Communication device and method for adapting to audio accessories

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9516414-B2
Application number	US-201414326882-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2014
Priority date	Jul 9, 2014
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A communication device and method for adapting to audio accessories are provided. The communication device includes a memory; a first microphone, a connector for receiving data from an accessory device having a second microphone, and a processor interconnected with the memory, the microphone and the connector. The processor is configured to receive audio input and, when the audio input originated at the second microphone, to automatically apply equalization settings corresponding to the second microphone.

First claim

We claim:

1. A communication device, comprising:
a first microphone:
a memory;
a connector for receiving data from an accessory device having a second microphone; and
a processor interconnected with the memory, the first microphone and the connector, the processor configured to:
determine a first frequency spectrum by receiving respective audio input using the first microphone;
store the first frequency spectrum in the memory;
receive audio input from the second microphone;
generate a second frequency spectrum of the second microphone based on the audio input therefrom;
based on a comparison between the second frequency spectrum and the first frequency spectrum, select equalization settings that, when applied to second frequency spectrum of the second microphone will generate a modified spectrum that matches the first frequency spectrum of the first microphone;
automatically apply the equalization settings to subsequent audio input from the second microphone;
provide the subsequent audio input to a downstream apparatus after the equalization settings have been automatically applied thereto;
receive further audio input from one or more of the first microphone and the second microphone to update one or more of the first frequency spectrum and the second frequency spectrum; and,
refine the equalization settings based on one or more of an updated first frequency spectrum and an updated second frequency spectrum.

2. The communication device of claim 1 , the processor further configured to:
store the equalization settings in the memory in an accessory profile corresponding to the second microphone.

3. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the equalization settings comprise at least one gain value corresponding to at least one frequency band; the processor further configured to generate the equalization settings by selecting the at least one gain value based on the difference between an amplitude of the at least one frequency band in the first frequency spectrum and an amplitude of the at least one frequency band in the second frequency spectrum.

4. The communication device of claim 1 , the processor further configured to determine whether the audio input originated at the second microphone, prior to applying the equalization settings.

5. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the further audio input is received during a call, and the equalization settings are refined during the call.

6. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency spectrum corresponds to a voice profile of an operator of the communication device.

7. A method comprising:
at a device comprising: a first microphone; a memory; and a processor interconnected with the memory, the first microphone and the connector, determining, at the processor, a first frequency spectrum by receiving respective audio input using the first microphone;
storing the first frequency spectrum in the memory;
receiving, at the processor, audio input from the second microphone;
generating, at the processor, a second frequency spectrum of the second microphone based on the audio input therefrom;
based on a comparison between the second frequency spectrum and the first frequency spectrum, selecting, at the processor, equalization settings that, when applied to second frequency spectrum of the second microphone will generate a modified spectrum that matches the first frequency spectrum of the first microphone;
automatically applying, at the processor, the equalization settings corresponding to subsequent audio input from the second microphone;
providing, at the processor, the subsequent audio input to a downstream apparatus after the equalization settings have been automatically applied thereto;
receive further audio input from one or more of the first microphone and the second microphone to update one or more of the first frequency spectrum and the second frequency spectrum; and,
refine the equalization settings based on one or more of an updated first frequency spectrum and on updated second frequency spectrum.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
storing the equalization settings in the memory in an accessory profile corresponding to the second microphone.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the equalization settings comprise at least one gain value corresponding to at least one frequency band; the method further comprising:
generating the equalization settings by selecting the at least one gain value based on the difference between an amplitude of the at least one frequency band in the first frequency spectrum and an amplitude of the at least one frequency band in the second frequency spectrum.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the further audio input is received during a call, and the equalization settings are refined during the call.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first frequency spectrum corresponds to a voice profile of an operator of the communication device.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program is for:
at a device comprising: a first microphone; a memory; and a processor interconnected with the memory, the first microphone and the connector, determining, at the processor, a first frequency spectrum by receiving respective audio input using the first microphone;
storing the first frequency spectrum in the memory;
receiving, at the processor, audio input from the second microphone;
generating, at the processor, a second frequency spectrum of the second microphone based on the audio input therefrom;
based on a comparison between the second frequency spectrum and the first frequency spectrum, selecting, at the processor, equalization settings that, when applied to second frequency spectrum of the second microphone will generate a modified spectrum that matches the first frequency spectrum of the first microphone;
automatically applying, at the processor, the equalization settings corresponding to subsequent audio input from the second microphone;
providing, at the processor, the subsequent audio input to a downstream apparatus after the equalization settings have been automatically applied thereto;
receive further audio input from one or more of the first microphone and the second microphone to update one or more of the first frequency spectrum and the second frequency spectrum; and;
refine the equalization settings based on one or more of an updated first frequency spectrum and an updated second frequency spectrum.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein execution of then computer program is further for:
storing the equalization settings in the memory in an accessory profile corresponding to the second microphone.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the equalization settings comprise at least one gain value corresponding to at least one frequency band; and execution of then computer program is further for:
generating the equalization settings by selecting the at least one gain value based on the difference between an amplitude of the at least one frequency band in the first frequency spectrum and an amplitude of the at least one frequency band in the second frequency spectrum.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the further audio input is received during a call, and the equalization settings are refined during the call.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the first frequency spectrum corresponds to a voice profile of an operator of the communication de

Assignees

• Blackberry Ltd

Inventors

• Hansson Per Magnus Fredrik
• Ranta Craig Eric
• El-Hage Mohamad

Classifications

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R3/04 Primary

  for correcting frequency response · CPC title

• H04R2410/00

  Microphones · CPC title

• H04M1/6058

  involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone · CPC title

• H03G5/165

  Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands · CPC title