JP6377018B2 - Audio system equalization processing for portable media playback devices - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates generally to audio signal processing, and more specifically to audio system equalization processing for portable media devices. This application claims priority benefit based on “US Provisional Patent Application No. 332,159,” filed on May 6, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference.

  For media playback, portable media devices have become a very widespread means. For example, a device that plays back audio stored in a digital format, such as “iPod®”, and a mobile phone are used to play both music and video / audio content. A growing trend for such devices is the ability of these portable media devices to connect to a wide variety of playback devices and playback systems for playing audio. For example, a user may connect his iPod to a playback system such as a home theater system including speakers, a television with speakers, or a stand-alone docking station with speakers. Each of these playback systems is an example of a different playback system that can connect the same portable media device.

  Portable playback devices for audio stored in digital format have been available for over 10 years, and portable devices for playback of audio stored in digital format on disk or tape are also here Although available for about 10 years, when such a portable device is connected to one of a set of possible playback systems, such as audio playback from such a portable device, etc. There is still a need for crystallization processes. As an example of how long such a device has been available for commercial purposes, the RIO portable playback device manufactured by Diamond Multimedia in California was put on the market in 1998 as a playback device for MP3 files. ing. The PJB-100 personal jukebox produced by HanGo Electronics in South Korea was put on the market for commercial purposes in 1999 and is generally recognized as the first hard disk drive-based playback device. Apple's iPod was launched in 2001. Each of these devices included a digital processor for decompressing and rendering compressed audio stored in digital format.

  In order to improve the listening experience, equalization processing applied directly to the audio signal in the portable media device in order to perform equalization processing on the entire system consisting of the portable media device and the playback system to which it is connected It is advantageous to include a filter in the portable media device. In addition, in order to perform the equalization process for the entire system including the portable media device and the reproduction system to which the portable media device is connected, the portable media device includes a plurality of sets of equalization processing filters. There is a further advantage in that each set of equalization filters can be applied to different ones of a plurality of playback systems to which the portable device can be connected. Furthermore, in order to perform equalization processing on the entire system including the portable media device and the playback system to which the portable media device is connected, the portable media device connected to a specific playback system using the portable media device. There is also an advantage in providing a method for determining a set of equalization filters for use in an end user.

  Embodiments of the present invention include a method, apparatus, system, and logic encoded on a computer-readable storage medium to instruct a processing system to perform the method. The method according to the present invention performs at least correction processing (for example, equalization processing) on the entire system including the portable media device and a reproduction system connected thereto in the portable media device. Further, for example, an operation of directly applying a correction filter such as an equalization processing filter is included.

  Some embodiments of the invention include a method of operating a portable media device. This method is an operation step of reproducing an audio signal on a combination of the portable media device and the reproduction system in a specific listening environment setting while the portable media device is connected to a specific reproduction system. The portable media device applies a specific set of one or more correction filters, the specific set being a collection of one or more sets of pre-stored correction filters or There are operational steps selected from the data relating to this. The collection of one or more sets of correction filters or the data related thereto is pre-stored in the portable media device. Each set in the collection of one or more sets is associated with a corresponding listening environment setting and a corresponding playback system. The particular set of one or more correction filters is determined by executing a calibration method that includes the following operational steps. That is, an operation of recording onto the portable media device a sound field resulting from one or more predefined calibration signals that are played on a particular playback system, the portable type An operational phase in which the recording operation is performed using a microphone embedded in or connected to a media device and located at one or more listener positions desired for a particular listening environment setting; and the acoustic field Analyzing the content of the recording and determining the specific set of one or more correction filters to perform at least an equalization process for the specific playback system; and the specific playback For the system, the data relating to the specific set of one or more correction filters is transported. The calibration method and the operation steps to be stored in the media device includes.

  Some embodiments of the invention include a method of operating a portable media device. The method is an operation of recording on the portable media device an acoustic field resulting from one or more predefined calibration signals played on a particular playback system, the method comprising: Including an operation stage in which the recording operation is performed using a microphone embedded or connected to a portable media device and located at one or more listener positions desired for a particular listening environment setting. Yes. The method also analyzes the recording content of the acoustic field and determines the specific set of one or more correction filters to perform equalization processing for at least the specific playback system. And operating steps for storing data relating to the particular set of one or more of the correction filters in the portable media device for the particular playback system, and Execution of an operational phase allows audio signals on the combination of the portable media device and the playback system in a specific listening environment setting while the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system. At the same time, the portable media device has the determined specific set of one or more correction filters. It is possible to apply.

  In some versions of the invention, the operation of storing data relating to the particular set of one or more correction filters in the portable media device is pre-stored in the portable media device. A set of one or more sets of correction filters or data associated therewith, each set in the set of one or more sets having a corresponding listening environment setting and corresponding reproduction. Associated with the system.

  Some embodiments of the present invention are portable media devices that are configured to play a selected audio signal and are connected to the playback subsystem to perform an audio signal playback operation. A portable media device including a filter subsystem configured to apply a set of one or more correction filters to the audio signal. In addition to these, the portable media device includes a connection function configured to connect the portable media device with a matched connection included in a playback system, and a user configured to receive input from a user. It further includes an interface and a connection function to the microphone or microphone. When the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system in a specific listening environment setting, during the playback operation of the audio signal through the specific playback system, the filter subsystem performs a corresponding listening operation. A specific set of one or more correction filters associated with the environment settings and the corresponding playback system is configured to be applied. The particular set of one or more correction filters is a collection of one or more sets of correction filters pre-stored in a portable media device or a portion of data related thereto, the one or more correction filters. Each set in the collection of sets is associated with a corresponding listening environment setting and a corresponding playback system. In some versions of the present invention, the portable media device according to the present invention has an acoustic field resulting from one or more predefined calibration signals that are played on a particular playback system. A microphone configured to record on the portable media device, the recording operation being built in or connected to the portable media device and located at one or more listener positions for a particular listening environment setting. It is executed using In some of the above-described versions, the portable media device according to the present invention analyzes at least one of the recording contents of the acoustic field and performs at least one equalization process on the specific playback system. Determining the specific set of correction filters and storing data relating to the specific set of one or more correction filters in the portable media device for the specific playback system. Further configured.

  Some embodiments of the present invention are portable media devices, comprising: a reproducing means for reproducing an audio signal; and one or more audio signals for the audio signal while the reproducing means reproduces the audio signal. Filtering means configured to apply a set of correction filters, connection means for connecting the portable media device to a playback system, means for receiving input from a user, and recording means for recording an acoustic field Includes portable media devices. When the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system by the connection means in a specific listening environment setting, during the audio signal playback operation via the specific playback system, the filtering means Is associated with a listening environment setting and a corresponding playback system, and is configured to apply a specific set of one or more correction filters. The particular set of one or more correction filters is a collection of one or more sets of correction filters pre-stored in a portable media device or a portion of data related thereto, the one or more correction filters. Each set in the collection of sets is associated with a corresponding listening environment setting and a corresponding playback system. In some embodiments of the present invention, in addition to the above means, one or more correction filters may be used to analyze the recording content of the acoustic field and perform equalization processing on at least the specific playback system. Analyzing means for determining the specific set comprising: storage means for storing data relating to the set of one or more correction filters in the portable media device for the specific playback system; Contains. The recording means is configured to record on the portable media device an acoustic field resulting from one or more predefined calibration signals played on a particular playback system; This recording operation is performed using a microphone that is built in or connected to the portable media device and placed at one or more listener positions for a particular listening environment setting. The analysis means is configured to analyze the recording content of the acoustic field and determine a specific set of one or more correction filters in order to perform equalization processing on at least a specific playback system. And the storage means is configured to store in the portable media device data relating to the specific set of one or more correction filters for the specific playback system.

  Particular embodiments of the present invention may or may not realize all or part of these aspects, technical features or advantages. Certain embodiments of the invention may realize one or more of other aspects, technical features, or advantages other than those described above, and the claims and drawings appended hereto and the specification. It is possible to realize one or more aspects, technical features or advantages that are immediately obvious from the description in the detailed description section of the invention.

1 shows a simplified appearance of a user, a portable media device, and a playback system that can be connected to the portable media device, with each component in the figure showing what is in a calibration mode of operation. FIG. 2 shows a simplified appearance of a user, a portable media device, and a playback system to which the portable media device can be connected, and each component in the figure shows what is in a playback operation mode. A simplified block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a portable media device that includes at least one or more technical features of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a playback system to which a portable media device is connectable and to which the portable media device is connected when implementing the technical features of the present invention. A simplified flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a calibration method A simplified flow diagram illustrating a method of operating a portable media device that stores data relating to a collection of correction filter sets. FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram illustrating one implementation that includes a remote storage of data relating to a collection of one or more sets of correction filters, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

1A and 1B show the simplified appearance of a user 141, a portable media device 121, and a playback system 103 capable of connecting the portable media device, respectively, where each component in FIG. 1A is shown. The elements indicate those in the calibration operation mode, while the components in FIG. 1B indicate those in the reproduction operation mode.

  The portable media device 121 includes a connection function 127 configured to connect the portable media device to a matched connection included in the playback system, which in this case is the playback system 103. In addition, the portable media device 121 also typically includes a user interface 123 that includes a display device and a user input mechanism such that the user input mechanism accepts commands from the user 141. It is configured. The portable media device 121 is also connected to the playback subsystem 128 configured to play back the selected audio signal, and the playback subsystem 128, and with respect to the audio signal during the playback operation of the audio signal. Further included is a filter subsystem 129 configured to apply a set of one or more correction filters. Although not shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, other components shown in more detailed drawings of the apparatus include a processor and a storage subsystem, In an embodiment, these components are included in the regeneration subsystem 128 and the filter subsystem. The storage subsystem is configured to store data relating to one or more sets of correction filters and apply the data relating to a particular set in the filter subsystem.

  The playback system 103 includes a playback module 107 that includes at least one loudspeaker 105 (in the playback system illustrated in the figure, two speakers are shown) one or more audio amplifiers.

  FIG. 1B illustrating one embodiment of the present invention comprises a normal playback operation of audio signals from media files stored in the portable media device 121, at which time the portable media device 121 is The portable media device 121 and the reproduction system 103 are connected to the reproduction system 103 via connection functions 127 and 113 on the reproduction system 103 respectively. The user 141 is standing at a specific listener position. A particular listening environment and listener position for the playback system and listener defines a listening environment setting. The operation of reproducing the audio signal in the combination of the portable media device and a specific reproduction system is executed in parallel with the following operation by the portable media device. That is, the portable media device 121 uses the filter subsystem 129 to select the one selected for this particular playback system 103 and listening environment setting from one or more sets of pre-stored correction filters. Apply a specific set of one or more correction filters.

  As will be described in more detail below, for example, a collection of one or more sets of correction filters represented in the form of data relating to a plurality of filters is pre-stored in the portable media device 121 for listening environment settings. The Each set consists of one or more correction filters, and each set included in the collection is associated with a corresponding playback system and a corresponding listening environment setting.

