Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090003115 | POWER-GATING MEDIA DECODERS TO REDUCE POWER CONSUMPTION - Embodiments of a system that reduces power consumption by power-gating media decoders are described. During operation of the system, a decoder circuit receives encoded audio data and outputs corresponding decoded audio data to a memory, which is electrically coupled to the decoder circuit. Moreover, control logic, which is electrically coupled to the memory and the decoder circuit, provides commands to the memory and the decoder circuit that selectively disable at least a portion of the memory based on an amount of decoded audio data in the memory. | 01-01-2009 |
20090005891 | Data-driven media management within an electronic device - A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006488 | USING TIME-STAMPED EVENT ENTRIES TO FACILITATE SYNCHRONIZING DATA STREAMS - An embodiment of a system to synchronize data streams is described. During operation, the system receives a first data stream having a first data type and performs a sequence of operations on at least a portion of the first data stream. Next, the system stores metadata associated with the first data stream one or more times during the sequence of operations. Metadata can include a time stamp, data-stream information associated with the portion of the first data stream, and event information associated with the occurrence of one or more events during the sequence of operations. Moreover, the system provides a notification based on the stored metadata, the notification to facilitate synchronizing the first data stream with a second data stream having a second data type. | 01-01-2009 |
20090006671 | Media management and routing within an electronic device - A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed. | 01-01-2009 |
20090060472 | Method and apparatus for providing seamless resumption of video playback - Video data files are provided to a user for playback. Once playback begins, the methods and apparatus of the present invention enable a user to interrupt the video playback function and quickly resume playback prior to reloading the selected video file. The techniques of the present invention can store video data in a cache memory and, upon interruption, capture a frame of video data at approximately the time of the interruption. The captured frame and cache data can be used to provide the user with a unique menu option for resumption of the video playback at the moment of interruption. | 03-05-2009 |
20090083047 | ZERO-GAP PLAYBACK USING PREDICTIVE MIXING - Circuits and methods for providing zero-gap playback of consecutive data streams in portable electronic devices, such as media players, are described. In some embodiments, a circuit includes a decoder circuit configured to receive encoded audio data and to output decoded audio data including data streams associated with a data file and a subsequent data file. Moreover, a predictive circuit, which is electrically coupled to the decoder circuit, is configured to selectively generate additional samples based on samples in the data file, where the additional samples correspond to times after the end of a data stream associated with the data file. Additionally, a filter circuit, which is electrically coupled to the decoder circuit and selectively electrically coupled to the predictive circuit, is configured to selectively combine or blend samples at a beginning of the subsequent data file with the additional samples. Note that the circuit may be included in an integrated circuit. | 03-26-2009 |
20090167508 | TACTILE FEEDBACK IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device for providing tactile feedback is provided. The electronic device may provide tactile feedback using any suitable approach, including for example vibration, heat, electrical, visual, or any other type of feedback. The electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to detecting any particular status of the electronic device, receiving any particular input, or detecting any suitable communication received by the electronic device. For example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to identifying the current network of the device, the status of a particular electronic device component, or any other electronic device status. As another example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to receiving a particular type of communication, or in response to receiving a communication from a particular contact. As still another example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to receiving a particular user input, or to detecting a user's finger on a particular portion of the electronic device. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167509 | TACTILE FEEDBACK IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An electronic device for providing tactile feedback is provided. The electronic device may provide tactile feedback using any suitable approach, including for example vibration, heat, electrical, visual, or any other type of feedback. The electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to detecting any particular status of the electronic device, receiving any particular input, or detecting any suitable communication received by the electronic device. For example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to identifying the current network of the device, the status of a particular electronic device component, or any other electronic device status. As another example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to receiving a particular type of communication, or in response to receiving a communication from a particular contact. As still another example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to receiving a particular user input, or to detecting a user's finger on a particular portion of the electronic device. | 07-02-2009 |
