Apparatus and method for adapting audio signals

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

p-0002The present disclosure relates generally to audio adaptation techniques, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for adapting audio signals.

BACKGROUND

p-0003Multiplayer video games today are capable of supporting team discussions over an Internet connection with players scattered in remote locations. Generally, the sound of the video game at each player's location can be loud and can at times make it difficult for players to hear each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0004<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> depicts an illustrative embodiment of a video game system;

p-0005<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2-3</figref> depict illustrative embodiments of an audio control apparatus operating in the video game system of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0006<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> depicts an illustrative method operating in the audio control apparatus of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-3</figref>;

p-0007<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> depicts an illustrative embodiment of a timing diagram of audio signals controlled by the audio control apparatus shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-3</figref> according to the method of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>; and

p-0008<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> depicts an illustrative diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

p-0009One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail an audio control apparatus having a game audio port for receiving a gaming audio signal generated by a gaming application, a chat port for receiving a chat signal comprising audio information generated by at least one gamer, and an audio system coupled to the game audio port and the chat port. The audio system can be operable to detect an energy level in the chat signal that exceeds a threshold, reduce a magnitude of the gaming audio signal to a desired audio energy level responsive to the aforementioned detection, generate a mixed audio signal comprising a combination of the gaming audio signal having the reduced magnitude and the chat signal, and transmit the mixed audio signal to a listening apparatus.

p-0010One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operating in an audio control apparatus communicatively coupled to a gaming console that generates a chat signal and a gaming audio signal having computer instructions to detect an energy level in the chat signal, reduce a magnitude of the gaming audio signal to a desired audio energy level responsive to the aforementioned detection, generate a mixed audio signal comprising a combination of the gaming audio signal having the reduced magnitude and the chat signal, and transmit the mixed audio signal to a listening apparatus communicatively coupled to the audio control apparatus.

p-0011One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a method for detecting an energy level in a chat signal generated by a gaming console, reducing a magnitude of a gaming audio signal to a desired audio energy level responsive to the aforementioned detection, wherein the gaming audio signal is generated by the gaming console, generating a mixed audio signal comprising a combination of the gaming audio signal having the reduced magnitude and the chat signal, and transmitting the mixed audio signal to a listening apparatus.

p-0012<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> depicts an illustrative embodiment of a video game system <b>100</b>. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> can comprise a gaming console <b>102</b> such as an Xbox 360™, PS3™, Wii™ or another video gaming device such as a computer communicatively coupled to a gaming server over the Internet for playing online gaming (e.g., World of Warcraft™). The gaming console <b>102</b> can be communicatively coupled to a gaming controller <b>104</b> over a wired or wireless interface such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wireless protocols which may be proprietary. The housing assembly of the gaming controller <b>104</b> can be coupled to a housing assembly of an audio control apparatus <b>106</b> with a mechanical guide <b>114</b> which can be inserted into a receptor panel <b>116</b> of the gaming controller <b>104</b>. The receptor panel <b>116</b> can comprise a hole for engaging with the guide <b>114</b>, and two electromechanical ports which supply a chat signal to a chat port (see references <b>208</b>, <b>210</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>) of the audio control apparatus <b>106</b>. The gaming controller <b>104</b> can receive the chat signal from the gaming console <b>102</b>. The gaming console <b>102</b> can be communicatively coupled to a server over an Internet connection for receiving audio information generated by remote players which can be used to form the chat signal transmitted to the gaming controller <b>104</b> over a tethered or wireless interface.

p-0013The audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can comprise a cable <b>107</b> tethered thereto. The cable <b>107</b> can have one branch in the form of a USB plug <b>108</b>, and another branch in the form of a game audio port <b>112</b>. The USB plug <b>108</b> can be engaged with a USB port of the gaming console <b>102</b>. Once engaged, the gaming console <b>102</b> can feed a power signal over cable <b>107</b> to the audio control apparatus <b>106</b>. The game audio port <b>112</b> can be coupled to an RCA audio connector <b>109</b> which branches out to first and second RCA jacks <b>110</b>. The RCA jacks <b>110</b> can be coupled to any audio port that generates a gaming audio signal (e.g., audio port of a TV receiving gaming audio signals from the gaming console <b>102</b>, or an audio port of an amplifier receiving gaming audio signals from the gaming console <b>102</b>, etc.). Once the RCA jacks <b>110</b> are engaged with an audio port supplying the gaming audio signal, said gaming audio signal is in turn supplied to the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> by way of the cable <b>107</b>.

p-0014A headset <b>120</b> can also be coupled to an audio port (see references <b>304</b>, <b>306</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>) of the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> by way of a tethered interface <b>118</b>. Alternatively, the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can be adapted to communicatively coupled to the headset <b>120</b> over a wireless interface operating according to a wireless protocol such as Bluethooth™, WiFi, or other present or next generation wireless protocols suitable to the present disclosure. The headset <b>120</b> can receive a mixed audio signal from the audio port over the tethered interface <b>118</b> or a wireless interface. In addition, the headset <b>120</b> can supply to the audio port of the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> a microphone signal generated by a microphone integrated in the headset <b>120</b>. The microphone signal can in turn be transmitted by the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> to other remote players by way of the gaming controller <b>104</b> when the gaming console <b>102</b> is executing a multi-player gaming application with one or more remote players over the Internet.

p-0015It will be appreciated that all or portions of the tethering aspects of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> (e.g., reference <b>107</b>, <b>118</b>, etc.) can be wireless instead. The headset <b>120</b>, the audio control apparatus <b>106</b>, and the gaming controller <b>104</b>, for example, can be communicatively coupled to each other and other devices by utilizing in each of these device an RF receiver, transmitter or combination thereof (transceiver) that supports a wireless interface using common protocols (e.g., Bluetooth or WiFi). Accordingly, wireless embodiments of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> are contemplated by the present disclosure.

