own characteristics that need to be compensated for separately, a profile is supplied to the DSP either by a database lookup based on an identification made by the user or transducer itself or by profile information stored on the transducer. Once the characteristics of a transducer are known, many additional DSP algorithms can be applied in order to improve the audio performance and even safety of the system.

The present invention discloses methods and systems for providing very high quality audio playback using all-digital wireless paths from a source to speaker transducers and / or headphones located anywhere within a distance allowed by the FCC. Each speaker has a separate digital amplifier dedicated to each transducer within it (e.g. woofer, tweeter). The present invention also discloses a system that provides a data link capable of sending an all-digital, full-bandwidth, signal from the original digital source material to each separate transducer in the system without using sound degrading lossy data compression. This system is designed to read, broadcast, and reproduce with accurate audio loudspeaker time-alignment (<100 uS) and low overall latency (less than 7 milliseconds) all popular audio formats in full-bandwidth and without data compression in the effort to maintain the integrity of the entire audio signal, wherein the audio signal may include an accompaniment to a player piano.

Active noise reduction headphones for audiometry where the earphone portion of said headphones has a cavity volume greater than 6 cc and including an acoustic-electric sensing means and an electro-acoustic transducing means which are used cooperatively and which has additional passive noise control means in the form of a circumaural seal around the ear for improving high frequency noise control performance, the headphone having a summing junction for combining the active noise reduction signal and an audiometry test signal.

The invention is suitable for the technical field of communications, and provides a method for setting volume of a mobile terminal. The method comprises the following steps of detecting noise of an environment to generate a corresponding noise signal, and determining the level of the noise signal, wherein the level is classified according to the decibel size of the noise; calling a corresponding preset volume setting, or according to the current level of noise signal, establishing a corresponding recommended volume setting; and obtaining an operation signal for changing the volume size, changing the preset volume setting or the recommended volume setting, and storing. The noise of the current environment is detected and classified, and then the volume setting of a loudspeaker or an external earphone corresponding to the current noise level is called or recommended for the user, so by calling or recommending the playing volume of an audio stream for the user habit, the user can obtain a good experience when the mobile terminal is used for conversation or a multimedia is played.

An apparatus that allows communication in critical incidents and / or other emergency situation utilizing a throw phone comprises a throw box, a headset, an on / off switch, a power supply source, connection ports, a plurality of electronic components, and a plurality of detective modules. The headset, the power supply source, and the plurality of electronic components are positioned within the throw box and electrically connected to each other. The headset allows a suspect to wirelessly communicate with a command unit where the command unit is controlled by a low enforcement agent. The throw phone allows the law enforcement agent to evaluate the surrounding of the throw phone and the suspect through the command unit. The plurality of detective modules provides additional information to the law enforcement agents so that safety precautions can be carried out for the safety of the suspect and the others involved.

The invention provides a method and a device for treating environment sound during conversation. The method comprises the steps of acquiring an environment sound signal under the condition that a user makes a call through headsets inserted to a mobile terminal; and reducing the sound volume of the other calling party and playing a key sound signal in a superposed manner through the headsets when the key sound signal meeting a set condition exists in the environment sound signal. The device comprises an acquiring module and a processing module. The method and the device can be used for effectively avoiding unexpected situations generated because key voice information in an ambient environment is missed when the user answers or makes a call in a way of wearing the headsets.

A terminal for a computer system includes a keyboard incorporating modules for performing two factor authentication (TFA) for log-on of a user. TFA preferably combines a fingerprint scan with the proximity of a previously enrolled Bluetooth device that typically accompanies the user, such as a wireless phone or headset. The keyboard also includes an ultrasonic proximity detector aimed to detect the presence of the user at the keyboard and to terminate log-on when the user leaves the keyboard. The keyboard processor may be used as an encryption engine to encode all keystroke data and authentication / log-on transactions with the computer system.

A cellular telephone interface and generalized dock that is particularly adapted for use with ANDROID™ telephones which can also connect a wide variety of other mobile telephones to different types of docks, alarm clocks, music platforms and other external devices. Data and audio can both be transmitted via the telephone's headphone jack through a single cable supplying an audio path for playing music and other audio applications as well as a data path for control. An API can be supplied to run on the telephone that allows user applications to interface a wide range of docking and control functions. The API provides a command set with commands that can control a generalized dock and monitor its status. Typically an application is also supplied on the telephone that directly interfaces to the data channel between the telephone and the dock to allow seamless access by the API and hence user Apps to functions on the dock. The dock unit can providing charging current for the telephone through the USB port with a second cable. The dock unit can also contain several control buttons that can be made to mimic keys on the telephone. A handheld remote can optionally be used with the generalized dock to also provide remote control. A button push on the dock unit or the handheld remote can cause an application running in the docked telephone to communicate with a remote server, in particular to transfer media metadata that allows the creation of playlists.