  FIG. 1A illustrates another aspect of the present invention, a calibration method for determining a specific set of one or more correction filters to perform equalization processing for at least a specific playback system and listening environment setting. The reproduction system in this example is the reproduction system 103. The portable media device 121 includes a built-in microphone or can be connected to at least one microphone 125. The calibration method includes the act of recording on the portable media device 121 the resulting acoustic field from one or more predefined calibration signals 111 played on a particular playback system. The microphone 125 is located at one or more listener positions desired for a particular listening environment setting. The calibration method analyzes one or more correction filters to analyze the recording content of the acoustic field and perform equalization processing at least for the particular playback system (and possibly further for listening environment settings). The data relating to the particular set of one or more correction filters for the operation of determining the data relating to the particular set of and for the particular playback system (and possibly further listening preferences) Is stored in the portable media device 121. In some embodiments of the present invention, the calibration method may also include the operation of performing the recording operation described above from several locations and averaging the results. Thus, there may be more than one desired listener position associated with the listening environment setting.

  In this way, data relating to a collection of correction filter sets is pre-stored in the portable media device, and each set in the collection is associated with a corresponding playback system and corresponding listening environment setting. It has been.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited by the type of portable media device. The minimum requirement that the portable media device must meet must have the ability to play audio stored in digital form and is connected to or connected to one or more microphones It is a requirement that it must be possible and that it must be possible to connect to any one of a plurality of playback systems. Specific examples of portable media devices include, but are not limited to, the following audio playback devices. For example, Apple iPod (registered trademark), Sandisk SANSA (registered trademark), Creative ZEN VISION (registered trademark), Microsoft ZUNE (registered trademark), etc. Other models made by other manufacturers. Other specific examples include, but are not limited to, an audio storage unit and a mobile phone having a playback function. These mobile phones are manufactured by almost all mobile phone manufacturers and are called “smart cellular phones”, such as Apple's iPhone (registered trademark), Google's NEXUS ONE ( Registered trademark) and many other models that are too numerous to list all. Many of these can include audio data stored in digital format as well as audio data stored in digital format, and video stored in digital format. It has a function of reproducing video / audio contents such as files.

  Furthermore, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited by the type of playback system. The minimum requirements to be fulfilled by the playback system must include one or more speakers, either in a wired connection, a wireless connection, or directly or docked via a wired or wireless network. It is a requirement that it must have a function of connecting to a portable media device. The minimum requirements further include receiving at least one signal containing at least audio content from the portable media device while connected to the portable media device, and transmitting audio in the signal. Includes the requirement that it must have the ability to play. In addition, the above minimum requirements can be further stored in the playback system, loaded onto a storage subsystem in the playback system, or externally Including the requirement to have the capability to play back one or more calibration files that are either capable of being sent to the playback system from a source of calibration signals. Specific examples of playback systems include, but are not limited to, so-called “docking speakers” designed to include a connection mechanism for a particular model of portable media device. For example, “Amazon.com”, a prominent shopping website in the United States, has 1953 items as a search result with the keyword “iPod speaker” in the field of electronic products as of March 16, 2010. As a search result using “docking speaker” as a keyword, 1295 items are listed. Specific examples of playback systems further include, but are not limited to, home theater systems that include a home theater receiver. Some home theater systems further include a connection mechanism for specific models of portable media devices, while other home theater systems include audio (RCA) connectors and TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) Includes common input connectors such as sockets for or TRRS (Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve) connectors. Other examples of playback systems further include, but are not limited to, televisions that have built-in or connectable loudspeakers. Such televisions typically include an external audio terminal. In addition, specific examples of playback systems include, but are not limited to, automotive audio systems, and as of 2010, such automotive audio systems are generally portable media. It includes connection mechanisms for specific models of equipment and / or common input connectors such as sockets for TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) and TRRS (Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve) connectors.

  Since certain portable media devices can be connected to more than one playback system, the embodiments of the present invention described below are particularly useful.

  FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a portable media device that includes at least one or more technical features of the present invention. Not all portable media devices include all of the components illustrated in FIG. 2, and some portable media devices may include additional components not illustrated in FIG. Will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  The digital components comprising the portable media device 121 include a plurality of components connected by a bus subsystem 241, which is purely a single bus for the purpose of simplifying the drawing description. It is shown in the figure. The plurality of digital components include at least one processor 243, a storage subsystem 245, a user interface 123, at least one digital interface 231 connected to the main connector 211, one or more digital / analog conversion circuits ( DAC) and one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), which convert digital information, such as digitized audio signals, into one or more audio amplifier circuits within analog subsystem 225. The analog audio signal is converted into an analog audio signal for reproduction via the analog audio signal, and the ADC is for converting the analog audio signal into a digitized analog signal. The DACs and ADCs in the figure are illustrated as module 233 with the interfaces associated with them. The DAC and ADC 233 in the figure are connected to the analog subsystem 225. In addition, the portable media device 121 further includes at least one wireless interface 249. Examples of the wireless interface 249 include, but are not limited to, a wireless network interface, a Bluetooth interface, and an infrared interface. . An example of such a wireless interface is a common Wi-fi IEEE 802.11 wireless network interface. In addition, some embodiments of the portable media device 121 according to the present invention further include a wireless network interface for a mobile phone, whereby the portable media device 121 also functions as a mobile phone. It will be possible. In addition, some embodiments may further include other wireless network interfaces, such as a Bluetooth interface.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the portable media device 121 further includes a battery connected to the main connector 211 and an electronic subsystem 215 associated therewith.

  In some embodiments of the invention, the analog subsystem 225 is connected to the main connector 211 so that, for example, an analog audio signal is available at the main connector 211. In addition, the main connector 211 is also connected to the bus subsystem 241 and at least one digital interface 231 so that signals can be supplied to and acquired from the main connector 211 and any components to be connected. Is possible.

  The analog subsystem 225 is connected to the microphone 125, and in this embodiment, the microphone 125 is self-contained. Another embodiment of a microphone is a microphone 125 that can be connected. This embodiment further includes a loudspeaker connected to the analog subsystem 225. This embodiment includes a set of at least one input / output connector, so that a set of a plurality of external loudspeakers such as a loudspeaker built in a headphone can be connected. In addition, different analog audio signals can be input via the analog subsystem 225.

  In some embodiments of the invention, the user interface 123 includes a display screen 261 operable to display information to the user, one or more buttons 264 that accept input from the user, and also It includes a keypad / keyboard 263 that accepts input from the user. In some embodiments, the display screen 261 includes a touch-sensitive surface that accepts input from a user, and in some such embodiments, at least some of the buttons 264 are so-called soft buttons. A soft button, which is generated by displaying a button in a specific area of the display screen 261 (with a message for the user as the case may be) and when the user touches the specific area This is a button that causes an input as if the hardware button was pressed. Similarly, separate modules are shown for the keypad / keyboard 263 and some or all of these components can comprise soft buttons on the display screen 261.

  The storage subsystem 245, when executed by at least one processor 243, causes its portable media device 121 to perform its normal functions and also to execute executable instructions that are also for performing some embodiments of the present invention. Includes shape programs. Some of the programs 251 provide, for example, a function of displaying a button 264 and receiving an input from the button when executed. In some embodiments, the program 251 is known around 2010. In this case, the button 264 includes a soft button shown in the display screen 261. Storage subsystem 245 is further configured to store digital content, which is shown in FIG. 2 as stored audio-visual (AV) content 253, but can include only audio stored in digital form. . The information content of the stored content 253 is typically stored as a compressed data file, for example in the case of audio as an AAC format or MP3 format file as shown as audio file 254 in the figure. Equivalent to. The program 251 also includes instructions that, when executed, cause a digital signal to be formed by the operation of playing back an audio file stored in digital form, which is then analogized by the D / A converter of the module 233. A signal that has been converted to a form and amplified by at least one amplifier in the analog subsystem 225. Thus, the portable media device 121 includes a playback subsystem configured to play the selected audio signal. In the illustrated embodiment, the playback system is comprised of components within the analog subsystem 225, a D / A converter of the module 233, and a series of instructions that are stored in the storage subsystem 245. These instructions are included in the program 251 and play audio content that forms the selected audio signal when executed.

  As will be described in detail later, the storage subsystem 245 is also configured to store a plurality of correction filter profiles, examples of such correction filter profiles are for example to implement a set of correction filters. An equalization profile 257 including necessary data. In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the correction filter profiles 258 included in the collection of correction filter profiles 257 is data required to implement a particular set of one or more correction filters for a particular playback system. I will provide a. Because the correction filter profile 258 provides the data necessary to implement a particular set of one or more correction filters for a particular playback system, for ease of explanation, the two terms “correction filter. “Profile 258” and “data on a set of one or more correction filters” are used interchangeably. However, having a profile is only one example of a means for implementing a set of one or more correction filters, and thus using the same terms as described above is an implementation of the present invention. It is not intended to limit the aspects to only those that use profiles.

  In this way, the portable media device 121 is connected to the playback subsystem and applies a set of one or more correction filters to the audio signal during the playback operation of the selected audio signal. Contains the configured filter subsystem.

  The storage subsystem 245 includes several types of storage devices, includes a semiconductor memory, and can include a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, numerous alternative embodiments may be implemented with respect to the above.

  Some of the components of the portable media device 121 can be provided as part of a large integrated circuit. The functions related to these can be realized by being divided on a plurality of devices. Furthermore, there may be one or more individual components. The functionality of at least one element can be provided by executing one or more programs on one or more of the at least one processor 243. For example, one or more processors 243 may include the functionality of a DSP device, in the form of a DSP portion in an integrated circuit, or in some embodiments, in the form of a separate DSP device. A general-purpose processor can be used in place of or in addition to the above circuit configuration. Many variants of this kind can be implemented with respect to the above. Details regarding the architecture that can be implemented in the portable media device 121 are not described herein because of the requirement that aspects of the invention should not be obscured.

  FIG. 3 shows a simplified block diagram of an exemplary embodiment for playback system 103. The portable media device can be connected to a plurality of playback systems. The playback system shown is one embodiment. Not all of the components shown in FIG. 3 are included in all playback system embodiments, and some playback systems may include additional components not shown in FIG. Will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the playback system of FIG. 3 includes a number of digital components including a storage device for digital media files, and includes an interface that connects the playback system to a wireless network and has a wired network connection. Many playback systems do not have this type of component.

  The playback system includes a coupling (shown as coupling 113 in FIGS. 1A and IB) to a portable media device, such as media device 121, for example. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the coupling 113 takes the form of a main connector 311 configured to connect to a portable media device, such as the device 121. The main connector 311 includes a connection that receives an analog audio signal from a connected portable media device. The main connector 311 is connected to an analog subsystem 325 that includes one or more audio amplifiers for reproducing audio signals through a set in which one or more loudspeakers 105 are coupled together.

  A set 313 of at least one input / output connector is included so that a plurality of different audio signals in analog form can be input via the analog subsystem 325. In this way, the analog input connector included in the connector set 313 is coupled to the portable media device in place of the main connector 311 or in addition to the main connector 311 (in FIG. 1A and FIG. IB, as the coupling 113). As shown). Of course, some embodiments of the present invention do not include this type of additional input, while other embodiments according to the present invention include a main connector configured to receive an analog type input signal. Not included. In some embodiments of the present invention, an output terminal is also included in element 313 so that a set of external loudspeakers (eg, headphones including multiple loudspeaker devices) can be connected. It is.