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2-3</figref> depict additional illustrative embodiments of the audio control apparatus <b>106</b>. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> depicts a top side of the audio control apparatus <b>106</b>. The audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can comprise a first slidable switch <b>206</b> for enabling or disabling transmission of microphone signals generated by the headset <b>120</b> to the gaming console <b>102</b>. The audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can comprise a first thumbwheel <b>202</b> for adjusting the volume (signal magnitude) of the gaming audio signals received by way of the RCA jacks <b>110</b> of the cable <b>107</b>. Similarly, the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can comprise a second thumbwheel <b>204</b> for adjusting the volume (signal magnitude) of the chat signal supplied by the gaming controller <b>104</b>. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> depicts a bottom side of the audio control apparatus <b>106</b>. The audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can have a second slidable switch <b>302</b> for enabling or disabling the transmission of the chat signal to the headset <b>120</b>.

p-0017The audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can comprise an audio system <b>113</b> located within a housing assembly of the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. The audio system <b>113</b> can comprise a controller such as a microprocessor, a state-machine, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other controlling device. The audio system <b>113</b> can also comprise other devices for sampling audio signals such as one or more analog-to-digital converter (ADCs). The audio system can further comprise one or more digital-to-analog converters (DACs). In addition amplifier circuits and/or filters may be used to adapt audio signals according to the present disclosure. The audio system <b>113</b> can be adapted to control audio signals as depicted in the method <b>400</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>.

p-0018Method <b>400</b> can begin with step <b>402</b> in which the audio system <b>113</b> is adapted to establish a volume setting for the gaming sound received by the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> over the cable <b>107</b>. A user can move the first thumbwheel <b>202</b> of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to establish a desirable volume setting for the gaming sound. Once the user has picked a setting, the audio system <b>113</b> can in turn adjust the magnitude of the gaming signal received over the cable utilizing digital or analog signal processing techniques.

p-0019At step <b>404</b>, the audio system <b>113</b> can be operable to establish a volume setting for team chat. Team chat represents team player voices which are received from the gaming controller <b>104</b> in the form of the chat signal previously discussed. The chat signal can comprise the voice of one or more remote players which are engaged in a multi-player gaming application with the gamer wearing the headset <b>120</b>. The team chat volume can be adjusted by the second slidable thumbwheel <b>204</b> which can also be turned by a user in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to a desirable volume setting. Once the user has completed the adjustment, the audio system <b>113</b> can be operable to adjust a magnitude of the chat signal to the desired audio level selected by the user of the headset <b>120</b>.

p-0020Reception of team chat can be enabled at step <b>406</b> with the slidable switch <b>302</b>. Similarly, the microphone signal generated by the user of the headset <b>120</b> can be enabled with slidable switch <b>206</b> at step <b>408</b>. At step <b>410</b> a multi-player gaming application (e.g., Call of Duty™) can be initiated. At step <b>412</b>, the audio system <b>113</b> can be adapted to monitor the chat signal <b>502</b> (shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>) to detect a transition of energy <b>506</b> that the audio system <b>113</b>. Upon detecting a transition <b>506</b>, the audio system <b>113</b> can determine the energy level of the chat signal exceeds a threshold (e.g., XXX dB) established by the designer of the audio system <b>113</b>). The change in signal energy can be caused by one or more players engaging in team chat. To enhance the hearing perceptibility of the player wearing headset <b>120</b>, the audio system <b>113</b> can be operable to reduce a magnitude of the gaming audio signal <b>504</b> (see <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>) established in step <b>402</b>, while maintaining unchanged the volume setting of chat signal <b>502</b> established in step <b>404</b>. The magnitude of the gaming audio signal <b>504</b> can be reduced according to a signal profile established by the designer of the audio system <b>113</b>.