A telephone assembly including a handset containing a microphone and / or a receiver. The handset is equipped with a space designed to hold a hand-held cordless telephone that can be removed from the handset, and for electrical coupling of the cordless telephone.

A system for converting audible air traffic control instructions for pilots operating from an air facility to textual format. The system may comprise a processor connected to a jack of the standard pilot headset and a separate portable display screen connected to the processor. The processor may have a language converting functionality which can recognize traffic control nomenclature and display messages accordingly. Displayed text may be limited to information intended for a specific aircraft. The display may show hazardous discrepancies between authorized altitudes and headings and actual altitudes and headings. The display may be capable of correction by the user, and may utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) to obtain appropriate corrections. The system may date and time stamp communications and hold the same in memory. The system may have computer style user functions such as scrollability and operating prompts.

The invention disclosed provides an improved Bluetooth™ system with increased security and privacy for “device association” (“pairing”) of two Bluetooth™ devices where one device has no display. Heretofore, only Secure Simple Pairing (SSP) Association Model “Just Works” is used if one device is display-less. Unfortunately, Just Works is vulnerable to exploits known as “Man-In-The-Middle” (MITM) attacks. By contrast, my invention implements uses Numeric Comparison (heretofore, unusable when one of the pairing devices are display-less). Numeric Comparison is more secure than Just Works, because both agree to a randomly-generated 6-digit number. My innovation allows display-less Bluetooth™ devices (headsets or ear buds) to pair with display-bearing devices, because the matching 6-digit number on the displaying device is “spoken” or sounded (voice recordings, beeps, tones) into a displayless device user's ear. This allows displayless device users to hear sounds (spoken or beeped) equivalent to displayed 6-digit numbers to facilitate comparison, matching, and secure Bluetooth pairing. This reduces or eliminates risk of MITM exploits.

A new type of headset that employs adaptive noise suppression, multiple microphones, a voice activity detection (VAD) device, and unique mechanisms to position it correctly on either ear for use with phones, computers, and wired or wireless connections of any kind is described. In various embodiments, the headset employs combinations of new technologies and mechanisms to provide the user a unique communications experience.

Methods systems and products are provided for invoking an audio hyperlink embedded in a markup document. Embodiments include identifying an audio hyperlink embedded within the markup document; playing an audio indication of the audio hyperlink; receiving from a user an instruction to invoke the audio hyperlink; identifying a Uniform Resource Identifier (‘URI’) associated with the audio hyperlink; and invoking the URI. The audio indication of the audio hyperlink may be implemented as audio indication designed to inform a user of the type of content available through invoking the URI. The audio indication of the audio hyperlink may also be implemented as earcon.

A portable player for facilitating implementation of customized sound therapy to a patient. The PSP is designed to producing sounds at fairly low listening levels, wherein in order for effective habituation to occur. The PSP generates frequencies covering the entire audible range (about 20-20,000 Hz) at low distortion. The PSP is operatively coupled to a sound matching station (SMS) via a suitable interface (e.g., a USB interface), is connected, wired or wirelessly, to audio output transducers (e.g., headphones) for both the patient and the CST operator during the matching session, then detached for patient's use during habituation therapy. The PSP records automatically the patient's usage, by building a record of the date and time when the PSP was turned on and off, and the sound volume used at that time. This information can be downloaded at the next visit onto the SMS and reviewed and analyzed for further treatments.

The invention discloses a terminal and method for automatically pausing a music play function during sleep time of a user. The method can be applied to terminals, systems and programs. The terminal and the method are used for automatically pausing the music play function when the user gets into a sleep state with earphones so as to protect the hearing of the user and save electric energy. According to the invention, when the system orderly detects that the music play function is started and the earphones are inserted into the terminal, the system starts a user motion monitoring module capable of sensing user motion conditions, and a time monitoring module. When the time monitoring module judges that the time from the last effective response operation of the user to the absence of the effective response action exceeds a preset time threshold, the system prompts the user and reminds the user of executing the effective response operation. If the user makes no response within fixed time, the system defaults that the user is in a sleep state, pauses the music play function and stops monitoring. Otherwise, the system monitors sequentially. The method is very humanized and accurate, is close to the user, and can promote the user experience and enhance the competitiveness of the terminal.