20090172542 | TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVED PLAYLIST PROCESSING ON MEDIA DEVICES - An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner. | 07-02-2009 |
20100030928 | MEDIA PROCESSING METHOD AND DEVICE - A media processing system and device with improved power usage characteristics, improved audio functionality and improved media security is provided. Embodiments of the media processing system include an audio processing subsystem that operates independently of the host processor for long periods of time, allowing the host processor to enter a low power state. Other aspects of the media processing system provide for enhanced audio effects such as mixing stored audio samples into real-time telephone audio. Still other aspects of the media processing system provide for improved media security due to the isolation of decrypted audio data from the host processor. | 02-04-2010 |
20100060646 | ARBITRARY FRACTIONAL PIXEL MOVEMENT - A technique is provided for displaying pixels of an image at arbitrary subpixel positions. In accordance with aspects of this technique, interpolated intensity values for the pixels of the image are derived based on the arbitrary subpixel location and an intensity distribution or profile. Reference to the intensity distribution provides appropriate multipliers for the source image. Based on these multipliers, the image may be rendered at respective physical pixel locations such that the pixel intensities are summed with each rendering, resulting in a destination image having suitable interpolated pixel intensities for the arbitrary subpixel position. | 03-11-2010 |
20100063825 | Systems and Methods for Memory Management and Crossfading in an Electronic Device - Systems and methods are disclosed for the management of memory used in a crossfading operation in an electronic device. In one embodiment, a processor is used to alternately decode two audio streams, one which is being faded out and one which is being faded in to implement a crossfade. The two audio streams may be encoded in the same or different formats and may be alternately decoded such that resource usage is reduced. The amount of decoded data of both audio streams and other parameters may determine which audio stream is to be actively decoded. In certain embodiments, the decoded data may be stored in a circular buffer, and a delta is determined between the decoded data and the empty space of the buffer. | 03-11-2010 |
20100064113 | MEMORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A technique for managing memory allocation in an electronic device is provided. In one embodiment, a method includes loading a memory allocation strategy for an application executed by a processor of a device, and requesting memory for the application from various memory locations in accordance with the memory allocation strategy. In one embodiment, the device includes multiple sets of contiguous memory blocks and a memory heap, memory may be requested from at least one of these memory locations, and memory may then be allocated to the application in response to the request. In some embodiments, the memory allocation strategy may be stored in the device prior to execution of the application. Various other methods, devices, and manufactures are also provided. | 03-11-2010 |
20100082970 | Method and System for Ensuring Sequential Playback of Digital Media - Techniques for ensuring that media playback proceeds sequentially through media content of a digital media asset are disclosed. In one embodiment, distinct portions (e.g., segments) of a digital media asset can be separately encrypted such that on playback decoded data being output from at least one prior portion can be used to derive a cryptographic key that is used in decrypting a subsequent portion of the digital media asset. | 04-01-2010 |
20100100212 | EFFICIENT TECHNIQUES FOR MODIFYING AUDIO PLAYBACK RATES - Improved techniques for modifying a playback rate of an audio item (e.g., an audio stream) are disclosed. As a result, the audio item can be played back faster or slower than normal. The improved techniques are resource efficient and well suited for audio items containing speech. The resource efficiency of the improved techniques make them well suited for use with portable media devices, such as portable media players. | 04-22-2010 |
20100142730 | CROSSFADING OF AUDIO SIGNALS - A technique is disclosed to implement crossfading of audio tracks. In one embodiment, the function describing the fade out of the ending audio track and/or the slope describing the fade in of the beginning audio track may be altered to increase the perceptible overlap of the two tracks. In another embodiment, the duration of the fade out and/or of the fade in may be altered to increase the perceptible overlap of the two tracks. In other embodiments, one or both of the function and/or duration of the fade out and/or fade in effect may be altered to improve the perceptibility of the overlap or the audio tracks. | 06-10-2010 |