  In the illustrated embodiment, a control input means such as a volume control volume is implemented via the user interface 347, which in this case includes digital elements. The user interface for the playback system can of course also include one or more analog components, such as an analog volume control volume.

  The digital components included in playback system embodiment 103 include multiple components interconnected by a bus subsystem 341 (shown simply as a single bus for simplicity). These digital components include at least one processor 343, a storage subsystem 345, a user interface 347, at least one digital interface 331 connected to the main connector 311 and digital information such as digitized audio signals. One or more digital / analog converters (D / A converters) for conversion are included, and the conversion processing by the D / A converters is performed via at least one audio amplifier of the analog subsystem 325. Digital information from AV content stored in the storage subsystem 345 is converted into an analog audio signal for playback on one loudspeaker 105. The D / A converters, along with their associated interfaces, are shown as modules 333 connected to the analog subsystem 325.

  In some versions, the playback system 103 includes at least one wireless interface 349, which includes but is not limited to, for example, a wireless network interface, a Bluetooth interface, an infrared interface, and the like. Such a wireless interface is a common Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 wireless network interface. The wireless network interface enables connection to a network such as a home network, which is further connected to an external network (eg, the Internet). Some embodiments of the playback system 103 according to the present invention further include a Bluetooth interface and an infrared interface configured to receive commands from the remote control 315.

  In order to allow the playback system 103 to connect to a wired network (eg, a wired home network), some embodiments according to the present invention also include one or more other network interfaces 335. The wired network can be further connected to an external network (eg, the Internet).

  In some embodiments of the present invention, the main connector is also connected to a charging circuit 317 that provides power for charging the connected portable media device and controls related to charging. Configured to receive a signal.

  In some embodiments of the present invention, a signal is provided to whatever main connector 311 is connected to, and a signal is obtained from anything to which main connector 311 is connected. The connector 311 is also connected to the bus subsystem 341 and at least one digital interface 331.

  In some embodiments including one or more processors 343 and storage subsystem 345, storage subsystem 345 is executable to perform the normal functions of playback device 103 when executed by at least one processor 343. Includes programs in the form of instructions. In some such embodiments, the storage subsystem 345 may further include only audio stored in digital form, as shown in FIG. 3, but as stored audio-visual (AV) content 353. It is also configured to store digital content that is content. For example, in the case of audio such as an AAC or MP3 file, the content of the stored content 353 is typically stored as a compressed data file such as an audio file 354.

  While the present invention is not limited to this type of embodiment, in some embodiments a digitally driven user interface 347 is included. In the exemplary embodiment, user interface 347 includes a display screen 361 operable to display information to the user and one or more buttons and knobs 364 that receive input from the user. In some embodiments of the invention, the display screen 361 includes a touch-sensitive surface that receives input from a user, and in some such embodiments, at least a button or knob 364. Some are so-called soft buttons, which are generated by causing a button to be displayed in a specific area of the display screen 361 (possibly with a message for the user), so that the user can Touching the button causes an input as if the hardware button was pressed. Thus, some of the programs 351, for example, have a function that causes the device to display and accept input from buttons 364 including soft buttons displayed on the display screen 361 when executed. Is realized.

  The storage subsystem 345 includes several types of storage devices, includes a semiconductor memory, and can include a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, many variations on the above embodiment are possible.

  One aspect of embodiments according to the present invention is the regeneration of one or more calibration signals by a regeneration system. In some versions, the calibration signal can be input, for example, via an external connector or via a wireless or wired connection. In other implementations, the calibration signal can be pre-stored in digital form within the storage subsystem. In yet other implementations, the calibration signal can be obtained by connection and subsequently stored in the storage subsystem 355 in digital form for playback. The calibration signal stored in digital form is shown as calibration signal 355 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG.

  Some of the components of the playback system 103 can be provided as part of a large integrated circuit. The function can be divided and implemented on a plurality of devices. Furthermore, there can be one or more individual components. The function of at least one component can be provided by executing one or more programs in one or more of the at least one processor 343. Many variations of this type of embodiment are possible. Details regarding the possible architecture of the playback system 103 are not described herein in order not to obscure the embodiments of the present invention.

  A specific aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is that a single portable media device is not only connectable to several different playback devices, but also to a single device that can be heard at a plurality of different locations. It means that even a connection is possible. Thus, although only one embodiment of a playback system is shown here, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are many possible playback devices to which a portable media device can be connected. . Such playback devices are relatively simple, while other playback devices are more complex.

  The invention disclosed in this specification, for example, equalizes each of various playback devices to which a portable media device may be connected by directly applying correction filtering in the portable media device. A method of applying the correction filtering is provided. The present invention is not limited to any particular type of correction filtering, and equalization is one embodiment of correction filtering that can be applied, as described herein.

  Some embodiments according to the invention include a method of operating a portable media device 121. The method according to the present invention includes playing an audio signal in a combination of the portable media device 121 and a playback system, and at the same time, the portable media device 121 is connected to a specific playback system 103 and is connected to a specific listening system. The environment has been set. During playback, the portable media device has a specific set of one or more correction filters selected from a pre-stored collection of data for at least one set of one or more correction filters. Apply.

  Data relating to the collection of one or more sets of correction filters is stored in advance in the portable media device 121. Data about each set in the collection is associated with a corresponding playback system (and listening environment settings). In the embodiment of FIG. 2, a particular set of one or more correction filters is shown as a profile 258 that contains the data necessary to implement the set of filters, and the implementation process for such a set of filters. Is executed, for example, by executing one or more programs in at least one of the one or more processors 243.

  The term “listening preferences” can imply one particular listening position, or it can also imply a range of positions where the listener is, and even the listener's position with respect to a particular playback system. Please be careful. For example, a correction filter can be designed to equalize the listening sound from a playback system having a particular loudspeaker 105, and the correction filter is determined with respect to one particular listener position. While possible, it can also be enabled for listener positions over a range. Furthermore, measurements from multiple listener positions (recording operations) can be performed to determine a single correction filter averaged over a range of listener positions. Thus, the term “listening preferences” should not be construed to mean only a single listener position that is using a particular playback system (ie, other listeners using a particular playback system). It should not be interpreted in the sense that it cannot be applied with respect to the listener position). First, a correction filter determined from one or more recording results at a single listener position can be used for listener positions over a range, and second, a calibration method. In some such embodiments, from a number of listener positions to determine a single set of “averaged” correction filters that are suitable when the listener positions are over a range. Measurements can be performed.

  A specific set of one or more correction filters is measured by a calibration method. FIG. 4 shows a simplified flowchart of an embodiment of calibration method 400. The method 400 regenerates one or more pre-defined calibration signals 111 at a particular replay system 103 at step 403 and at 405 one or more pre-defined calibrations during the replay operation. This includes recording on the portable media device 121 the acoustic field that results from playing the signal 111 from the particular playback system 103. Recording is performed using a microphone 125 that is built into or connected to the portable media device 121, which is located at one or more desired listener positions that are part of the listening preferences. doing. As described above, there can be multiple locations associated with the listening preferences, and the recording can include recordings recorded at multiple listener locations. The method at 407 determines the specific set of one or more correction filters that perform at least equalization processing with respect to a particular playback system (and possibly with respect to the listening environment). Analyzing the recording content, and at 409, for a particular playback system (and for a listening environment), record a particular set of one or more correction filters in the portable media device.

  In one set of embodiments according to the present invention, information is stored in the portable media device 121. In another set of embodiments according to the present invention, the storage of information may be performed remotely, possibly following, or even later, in the portable media device 121. This may be the case, for example, for storage on a remote storage system on a remote server for the portable media device 121. Therefore, the storage of information may be stored in the portable media device 121 with respect to a particular playback system 103 (and listening environment) or may be stored somewhere with respect to the portable media device.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the portable media device 121 includes a user interface that displays a calibration button included in the plurality of buttons 264 or from one or more correction filters. Some other function is provided to allow the user to perform recording, analysis and storage operations on a particular set of. The calibration method receives instructions from the user on the user interface to perform operation steps such as recording operation, analysis operation and storage operation for a specific set of one or more correction filters, and the instructions Performing these operational steps in response to receipt of.

  Also, in some embodiments where the portable media device 121 includes its own microphone, the method embodiment according to the present invention is extremely easy to use and provides a self-contained factor for calibration. The user may simply hit the “calibration button” among the plurality of buttons 264 and hold the portable media device 121 in a listener position, for example, located in front of the speaker 105 of the playback system.

  In one embodiment, the calibration signal is pre-stored in the portable media device 121, such as, for example, the calibration signal 255 in the storage subsystem 245 of the portable media device 121, and the calibration signal is Can be loaded onto the playback system 103 for storage within the playback system. In another embodiment of the invention, the portable media device 121 is connected to the playback system from the listener location via wired or wireless, and a calibration signal is sent to the playback system 103 for further playback, at the same time as a result. The resulting acoustic field is recorded and analyzed to determine a specific set of one or more correction filters for the combination of portable media device 121 and playback system. In yet another embodiment, the calibration signal is placed on the playback system for playback, for example by some other mechanism, such as preloaded into the playback system or supplied in real time by other signal sources. Supplied. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited by any particular method of providing a calibration signal to the playback system. The scope of the present invention is not limited by any method for providing a calibration signal (eg, in digital form or as an analog signal) on a playback system.

  FIG. 5 shows a simplified flowchart of a method 500 for operating a portable media device, such as device 121, for example, where data relating to a collection of correction filters on the device is corrected, for example. Stored in the form of data for implementing the filter, each set of correction filters is associated with a corresponding playback system (and corresponding listening preferences).

  The method according to the present invention includes, at step 503, connecting the portable media device 121 to a particular playback system 103 that is in a particular listening environment. The method according to the invention is pre-stored in step 505 consisting of one or more correction filters to perform at least equalization processing for a particular playback system 103 (and possibly also for the listening environment). The operation further includes selecting (manually or automatically) the specified specific set. If data relating to the collection of correction filters is not stored locally, step 505 includes at least an operation of loading a selected particular set of one or more correction filters. This operation may occur separately from the selected operation and at a different time. While the portable media device 121 is connected to the specific playback system 103, step 507 includes an operation of playing an audio signal on the portable media device 121. The reproduction operation includes an operation of applying a specific set of one or more correction filters.

  When performing a manual selection operation in step 505, in some embodiments, the portable media device includes a user interface 123 that includes, for example, a plurality of buttons 264, and a pre- Including a display to the user regarding one or more sets of correction filters stored in. The method according to the present invention is portable, for example, an instruction given by the user via the user interface 123 to notify that a particular set of one or more correction filters should be used for playback. The operations received by the media device 121 are included.

  Some embodiments according to the invention provide for the automatic selection of one or more correction filter sets. In some embodiments of the present invention, for example, with respect to some so-called “playback system with speakers connected by docking”, a signal representing the type and / or model of the playback device is output, for example, via the main connector. Equally, the playback system can be configured to provide some indication to the attached portable media device. The method 500 of the present invention, in some embodiments, receives an indication from a particular playback system that the portable media device indicates that the particular portable media device is connected to a particular playback system. Operation to include. In response to the display, the method according to the present invention includes an operation of automatically selecting a particular set of one or more correction filters associated with a particular portable media device for playback. As such, some embodiments of the portable media device according to the present invention are configured.

