IP Library Granted Patent US 9,203,527
Granted Patent B2
US 9,203,527 · App. 13/834,014 · Granted Dec 1, 2015

Sharing a designated audio signal

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,203,527
App. No.
13/834,014
Granted
Dec 1, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for sharing a designated audio signal may reproduce the designated audio signal via transducer into an acoustic space. The designated audio signal may be a recorded audio signal, an encoded audio signal, a streamed audio signal and an audio signal component of a multi-media content item. An input audio signal may be received representing a sound field in the acoustic space. One or more microphones may receive the input audio signal. A component contributed by the reproduced designated audio signal may be suppressed in the input audio signal. An echo suppressor may suppress the recaptured designated audio signal. The designated audio signal may be mixed with the suppressed input audio signal to generate an uplink audio signal. The designated audio signal mixed with the suppressed input audio signal may not include artifacts caused by the transducer, the microphone and the acoustic space.

Claims (47)

1. A method for sharing a designated audio signal comprising:

reproducing the designated audio signal via a transducer into an acoustic space;

receiving an input audio signal representing a sound field in the acoustic space;

suppressing in the input audio signal a component contributed by the reproduced designated audio signal;

delaying the designated audio signal in time; and

mixing the delayed designated audio signal with the suppressed input audio signal to generate an uplink audio signal.

2. The method for sharing a designated audio signal of claim 1 , where the designated audio signal reproduced via transducer is mixed with a downlink audio signal.

3. A method for sharing a designated audio signal comprising:

reproducing the designated audio signal via a transducer into an acoustic space;

receiving an input audio signal representing a sound field in the acoustic space;

suppressing in the input audio signal a component contributed by the reproduced designated audio signal; and

mixing the designated audio signal with the suppressed input audio signal to generate an uplink audio signal;

where the designated audio signal reproduced via transducer is mixed with a downlink audio signal; and

where the designated audio signal is independently gain adjusted prior to mixing with the downlink audio signal and the suppressed input audio signal.

4. A method for sharing a designated audio signal comprising:

reproducing the designated audio signal via a transducer into an acoustic space;

receiving an input audio signal representing a sound field in the acoustic space;

suppressing in the input audio signal a component contributed by the reproduced designated audio signal; and

mixing the designated audio signal with the suppressed input audio signal to generate an uplink audio signal;

where the designated audio signal mixed with the suppressed input audio signal is delayed where the amount of delay time aligns the designated audio signal with the input audio signal.

5. The method for sharing a designated audio signal of claim 1 , where the designated audio signal is any of: a recorded audio signal, an encoded audio signal, a streamed audio signal and an audio signal component of a multi-media content item.

6. The method for sharing a designated audio signal of claim 1 , where the designated audio signal is designated based on any of: a user input, a configuration and an operating mode.

7. A system for sharing a designated audio signal comprising:

a transducer to reproduce the designated audio signal into an acoustic space;

a receiver to receive an input audio signal representing a sound field in the acoustic space;

a suppressor to suppress a component in the input audio signal contributed by the reproduced designated audio signal;

a time delay circuit that delays the designated audio signal in time; and

a mixer to mix the delayed designated audio signal with the suppressed input audio signal to generate an uplink audio signal.

8. The system for sharing a designated audio signal of claim 7 , where the designated audio signal reproduced via transducer is mixed using a mixer with a downlink audio signal.

9. A system for sharing a designated audio signal comprising:

a transducer to reproduce the designated audio signal into an acoustic space;

a receiver to receive an input audio signal representing a sound field in the acoustic space;

a suppressor to suppress a component in the input audio signal contributed by the reproduced designated audio signal; and

a mixer to mix the designated audio signal with the suppressed input audio signal to generate an uplink audio signal;

where the designated audio signal reproduced via transducer is mixed using a mixer with a downlink audio signal; and

where the designated audio signal is independently gain adjusted using a gain adjuster prior to mixing with the downlink audio signal and the suppressed input audio signal.

10. A system for sharing a designated audio signal comprising:

a transducer to reproduce the designated audio signal into an acoustic space;

a receiver to receive an input audio signal representing a sound field in the acoustic space;

a suppressor to suppress a component in the input audio signal contributed by the reproduced designated audio signal; and

a mixer to mix the designated audio signal with the suppressed input audio signal to generate an uplink audio signal;

where the designated audio signal mixed with the suppressed input audio signal is delayed by a delay adjuster where the amount of delay time aligns the designated audio signal with the input audio signal.

11. The system for sharing a designated audio signal of claim 7 , where the designated audio signal is any of: a recorded audio signal, an encoded audio signal, a streamed audio signal and an audio signal component of a multi-media content item.

12. The system for sharing a designated audio signal of claim 7 , where the designated audio signal is designated based on any of: a user input, a configuration and an operating mode.

13. The system for sharing a designated audio signal of claim 7 , where the suppressor is an echo suppressor.

14. The system for sharing a designated audio signal of claim 7 , where the system is part of a hands-free communication device.

15. The system for sharing a designated audio signal of claim 7 , where the system is part of a mobile computing device.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2020
From: 2236008 ONTARIO INC.
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053313/0315 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2014
From: 8758271 CANADA INC.
To: 2236008 ONTARIO INC.
Reel/Frame 032607/0674 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2014
From: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
To: 8758271 CANADA INC.
Reel/Frame 032607/0943 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2013
From: NEUFELD, LEONA ARLENE; HETHERINGTON, PHILLIP ALAN
To: QNX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 030904/0947 →