Dynamic positional audio

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12028703-B2
Application number	US-202318165628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2023
Priority date	Aug 25, 2014
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

System and methods for providing dynamic positional audio are disclosed. Methods can comprise determining availability of one or more devices to output audio and determining a location of the one or more available devices. Audio information can be received and at least a portion of the audio information can be configured to generate assigned audio information based on the determined location of the available devices. The assigned audio information can be transmitted to the available devices.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
determine a device is available to output audio;
determine a location of the available device;
receive audio information;
configure at least a portion of the audio information to generate an assigned audio signal based on the location of the available device, wherein to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal comprises encoding the at least the portion of the audio information; and
send the assigned audio signal to the available device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine the location of the available device, cause the apparatus to determine a proximity of the available device to a user, and
wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal, cause the apparatus to configure, based on the proximity, the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine the location of the available device, cause the apparatus to determine a proximity of the available device to a second device, and
wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal, cause the apparatus to configure, based on the proximity, the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second device comprises a display for presenting images.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the audio information comprises encoded information relating to an audio output.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal, cause the apparatus to decode the at least the portion of the audio information.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to assign an audio identifier to the available device, and
wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal, cause the apparatus to configure, based at least in part on the assigned audio identifier, the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal.

8. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
determine a device is available to output audio;
determine a location of the available device;
receive audio information;
configure at least a portion of the audio information to generate an assigned audio signal based on the location of the available device, wherein to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal comprises encoding the at least the portion of the audio information; and
send the assigned audio signal to the available device.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 ,
wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the location of the available device, cause the at least one processor to determine a proximity of the available device to a user and
wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal, cause the at least one processor to configure, based on the proximity, the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 ,
wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the location of the available device, cause the at least one processor to determine a proximity of the available device to a second device and
wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal, cause the at least one processor to configure, based on the proximity, the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the second device comprises a display for presenting images.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the audio information comprises encoded information relating to an audio output.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal, cause the at least one processor to decode the at least the portion of the audio information.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 ,
wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to assign an audio identifier to the available device, and
wherein the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal, cause the at least one processor to configure, based at least in part on the assigned audio identifier, the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal.

15. A system comprising:
a computing device configured to:
determine an interface device is available to output audio;
determine a location of the available interface device;
receive audio information;
configure at least a portion of the audio information to generate an assigned audio signal based on the location of the available interface device, wherein to configure the at least the portion of the audio information to generate the assigned audio signal comprises encoding the at least the portion of the audio information; and
send the assigned audio signal to the available interface device; and

the interface device configured to:
receive the assigned audio signal.

16. The system of claim 15 ,
wherein to determine the location of the available interface device, the computing device is configured to determine a proximity of the available interface device to a

Assignees

• Comcast Cable Comm Llc

Inventors

• Robinson Chris
• Kercher Shawn
• Johnson Derek

Classifications

• G06F3/165

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• H04R2400/03

  Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

  Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use · CPC title

• H04S7/303

  Tracking of listener position or orientation · CPC title

• H04R5/04

  Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} · CPC title