Apple Inc.

Joseph M Williams

Aram M Lindahl

Richard Michael Powell

Arvindh Krishnaswamy

Muthya K Girish

Taylor Gerard Carrigan

Camille Moussette

Nicholas D Felton

John B Morrell

Sean Anthony Ramprashad

Saurabh Gupta

Brian T Gleeson

Gints Valdis Klimanis

Andrew P Bright

Wang Chun Leung

Tyrone T Chen

Douglas A Scott

Nathan De Vries

Anthony Joseph Guetta

David L Biderman

Darin Benjamin Adler

Eamon Francis Gilravi

Aarti Kumar

Tony S Verma

Alexander Kanaris

Dan Timis

Dhandapani Dharumalingam

Frank Zening Li

Juan C Martinez Nieto

Eric H Zhang

A method performed by a first device, which includes performing an audio call with a second device by transmitting a microphone signal as an uplink signal and receiving a downlink signal for driving a first speaker and while performing the audio call, performing a joint media playback session in which both devices independently stream a piece of media content for synchronous playback such that both devices receive an audio signal of the piece of media content for driving respective speakers at the same time, determining that a voice activity detection (VAD) signal indicates that the downlink signal includes speech, in response to determining that the VAD signal indicates that the downlink signal includes speech, processing the audio signal of the piece of media content by applying a scalar gain, and driving the first speaker with a mix of the downlink signal and the audio signal.

Method and system for processing remote active speech during a call

A method performed by a first electronic device that is communicatively coupled to a wireless headset, the method includes, while engaged in a call with a second electronic device, communicating with the wireless headset via a bi-directional wireless audio connection; determining that a joint media playback session has been initiated in which the first and second electronic devices are to independently stream media content for separate playback by both of the first and second electronic devices while engaging in the call; and switching to communicate with the wireless headset via a uni-directional wireless audio connection based on a determination of one or more capabilities of the wireless headset, wherein a mix of 1) one or more signals associated with the call and 2) an audio signal of the media content is transmitted to the wireless headset over the uni-directional wireless audio connection.

Method and system for switching wireless audio connections during a call

The present disclosure generally relates to user interfaces and techniques for managing audio exposure using a computer system (e.g., an electronic device). In accordance with some embodiments, the electronic device displays a graphical indication of a noise exposure level over a first period of time with an area of the graphical indication that is colored to represent the noise exposure level, the color of the area transitioning from a first color to a second color when the noise exposure level exceeds a first threshold. In accordance with some embodiments, the electronic device displays noise exposure levels attributable to a first output device type and a second output device type and, in response to selecting a filtering affordance, visually distinguishes a set of noise exposure levels attributable to the second output device type.

User interfaces for managing audio exposure

A method performed by an audio source device. The method obtains an input audio signal and determines a sound output level of a headset based on the input audio signal, a user volume setting, and a sound output sensitivity of the headset. The method determines whether the sound output level is above a threshold. In response to determining that the sound output level is above the threshold, a scalar gain is applied upon the input audio signal to produce an output audio signal for output by the headset.

Method and system for adaptive volume control

A method performed by a processor of an audio source device. The method drives an audio output device of the audio source device to output a sound with an audio output signal. The method obtains a microphone signal from a microphone of the audio source device, the microphone signal capturing the outputted sound. The method determines whether the audio output device is a headset or a loudspeaker based on the microphone signal and configures an acoustic dosimetry process based on the determination.

System and method for determining audio output device type

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.

Techniques for presenting sound effects on a portable media player

A device and a corresponding method are provided to tune parameters of an echo control process without re-initializing the echo control process and without interrupting a playback process. A state of the device and environment around the device is computed during use of the device given information from sensors. Such sensors can give information on the position of the device, the orientation of the device, the presence of a proximate object, or handling of the device resulting in occlusion of microphones and loudspeakers, among other things. The computed state of the device is mapped to an associated device state code from among a plurality of device state codes. The parameters of the echo control process are tuned either according to the associated device state code, or a change in such a code, during use of the device.

Echo control based on state of a device

An electronic device receives a first set of one or more inputs corresponding to user interface elements displayed on the display and a first set of one or more tactile outputs, and also receives a second set of one or more inputs corresponding to one or more hardware elements and a second set of one or more tactile outputs. In response, in accordance with a determination that the first set of one or more tactile outputs and the second set of one or more tactile outputs overlap, the device outputs, with one or more tactile output generators, a modified tactile output sequence that is modified so as to emphasize the second set of one or more tactile outputs relative to the first set of one or more tactile outputs.

Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for haptic mixing

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.

Using time-stamped event entries to facilitate synchronizing data streams

An electronic device receives a plurality of requests to generate a plurality of tactile outputs, including two or more overlapping tactile outputs, using the one or more tactile output generators. In response, the device generates and outputs combined tactile outputs. If the plurality of tactile outputs exceeds a threshold number of tactile outputs that is permitted to be mixed together for concurrent output, the device mixes a subset of the plurality of tactile outputs together into a combined tactile output that excludes at least one of the plurality of tactile outputs to produce a combined tactile output that is output via the device's one or more tactile output generators.

Method of improving audio signal in the spectral domain starts by receiving audio signal that includes signals from sources including speech source and music source. Audio signal is tuned for output by sound output device. Portions of audio signal are analyzed in a spectral domain to determine whether adjustments are required. Analyzing portions of audio signal includes determining whether anomaly is present in frequency band of audio signal in spectral domain by using at least one metric. Metrics include band energy ratios, spectral centroid, spectral tilt, spectral flux, spectral variance, absolute thresholds, and relative thresholds. Audio signal is adjusted to improve audio signal in spectral domain when audio signal is determined to require adjustments. Adjusting audio signal includes adjusting values of the metric in frequency band that is determined to include anomaly to correspond to clustering of metric values for audio signal in spectral domain. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus and method for improving an audio signal in the spectral domain

Devices and methods for power management during media playback are provided. For example, an electronic device according to an embodiment may include storage, a decoder, an output buffer, and data processing circuitry. The storage may store compressed media data that may be decoded by the decoder. The output buffer may store the decoded media data before the decoded media data is played out. The data processing circuitry configured may measure a fullness of the output buffer and may set an operating frequency of the storage, the decoder, the output buffer, or the data processing circuitry, or a combination thereof, depending on a format of the compressed media data and the fullness of the output buffer.

Media playback power management devices and methods

A multi-band audio compressor that may provide not only better and brighter sound, but also speaker protection. The multi-band audio compressor breaks an input audio signal into different frequency bands. For each band signal, a volume re-mapper translates a user preference volume level to a converted volume level based on a programmable volume curve for the band signal. For each frequency band, the band signal is processed by a gain stage and a compressor. Each gain stage applies a signal gain to the band signal based on the converted volume level. Each compressor compresses the output of the gain stage. After compression, the different frequency band signals are re-combined and the combined audio signal may then be passed to a power amplifier that is driving a speaker. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Intelligent dynamics processing

Method of dynamically adapting user volume input range on mobile device having global volume range starts by receiving a volume input selection from a user that is level included in user volume input range. User volume input range is a portion of global volume range. Device's processor then detects ambient noise level surrounding device and adjusts user volume input range from current portion of global volume range to different portion of global volume range based on detected ambient noise level. Volume input selection remains at the same level included in user volume input range after user volume input range is adjusted. Processor may identify sound profile that corresponds to ambient noise level being detected and adjusts user volume input range to a different portion of the global volume range based on identified sound profile. Other embodiments are also described.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Joseph M Williams