Method and apparatus for generating an audio notification file

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9672000-B2
Application number	US-201615016575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2016
Priority date	Apr 30, 2010
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating an audio notification file for a computing device are provided. A first audio file associated with a first mental state is selected as a first section of the audio notification file. The audio notification file enabled for storage in a memory. The audio notification file is further enabled for processing by a processing unit to control a speaker. A final state of the audio notification file is determined, the final state designated as a final section of the audio notification file, the final state associated with a second mental state. At least one intermediate section of the audio notification file is generated, between the first section and the second section, by morphing the first audio file to the final state by processing the first audio file using a digital signal processor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
at a device comprising a processor, a speaker and a memory storing an audio notification file comprising at least an initial section and a final section, the initial section comprising at least one of a polyphonic section and a music section, and the final section comprising one or more of a square wave and a sinusoidal wave, outputting, using the processor, the initial section at the speaker; and, thereafter,
transitioning, using the processor, from the initial section to the final section at the speaker by: increasing, at the speaker, a first set of frequencies in the initial section over a given period of time to morph the first set of frequencies into one or more of the square wave and the sinusoidal wave of the final section.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the square wave and the sinusoidal wave comprises a target wave state of the final section.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio notification file further comprises an intermediate section between the initial section and the final section, the intermediate section comprising a transition from the one or more of the polyphonic section and music section to the one or more of the square wave and the sinusoidal wave.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transitioning, using the processor, from the initial section to the final section at the speaker is audibly smooth.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio notification file comprises an alarm file.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores a database of events, and the outputting the initial section at the speaker and the transitioning from the initial section to the final section at the speaker occur as an alarm associated with one or more of the events stored in the database.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outputting the initial section at the speaker and the transitioning from the initial section to the final section at the speaker occur automatically at the processor when the processor determines that a notification is to be provided by playing the audio notification file.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a communication interface, and the outputting the initial section at the speaker and the transitioning from the initial section to the final section at the speaker occur automatically at the processor when a message is received at the communication interface.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transitioning, using the processor, from the initial section to the final section at the speaker further comprises: decreasing a second set of frequencies in the initial section over the given period of time.

10. A device comprising:
a processor, a speaker and a memory storing an audio notification file comprising at least an initial section and a final section, the initial section comprising at least one of a polyphonic section and a music section, and the final section comprising one or more of a square wave and a sinusoidal wave, the processor configured to:
output the initial section at the speaker; and, thereafter,
transition from the initial section to the final section at the speaker by: increasing, at the speaker, a first set of frequencies in the initial section over a given period of time to morph the first set of frequencies into one or more of the square wave and the sinusoidal wave of the final section.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more of the square wave and the sinusoidal wave comprises a target wave state of the final section.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the audio notification file further comprises an intermediate section between the initial section and the final section, the intermediate section comprising a transition from the one or more of the polyphonic section and music section to the one or more of the square wave and the sinusoidal wave.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the transition from the initial section to the final section at the speaker is audibly smooth.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein the audio notification file comprises an alarm file.

15. The device of claim 10 , wherein the memory further stores a database of events, and the processor is further configured to: output the initial section at the speaker and transition from the initial section to the final section at the speaker as an alarm associated with one or more of the events stored in the database.

16. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to: output the initial section at the speaker and transition from the initial section to the final section at the speaker automatically when the processor determines that a notification is to be provided by playing the audio notification file.

17. The device of claim 10 , further comprising a communication interface, and the processor us further configured to: output the initial section at the speaker and transition from the initial section to the final section at the speaker automatically when a message is received at the communication interface.

18. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to transition from the initial section to the final section at the speaker: decreasing a second set of frequencies in the initial section over the given period of time.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program is for:
at a device comprising a processor, a speaker and a memory storing an audio notification file comprising at least an initial section and a final section, the initial section comprising at least one of a polyphonic section and a music section, and the final section comprising one or more of a square wave and a sinusoidal wave, outputting, using the processor, the initial section at the speaker; and, thereafter,
transitioning, using the processor, from the initial section to the final section at the speaker by: increasing, at the speaker, a first set of frequencies in the initial section over a given period of time to morph the first set of frequencies into one or more of the square wave and the sinusoidal wave of the final section.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the one or more of the square wave and the sinusoidal wave comprises a target wave state of the final section.

Assignees

• Blackberry Ltd

Inventors

• Ferringo Bradley Shayne
• Fields Gregory Jason
• Tewinkel Susan Tammy
• Grenn John Patrick
• Dvorak Joseph Leonard
• Suman Michael Williams

Classifications

• G04G13/026 Primary

  acting at a number of different times · CPC title

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G06F3/165 Primary

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

• G08B3/00

  Audible signalling systems, e.g. audible personal calling systems · CPC title