IP Library Granted Patent US 9,276,543
Granted Patent B2
US 9,276,543 · App. 13/927,782 · Granted Mar 1, 2016

Enhanced audio component in streamed media

Inventor: Jagan Muthugounder Devarajan (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: Nook Digital, LLC
H03G3/20H03G3/3005H03G3/3089
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,276,543
App. No.
13/927,782
Granted
Mar 1, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques are provided for enhancing the audio component of streamed media provided by an application on a computing device, referred to collectively herein as an enhance audio mode. The mode may be configured to enhance audio by adjusting the volume gain during playback of streamed media from a specific application (e.g., Netflix or Pandora). In some cases, detection of playback from a specific media streaming application may be based on detection of a system file update, which may occur, for example, in a user space level. In some cases, the volume gain adjustment may be applied by an audio codec included with the computing device, which may occur, for example, in a kernel space level. The volume gain adjustment may be determined by analyzing the amplitude of the audio component of media streamed from a specific application relative to the speaker(s) included with the computing device.

Claims (34)

1. A computing device, comprising:

a processor; and

an enhance audio mode executable on the processor, the processor configured to:

cause to be received, into a memory, a sample of an audio component of one or more digital media streams from a specific media streaming application;

cause conversion, with a digital-to-analog converter, of the one or more digital media streams into corresponding one or more analog media streams;

analyze an amplitude of the audio component of the one or more analog media streams from the specific media streaming application; and

cause a volume gain adjustment to be applied to the audio component of the one or more analog media streams from the specific media streaming application, the volume gain adjustment based on the analyzed amplitude of the audio component.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the volume gain adjustment is applied by an audio codec.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the volume gain adjustment is applied upon detection of playback of the one or more analog media streams by the specific media streaming application in a kernel space level.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising one or more speakers, wherein the volume gain adjustment is further calculated based on the specifications of the one or more speakers.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the enhance audio mode is further configured to detect playback of the one or more media streams from the specific media streaming application based on a system file update.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the system file update occurs at a user space level.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the volume gain adjustment increases the volume gain for all audio components of the one or more analog media streams played using the specific media streaming application.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the enhance audio mode is further configured to operate with a plurality of specific media streaming applications, and each specific media streaming application of the plurality has a different corresponding volume gain adjustment.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the volume gain adjustment for a specific media streaming application of the plurality of specific media streaming applications is retrieved from a table upon playback from the specific application.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the enhance audio mode is further configured to apply a first volume gain adjustment if the audio component of the one or more analog media streams is being output to one or more speakers of the computing device, and a second volume gain adjustment if the audio component of the one or more media streams is being output to a headphone jack of the computing device.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the enhance audio mode is user-configurable.

12. A non-transitory computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes a plurality of instructions that, when loaded into memory, cause a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

in response to playback of one or more digital media streams from a specific media streaming application, invoke an enhance audio mode configured to:

sample an audio component of the one or more digital media streams from the specific media streaming application;

cause conversion, using a digital-to-analog converter, of the one or more digital media streams into corresponding one or more analog media streams;

analyze an amplitude of the audio component of the one or more analog media streams from the specific media streaming application;

apply a volume gain adjustment to the audio component of the one or more analog media streams from the specific media streaming application, the volume gain adjustment applied based on the analyzed amplitude of the audio component.

13. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12 wherein the volume gain adjustment is applied by an audio codec.

14. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12 wherein the volume gain adjustment is a single adjustment in the range of −10 decibels to +10 decibels.

15. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12 wherein the process is further configured to apply a default volume gain in response to a stoppage in the playback of the one or more analog media streams from the specific media streaming application.

16. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 12 wherein the enhance audio mode is further configured to operate with a plurality of specific media streaming applications, and each specific media streaming application of the plurality has a different corresponding volume gain adjustment.

17. A non-transitory computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes a plurality of instructions that, when loaded into memory, cause a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

sample an audio component of one or more media streams from a specific media streaming application;

analyze an amplitude of the audio component of the one or more media streams from the specific media streaming application;

update an entry in a system file in a user space level of the electronic device upon detection of the one or more media streams from the specific media streaming application;

perform a volume gain adjustment to the audio component of the one or more media streams from the specific media streaming application upon detection of the of the specific media streaming application in a kernel space level of the electronic device, the volume gain adjustment based on the analyzed amplitude of the audio component; and

forward the audio component of the one or more media streams to an audio output.

18. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 17 wherein the audio output is one of one or more speakers and a headphone jack.

Assignments (9)
SECOND LIEN TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS - NOOK Recorded Dec 21, 2021
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: NOOK DIGITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 058561/0338 →
NOTICE AND CONFIRMATION OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 26, 2020
From: NOOK DIGITAL LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 053600/0790 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050010 FRAME: 0234. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 13, 2019
From: NOOK DIGITAL, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 050044/0225 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2019
From: NOOK DIGITAL, LLC
To: WEILS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 050010/0234 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO REMOVE APPLICATION NUMBERS 13924129 AND 13924362 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035187 FRAME 0476. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded May 29, 2015
From: NOOK DIGITAL LLC
To: NOOK DIGITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 036131/0801 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO REMOVE APPLICATION NUMBERS 13924129 AND 13924362 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035187 FRAME 0469. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded May 29, 2015
From: BARNESANDNOBLE.COM LLC
To: NOOK DIGITAL LLC
Reel/Frame 036131/0409 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 11, 2015
From: NOOK DIGITAL LLC
To: NOOK DIGITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 035187/0476 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 11, 2015
From: BARNESANDNOBLE.COM LLC
To: NOOK DIGITAL LLC
Reel/Frame 035187/0469 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2013
From: MUTHUGOUNDER DEVARAJAN, JAGAN
To: BARNESANDNOBLE.COM LLC
Reel/Frame 030693/0197 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61690396 · Jun 26, 2012
Provisional Application 61690422 · Jun 26, 2012
Related Publication 20130343574A1 · Dec 26, 2013