Furthermore, some embodiments of the portable media device according to the present invention have a predefined set of correction filters that are predefined for a particular class of playback system. For example, a simple “playback system with speakers connected by docking can form a class, a television receiver can form a class, and a home stereo receiver with speakers connected A class can be formed, a home receiver to which a subwoofer is connected can form a class, an in-vehicle playback system in an automobile can form a class, and so on.
In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of sets of correction filters is a pre-defined set that is predefined for a class of playback systems.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited by any particular type of correction filter, nor is it limited by how such a correction filter is implemented and specified.
In the near future, portable media devices may have enough processing power to implement more sophisticated correction filters than filters that equalize a set of multibands. Next, several possible types of correction filters will be described. These are disclosed merely as examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by any particular type of correction filter.

Some embodiments of the present invention for a set of one or more correction filters include a set of multiple filters that equalize the multiband. The audible frequency range is divided into a set of frequency bands, and each filter included in the set of filters that equalize the multiband sets a relative gain with respect to one of the frequency bands. This type of “filter for equalizing multiband” is a known technique. For any particular portable media device, the number of frequency bands is a fixed or settable value and is typically a relatively small number (eg, 6, 9 or 12). There are many ways to implement this type of filter, and one embodiment of the present invention is implemented by one program among multiple programs 251 running on processor 243 (eg, on a DSP element). Use digital signal processing methods. That is, when a portable media device is connected to a particular playback system, applying a specific set of one or more correction filters is one of one or more processors included in the portable media device. In at least one, it includes an operation for digitally processing the digital signal. In some embodiments, in each frequency band, the filters that equalize the multiband are inserted as a set of digital parametric filters. This type of parametric filter is defined by a set of parameters.
In one embodiment of the present invention, each set of parameters is stored as a correction filter profile 258 included in the correction filter profile collection 257, and is identified by one or more correction filters for a particular playback system. Can be used to implement a set of

  In an alternative embodiment according to the invention, the playback circuit of the portable media device 121 implements a variable set for gain control according to respective gain parameters for a predefined number of frequency bands. . A set of gain settings is stored as a correction filter profile 258 included in a collection 257 of correction filter profiles, and for a particular playback system, a specific set of one or more correction filters. Can be used to implement.

  More advanced correction filters can be applied to the playback operation via a playback system that includes two or more loudspeakers, examples of such playback systems are, for example, recently home theater receivers. Is a reproduction system that provides surround sound, which is common in Japan. The correction filter for this type of playback system is more sophisticated that can provide multiple relative gains for the signal generated by the portable media device 121 for multiple different loudspeakers 105 in the playback system. Settings can be included.

  In recent years, perceptual domain processing has been invented that takes into account changes in the audio perception level in accordance with the reproduction level of the audio signal. The time-sampled audio signal shown in the figure includes, for example, a plurality of frequency bands (a plurality of frequency bands) as shown in the figure as 40 frequency bands (each indicated by a band number in the figure and changing for each time block). It is preprocessed to produce a time-varying spectrum showing signal levels within the critical frequency band). Although the time-varying spectrum of an audio signal can be generated in many ways, it is preferable to provide spacing between multiple frequency bands in order to simulate the human auditory frequency resolution. A quantity called the excitation signal is calculated as a quantity that approximates the distribution of energy along the basement membrane of the human inner ear in the critical frequency band over a period of one time block. Other transforms (eg, modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT)) can also be used, while perceptual domain excitation is a selected set of human outer and inner ear and bandpass filters. Efficient by calculating the running short-time discrete Fourier transform (STDFT) of the audio signal using the frequency response of the filter simulating the transmission of audio through Examples of such bandpass filters include filtering of critical frequency bands observed along the basement membrane of the human ear in each of the critical frequency bands of interest, for example. There is a bandpass filter etc. chosen to imitate. An exemplary embodiment according to the present invention uses a set of filters with a spacing of one ERB, resulting in a total of 40 frequency bands.

  Within a playback device, as playback levels increase during playback operations, audio playback may appear perceptually distorted and often distorted to a greater degree. This type of distortion is often frequency dependent for a single playback device. One form of correction filtering process is to apply multi-band compression to the audio signal before playback, which is a process to try to reduce distortion and maximize the playback level. One simple method is to specify a distortion threshold that is specified for each frequency band of the compressor. The compressor independently applies gain values that are different for each frequency band, thereby ensuring that the output signal does not exceed any of the corresponding distortion thresholds.

  An improved set of correction filters includes a timbre preservation function within a multi-band compressor. Tonal preservation is accomplished by determining a time-varying threshold value in each of the plurality of frequency bands, such determination includes (i) a respective fixed threshold value for the frequency band, and at least in part. (Ii) performed as a function of the audio signal level in the second frequency band (which may be either a digital or analog audio signal), and (iii) a fixed threshold in the second frequency band. The As a result, each of the time varying threshold values is adaptive to the input signal. If a particular frequency band has experienced significant gain attenuation due to exceeding (or alternatively approaching) that fixed threshold, one The time-varying thresholds of these other frequency bands are also reduced, resulting in some gain attenuation.

  An exemplary embodiment of applying correction filtering based on a multi-band compressor having this kind of timbre preservation function is to supply or determine a fixed threshold for the first frequency band, and Determining a first level of the audio signal within one frequency band. The first level can be a level smaller than the fixed threshold. The method determines a second level of the audio signal for a second frequency band and uses the second level for the first frequency band to calculate a time-varying threshold. To further include. The time-varying threshold value is a value smaller than the fixed threshold value. The method attenuates the audio signal in the first frequency band to be equal to or less than the time-varying threshold or, alternatively, as the time-varying threshold is approached. Including stepwise attenuating the audio signal in one frequency band. The time-varying threshold is calculated from the average difference between the audio input signal in each frequency band and its corresponding fixed threshold. Optionally, a second fixed threshold for the second frequency band can be further determined. The second level of the audio signal can exceed the second fixed threshold, so that the audio signal in the second frequency band reaches the second fixed threshold. It will be attenuated. One set of correction filters for implementing this type of method includes a multi-band filter bank, a compression functional element, and at least one timbre preservation functional element. Each of the compression function elements can be a function element dedicated to one frequency band. The tone color preservation functional element is connected to the multiband filter bank and the compression functional element. The timbre storage functional element receives a fixed threshold for each frequency band and provides a time-varying threshold for each frequency band. The time-varying threshold for a frequency band is determined in part by the level of the audio signal outside the frequency band.

  A more detailed description of this type of correction filtering is described in US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 315,172, filed March 18, 2010, entitled “TECHNIQUES FOR DISTORTION REDUCING MULTI-BAND COMPRESSOR WITH TIMBRE PRESERVATION”. The contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

  Another form of the correction filtering is to apply an inverse transform filter for changing the frequency response characteristic of the loudspeaker included in the reproduction system, and to output the inversely transformed filter output of the loudspeaker as a target frequency response characteristic. It tries to match. As in the processing based on the perceptual method described above, the method is applied to a critical frequency band, which is a frequency corresponding to the entire frequency range determined according to judgment based on a perceptual stimulus. It is a band. Typically, the multiple critical frequency bands that divide the audible frequency range have a spread that increases with frequency over the audible frequency range. The method uses “critically banded data”, which means two things: First of all, the entire frequency range includes a plurality of critical frequency bands. Second, the data includes a plurality of subsets, each subset consisting of data representing audio content included in each different one of the plurality of critical frequency bands.

  The target frequency response characteristic may be flat or may have some other predetermined shape.

  In some embodiments of the invention, the calibration method includes determining an inverse transform filter for a loudspeaker included in the playback system. The calibration operation measures the loudspeaker impulse response characteristics at each of a number of different spatial locations within the listening environment setting, aligns and averages the measured impulse response characteristics over time. Determined impulse response characteristics. Subsequently, the calibration operation uses critical frequency band smoothing to determine an inverse transform filter from the averaged impulse response characteristic and the target frequency response characteristic. For example, the critical frequency band smoothing is applied to the averaged impulse response and, optionally, to the target frequency response characteristic during the determination process of the inverse transform filter. It can also be applied to determine the target frequency response characteristic. Measurement of the impulse response characteristics at a number of different spatial locations can ensure that the frequency response characteristics of the speakers are determined at a wide variety of listener positions. In some embodiments of the invention, aligning the measured impulse response characteristics over time is performed using real cepstrum and minimum phase reconstruction techniques.

  In some embodiments of the invention, the averaged impulse response characteristic is transformed into the frequency domain via a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) or other transformation from the time domain to the frequency domain. The resulting frequency component represents a measured and averaged impulse response characteristic. These frequency components in each of the transformed frequency bins are combined into frequency domain data, which is the critical frequency band as in other perceptual domain processing. For example, a smaller number such as 20 bands or 40 bands. The banding process of the data representing the averaged impulse response characteristics into “critically banded data” is designed to mimic the frequency resolution in the human auditory system. The banding process is typically executed as follows. First, the frequency components in the plurality of converted frequency bins are weighted. This is done by applying an appropriate critical banding filter to the frequency component. Subsequently, a frequency component is generated for each of the plurality of critical frequency bands. This is done by summing the weighted data as described above. Typically, these filters exhibit an exponentially rounded exponential shape and are spaced apart to be uniform over an Equivalent Rectangular Bandwidth (ERB) scale. The separation and overlap on the frequency axis of the plurality of critical frequency bands provides a degree of regularization of the measured impulse response characteristic corresponding to the hearing ability of the human auditory system. The application process of the critical band filter is an example of the critical frequency band smoothing process (the critical band filter cancels irregularities in the impulse response characteristics that are unrelated to human perception by smoothing, This is because the determined inverse transform filter process eliminates the need to consume resources to correct such details).

  A plurality of values for determining the inverse transform filter are determined from the target frequency response characteristic and the averaged impulse response characteristic. An example of the averaged impulse response characteristic is, for example, an impulse response. The version is obtained by a smoothing process on the characteristics, and the averaging is performed in a frequency window such as a plurality of critical frequency bands. The critical banded impulse response data is used to find an inverse transform filter that achieves the desired target frequency response. In some embodiments of the present invention, the inverse transform filter is preferably normalized to a reference signal in order to maintain an equal volume when using the inverse transform filter, such as An example of the reference signal is pink noise having a frequency spectrum representing a common sound.

  In some embodiments of the invention, the inverse transform filter coefficients are calculated directly in the time domain.

  The resulting inverse transform filter forms a set of correction filters that are applied as described above to the signal in the reproduction system.

  A more detailed description of this type of correction filtering is entitled “METHOD FOR DETERMINING INVERSE FILTER FROM CRITICALLY BANDED IMPULSE RESPONSE DATA” and described in the international application “PCT / US2010 / 020846” filed on January 13, 2010. The contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

  In some embodiments of the present invention, the set of parameters for implementing a set of one or more correction filters is a portable media device 121 as part of a collection of the sets. Is stored inside. In some embodiments of the invention, the collection of multiple sets is stored in the form of a database. Each entry is a set of parameters to implement a set of one or more correction filters for a specific playback system, and the specific set of one or more correction filters is the specific set of parameters. It includes an indication that it is associated with the playback system. Thus, for this type of embodiment, step 409 shown in FIG. 4 is an operation that stores an indication that the particular set of one or more correction filters is associated with the particular playback system. Is included.

