Dynamic audio volume leveling notification system
A computer-implemented method is described and includes monitoring an audio signal received at a television to detect a sustained increase in a perceived loudness of the audio signal; subsequent to the detecting, providing a notification to a user regarding availability of a television volume leveling function; and subsequent to receiving from the user a response to the notification, wherein the response indicates an approval to activate the television volume leveling function, activating the volume leveling function. In particular embodiments, the monitoring is performed using Loudness Units relative to Full Scale (LUFS).
1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
monitoring an audio signal received at a television to detect a sustained increase in a perceived loudness of the audio signal, using Loudness Units relative to Full Scale (LUFS), wherein the audio signal includes content audio and commercial audio;
subsequent to the detecting, providing a notification to a user regarding availability of a television volume leveling function; and
subsequent to receiving from the user a response to the notification, wherein the response indicates an approval to activate the television volume leveling function, activating the television volume leveling function.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the providing the notification comprises displaying the notification on the television.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the providing, determining a time at which to provide the notification and wherein the providing comprises providing the notification at the determined time.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the determining the time comprises detecting a commercial break in the audio signal.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the determining the time comprises detecting that presentation of content comprising the audio signal has been paused.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the response is provided using a remote control associated with the television.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the notification comprises a notice to the user that the television volume leveling function has been enabled.
8 . 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:
receive at a television an audio signal comprising content audio and commercial audio;
monitor the audio signal to detect a sustained increase in a perceived loudness of the audio signal, wherein the monitoring is performed using Loudness Units relative to Full Scale (LUFS);
subsequent to the detecting, provide a notification to a user regarding availability of a television volume leveling function; and
subsequent to receiving from the user a response to the notification, apply a volume leveling function to the audio signal prior to providing the audio signal to at least one speaker connected to the television.
9 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to, subsequent to the providing and prior to the applying, await a response to the notification comprising an approval to activate the television volume leveling function.
10 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the providing the notification comprises displaying the notification on the television.
11 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to, prior to the providing, determine a time at which to provide the notification and wherein the providing comprises providing the notification at the determined time.
12 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the determining the time comprises detecting a commercial break in the audio signal.
13 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the determining the time comprises detecting that presentation of content comprising the audio signal has been paused.
14 . A television system, comprising:
an audio processing module for processing audio signals received by the television system, wherein the audio signals comprise content audio and commercial audio;
an audio volume leveling notification (AVLN) system electrically connected to receive the audio signals from the audio processing module;
a volume leveling function for leveling a volume of the audio signals when the volume leveling function is activated; and
at least one speaker,
wherein the AVLN system is further configured to:
monitor the audio signals to detect a sustained increase in a perceived loudness of the audio signals, wherein the monitoring is performed using Loudness Units relative to Full Scale (LUFS);
subsequent to the detecting, displaying a notification to a user regarding availability of the volume leveling function; and,
subsequent to receiving from the user a response to the notification, wherein the response indicates an approval to activate the television volume leveling function, enable the volume leveling function.
15 . The television system of claim 14 , wherein the AVLN system is further configured to determine a time at which to display the notification and wherein the displaying the notification is performed at the determined time.
16 . The television system of claim 15 , wherein the determining comprises at least one of detecting a commercial break in the audio signals and detecting that presentation of content comprising the audio signals has been paused.
17 . The television system of claim 14 , further comprising a remote control unit, wherein the response is provided using the remote control unit.
18 . The television system of claim 14 , wherein the AVLN system is further configured to, responsive to detecting that a LUFS value exceeds a threshold LUFS value, set a loudness flag and start a timer, and to determine that the sustained increase is detected based on expiration of the timer while the LUFS value remains above the threshold.
19 . The television system of claim 18 , wherein the AVLN system is further configured to reset the loudness flag and the timer responsive to determining that the LUFS value falls below the threshold LUFS value before the timer expires.
20 . The television system of claim 18 , wherein the timer comprises a countdown timer having a duration selected to distinguish momentary content spikes from commercial loudness.