Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification based on mood and/or behavior information

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016234595-A1
Application number	US-201514619827-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 11, 2015
Priority date	Feb 11, 2015
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, systems, and media for ambient background noise modification are provided. In some implementations, the method comprises: identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for ambient background noise modification, the method comprising:
identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining sound output capabilities associated with the identified devices associated with the user device.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the identified devices is based at least in part on the determined sound output capabilities.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined sound outputs comprise a modulation of a speed of a fan associated with at least one of the identified devices.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determined sound outputs are to be produced through an audio output associated with at least one of the identified devices.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a sound level associated with the noises present in the environment.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the target ambient noise comprises the noises present in the environment at a lower sound level relative to the determined sound level associated with the one or more noises present in the environment.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving user feedback related to the determined target ambient noise; and determining that the sound outputs are to be produced based on the received user feedback.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the sound outputs has an associated rating and wherein the method further comprises:
retrieving the rating associated with the sound outputs; and modifying the rating based on the received user feedback.

10 . A system for ambient background noise modification, the system comprising:
a hardware processor that is programmed to:
identify at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user;
determine a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user;
identify at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise;
determine sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and
cause the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to determine sound output capabilities associated with the identified devices associated with the user device.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the identified devices is based at least in part on the determined sound output capabilities.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the determined sound outputs comprise a modulation of a speed of a fan associated with at least one of the identified devices.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the determined sound outputs are to be produced through an audio output associated with at least one of the identified devices.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to determine a sound level associated with the noises present in the environment.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the target ambient noise comprises the noises present in the environment at a lower sound level relative to the determined sound level associated with the one or more noises present in the environment.

17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to:
receive user feedback related to the determined target ambient noise; and determine that the sound outputs are to be produced based on the received user feedback.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein each of the sound outputs has an associated rating and wherein the hardware processor is further programmed to:
retrieve the rating associated with the sound outputs; and modify the rating based on the received user feedback.

19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for ambient background noise modification, the method comprising:
identifying at least one noise present in an environment of a user having a user device, an activity the user is currently engaged in, and a physical or emotional state of the user; determining a target ambient noise to be produced in the environment based at least in part on the identified noise, the activity the user is currently engaged in, and the physical or emotional state of the user; identifying at least one device associated with the user device to be used to produce the target ambient noise; determining sound outputs corresponding to each of the one or more identified devices, wherein a combination of the sound outputs produces an approximation of one or more characteristics of the target ambient noise; and causing the one or more identified devices to produce the determined sound outputs.

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Goran Charles
• Liu Eric Hc
• Brune Kevin
• Valz Duane Richard

Classifications

• H04L12/2827

  Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality · CPC title

• G05B15/02 Primary

  electric · CPC title

• G05B2219/2642

  Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house · CPC title

• H04R3/002 Primary

  Damping circuit arrangements for transducers, e.g. motional feedback circuits · CPC title

• G05B6/02

  electric · CPC title