  In some embodiments of the present invention, data relating to the collection of one or more sets of correction filters, such as the database described above, is stored in a storage subsystem included in the portable media device. Remembered. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, in some embodiments of the present invention, the storage subsystem 245 includes a correction filter profile 257, one such profile being illustrated as 258.

  In another embodiment according to the present invention, data relating to the collection of one or more sets of correction filters is stored on a device installed remotely from the portable media device. FIG. 6 illustrates a simplified block diagram of one system configuration in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, including a remote storage device that stores data relating to the collection of one or more sets of correction filters. During the execution of step 409, the storage operation is first executed in the storage device in the portable media device, and then executed in the remotely installed device. As an example of the storage operation in such a remote device, for example, for a personal computer 623 connected to a network 625 (which may be any private network, public network, or the Internet). This is a storage operation for storing on a remote device when a portable media device is connected. Further, the server system 627 may be connected to the network 625. Server system 627 includes one or more processors and a storage subsystem 645. The storage subsystem 645 is configured to store data relating to a plurality of collections each consisting of one or more sets of correction filters, each such collection being a specific portable media device 121 or a specific It is associated with a user or with both a specific user and a portable media device. In the illustrated example, data is shown for a collection 657 of one or more sets of correction filters. Data for one set 658 is also shown. In some embodiments of the present invention, the data relating to the plurality of collections takes the form of a database. The data for each set of one or more correction filters is stored as one entry in the database, the entry is called the correction filter profile, and the one entry is used to implement the correction filter. It contains several required parameters. When the portable media device 121 is connected to the personal computer 623 connected to the server 627 via the network, the correction filter stored in the temporary storage in the portable media device is specified. The set is sent for storage in the storage subsystem 645 that the server 627 comprises. Similarly, when the portable media device 121 is connected to the personal computer 623 connected to the server 627 via the network, in the storage subsystem 645 (for example, as a correction filter profile). One or more sets of stored correction filters can be loaded onto the portable media device 121 for use in playback operations. Thus, for example, a specific set of correction filters for a specific playback system can be loaded from a remote storage device onto the portable media device 121 for use in playback operations while at the same time being portable. The media device 121 is connected to a specific playback system.

  Operational step 405 includes recording the acoustic field resulting from the playback of the calibration signal on the playback system 103 onto the portable media device. Operational step 407 analyzes the content of the recording and determines a specific set of one or more correction filters to at least equalize the specific playback system (and possibly the listening environment). To do.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited by any particular type of calibration signal or any particular analysis method. In one embodiment of the present invention, the calibration signal consists of a sum of distinct frequency tones at a predefined number of distinct frequency locations and having a known amplitude. In one embodiment of the present invention, the center frequency is the center frequency of a plurality of correction filters used in the portable media device 121. The multiple center frequencies of a graphic equalizer are often distributed in a logarithmic function (eg, octave). Thus, in some embodiments of the present invention, the center frequency among the components of the test signal is also spread logarithmically. In some embodiments of the invention, the amplitudes of the separate frequency components of the test signal are equal to each other, while in other embodiments, the amplitude varies according to an inverse function of frequency.

  The analysis process 407 includes an act of determining the amplitude of the recorded content at a separate frequency location to determine gain on frequencies that may result in equalization of the frequency response. The gain at the center frequency forms data about a specific set of one or more correction filters, an example of the specific set of correction filters being, for example, a portable media device with respect to a specific playback system and listening environment For example, the correction filter profile stored in 121.

  One alternative embodiment according to the invention uses a noise signal for the calibration signal. In one embodiment of the present invention, the calibration signal is a white noise signal (ie, a noise signal having a power distribution that is the same for all frequency components). In another embodiment of the invention, the calibration signal is a pink noise signal (ie, a noise signal having a power distribution proportional to the inverse of frequency). In some embodiments where a noise signal is used as the calibration signal, the noise signal is generated using a digital synthesis method using pseudo-random noise.

  In some embodiments where a noise signal is used as the calibration signal, the analysis process 407 includes an act of determining the frequency spectrum of the recorded acoustic field, such spectral determination being, for example, in the art. Is implemented by performing a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) process implemented as a fast Fourier transform using methods well known to those skilled in the art.

  Data on the specific set of one or more correction filters from the result of the conversion process described above and the target reference spectrum for the signal after being processed by the set of one or more correction filters. Is determined and stored. The specific set of correction filters is for correcting the determined frequency spectrum for the recorded acoustic field to match the target reference spectrum for the specific playback system and listening environment. It is.

  While the digital processing method has been described above with respect to the analysis process 407, in alternative embodiments, some or all of the analysis processing can be performed by analog circuitry. The recorded signal is divided into a plurality of frequency bands by, for example, a bandpass filter, and a level measurement circuit is used to determine a signal representing the power of the signal in the frequency band. These data values are then digitized and a set of gains for the frequency bands is stored for a set of one or more correction filters for the particular playback system and listening environment. Determined as data.

  The method and apparatus according to the present invention have been described as described above. In some embodiments of the present invention, multiple calibration signals are regenerated on a single replay system. Using either a built-in or connected external microphone, the resulting acoustic field is recorded on a portable media device. The recorded acoustic field is analyzed and a set of one or more correction filters is calculated for the playback system. Data relating to the set of one or more correction filters is stored on the portable media device and associated with the playback system. In this way, data relating to a collection of a plurality of sets of correction filters is stored. The stored data for the specific set can then be recalled again and the specific set of one or more correction filters when the portable media device is connected to the corresponding playback system. The set is applied to any audio that is being played from the portable media device. Since embodiments of the present invention include applying equalization processing within the portable media device, this type of embodiment is directed to an audio playback system that does not include such technical features. And realizes the advantage that indoor equivalent processing is possible. In addition, if the portable media device is equipped with its own microphone, some embodiments of the present invention are very easy to use and provide a self-contained factor for the calibration process. The user simply touches the calibration button and holds the portable media device in a listening position located in front of the loudspeaker of the playback system.

  In the context of the present specification, the term “radio” or its synonyms refers to the use of electromagnetic radiation modulated through non-solid media such as circuits, devices, systems, methods, techniques and communication channels. Used to describe what communicates.

  Unless otherwise specified, as will be apparent from the following description, throughout the present specification, terms such as “processing”, “calculation”, “calculation”, “decision”, The same type of operation and / or processing by a processing system, or that manipulates and / or converts data expressed as physical quantities, such as electronic quantities, to other data expressed as similar physical quantities The operation and / or processing by the electronic information processing apparatus.

  In a similar way, the term “processor” processes electronic data (eg, from a register or memory) and processes that electronic data (eg, can be stored in a register or memory). Can refer to any device or part of a device that converts to A single “computer”, “information processing machine”, or “information processing platform” can include one or more processors.

  Except where expressly specified when the method according to the present invention is described as including several elements over time (such as several operational steps, for example) It does not imply any execution order of this type of temporal element such as operational steps.

  In some embodiments of the present invention, the computer-readable recording medium is configured by, for example, encoding with a plurality of machine language instructions recorded on the medium, and the plurality of machine language instructions are information When executed by one or more processors in a processing system, the method described in the above embodiments of the present specification is executed, and the information processing system includes, for example, at least one processor element and a storage sub-system. A digital signal processing apparatus or a digital signal processing subsystem including the system.

  The methods described herein may be performed, in some embodiments, by one or more processors that accept logic or instructions encoded on one or more computer-readable media. Is possible. When executed by the one or more processors, the instructions cause at least one of the methods described herein to be performed. Any processor capable of executing a set of instructions (sequentially or otherwise) that specifies the operation to be performed is included in embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, one specific example is a typical information processing system including one or more processors. Each processor may include one or more of a CPU or similar hardware component, a graphics processing unit (GPU) and / or a programmable DSP unit. The information processing system further includes a storage subsystem comprising at least one storage medium, the storage medium comprising a separate memory including memory embedded in the semiconductor device, main storage RAM and / or static RAM. Subsystems can be included, and cache memory can also be included. The storage subsystem may further include one or more other storage devices, examples of such other storage devices include magnetic and / or optical storage devices, There are also semiconductor storage devices. A bus subsystem may be included for communication between multiple hardware components. Furthermore, the information processing system can also be a distributed processing type system, and in the distributed processing type system, the plurality of processors are, for example, via a network interface device or a wireless network interface device. Connected by network. If the information processing system requires a display device, such a display may include a liquid crystal (LCD) display, an organic EL display (OLED), a CRT display, or the like. If manual data entry is required, the information processing system may further include an input device such as one or more alphanumeric input units. Examples of the alphanumeric input unit include: For example, there is a pointing control device such as a keyboard or a mouse. As used herein, terms such as “storage device”, “storage subsystem” or “memory unit” are used wherever otherwise apparent from the context, or where expressly stated otherwise. In addition, it includes storage systems such as disk drive devices comprehensively. In some configurations, the information processing system can include an audio output device and a network interface device.

  Thus, the storage subsystem includes a computer readable medium configured, for example, by encoding a plurality of instructions (eg, logic such as software), where the plurality of instructions are one or more. Cause one or more of the method steps described herein to be executed. The software may reside in the hard disk, or may be wholly or at least partially in RAM, or a processor when these instructions are being executed by the computer system. It can also exist inside. Thus, the memory and processor can also constitute a computer readable medium on which a plurality of instructions can be encoded.

  Further, the computer readable recording medium can form a computer program product or can be included in a computer program product.

  In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the one or more processors operate as stand-alone devices and are connected to other processors (eg, via a network) in a networked system deployment. In this case, the one or more processors may operate as a server-side function in a server / client type network environment or as a function of a client machine, and in a peer-to-peer type or distributed type network environment. May operate as a peer machine. The term “information processing system” implies all possible system configurations of that kind, unless expressly excluded. The one or more processors include personal computers (PCs), portable media devices, media playback systems, tablet PCs, set-top boxes (STBs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), game consoles, mobile phones , Web appliances, network router equipment, switches or bridges, or any machine with the ability to execute a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify the operations to be performed by the machine.

  Some block diagrams illustrate only a single storage subsystem, such as a single memory that stores logic including a single processor and instructions, so as not to obscure the essence of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many of the components described above are included in the configuration of the present invention, although not explicitly shown or described. For example, although only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” should also be construed to include any collection of machines, which can be individually or mutually In conjunction with executing a set of instructions that implement any one or more of the methods described herein.

  Thus, one embodiment for each of the methods described herein takes the form of a computer readable storage medium configured with an instruction set, such as a computer program, which can be, for example, When executed by one or more processors, such as one or more processors in a portable media device, cause the method steps herein to be performed. Some embodiments of the invention take the form of logic itself. Accordingly, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be used in methods or devices such as application specific devices, devices such as data processing systems, logic embodied in computer readable media. Alternatively, the present invention can be implemented as a computer readable recording medium in which instructions are encoded, such as a computer readable recording medium configured as a computer program product. A computer readable medium is comprised of a set of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the operational steps of the method to be performed. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a method, an embodiment as complete hardware, an embodiment as complete software, or an embodiment combining software and hardware. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a program logic or a computer program product recorded in a computer-readable medium (for example, a computer program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium). Thus, it is possible to take the form of a computer readable medium configured as computer readable program code.