p-0021To provide the player wearing the headset <b>120</b> a tactical advantage, the magnitude of the gaming audio signal <b>504</b> can be reduced rapidly (e.g., 10 milliseconds or ms) once the chat signal <b>502</b> is detected to exceed the threshold. It should be noted that the new magnitude <b>507</b> of the gaming audio signal <b>504</b> need not be at a level that is not audible by the player of the headset <b>120</b>. It may be desirable for the player wearing the headset <b>120</b> to hear at least some background gaming sound of the gaming application. Once the gaming audio signal <b>504</b> has been adapted, the audio system <b>113</b> can mix the chat signal <b>502</b> with the gaming audio signal <b>504</b> having the reduced magnitude <b>507</b>, and transmit it to the headset <b>120</b> over a tethered or wireless interface as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

p-0022The audio system <b>113</b> can be adapted in step <b>418</b> to monitor the chat signal <b>503</b>. If it falls below the threshold mentioned above, it can indicate the players teamed with the player wearing the headset <b>120</b> have ceased to speak. In step <b>420</b>, the audio system <b>113</b> can be adapted to restore the magnitude of the gaming audio signal <b>504</b> as established in step <b>402</b>. Since team chat is unpredictable and can occur frequently, the audio system <b>113</b> can be adapted to restore the magnitude of the gaming audio signal <b>504</b> at a slower rate than the rate used to reduce it in step <b>414</b> (e.g., 1.5 seconds v. 10 milliseconds). The slower rate of restoration can be useful to the player wearing the headset <b>120</b> to avoid oscillations in the volume of gaming sound due to frequent on and off team conversations. During the restoration process, the audio system <b>113</b> mixes the chat signal <b>502</b> with the gaming audio signal <b>504</b> as it is being restored and transmits it to the headset <b>120</b> in step <b>422</b>.

p-0023From the foregoing descriptions, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that the aforementioned embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. For example, in one embodiment the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can be adapted so that the player wearing the headset <b>120</b> can also be allowed to define in the signal profile the rate of reduction and restoration the gaming audio signal <b>504</b> at slopes <b>506</b> and <b>508</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. In addition, the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can be adapted so that the player wearing the headset <b>120</b> can be allowed to define the degree of reduction in magnitude <b>507</b>. The player can be presented additional controls in the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> to perform these changes.

p-0024In one embodiment, the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can in whole or in part be integrated into the housing assembly of the gaming controller <b>104</b>. For example, volume controls <b>202</b> and <b>204</b> (e.g., thumbwheels) can be located on suitable portions of the gaming controller <b>104</b> (e.g., side edges) so that each volume control mechanism is easily accessible to the user. The first slidable switch <b>206</b> for enabling or disabling transmission of microphone signals generated by the headset <b>120</b> to the gaming console <b>102</b> can be located on the bottom side of the housing assembly of the gaming controller <b>104</b> or another suitable location readily accessible to the user. The second slidable switch <b>302</b> for enabling or disabling the transmission of the chat signal to the headset <b>120</b> can also be located on the bottom portion of the housing assembly of the gaming controller <b>104</b>. The gaming controller <b>104</b> can be adapted with audio ports to couple with the tethered interface <b>118</b> of the headset <b>120</b>. By integrating the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> in the gaming controller <b>104</b> fewer devices would be required thereby reducing peripheral complexity.

p-0025In another embodiment, the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can in whole or in part be integrated into the housing assembly of the headset <b>120</b> in a manner similar to what has been described above for the gaming controller <b>104</b>. In yet another embodiment, the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can be in whole or in part integrated into the gaming console <b>102</b>. In this embodiment, volume controls <b>202</b> and <b>204</b> can be located at the gaming controller <b>104</b> or the headset <b>120</b>, while the audio control function depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> can be located in the gaming console <b>102</b>. Adjustments to the volume controls in either the headset <b>120</b> or the gaming controller <b>104</b> can be communicated to the gaming console <b>102</b> over a wired or wireless medium.

p-0026From the above illustrations, it is contemplated that the components and functions of the audio control apparatus <b>106</b> can be centralized, distributed, integrated, and/or communicatively coupled to any device utilized in establishing a gaming environment which involves gaming audio and team chat.

p-0027These and other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the reader is directed to the claims for a fuller understanding of the breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

p-0028<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system <b>600</b> within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

p-0029The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

p-0030The computer system <b>600</b> may include a processor <b>602</b> (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory <b>604</b> and a static memory <b>606</b>, which communicate with each other via a bus <b>608</b>. The computer system <b>600</b> may further include a video display unit <b>610</b> (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system <b>600</b> may include an input device <b>612</b> (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device <b>614</b> (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit <b>616</b>, a signal generation device <b>618</b> (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device <b>620</b>.

p-0031The disk drive unit <b>616</b> may include a machine-readable medium <b>622</b> on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software <b>624</b>) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions <b>624</b> may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory <b>604</b>, the static memory <b>606</b>, and/or within the processor <b>602</b> during execution thereof by the computer system <b>600</b>. The main memory <b>604</b> and the processor <b>602</b> also may constitute machine-readable media.

p-0032Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

p-0033In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein.

p-0034The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containing instructions <b>624</b>, or that which receives and executes instructions <b>624</b> from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network environment <b>626</b> can send or receive voice, video or data, and to communicate over the network <b>626</b> using the instructions <b>624</b>. The instructions <b>624</b> may further be transmitted or received over a network <b>626</b> via the network interface device <b>620</b>.

p-0035While the machine-readable medium <b>622</b> is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure.

p-0036The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; and carrier wave signals such as a signal embodying computer instructions in a transmission medium; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored.

p-0037Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.

p-0038The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

p-0039Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

p-0040The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.