AMBIENT SOUND RESPONSIVE MEDIA PLAYER
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method of adjusting an output of a media player comprising capturing an ambient audio signal; processing the ambient audio signal to determine whether one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal; and reducing an output of a media player from a first volume to a second volume if the one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal. The characteristic forms may be, for example, a name or personal identifier of a user of the media player, the voice of a user of the media player, or an alarm or siren.
1 . A method of adjusting an output of a media player comprising:
capturing an ambient audio signal;
processing the ambient audio signal to determine whether one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal; and
reducing an output of a media player from a first volume to a second volume if the one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise a name or personal identifier of a user of the media player.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise the voice of a user of the media player.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise an alarm or siren.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise one or more generic words commonly used to summon attention.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise a common household sound selected from the group consisting of a doorbell ring, a telephone ring and a baby's cry.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise the voice of a person other than a user of the media player.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the reducing step further comprises reducing the output of the media player if a volume of the one or more characteristic forms exceeds a volume threshold.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the reducing step further comprises reducing the output of the media player in a manner that is performed gradually over a period of time.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second volume is a fixed percentage of the first volume.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second volume is based at least in part upon a volume level of the one or more characteristic forms.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second volume is a fixed volume on an absolute volume scale of the media player.
13 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
resuming the output of the media player to the first volume in a manner that is performed gradually over a period of time.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the media player maintains the output at the second volume for a fixed duration.
15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the media player maintains the output at the second volume until the media player is manually reset to the first volume.
16 . The method of claim 1 wherein the media player maintains the output at the second volume for a duration dependent upon the one or more characteristic forms.
17 . The method of claim 1 wherein the media player is manually reset to the first volume by actuating a button on the media player.
18 . The method of claim 1 wherein the reducing step further comprises reducing the output of the media player upon receiving an electronic alert signal.
19 . A method of adjusting an output of a media player comprising:
capturing an ambient audio signal;
processing the ambient audio signal to determine whether one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal; and
mixing at least a portion of the ambient audio signal with a first output of a media player to generate a second output of the media player if the one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise a name or personal identifier of a user of the media player.
21 . The method of claim 19 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise the voice of a user of the media player.
22 . The method of claim 19 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise an alarm or siren.
23 . The method of claim 19 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise one or more generic words commonly used to summon attention.
24 . The method of claim 19 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise a common household sound selected from the group consisting of a doorbell ring, a telephone ring and a baby's cry.
25 . The method of claim 19 wherein the one or more characteristic forms comprise the voice of a person other than a user of the media player.
26 . The method of claim 19 wherein the mixing step further comprises mixing the at least a portion of the ambient audio signal with the first output of the media player to generate the second output of the media player if a volume of the one or more characteristic forms exceeds a volume threshold.
27 . The method of claim 19 wherein the mixing step further comprises mixing the at least a portion of the ambient audio signal with the first output of the media player to generate the second output of the media player in a manner that is performed gradually over a period of time.
28 . The method of claim 19 wherein a first volume of the at least a portion of the ambient audio signal is gradually increased and a second volume of the first output of the media player is gradually decreased.
29 . The method of claim 19 wherein a first volume of the at least a portion of the ambient audio signal is substantial relative to a second volume of the first output of the media player, such that the at least a portion of the ambient audio signal is clearly audible.
30 . The method of claim 19 further comprising:
resuming the first output of the media player in a manner that is performed gradually over a period of time.
31 . The method of claim 19 wherein the media player maintains the second output for a fixed duration following the determination of the one or more characteristic forms.
32 . The method of claim 19 wherein the media player maintains the second output until the media player is manually reset to the first output.
33 . The method of claim 19 wherein the media player maintains the second output dependent upon a duration of the detected one or more characteristic forms.
34 . The method of claim 19 wherein the media player is manually reset to the first output by actuating a button on the media player.
35 . The method of claim 19 wherein the mixing step further comprises mixing the at least a portion of the ambient audio signal with the first output of the media player to generate the second output of the media player upon receiving an electronic alert signal over a wireless link.
36 . An apparatus for use in a media player comprising:
a microphone; and
one or more processors adapted to:
process an ambient audio signal received by the microphone to determine whether one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal, and
adjust an output of a media player if the one or more characteristic forms are present within the ambient audio signal.
37 . The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the one or more processors are adapted to reduce the output of the media player from a first volume to a second volume.
38 . The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the one or more characteristic forms are selected from the group consisting of a name or personal identifier of a user of the media player, the voice of a user of the media player, and an alarm or siren.
39 . The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the one or more processors are adapted to mix at least a portion of the ambient audio signal with a first output of the media player to generate a second output of the media player.
40 . The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the one or more characteristic forms are selected from the group consisting of a name or personal identifier of a user of the media player, the voice of a user of the media player, and an alarm or siren.