  Although the computer readable medium is shown as a single medium in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the term “medium” may be a single medium or (eg, several memories, centralized). Or it should be construed to include a plurality of media storing one or more instruction sets (such as a distributed database or a cache or server associated therewith). Computer readable media can take a wide variety of forms including, but not limited to, non-volatile media and volatile media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical, magnetic and magneto-optical disks. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory.

  Embodiments of the present invention are not limited by particular implementation means or programming techniques, and the present invention may be implemented using any suitable technique for implementing the functionality described herein. It is possible. Further, embodiments of the invention are not limited by any particular programming language or operating system.

  Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” refers to a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is at least one embodiment of the present invention. It is included in. Thus, the appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the description is all related to the same embodiment. Do not mean. Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, the particular features, structures, or characteristics can be incorporated into any suitable manner, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

  Similarly, in the above description of exemplary embodiments according to the invention, various aspects of the invention are intended to streamline the disclosure and to help understand one or more of the various aspects of the invention. It should be understood that the various features are grouped as a single embodiment, a single drawing, or a description thereof. This method according to the disclosure, however, should not be construed as intending that the claimed invention requires more features than are explicitly described in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the following claims, aspects of the invention may have fewer features than all of the single embodiments disclosed in the above description. Thus, the claimed invention described in the scope of claims attached to this specification is clearly incorporated into the embodiments described in the “Mode for Carrying Out the Invention” section of this specification. Terms are established solely as individual embodiments of the invention.

  Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features that are included in other embodiments but not others, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, multiple embodiments Combinations of features of different embodiments are within the scope of the invention and form yet another embodiment. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments of the invention can be used in any combination.

  Furthermore, some of the embodiments are described herein as a method or combination of method components, which may be performed by a processor of a computer system or by other means of performing the functions according to the invention. Can be implemented. Thus, a processor with the necessary instructions for executing such a method or method component according to the invention forms a means for executing the method or method component. Furthermore, the constituent elements described in the embodiments relating to the apparatus in the specification of the present application are examples of means for performing the functions executed by the constituent elements for the purpose of carrying out the present invention.

  In the description disclosed herein, numerous specific details have been set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the interpretation of the above disclosure in accordance with the present invention.

  As used herein, unless otherwise stated, the use of ordinal adjectives such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. to describe a common object is simply similar. It only refers to multiple examples of the subject of the subject, and the subject described as such is either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or any other It does not mean that a given order relationship must be followed, even in an embodiment.

  Any discussion described herein with respect to the prior art is an admission that this type of prior art is widely known, known, or forms part of the common general knowledge in the art. Should never be interpreted as.

  In the description of the claims in the claims and the description in the present specification, any one of the terms “comprising”, “consisting of”, “comprising” and the like will be described at least later. A non-limiting term that includes components / features, but does not exclude others. Thus, when used in the claims, the term “comprising” should not be construed to mean limited to the means or components or operational steps recited in the following description. For example, the technical scope relating to the description “apparatus comprising A and B” should not be limited to an apparatus comprising only components A and B. Any one of the terms “including”, “including”, etc. as used herein also includes at least the components / features described below, but does not exclude others. Is also a non-limiting term. Thus, the term “comprising” is synonymous with the term “comprising” and has the same meaning as “comprising”.

  Similarly, as used in the claims, it should be noted that the term “connected” should not be construed as limited to direct connections only. In addition to the terms “coupled” and “connected”, their derivatives may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Thus, the technical scope of the description “device A connected to device B” is not limited to devices or systems in which the output of device A is directly connected to the input of device B. Don't be. It may mean that there is a path between the output of A and the input of B that may be a connection path that includes other devices or means. The term “connected” means that two or more components are either “directly and physically in contact” or “electrically in contact”, or two or more Although the components are not in direct contact with each other, it can mean that they cooperate with each other or interact with each other.

  Accordingly, what has been considered as the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of the present invention can be used without departing from the basic idea of the present invention. It will be appreciated that alternative embodiments are possible and that further additional modifications are possible to the above embodiments. In addition, the claims are intended to claim the invention so that the above-described modified embodiments and the above-described additional modifications are included in the technical scope of the present invention. For example, it is merely a means for expressing a procedure that can use any formulation given in the above disclosure. Some functions can be added to or deleted from the block diagram attached to the present specification, and the operation can be exchanged between a plurality of functional blocks. It is also possible to add or delete some operational steps from the method described as belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

The claims of International Publication No. 2011/139502 will be described.
[Claim 1]
A method for operating a portable media device comprising:
An operation step of reproducing an audio signal on a combination of the portable media device and the reproduction system in a specific listening environment setting while the portable media device is connected to a specific reproduction system, The portable media device applies a specific set of one or more correction filters, the specific set being a pre-stored collection of one or more sets of correction filters or data relating thereto Comprising an operation step selected from
The collection of one or more sets of correction filters or the data related thereto is pre-stored in the portable media device, and each set in the collection of one or more sets is associated with Associated with listening preferences and corresponding playback systems,
Recording the acoustic field resulting from one or more predefined calibration signals played on a particular playback system onto the portable media device, the portable media device An operational phase in which the recording is performed using a microphone that is built in or connected to the microphone and located at one or more listener positions desired for a particular listening environment setting;
Analyzing the recording of the acoustic field and determining the specific set of one or more correction filters to perform equalization processing for at least the specific playback system;
Storing for said specific set of one or more said correction filters for said specific playback system in said portable media device;
Wherein the specific set of one or more of the correction filters is determined by performing a calibration method comprising:
[Claim 2]
A collection of one or more sets of correction filters or data relating thereto is stored remotely from the portable media device;
Before or at the time the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system, the specific set of one or more correction filters or data related thereto is used for the playback. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is loaded into a portable media device.
[Claim 3]
The method of claim 1, wherein the collection of one or more sets of correction filters or data related thereto is stored in a storage subsystem within the portable media device.
[Claim 4]
4. The portable media device of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication from the user that the particular set of one or more correction filters should be used for playback. The method described in 1.
[Claim 5]
The portable media device receives an indication from the particular playback system indicating that the particular portable media device is connected to the particular playback system;
In response to the display, the portable media device automatically selects the particular set of one or more correction filters associated with the particular portable media device for playback operations. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:
[Claim 6]
6. At least one of the plurality of sets of correction filters is a predefined set that is predefined for a type of regeneration system. the method of.
[Claim 7]
Storing the specific set of one or more correction filters or the data relating thereto with respect to the specific playback system in the portable media device is the specific set of one or more correction filters. 7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising storing an indication that a set is associated with the particular playback system.
[Claim 8]
The portable media device includes a user interface, and the calibration method performs the recording operation, the analysis operation, and the storage operation of the data relating to or related to the specific set of one or more correction filters. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising receiving an instruction from the user to do so via the user interface.
[Claim 9]
The portable media device is connected to a remote processing system via a network and the analyzing the record to determine the specific set comprises:
Transmitting the recorded acoustic field or data related thereto to the remote processing system;
Determining the specific set within the remote processing system;
Receiving from the remote processing system the determined specific set or data related thereto, via the network.
The method according to claim 1.
[Claim 10]
9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the analyzing the record to determine the specific set is performed by one or more processors included in the portable media device. the method of.
[Claim 11]
A method for operating a portable media device comprising:
Recording the acoustic field resulting from one or more predefined calibration signals played on a particular playback system onto the portable media device, the portable media device An operational stage in which the recording is performed using a microphone that is built in or connected to the microphone and placed at one or more listener positions desired for a particular listening environment setting;
An operational step of analyzing the recording of the acoustic field to determine the specific set of one or more correction filters to perform equalization processing for at least the specific playback system; and
Storing for said particular set of data comprising said one or more correction filters for said particular playback system in said portable media device;
By performing these operational steps, while the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system, an audio signal is transmitted over the combination of the portable media device and the playback system in a specific listening environment setting. A method wherein the portable media device is capable of applying the determined specific set of one or more correction filters while being reproducible.
[Claim 12]
The operation of storing the specific set of one or more correction filters or data related thereto in the portable media device is performed in one or more of the correction filters stored in advance in the portable media device. Into a set of data or data about it,
The method of claim 11, wherein each set in the collection of one or more sets is associated with a corresponding listening preference and a corresponding playback system.
[Claim 13]
13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of sets of correction filters is a predefined set that is predefined for a type of regeneration system.
[Claim 14]
The operation of storing the specific set of one or more correction filters or data related thereto in the portable media device is performed into a storage subsystem that is remote from the portable media device. And
Thus, before or at the time when the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system, the specific set of one or more correction filters or data related thereto is an audio signal playback. 13. A method according to any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the method is loaded into the portable media device for:
[Claim 15]
The operation of storing the specific set of one or more correction filters or data related thereto in the portable media device is executed in a storage subsystem included in the portable media device. 13. A method according to any one of claims 11 or 12.
[Claim 16]
Storing the specific set of one or more correction filters or the data relating thereto with respect to the specific playback system in the portable media device is the specific set of one or more correction filters. 14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, comprising storing an indication that a set is associated with the particular playback system.
[Claim 17]
The portable media device includes a user interface, and the method performs the recording operation, the analysis operation, and the storage operation of the data relating to or related to the specific set of one or more correction filters. 17. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, comprising receiving an indication from a user to the effect via the user interface.
[Claim 18]
The portable media device is connected to a remote processing system via a network and the analyzing the record to determine the specific set comprises:
Transmitting the recorded acoustic field or data related thereto to the remote processing system;
Determining the specific set within the remote processing system;
Receiving, via the network, the determined specific set or data related thereto from the remote processing system.
The method according to any one of claims 11 to 17.
[Claim 19]
18. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the analyzing the record to determine the specific set is performed by one or more processors included in the portable media device. the method of.
[Claim 20]
A portable media device comprising:
A playback subsystem configured to play the selected audio signal;
A filter subsystem connected to the playback subsystem and configured to apply a set of one or more correction filters to the audio signal during playback of the audio signal;
A connection function configured to connect the portable media device with a matched connection included in a playback system;
A user interface configured to receive input from the user;
A microphone or a connection function to the microphone;
When the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system in a specific listening environment setting, during the playback operation of the audio signal through the specific playback system, the filter subsystem performs a corresponding listening operation. A specific set of one or more correction filters associated with a preference setting and a corresponding playback system is configured to be applied, the specific set of one or more correction filters being a portable medium A collection of one or more sets of correction filters pre-stored in the device or a part of data relating thereto, each set of the collection of one or more sets having a corresponding listening environment setting And a portable media device, characterized in that it is associated with a corresponding playback system.
[Claim 21]
Portable media devices
Recording the acoustic field resulting from one or more predefined calibration signals played on a particular playback system onto the portable media device, the recording operation comprising: A recording operation performed using a microphone embedded in or connected to the portable media device and located at one or more listener positions as desired for a particular listening environment setting;
An analyzing operation for analyzing the recording of the acoustic field to determine the specific set of one or more correction filters to perform at least an equalization process for the specific playback system; and
A storage operation for storing data relating to the specific set of one or more correction filters in the portable media device for the specific playback system;
The portable media device of claim 20, wherein the portable media device is configured to perform:
[Claim 22]
22. A portable media device according to any one of claims 20 or 21 comprising:
At least one processor; and
A storage subsystem connected to the filter subsystem and the at least one processor;
Applying the particular set of one or more correction filters includes digitally processing a digital signal in at least one of the one or more processors.
[Claim 23]
The specific set of one or more correction filters or data relating thereto is stored remotely from the portable media device;
Thus, before or when the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system, the specific set of one or more correction filters or data related thereto is for playback. 23. A portable media device according to any one of claims 20 to 22, loaded into the portable media device.
[Claim 24]
23. The portable media device of claim 22, wherein the collection of one or more sets of correction filters or data related thereto is stored in the storage subsystem.
[Claim 25]
25. Any of claims 20 to 24, wherein the user interface is configured to receive an instruction from a user to use the particular set of one or more correction filters for playback. The portable media device according to claim 1.
[Claim 26]
The portable media device receives an indication from the particular playback system indicating that the particular portable media device is connected to the particular playback system;
In response to the display, the portable media device automatically selects the particular set of one or more correction filters associated with the particular portable media device for playback operations. The portable media device according to any one of claims 20 to 25, configured as described above.
[Claim 27]
27. At least one of the plurality of sets of correction filters is a pre-defined set that is predefined with respect to a type of regeneration system. Portable media device.
[Claim 28]
Storing the specific set of one or more correction filters or the data relating thereto with respect to the specific playback system in the portable media device is the specific set of one or more correction filters. 28. A portable media device according to any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein the set includes storing an indication that the set is associated with the particular playback system.
(Claim 29)
An instruction from the user that the recording operation, the analysis operation, and the storage operation of the specific set of one or more correction filters or the data related thereto are to be executed is received via the user interface. 29. The portable media device according to any one of claims 21 to 28, configured to:
[Claim 30]
The portable media device includes a network interface for connecting the portable media device to a remote processing system via a network;
With respect to analyzing the record to determine the specific set, the portable media device:
Transmitting the recorded acoustic field or related data to the remote processing system;
Determining the specific set within the remote processing system; and
30. The operation of receiving, via the network, the determined specific set or data related thereto from the remote processing system; The portable media device according to any one of the above.
(Claim 31)
30. Any of claims 21 or 23 to 29, further comprising at least one processor, wherein the analyzing the record to determine the particular set is performed by the at least one processor. The portable media device according to one item.
[Claim 32]
A portable media device that:
Playback means for playing back an audio signal;
Filtering means configured to apply a set of one or more correction filters to the audio signal while the audio signal is being reproduced by the reproducing means;
Connection means for connecting the portable media device to a playback system;
Means to accept input from the user;
Recording means for recording an acoustic field;
When the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system by the connection means in a specific listening environment setting, during the audio signal playback operation via the specific playback system, the filtering means Is configured to apply a specific set of one or more correction filters associated with a listening preference and a corresponding playback system,
The particular set of one or more correction filters is a collection of one or more sets of correction filters pre-stored in a portable media device or a portion of data related thereto, the one or more correction filters. A portable media device, wherein each set in the set of sets is associated with a corresponding listening environment setting and a corresponding playback system.
(Claim 33)
A portable media device according to claim 32, wherein:
Analyzing means for analyzing the recording of the acoustic field to determine the specific set of one or more correction filters to perform at least an equalization process for the specific playback system;
Storage means for storing data relating to a set of one or more of the correction filters in the portable media device for the particular playback system;
The recording means includes an acoustic field resulting from one or more predefined calibration signals that are played on a particular playback system at one or more listener positions for a particular listening environment setting. Configured to record on the portable media device;
The analysis means is configured to analyze the recording of the acoustic field and determine a specific set of one or more correction filters to perform an equalization process for at least a specific playback system. ,
The storage means may be configured to store data relating to the specific set of one or more correction filters in the portable media device for the specific playback system. Portable media device.
[Claim 34]
Further comprising digital processing means,
34. The portable media device according to claim 32, wherein the filtering means includes digital processing of a digital signal by the digital processing means.
(Claim 35)
The specific set of one or more correction filters or data relating thereto is stored remotely from the portable media device;
Thus, before or when the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system, the specific set of one or more correction filters or data related thereto is for playback. 35. A portable media device according to any one of claims 32 to 34, loaded into the portable media device.
(Claim 36)
35. The portable media device of claim 34, wherein the collection of one or more sets of correction filters or data related thereto is stored in the storage means.
(Claim 37)
The means for receiving input from the user is configured to receive an instruction from the user that the specific set of one or more correction filters should be used for reproduction. A portable media device according to any one of claims 32 to 36.
(Claim 38)
The portable media device receives an indication from the particular playback system indicating that the particular portable media device is connected to the particular playback system;
In response to the display, the portable media device automatically selects the particular set of one or more correction filters associated with the particular portable media device for playback operations. The portable media device according to any one of claims 32 to 37, configured as described above.
(Claim 39)
39. At least one of the plurality of sets of correction filters is a predefined set that is predefined for a type of regeneration system. Portable media device.
[Claim 40]
Storing the specific set of one or more correction filters or the data relating thereto with respect to the specific playback system in the portable media device is the specific set of one or more correction filters. 40. A portable media device according to any one of claims 33 to 39, wherein the set includes storing an indication that the set is associated with the particular playback system.
[Claim 41]
Means for accepting an input from the user for an instruction from the user to execute the recording operation, the analysis operation, and the storage operation of the specific set of the one or more correction filters or the data related thereto; 41. A portable media device according to any one of claims 33 to 40, wherein the portable media device is configured to receive via.
(Claim 42)
The portable media device includes interface means for connecting the portable media device to a remote processing system via a network;
With respect to analyzing the record to determine the specific set, the portable media device:
Transmitting the recorded acoustic field or related data to the remote processing system to enable the remote processing system to determine the specific set; and
42. The operation of receiving, via the network, the determined specific set or data related thereto from the remote processing system; The portable media device according to any one of the above.
(Claim 43)
Further comprising digital processing means,
43. The analysis means for analyzing the records to determine the specific set uses the digital processing means, according to any one of claims 33 or 35 to 41. Portable media device.