20100232626 | INTELLIGENT CLIP MIXING - Various techniques for controlling the playback of secondary audio data on an electronic device are provided. In one embodiment, a secondary audio clip mixing profile is selected based upon the type of audio output device, such as a speaker or a headset, coupled to the electronic device. The selected mixing profile may define respective digital gain values to be applied to a secondary audio stream at each digital audio level of the electronic device, and may be customized based upon one or more characteristics of the audio output device to substantially optimize audibility and user-perceived comfort. In this manner, the overall user listening experience may be improved. | 09-16-2010 |
20100309334 | CAMERA IMAGE SELECTION BASED ON DETECTED DEVICE MOVEMENT - Systems and methods are providing for selecting one or more of several images captured in sequence and stored in a buffer in response to receiving a user instruction to store a captured image. An electronic device can capture information describing the movement of the device at the time each of the several images was captured, such that each image can be associated with specific device movement information. The electronic device can then select the one of the captured and buffered images for which the movement information of the device satisfies particular criteria. This can ensure that the particular image stored is not blurry due to device movement at the time the image was captured. | 12-09-2010 |
20110037777 | IMAGE ALTERATION TECHNIQUES - Various techniques relating to the alteration of image data are provided herein. In generally, disclosed embodiments may provide techniques for applying on or more image alteration effects to image data that is displayed on an electronic device. In certain disclosed embodiments, the application of such image alteration effects may be triggered based upon various detected device operation events, which may include audio-related events, motion-related events, location-related events, and/or events relating the imaging properties. The selection of a triggering device event and a corresponding image alteration affect may be defined by a user through a set of user preference settings on the electronic device. | 02-17-2011 |
20110039506 | Adaptive Encoding and Compression of Audio Broadcast Data - Various techniques for adaptively encoding and compressing audio broadcast data to create a digital representation of the broadcast for storage on an electronic device are provided. In one embodiment, the audio broadcast data may be encoded and stored onto the electronic device using a particular codec and/or compression rate, the selection of which may be based upon one or more characteristics of the audio broadcast data signal, such as a genre parameter or a quality parameter. Particularly, the audio broadcast data may be encoded using either a music codec or a speech codec depending upon the genre parameter. Further, some embodiments may also provide for an adjustable compression bit-rate based at least partially upon the quality parameter of the audio broadcast. | 02-17-2011 |
20110039508 | Power Management Techniques for Buffering and Playback of Audio Broadcast Data - Various techniques that relate to prolonging the battery life on a portable electronic device during the buffering and playback of audio broadcast data are provided. In accordance with disclosed embodiments, upon detecting a low power state, the device may implement one or more low power actions, including starting, continuing, or stopping one or more audio broadcast functions, such as buffering or playing back audio broadcast data, to reduce overall power consumption, and thus prolong battery life. In one embodiment, a user may specify one or more low power actions that are to be implemented during a low power state by configuring user settings stored on the device. In another embodiment, the device, upon detecting a low power state, may prompt the user to make a selection from a listing of selectable low power action options and perform the selected low power action. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040981 | Synchronization of Buffered Audio Data With Live Broadcast - Various techniques relating to the buffering of a live audio broadcast on an electronic device and the subsequently playback the buffered data are provided. In one embodiment, the playback speed of the buffered data may be increased relative to the actual speed at which the data was originally broadcasted. If the buffered playback (using the increased playback speed) synchronizes or catches up to the live broadcast, the electronic device may disable buffering and output the live stream instead. This decreases processing demands by lowering processing cycles required for buffering (encoding, etc.) and playback of the buffered data (decoding, etc.), thereby reducing power consumption. | 02-17-2011 |
20110058055 | VIDEO STORAGE - Systems, methods, and devices for encoding video data are provided. For example, an electronic device for obtaining and encoding video may include image capture circuitry, motion-sensing circuitry, and data processing circuitry. The image capture circuitry may capture an uncompressed video frame, and the motion-sensing circuitry may detect physical motion of the electronic device. The data processing circuitry may encode the uncompressed video frame based at least in part on a quantization parameter, which the data processing circuitry may determine based at least in part on whether the motion-sensing circuitry has detected physical motion of the electronic device. | 03-10-2011 |
