IP Library Granted Patent US 12,737,153
Granted Patent B2
US 12,737,153 · App. 18/813,632 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Audio arbitration for audio devices

Inventors: Brendan Francis Diamond (Naples, FL); Keith Weston (Canton, MI); Anthony Maraldo (Southgate, MI); Andrew Brown (Royal Oak, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
G06F3/165H04R5/04H04S7/303H04R2499/13H04S2400/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,737,153
App. No.
18/813,632
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer may, based on a user position of a first user, control audio output provided to a second user via a second user audio device.

Claims (26)

1 . A system comprising a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

associate a first audio device with a first user and a second audio device with a second user;

output a first audio stream for a first user via the first audio device and a second audio stream for a second user via the second audio device; and

based on a user position of the first user, control the output of the second audio stream provided to the second user via the second audio device independently of controlling the output of the first audio stream provided to the first user via the first audio device.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the user position is a gesture including a head, hand, and/or arm of the first user.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the user position is an eye movement.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the eye movement is an adjustment of the eye of the first user to a viewing direction toward a vehicle component.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the eye movement is an adjustment of the eye of the first user to a viewing direction toward the second user.

6 . The system of claim 1 , the instructions further including instructions to control the audio output based on an external event in addition to the user position of the first user.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the external event is a proximity of another vehicle.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the external event is a traffic condition.

9 . The system of claim 1 , the instructions further including instructions to control the output of the second audio stream based on a predetermined permission.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the permission is based on input by the second user.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the permission is based on input by the first user.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein controlling the output of the second audio stream includes adjusting a volume of the audio output.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein controlling the output of the second audio stream includes pausing the audio output.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein controlling the output of the second audio stream includes changing the audio output from a first audio program to a second audio program.

15 . The system of claim 1 , the instructions further including instructions to control the output of the second audio stream only when a volume of the output of the second audio stream is above a specified volume threshold.

16 . A method comprising:

associate a first audio device with a first user and a second audio device with a second user;

output a first audio stream for a first user via the first audio device and a second audio stream for a second user via the second audio device; and

based on a user position of the first user, controlling the output of the second audio stream provided to the second user via the second audio device independently of controlling the output of the first audio stream provided to the first user via the first audio device.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the user position is a gesture including a head, hand, and/or arm of the first user.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the user position is an eye movement.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising controlling the output of the second audio stream based on an external event in addition to the user position of the first user.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising controlling the output of the second audio stream based on a predetermined permission.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2024
From: DIAMOND, BRENDAN FRANCIS; WESTON, KEITH; MARALDO, ANTHONY; BROWN, ANDREW
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 068384/0537 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20260056700A1 · Feb 26, 2026
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