Several aspects are described.
[Aspect 1]
A method for operating a portable media device with a microphone comprising:
While the portable media device is connected to a specific playback system with a loudspeaker external to the portable media device, the combination of the portable media device and the playback system in a specific listening environment setting An operational step of reproducing an audio signal, wherein the portable media device comprises an operational step of applying a specific set of one or more correction filters;
Obtaining on the portable media device a measurement result of the acoustic field resulting from one or more predefined calibration signals played on a particular playback system, comprising: The acquired measurement results are built into the portable media device and use a microphone located at one or more desired listener positions for a specific listening environment setting, each of the measurement results being An operational phase representing each of the impulse response characteristics respectively corresponding to the loudspeakers located at each of the one or more listener positions under the specific listening environment setting;
An operation step of time-aligning the measurement results and averaging to determine an averaged impulse response characteristic;
From the averaged impulse response characteristic and the target frequency response characteristic of the particular reproduction system, the identification comprising one or more of the correction filters to perform at least equalization processing with respect to the particular reproduction system An equalization step, wherein the equalization process performs a process of matching the output of the loudspeaker with the target frequency response characteristic; and
An operation of storing data relating to the specific set of one or more correction filters for the specific playback system in the portable media device;
The specific set of one or more correction filters is determined by performing a calibration method comprising:
As a result of obtaining the measurement results for a number of different positions, which is the desired one or more listener positions, from one or more correction filters for a wide variety of listener positions in the particular listening environment setting. A method characterized in that said specific set of becomes applicable.
[Aspect 2]
The method further comprises an operation step of converting the averaged impulse response characteristic into a frequency domain in a number of critical frequency bands spaced apart on a frequency axis so as to imitate a frequency resolution unique to the human auditory system. A method according to aspect 1.
[Aspect 3]
A method according to aspect 1 or aspect 2, further comprising an operational step of applying a critical frequency band smoothing process to the averaged impulse response characteristic.
[Aspect 4]
4. The method of any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the act of determining the particular set of one or more correction filters comprises an act of determining an inverse transform filter.
[Aspect 5]
A method according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the set of compensation filter specialties or data related thereto is stored in a storage subsystem in the portable media device.
[Aspect 6]
The operation of storing the particular set of one or more correction filters or the data related thereto with respect to the particular playback system is performed by the portable media device for the playback of an audio signal. What is said portable media device in such a manner that, when connected or before, said specific set of one or more correction filters or said data relating thereto is read onto said portable media device A method according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, comprising the act of storing in a storage subsystem located at a remote location.
[Aspect 7]
Storing the specific set of one or more correction filters or the data relating thereto with respect to the specific playback system in the portable media device is the specific set of one or more correction filters. A method according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, comprising storing an indication that a set is associated with the particular playback system.
[Aspect 8]
The portable media device includes a user interface, and the calibration method includes the recording operation, the determining operation, and the storing operation for the specific set of data including one or more correction filters or the data related thereto. A method according to any one of aspects 1 to 7, comprising receiving via the user interface an instruction from a user to perform.
[Aspect 9]
The portable media device is connected to a remote processing system via a network and determining the specific set includes:
Transmitting the recorded acoustic field or data related thereto to the remote processing system;
Determining the specific set within the remote processing system;
Receiving from the remote processing system the determined specific set or data related thereto, via the network.
The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 8.
[Aspect 10]
The method of any one of aspects 1 to 9, wherein determining the particular set is performed by one or more processors included in the portable media device.
[Aspect 11]
11. A method according to any one of aspects 1 to 10, wherein the portable media device is operable as a mobile phone.
[Aspect 12]
10. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions are written to any one or more processors as described in any one of aspects 1 to 9 when executed by one or more processors. A computer readable medium for performing the method.
[Aspect 13]
A program logic comprising instructions for performing the method according to any one of aspects 1 to 9 when executed by one or more processors.
[Aspect 14]
A portable media device comprising:
A playback subsystem configured to play the selected audio signal;
A filter subsystem connected to the playback subsystem and configured to apply a set of one or more correction filters to the audio signal during playback of the audio signal;
Connecting means operatively configured to connect the portable media device to a matched connection included in a playback system, the playback system comprising a loudspeaker external to the portable media device; Connecting means;
A user interface configured to receive input from the user; and
A microphone;
When the portable media device is connected to the specific playback system under a specific listening environment setting, during the playback operation of the audio signal through the specific playback system, the filter subsystem Configured to apply a specific set of one or more correction filters associated with a listening environment setting, a target frequency response characteristic and a specific playback system, A filter for matching an output with the target frequency response characteristic;
Obtaining on the portable media device a measurement result of the acoustic field resulting from one or more predefined calibration signals played on a particular playback system, comprising: The recording is performed using a microphone built into the portable media device and located at one or more listener positions desired for a particular listening environment setting, and each of the measurement results is An operational phase representing each of the impulse response characteristics respectively corresponding to the loudspeakers located at each of the one or more listener positions under a specific listening environment setting;
An operational step of time-aligning and averaging the measured impulse response characteristics to determine an averaged impulse response characteristic;
From the averaged impulse response characteristic and the target frequency response characteristic of the particular reproduction system, the identification comprising one or more of the correction filters to perform at least equalization processing with respect to the particular reproduction system An operational phase that determines a set of
An operation of storing data relating to the specific set of one or more correction filters for the specific playback system in the portable media device;
The portable media device is configured to determine the specific set of one or more of the correction filters by performing a calibration method comprising:
As a result of obtaining the measurement results for a number of different positions, which is the desired one or more listener positions, from one or more correction filters for a wide variety of listener positions in the particular listening environment setting. A portable media device, characterized in that said specific set comprising:
[Aspect 15]
The calibration method includes:
The method further comprises an operation step of converting the averaged impulse response characteristic into a frequency domain in a number of critical frequency bands spaced apart on a frequency axis so as to imitate a frequency resolution unique to the human auditory system. The portable media device according to aspect 14.
[Aspect 16]
The calibration method includes:
The portable media device according to aspect 14 or aspect 15, further comprising an operation step of applying a critical frequency band smoothing process to the averaged impulse response characteristic.
[Aspect 17]
4. The method of any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the act of determining the particular set of one or more correction filters comprises an act of determining an inverse transform filter.
[Aspect 18]
A portable media device according to any one of aspects 14 to 17, comprising:
One or more processors; and
A storage subsystem connected to the filter subsystem and the at least one processor;
Applying the particular set of one or more correction filters includes digitally processing a digital signal in at least one of the one or more processors.
[Aspect 19]
The portable media device of aspect 18, wherein the operation of determining the particular set is performed by at least one of the one or more processors.
[Aspect 20]
Storing the specific set of one or more correction filters or the data relating thereto with respect to the specific playback system in the portable media device is the specific set of one or more correction filters. The portable media device according to any one of aspects 14-19, wherein the set includes storing an indication that the set is associated with the particular playback system.
[Aspect 21]
Via the user interface, an instruction from the user to perform the recording operation, the determining operation and the storing operation on the specific set of one or more correction filters or on the data related thereto. The portable media device according to any one of aspects 14 to 20, wherein the portable media apparatus is configured to receive the data.
[Aspect 22]
The portable media device includes a network interface for connecting the portable media device to a remote processing system via a network;
With respect to determining the particular set, the portable media device is:
Transmitting the acoustic field measurement results or related data to the remote processing system to allow the specific set to be determined within the remote processing system; and
Aspect 14 to Aspect 21, configured to perform an operation of receiving the determined specific set or data related thereto from the remote processing system via the network. The portable media device described in any one of the above.
[Aspect 23]
23. The portable media device according to any one of aspects 14 to 22, comprising a component that enables the portable media device to operate as a mobile phone.
[Aspect 24]
The portable media device according to any one of aspects 14 to 22, wherein a microphone is built in the portable media device.