20110058056 | AUDIO ALTERATION TECHNIQUES - A method of altering audio output from an electronic device based on image data is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes acquiring image data and determining one or more characteristics of the image data. Such characteristics may include sharpness, brightness, motion, magnification, zoom setting, and so forth, as well as variation in any of the preceding characteristics. The method may also include producing audio output, wherein at least one characteristic of the audio output is determined based on one or more of the image data characteristics. Various audio output characteristics that may be varied based on the video data characteristics may include, for instance, pitch, reverberation, tempo, volume, filter frequency response, added sound effects, or the like. Additional methods, devices, and manufactures are also disclosed. | 03-10-2011 |
20110066438 | CONTEXTUAL VOICEOVER - A method for providing voice feedback with playback of media on an electronic device is provided. In one embodiment, the method may include determining one or more characteristics of the media with which the voice feedback is associated. For instance, the media may include a song, and the determined characteristics could include one or more of genre, reverberation, pitch, balance, timbre, tempo, or the like. The method may also include processing the voice feedback to alter characteristics thereof based on the one or more determined characteristics of the associated media. Additional methods, devices, and manufactures are also disclosed. | 03-17-2011 |
20110093620 | Media Management And Routing Within An Electronic Device - A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed. | 04-21-2011 |
20110110534 | ADJUSTABLE VOICE OUTPUT BASED ON DEVICE STATUS - This is directed to providing voice audio output to a user of an electronic device. To allow a user to immediately recognize the status of one or more processes or components of the electronic device from voice audio output, independent of the content of the voice audio output, the electronic device can adjust the voice audio output based on the status of the device. For example, the voice audio output can be adjusted to sound more or less tired based on the battery level of the device. As another example, the pitch or speed of voice audio output can change to identify the particular network or type of network to which a device is connected. The change in voice audio output can be correlated to any suitable device status, including for example using a linear or non-linear correlation. | 05-12-2011 |
20110113051 | Recommending media items - This is directed to recommending media items of a user's media library. In particular, this is directed to transferring a portion of the user's media library to an electronic device so that the user may discover the portion of the media library. The library can recommend particular media items to the user using any suitable approach, including for example based on one or more preference profiles. The user can accept or reject recommended media items as they are played back to further adjust the user's preference profile, and to revise the selection of recommended media items stored on the device. | 05-12-2011 |
20110153044 | DIRECTIONAL AUDIO INTERFACE FOR PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE - Methods and apparatus for a user to interact with and control a portable media device through an audio user interface. The audio user interface includes one or more audible control nodes perceived by the user to be spatially located at different points about the user of the portable media device. A sensor in the portable media device senses a movement of the portable media device by the user toward one or more of the audible control nodes. The operation of the portable device is modified in accordance with the sensed movement of the portable media device. | 06-23-2011 |
20110164770 | PROCESSING A MULTI-CHANNEL SIGNAL FOR OUTPUT TO A MONO SPEAKER - Systems, methods, and devices for processing an audio signal with two or more channels into a monaural signal are provided. For example, an electronic device configured to perform such techniques may include audio signal processing circuitry, which may receive a first audio channel signal and a second audio channel signal. Based on these signals, the audio signal processing circuitry may output a monaural signal as a sum or a difference of the first and second audio channel signals, or as a combination thereof, depending at least in part on a phase relationship between the first and second audio channel signals. Additionally or alternatively, the audio signal processing circuitry may adjust a timing relationship between the first and second audio channel signals depending at least in part on the phase relationship, before combining a proportion of the first and second audio channel signals. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166856 | NOISE PROFILE DETERMINATION FOR VOICE-RELATED FEATURE - Systems, methods, and devices for noise profile determination for a voice-related feature of an electronic device are provided. In one example, an electronic device capable of such noise profile determination may include a microphone and data processing circuitry. When a voice-related feature of the electronic device is not in use, the microphone may obtain ambient sounds. The data processing circuitry may determine a noise profile based at least in part on the obtained ambient sounds. The noise profile may enable the data processing circuitry to at least partially filter other ambient sounds obtained when the voice-related feature of the electronic device is in use. | 07-07-2011 |
