IP Library Granted Patent US 11,968,519
Granted Patent B2
US 11,968,519 · App. 17/743,021 · Granted Apr 23, 2024

Directional audio provision system

Inventors: Gary D Cudak (Raleigh, NC); CheKim Chhuor (Shanghai, CN); Nathan Peterson (Oxford, NC); John M Petersen (Wake Forest, NC)
Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD
H04S7/303G06F3/012G10K11/26H04R3/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,968,519
App. No.
17/743,021
Filed
May 12, 2022
Granted
Apr 23, 2024
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2692
USPC
381/328
Abstract

One embodiment provides a method, the method including: detecting, at an audio provision system including at least one audio output device, an initiation of audio being provided via the at least one audio output device to a user; identifying and tracking, using at least one sensor of the audio provision system, a location of the user with respect to the at least one audio output device; and directing, using the audio provision system, audio provided by the at least one audio output device to the user, wherein the directing includes adjusting, based upon the location of the user, at least one attribute of the at least one audio output device, wherein the adjusting includes iteratively adjusting the at least one attribute as the location of the user changes. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims (34)

1. A method, the method comprising:

detecting, at an audio provision system comprising at least one audio output device, an initiation of audio being provided via the at least one audio output device to a user;

identifying and tracking, using at least one sensor of the audio provision system, a location of the user with respect to the at least one audio output device; and

directing, using the audio provision system, audio provided by the at least one audio output device to the user, wherein the directing comprises adjusting, based upon the location of the user, at least one attribute of the at least one audio output device, wherein the adjusting comprises iteratively adjusting the at least one attribute as the location of the user changes.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying and tracking a location comprises identifying and tracking a location of a head of the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising detecting a context of the user and wherein the adjusting is based upon the context of the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting at least one attribute comprises adjusting a parabola of the at least one audio output device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting at least one attribute comprises adjusting an output volume of the at least one audio output device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting at least one attribute comprises adjusting an output direction of the at least one audio output device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying and tracking a location of the user comprises identifying and tracking a distance of the user from the at least one audio output device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying and tracking a location of the user comprises identifying and tracking a position of the user with respect to the at least one audio output device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one audio output device comprises a parabolic speaker.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a distance measurement sensor.

11. A system, the system comprising:

at least one audio output device;

at least one sensor;

a processor operatively coupled to the at least one audio device and the at least one sensor;

a memory device that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the information handling device to:

detect, at the at least one audio output device, an initiation of audio being provided via the at least one audio device to a user;

identify and track, using the at least one sensor, a location of the user with respect to the at least one audio output device; and

direct audio provided by the at least one audio output device to the user, wherein the directing comprises adjusting, based upon the location of the user, at least one attribute of the at least one audio output device, wherein the adjusting comprises iteratively adjusting the at least one attribute as the location of the user changes.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifying and tracking a location comprises identifying and tracking a location of a head of the user.

13. The system of claim 11 , comprising detecting a context of the user and wherein the adjusting is based upon the context of the user.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the adjusting at least one attribute comprises adjusting a parabola of the at least one audio output.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the adjusting at least one attribute comprises adjusting an output volume of the at least one audio output device.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the adjusting at least one attribute comprises adjusting an output direction of the at least one audio output device.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifying and tracking a location of the user comprises identifying and tracking a distance of the user from the at least one audio output device.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifying and tracking a location of the user comprises identifying and tracking a position of the user with respect to the at least one audio output device.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one audio output device comprises a parabolic speaker.

20. A product, the product comprising:

a computer-readable storage device that stores executable code that, when executed by a processor, causes the product to:

detect, at an audio provision system comprising at least one audio output device, an initiation of audio being provided via the at least one audio device to a user;

identify and track, using at least one sensor of the audio provision system, a location of the user with respect to the at least one audio output device; and

direct, using the audio provision system, audio provided by the at least one audio output device to the user, wherein the directing comprises adjusting, based upon the location of the user, at least one attribute of the at least one audio output device, wherein the adjusting comprises iteratively adjusting the at least one attribute as the location of the user changes.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 070269/0077 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 070269/0092 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD
Reel/Frame 062078/0718 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBER 17734021 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 060021 FRAME: 0324. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded Aug 22, 2022
From: CUDAK, GARY D; CHHUOR, CHEKIM; PETERSON, NATHAN; PETERSEN, JOHN M
To: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
Reel/Frame 061296/0920 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2022
From: CUDAK, GARY D; CHHUOR, CHEKIM; PETERSON, NATHAN; PETERSEN, JOHN M
To: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
Reel/Frame 060021/0324 →
Continuity (1)
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