Claims (22)

A method of operating a portable media device with a filter subsystem, the method comprising:
For storing the first set of one or more correction filters corresponding to the first listening environment setting on the portable media device or for the portable media device in advance, for the first listening environment setting The first listening environment setting includes: the portable media device; and a first playback system having a first input to which an output of the portable media device is coupled. The first playback system is separate from the portable media device and remote from the portable media device, and includes a first amplifier and a first set of at least one loudspeaker; One calibration method for listening preferences is:
(A) one of the known or determinable characteristics to be played on the portable media device while the output of the portable media device is coupled to the first input of the first playback system; Recording on the portable media device a sound field resulting from one or more calibration signals, the recording using a microphone embedded in or connected to the portable media device. The microphone is at one or more listener positions of the first listening environment setting;
(B) one to analyze the recording of the acoustic field and at least equalize it for playback from the portable media device via the first playback system in the first listening environment setting Or determining a first set of correction filters, wherein the analysis is performed on the portable media device or on a remote processing system coupled to the portable media device; Not requiring the separate first playback system;
(C) For the first listening environment setting including the separate first playback system, data about the first set of one or more correction filters is stored in the portable media device or the portable Storing in advance about the portable media device,
At some point after the pre-storing step, while the portable media device is coupled to the input of the first playback system of the first listening environment setting, in the first listening environment setting While an audio signal is played on the portable media device via the first playback system that is remote from the portable media device, the filter subsystem of the portable media device is configured to Applying one or more of the first set of pre-stored correction filters corresponding to settings and requiring that the first playback system of the listening environment settings have the ability to perform any correction filter processing Without the listening, the listener at the listening position with the first listening environment setting is corrected after the first listening environment setting is corrected. And to hear the serial audio signal,
A plurality of corresponding listening environments in which the plurality of sets of one or more correction filters including the first set have a corresponding remote playback system in or for the portable media device. About, remembered,
Method.   Pre-storage of the first set of one or more correction filters for the first playback system in the first listening environment setting or the data relating thereto is one or more correction filters. The method of claim 1, comprising storing an indication that the first set of is associated with the first listening environment setting that includes the first playback system.   The portable media device includes a user interface, and the calibration method for the first listening environment comprises the first step comprising the step of recording, the step of analyzing and determining, and one or more correction filters. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising receiving on the user interface an indication from a user that a set of or data relating thereto should be pre-stored. The portable media device is coupled to a remote processing system by a network, and analyzing the recorded acoustic field to determine the first set includes:
Transmitting the recorded acoustic field or data related thereto to the remote processing system;
Determining the first set within the remote processing system;
Receiving the determined first set or data related thereto from the remote processing system via the network.
4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   4. Analyzing a recorded acoustic field to determine the first set is performed by one or more processors included in the portable media device. The method according to item.   6. The first set of one or more correction filters or the data related thereto is stored in a storage subsystem included in the portable media device. The method described in 1.   Pre-storage of the first set of one or more correction filters or data relating thereto is from the portable media device to a remote storage subsystem, wherein the portable media device is the first Prior to or when coupled to the first playback system in the listening preferences, the first set of one or more correction filters or data related thereto is for audio signal playback. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is loaded into the portable media device.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the portable media device is a part of a mobile phone device having a function of reproducing a media signal including an audio signal.   At least one of the plurality of sets of one or more correction filters is a predefined default set for a listening preference class with a respective remote playback system, and the portable media system includes: A signal can be reproduced with correction for any of the class listening preferences, and any device other than the portable media device in the optional listening preference of the class can perform any correction filtering. 9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it is not required to have the function to perform. Said correction filter processing, see contains a multi-band compressor correction filter for tones, in a multi-band compressor correction filter process of storing timbre, if a particular frequency band subjected to attenuation of the significant gain 10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more other frequency bands are also subject to some gain attenuation to preserve the timbre . The execution of the calibration method is further:
(D) repeating the calibration method comprising steps (a) to (c) for at least a second listening environment setting, for each of the plurality of listening environment settings, a corresponding set of one or more correction filters. Is pre-stored in or for the portable media device, and the portable media system reproduces the signal with corrections for any of the plurality of listening environment settings 11. No device other than the portable media device in the arbitrary one of the plurality of listening environment settings is required to have any correction filter processing capability. The method according to any one of the above. The portable media device is coupled to an input of a playback system that is remote and separate from the portable media device in a listening environment setting in which a corresponding set of one or more correction filters is pre-stored Between,
Playing a selected audio signal on the portable media device via the playback system in the listening environment setting;
Applying a pre-stored set of one or more correction filters for the listening environment setting by the filter subsystem of the portable media device during the playback; and
A listener at the listening position with the listening environment setting corrects the listening environment setting without requiring any element of the listening environment setting other than the portable media device to have any correction filtering function. To listen to the selected audio signal later,
12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims.   13. Execution of a method for operating a portable media device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, when executed by one or more processors included in a portable media device comprising a filter subsystem. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored therein for causing an error. A portable media device comprising:
A playback subsystem configured to play the selected audio signal;
Coupled to the playback subsystem to generate a filtered selected audio signal by applying a set of one or more correction filters to the output of the playback subsystem during playback of the audio signal A filter subsystem configured to:
Configured to receive the filtered selected audio signal from the portable media device and input the filtered selected audio signal to a corresponding coupling included in a playback system within a listening environment setting. The playback system is separate and remote from the portable media device, the remote playback system comprising an amplifier and at least one loudspeaker set within the listening environment setting. A coupling that allows a listener at a listening position to listen to the filtered selected audio signal that is played through the remote playback system;
A user interface configured to receive input from the user;
A microphone or a coupling to the microphone,
When the portable media device is connected to a first remote playback system in a first listening environment setting, the filter subsystem is configured to play audio signals through the first playback system, Configured to apply a first set of one or more correction filters associated with the first remote playback system in the first listening preference;
The first set of one or more correction filters is a set of one or more sets of correction filters previously stored in or for the portable media device by a calibration process. Or a portion of data relating thereto, wherein each set of the one or more sets of sets is associated with a corresponding listening preference including a corresponding remote playback system;
The calibration process is:
(A) a result from one or more calibration signals of known or determinable characteristics that are played on the portable media device while the portable media device is coupled to the first playback system; Recording the acoustic field obtained through the microphone on the portable media device, wherein the recording is performed by the microphone in one or more of the first listening environment settings. While in the position of the person,
(B) analyzing the recording of the acoustic field to at least equalize for playback from the portable media device via the first remote playback system in the first listening environment setting; Determining the first set of one or more correction filters, wherein the analysis is performed on the portable media device or on a remote processing system coupled to the portable media device; The analysis does not require said first remote playback system, and
(C) For the first listening environment setting including the first remote playback system, the data for the first set of one or more correction filters is stored in the portable media device or the portable Pre-stored about the portable media device,
Portable media device. With one or more processors;
And further comprising a storage subsystem coupled to the filter subsystem and at least one of the one or more processors,
Applying the first set of one or more correction filters includes digitally processing a digital signal with at least one of the one or more processors;
The portable media device according to claim 14.   Storing the first set of one or more correction filters for the first playback system in the first listening environment setting or the data relating thereto is from one or more correction filters. 16. The portable type according to claim 14 or 15, comprising pre-stored indication that said first set comprising is associated with said first listening environment setting comprising said first playback system. Media device.   The portable media device should perform the recording step, the analyzing and determining step, and the first set of one or more correction filters or the step of preliminarily storing the data relating thereto; 17. A portable media device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, configured to receive instructions from a user on the user interface. The portable media device further comprising a network interface for coupling the portable media device to a remote processing system via a network, the portable media device comprising the step of analyzing and determining the first set; for,
Sending the recorded acoustic field or data related thereto to the remote processing system to allow the remote processing system to determine the first set;
Receiving the determined first set or data related thereto from the remote processing system via the network;
The portable media device according to any one of claims 14 to 17. With one or more processors;
And a storage subsystem coupled to at least one of the one or more processors,
Analyzing the record to determine the first set is performed by at least one of the one or more processors;
The portable media device according to any one of claims 14 to 17.   20. A portable media device according to any one of claims 14 to 19, comprising a component that enables the portable media device to operate as a mobile phone.   21. At least one of the set of correction filter sets is a predefined default set for a listening preference class with a respective remote playback system. The portable media device described. Said correction filter processing, see contains a multi-band compressor correction filter for tones, in a multi-band compressor correction filter process of storing timbre, if a particular frequency band subjected to attenuation of the significant gain 22. A portable media device according to any one of claims 14 to 21, wherein one or more other frequency bands are also subject to some gain attenuation to preserve timbre .

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