20110172994 | PROCESSING OF VOICE INPUTS - This is directed to processing voice inputs received by an electronic device while prompts are provided. In particular, this is directed to providing a sequence of prompts to a user (e.g., voice over prompts) while monitoring for a voice input. When the voice input is received, a characteristic time stamp can be identified for the voice input, and can be compared to periods or windows associated with each of the provided prompts. The electronic device can then determine that the prompt corresponding to a window that includes the characteristic time stamp was the prompt to which the user wished to apply the voice input. The device can process the voice input to extract a user instruction, and apply the instruction to the identified prompt (e.g., and perform an operation associated with the prompt). | 07-14-2011 |
20110173539 | ADAPTIVE AUDIO FEEDBACK SYSTEM AND METHOD - Various techniques for adaptively varying audio feedback data on an electronic device are provided. In one embodiment, an audio user interface implementing certain aspects of the present disclosure may devolve or evolve the verbosity of audio feedback in response to user interface events based at least partially upon the verbosity level of audio feedback provided during previous occurrences of the user interface event. In another embodiment, an audio user interface may be configured to vary the verbosity of audio feedback associated with a navigable list of items based at least partially upon the speed at which a user navigates the list. In a further embodiment, an audio user interface may be configured to vary audio feedback verbosity based upon the contextual importance of a user interface event. Electronic devices implementing the present techniques provide an improved user experience with regard to audio user interfaces. | 07-14-2011 |
20110196517 | System and Method for Performing Audio Processing Operations by Storing Information Within Multiple Memories - Systems, methods, and devices are provided for performing audio processing operations, such as crossfading between two audio streams, by storing information on multiple memories. In one example, such a method may include storing a first portion of information associated with an audio processing operation on a first memory. A second memory may be activated, upon which a second portion of the information associated with the audio processing operation may be stored. The audio processing operation may be performed using a processor with the information stored on the first memory and the second memory. When the audio processing operation has completed, the second memory may be deactivated. | 08-11-2011 |
20110205382 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENTLY CODING AND PROCESSING IMAGE DATA - Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for efficiently coding and processing image data using an electronic device are provided. While both image-quality processing and coding operations may be performed for a frame of captured image data, the electronic device may leverage information generated during one operation in order to more efficiently conduct another operation. For example, an image coding operation may be performed on a first frame of image data by partitioning the image data into blocks of data and transforming the blocks of data into a frequency domain representation or format. Color component statistics from one or more of the blocks of data may be obtained, and an image-quality processing operation may then be performed on the first frame of image data or a subsequent frame of image data using the obtained color component statistics. | 08-25-2011 |
20110276155 | MEDIA PLAYBACK SETTINGS FOR PLAYLISTS - This is directed to selecting and associating media playback settings with playlists. A user may create a playlist from a library of media items, and associate one or more selected media playback settings with the playlist. The media playback items can include audio, image, and video files, for example, and the media playback settings can include, for example, cross-fading properties, volume properties, equalizer settings, sequential playback settings, and the like. When the user selects a playlist for playback, the media items of the playlist may be played back according to the media playback settings associated with the playlist. | 11-10-2011 |
20110295393 | USING A PROCESSING DEVICE AS A DOCK FOR A MEDIA PLAYER - By integrating multiple electronic devices, it is possible to increase the functionality of the devices individually. For example it is possible to improve media playback functionality, create media playlists “on-the-go” and to use a first device power supply to charge the power supply of the second device. By integrating the devices, it is possible to address some of the shortcomings of devices that are decreasing in size with increasing power requirements, while still maintaining the advantages that these devices offer. | 12-01-2011 |
20110300806 | USER-SPECIFIC NOISE SUPPRESSION FOR VOICE QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS - Systems, methods, and devices for user-specific noise suppression are provided. For example, when a voice-related feature of an electronic device is in use, the electronic device may receive an audio signal that includes a user voice. Since noise, such as ambient sounds, also may be received by the electronic device at this time, the electronic device may suppress such noise in the audio signal. In particular, the electronic device may suppress the noise in the audio signal while substantially preserving the user voice via user-specific noise suppression parameters. These user-specific noise suppression parameters may be based at least in part on a user noise suppression preference or a user voice profile, or a combination thereof. | 12-08-2011 |
