Hierarchical priority alert ducker matrix

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting, by an audio unit in a vehicle, one or more personal audio devices within the vehicle;

establishing a link with at least a first personal audio device of the one or more personal audio devices;

receiving incoming data, the incoming data being from sources inside and outside of the vehicle;

organizing incoming data from audio sources and vehicle system inputs into one or more matrices to define organized incoming data;

hierarchically prioritizing the incoming data into one or more of a first priority mixer, a second priority mixer and a third priority mixer to define prioritized incoming data, wherein the step comprises;

assigning a first hierarchical priority level to incoming data from a plurality of sources and system inputs;

mixing incoming data from the plurality of sources and system inputs according to the assigned priority;

assigning a second hierarchical priority level to incoming data and to the mixed incoming data hierarchically prioritized at the first hierarchical priority level, the second hierarchical priority level takes precedence to the first hierarchical level and is mixed with the incoming data from the plurality of sources and system inputs, wherein the incoming data at the first hierarchical level is ducked or attenuated below the incoming data prioritized at the second hierarchical level; and

assigning a third hierarchical priority level to incoming data and to the mixed incoming data hierarchically prioritized at the second hierarchical priority level, the incoming data at the third hierarchical priority level takes precedence to the incoming data at the second hierarchical level, wherein the incoming data at the second hierarchical level is ducked or attenuated below the incoming data at the third hierarchical level;

mixing the organized incoming data with the prioritized incoming data according to the assigned priority to generate a mixed audio signal;

and

transmitting the mixed audio signal over the link for playback by the first personal audio device.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of organizing incoming data from audio sources and vehicle system into one or more matrices further comprises organizing incoming data from sources inside the vehicle into a seat media matrix, a communications zone matrix, and a voice sense matrix.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of mixing the organized incoming data with the prioritized incoming data further comprises mixing in a voice sense mixer and a communications mixer.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of generating a mixed audio signal further comprises a media mixer to mix signals from sources inside the vehicle and an ambience mixer to mix signals from sources outside the vehicle.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of transmitting the mixed audio signal further comprises the mixed audio signal stimulating at least one of an audio playback device or a tactile actuator.

6 . A system comprising:

an audio unit in a vehicle having a processor and a memory for storing an audio management application, the audio unit detects one or more personal audio devices within the vehicle;

a link between the audio unit and at least a first personal audio device of the one or more personal audio devices;

incoming data being received at the audio unit;

the processor is coupled to the memory to execute the audio management application by performing the steps of:

organizing incoming data into one or more matrices to define organized incoming data;

hierarchically prioritizing the incoming data into one or more of a first priority mixer, a second priority mixer and a third priority mixer to define prioritized incoming data, the prioritized incoming data comprises:

a first hierarchical priority level to incoming data from a plurality of sources and system inputs;

a second hierarchical priority level to incoming data and to the mixed incoming data hierarchically prioritized at the first hierarchical priority level, the second hierarchical priority level takes precedence to the first hierarchical level and is mixed with the incoming data from the plurality of sources and system inputs, wherein the incoming data at the first hierarchical level is ducked or attenuated below the incoming data prioritized at the second hierarchical level; and

a third hierarchical priority level to incoming data and to the mixed incoming data hierarchically prioritized at the second hierarchical priority level, the incoming data at the third hierarchical priority level takes precedence to the incoming data at the second hierarchical level, wherein the incoming data at the second hierarchical level is ducked or attenuated below the incoming data at the third hierarchical level:

the audio management application mixing the organized incoming data with the prioritized incoming data to generate a mixed audio signal;

and

the mixed audio signal is played back by the first personal audio device.

7 . The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the one or more matrices further comprises a seat media matrix, a communications zone matrix, and a voice sense matrix.

8 . The system as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising a voice sense mixer and a communications mixer for mixing the organized incoming data with the prioritized incoming data.

9 . The system as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising a media mixer to mix signals from sources inside the vehicle and an ambience mixer to mix signals from sources outside the vehicle.

10 . The system as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a seat mixer to mix signals from the media mixer and the ambience mixer based on an assigned priority level.

11 . The system as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising at least one of an audio playback device or a tactile actuator that is activated by the mixed audio signal being played back by the first personal audio device.

12 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to comprise the steps of:

detecting, by an audio unit of a vehicle, one or more personal audio devices within the vehicle;

establishing a link with at least one of the one or more personal audio devices;

receiving incoming data from sources inside and outside of the vehicle;

assigning a first hierarchical priority level to incoming data from a plurality of sources and system inputs:

assigning a second hierarchical priority level to incoming data and to the mixed incoming data hierarchically prioritized at the first hierarchical priority level, the second hierarchical priority level takes precedence to the first hierarchical level and is mixed with the incoming data from the plurality of sources and system inputs, wherein the incoming data at the first hierarchical level is ducked or attenuated below the incoming data prioritized at the second hierarchical level; and

assigning a third hierarchical priority level to incoming data and to the mixed incoming data hierarchically prioritized at the second hierarchical priority level, the incoming data at the third hierarchical priority level takes precedence to the incoming data at the second hierarchical level, wherein the incoming data at the second hierarchical level is ducked or attenuated below the incoming data at the third hierarchical level;

generating a mixed audio signal that combines the incoming data from the plurality of sources and system inputs according to the assigned priority; and

transmitting the mixed audio signal over the link for playback by the one or more personal audio devices.

13 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the step of transmitting the mixed audio signal over the link for playback by the one or more personal audio devices further comprises the mixed audio signal stimulating at least one of an audio playback device or a tactile actuator.