IP Library Granted Patent US 10,499,136
Granted Patent B2
US 10,499,136 · App. 15/790,755 · Granted Dec 3, 2019

Providing isolation from distractions

Inventors: Joseph M. Geiger (Clinton, MA); Muhammad Masood (Waltham, MA); Daniel M. Gauger, Jr. (Berlin, MA)
Assignee: Bose Corporation
H04R1/1041G06F3/162G06F3/167G08B1/08G10K11/175G10L15/26G10L17/06H04M1/0258H04M3/56H04M3/567H04M3/568H04N7/141H04R1/1083H04R5/04H04W4/16H04W4/38H04M2203/2072H04R2420/03H04R2420/05H04S2400/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,499,136
App. No.
15/790,755
Granted
Dec 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus includes a first interface for connecting to a personal computer, a second interface for connecting to a communications device, a third interface for connecting to a headset, a fourth interface for connecting to a speaker, and a processor in control of each of the interfaces. The processor is configured to route audio associated with a communications session on one of the personal computer or the communications device to the speaker, and in response to a user putting on the headset, re-route the audio to the headset.

Claims (24)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first interface for connecting to a communications device;

a second interface for connecting to an audio output device; and

a processor in control of each of the interfaces, and configured to:

route an electrical audio privacy masking signal to one of the communications device or the audio output device at a time, wherein the audio privacy masking signal is configured to reduce the loudness to a user of the apparatus of external sounds from sources other than the user, and wherein, in response to an action of a user, the audio privacy masking signal is automatically switched from being routed by the processor to one of the communications device or the audio output device to being routed by the processor to the other of the communications device or the audio output device;

upon initiation of a multiple-participant communication session through the communication device,

begin analyzing speech from remote participants of the session to produce a voice fingerprint for each remote participant,

use a speech-to-text process to identify text corresponding to each participants' likely name, and

associate the identified text with the voice fingerprint produced for each corresponding remote participant; and

when a remote participant speaks during the communication session at a time subsequent to the time their voice fingerprint and likely name was determined, provide an indication to the user of the apparatus of the speaking participant's likely name.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the indication to the user of the apparatus of the speaking participant's likely name is outputted as text via a user interface in one of: the apparatus, the communications device, and the audio output device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

access a calendar event associated with the multiple-participant communication session and determine names of participants listed on the calendar event; and

use the names of the participants listed on the calendar event to identify text corresponding to each participants' likely name.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communications device is integrated into the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the audio output device is integrated into the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second interfaces is a wireless interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to apply a head-related transfer function (HRTF) to each remote participant's speech.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a do-not-disturb indicator in communication with the processor, wherein the processor is further configured to activate the do-not-disturb indicator upon initiation of the multiple-participant communication session.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communications device comprises a headset, and wherein the action of the user comprises putting the headset on or taking the headset off.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communications device comprises a headset, and wherein the processor is further configured to mute the privacy masking signal when the user takes the headset off.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to automatically route the privacy masking signal to the headset when the user puts the headset on and automatically route the privacy masking signal to the audio output device when the user takes the headset off.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the audio output device comprises a loudspeaker.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to tune the privacy masking signal that is routed to the loudspeaker based on the user's voice, so that the user's voice is masked against eavesdropping.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2025
From: BOSE CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 070438/0001 →
Continuity (4)
Division 15195358 · Jun 28, 2016
Continuation 14684829 · Apr 13, 2015
Provisional Application 61979120 · Apr 14, 2014
Related Publication 20180048955A1 · Feb 15, 2018