20110316769 | PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE HUMAN INTERFACE - Providing an alternative human interface for an electronic device when a current human interface is made ineffective by at least an environmental factor is described herein. By ineffective it is meant that the current human interface cannot maintain a minimum level of interactivity between a user and the electronic device in the current or anticipated environment. In addition to maintaining at least a threshold level of interactivity, the configuration of the alternative human interface can take into consideration other factors such as an expected operating state of the electronic device affected by the choice of alternative human interface. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320022 | Data-Driven Media Management Within An Electronic Device - A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed. | 12-29-2011 |
20120005380 | Data-Driven Media Management Within An Electronic Device - A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed. | 01-05-2012 |
20120046954 | EFFICIENT BEAT-MATCHED CROSSFADING - Methods and devices to enable efficient beat-matched, DJ-style crossfading are provided. For example, such a method may involve determining beat locations of a first audio stream and a second audio stream and crossfading the first audio stream and the second audio stream such that the beat locations of the first audio stream are substantially aligned with the beat locations of the second audio stream. The beat locations of the first audio stream or the second audio stream may be determined based at least in part on an analysis of frequency data unpacked from one or more compressed audio files. | 02-23-2012 |
20120081382 | IMAGE ALTERATION TECHNIQUES - Various techniques relating to the alteration of image data are provided herein. An electronic device capable of carrying out such techniques may include data processing circuitry configured to receive image data and detect the occurrence of a device operation event (e.g., an audio event, a motion event, a location event, or an image event, and so forth). The data processing circuitry may alter the image data using a full-quality version or a reduced-quality version of an image alteration effect associated with the device operation event, depending on currently available resources. | 04-05-2012 |
20120109349 | Media Management And Routing Within An Electronic Device - A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed. | 05-03-2012 |
20130006643 | Devices and Methods for Identifying a Prompt Corresponding to a Voice Input in a Sequence of Prompts - This is directed to processing voice inputs received by an electronic device while prompts are provided. In particular, this is directed to providing a sequence of prompts to a user (e.g., voice over prompts) while monitoring for a voice input. When the voice input is received, a characteristic time stamp can be identified for the voice input, and can be compared to periods or windows associated with each of the provided prompts. The electronic device can then determine that the prompt corresponding to a window that includes the characteristic time stamp was the prompt to which the user wished to apply the voice input. The device can process the voice input to extract a user instruction, and apply the instruction to the identified prompt (e.g., and perform an operation associated with the prompt). | 01-03-2013 |
20130044883 | TECHNIQUES FOR PRESENTING SOUND EFFECTS ON A PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER - Improved techniques for presenting sound effects at a portable media device are disclosed. The sound effects can be output as audio sounds to an internal speaker, an external speaker, or both. In addition, the audio sounds for the sound effects can be output together with other audio sounds pertaining to media assets (e.g., audio tracks being played). In one embodiment, the sound effects can serve to provide auditory feedback to a user of the portable media device. A user interface can facilitate a user's selection of sound effect usages, types or characteristics. | 02-21-2013 |
20130109339 | POWER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR BUFFERING AND PLAYBACK OF AUDIO BROADCAST DATA | 05-02-2013 |
20130131852 | MEDIA PROCESSING METHOD AND DEVICE - A media processing system and device with improved power usage characteristics, improved audio functionality and improved media security is provided. Embodiments of the media processing system include an audio processing subsystem that operates independently of the host processor for long periods of time, allowing the host processor to enter a low power state while the audio data is being processed. Other aspects of the media processing system provide for enhanced audio effects such as mixing stored audio samples into real-time telephone audio. Still other aspects of the media processing system provide for improved media security due to the isolation of decrypted audio data from the host processor. | 05-23-2013 |
20140093091 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING A USER'S VOICE ACTIVITY USING AN ACCELEROMETER - A method of detecting a user's voice activity in a headset with a microphone array is described herein. The method starts with a voice activity detector (VAD) generating a VAD output based on acoustic signals received from microphones included in a pair of earbuds and the microphone array included on a headset wire and data output by an accelerometer that is included in the pair of earbuds. A noise suppressor may then receive the acoustic signals from the microphone array and the VAD output and suppress the noise included in the acoustic signals received from the microphone array based on the VAD output. The method may also include steering one or more beamformers based on the VAD output. Other embodiments are also described. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093093 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING A USER'S VOICE ACTIVITY USING AN ACCELEROMETER - A method of detecting a user's voice activity in a mobile device is described herein. The method starts with a voice activity detector (VAD) generating a VAD output based on (i) acoustic signals received from microphones included in the mobile device and (ii) data output by an inertial sensor that is included in an earphone portion of the mobile device. The inertial sensor may detect vibration of the user's vocal chords modulated by the user's vocal tract based on vibrations in bones and tissue of the user's head. A noise suppressor may then receive the acoustic signals from the microphones and the VAD output and suppress the noise included in the acoustic signals received from the microphones based on the VAD output. The method may also include steering one or more beamformers based on the VAD output. Other embodiments are also described. | 04-03-2014 |
20140129015 | SYNCHRONIZATION OF BUFFERED AUDIO DATA WITH LIVE BROADCAST - Various techniques relating to the buffering of a live audio broadcast on an electronic device and the subsequently playback the buffered data are provided. In one embodiment, the playback speed of the buffered data may be increased relative to the actual speed at which the data was originally broadcasted. If the buffered playback (using the increased playback speed) synchronizes or catches up to the live broadcast, the electronic device may disable buffering and output the live stream instead. This decreases processing demands by lowering processing cycles required for buffering (encoding, etc.) and playback of the buffered data (decoding, etc.), thereby reducing power consumption. | 05-08-2014 |
20140142935 | User-Specific Noise Suppression for Voice Quality Improvements - Systems, methods, and devices for user-specific noise suppression are provided. For example, when a voice-related feature of an electronic device is in use, the electronic device may receive an audio signal that includes a user voice. Since noise, such as ambient sounds, also may be received by the electronic device at this time, the electronic device may suppress such noise in the audio signal. In particular, the electronic device may suppress the noise in the audio signal while substantially preserving the user voice via user-specific noise suppression parameters. These user-specific noise suppression parameters may be based at least in part on a user noise suppression preference or a user voice profile, or a combination thereof. | 05-22-2014 |
20140222178 | DATA-DRIVEN MEDIA MANAGEMENT WITHIN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method and apparatus for intelligently routing and managing audio signals within an electronic device is disclosed. The routing is responsive to a set of logical and physical policies which are stored in data tables which can be updated as needed. | 08-07-2014 |
20140270231 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MIXING ACCELEROMETER AND MICROPHONE SIGNALS TO IMPROVE VOICE QUALITY IN A MOBILE DEVICE - A method of improving voice quality in a mobile device starts by receiving acoustic signals from microphones included in earbuds and the microphone array included on a headset wire. The headset may include the pair of earbuds and the headset wire. An output from an accelerometer that is included in the pair of earbuds is then received. The accelerometer may detect vibration of the user's vocal chords filtered by the vocal tract based on vibrations in bones and tissue of the user's head. A spectral mixer included in the mobile device may then perform spectral mixing of the scaled output from the accelerometer with the acoustic signals from the microphone array to generate a mixed signal. Performing spectral mixing includes scaling the output from the inertial sensor by a scaling factor based on a power ratio between the acoustic signals from the microphone array and the output from the inertial sensor. Other embodiments are also described. | 09-18-2014 |
20140324884 | RECOMMENDING MEDIA ITEMS - This is directed to recommending media items of a user's media library. In particular, this is directed to transferring a portion of the user's media library to an electronic device so that the user may discover the portion of the media library. The library can recommend particular media items to the user using any suitable approach, including for example based on one or more preference profiles. The user can accept or reject recommended media items as they are played back to further adjust the user's preference profile, and to revise the selection of recommended media items stored on the device. | 10-30-2014 |