KR20180060194A - Method and system for adjusting volume in audio outputting device - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a volume adjusting method which can adjust the volume of inaudible sound wave to be output at safe volume and a mobile device and a server device performing at least a part of the method. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method, which is for adjusting volume of an audio output device, comprises the steps of receiving an audio signal outputted from the audio output device; calculating absolute volume in a predetermined frequency band of the audio signal received by the mobile device; determining whether to control the volume of the audio output device based on the calculated absolute volume; generating volume control information based on the determination result; and transmitting the volume control information to the audio output device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and system for adjusting the volume of a sound wave output device,

The present invention relates to a method and system for adjusting the volume of a sound output apparatus and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for adjusting a volume of a sound output apparatus, To a method and system for adjusting the volume of a sound wave output from a device.

Recently, as smart devices become popular, sound communication using a built-in audio interface, that is, a speaker and a microphone, is being studied. For example, if a non-audible sound wave containing specific information is inserted into a television (TV) broadcast and broadcasted to a viewer, the smartphone of the viewer receives the non-audible sound wave and provides contents such as tailored advertisement to the viewer Technology is being studied.

Sounds from the 17.6 to 22.5 KHz band can be mixed and transmitted to the audio transmitted from the broadcasting transmission system, and this band is referred to as a 1/3 octave band whose center frequency is 20 KHz. In the 1/3 octave band where the center frequency is 20 KHz, for example, an audio watermark, a sound source of an exciter having amplified a high frequency band, or a sound such as a sound wave ID may be inserted. There is a recommendation for sound pressure because they can not hear well. For example, if exposure to sound over 70 dBSPL is sustained, there is a possibility of causing stress. In the case of 120 dBSPL or more, it is judged that the physical effect such as auditory loss may be caused, and 20 KHz is inserted in the 1/3 octave band Acoustic sound pressure is recommended not to exceed 70 dBSPL.

In this way, it is safe for the user to output the sound at a sufficiently low volume when inserting specific information into the non-audible frequency band. However, for example, in a set-top box, I do not know how big the volume of the non-audible sound is. In other words, the sound inserted into the non-audible band such as the 1/3 octave band whose center frequency is 20 KHz is difficult to recognize the risk even if it exceeds 70 dBSPL because it is difficult for listeners to confirm the sound volume.

Patent Document 1: Korean Patent No. 10- 1363454 (Announcement on Feb. 17, 2014)

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a volume control method and system capable of adjusting the volume of a non-audible sound wave portion of a set-top box so that a non-audible sound wave can be output to a safe volume. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a volume control method and system capable of controlling the volume of a sound output device so that a non-audible sound wave can be output to a safe volume in various types of sound output devices such as a digital advertisement panel and an in- .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of adjusting a volume of a sound output apparatus, the method comprising: receiving a sound signal output from the sound output apparatus; Calculating an absolute volume in a predetermined frequency band of the sound wave signal received by the mobile device or a server device communicating with the mobile device; Determining whether the mobile device or the server device controls the volume of the sound wave output device based on the calculated absolute volume; Generating a volume control information based on a result of the determination; And transmitting the volume control information to the sound wave output device by the mobile device or the server device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a server apparatus capable of transmitting volume control information for adjusting a volume of a sound wave output apparatus to the sound wave output apparatus, the server apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory; Wherein the sound volume control program causes the server device to control the volume of the sound wave signal output from the sound wave output device in a predetermined frequency band of the sound wave signal output from the sound wave output device when the sound wave signal is loaded into the memory under the control of the processor and executed. Obtaining absolute volume information; Determining whether to control the volume of the sound wave output device based on the absolute volume information; Generating volume control information based on the determination result; And transmitting the generated volume control information to the sound wave output device, wherein the absolute volume information is information indicating that the mobile device communicating with the server device has received the volume control information from the sound wave output device And an absolute volume calculated for the received sound wave signal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a mobile device capable of transmitting volume control information for adjusting the volume of a sound output device to the sound output device, the mobile device comprising: a processor; a memory; Wherein the sound volume control program comprises the steps of: receiving the sound wave signal output from the sound wave output device when the mobile device is loaded into the memory under the control of the processor and executing the sound wave; Calculating an absolute volume of the sound wave signal in a predetermined frequency band; Determining whether to control the volume of the sound wave output device based on the absolute volume information; Generating volume control information based on the determination result; And transmitting the generated volume control information to the sound wave output device. The mobile device according to the present invention is a program for executing the method.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, even when the amplifier or the audio setting value of the sound output apparatus differs from one sound output apparatus, the non-audible sound output can be output to a safe volume.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to output a non-audible sound wave to a safe volume in various types of sound output apparatuses such as a digital advertisement panel and an in-store sound system.

1 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a block diagram for explaining a volume control system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a volume control method according to the first embodiment;
4 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to the second embodiment,
5 is a block diagram for explaining a volume control system according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a volume control method according to the second embodiment. FIG.
7 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to the third embodiment,
8 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to the fourth embodiment,
9 is a block diagram for explaining a volume control system according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a volume control method according to the fourth embodiment,
11 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to the fifth embodiment,
12 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to the sixth embodiment,
13 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to the seventh embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments disclosed herein are provided so that the disclosure can be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In this specification, when an element is referred to as being on another element, it means that it can be formed directly on the other element, or a third element may be placed therebetween.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of illustrating embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. In the present specification, the singular form includes plural forms unless otherwise specified in the specification. The terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" used in the specification do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements.

Also, terms such as " ... part ", "module "," ... board ", "... block ", etc. used to refer to components of the invention are used herein to describe at least one function or operation Unit, which may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In describing the specific embodiments below, various specific details have been set forth in order to explain the invention in greater detail and to assist in understanding it. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be understood by those skilled in the art without departing from such specific details. In some instances, it should be noted that portions of the invention that are well known in the description of the invention and not significantly related to the invention do not describe confusion in describing the present invention.

As used herein, the term "sound waves" refers to those in which the vibrations of an object are propagated through the medium (air) so that a person can hear them audibly. Unless there is a particular need for distinction, Or "sound ".

As used herein, the term "volume" refers to the size of sound, and is used in combination with "volume", "level", "size of sound signal" .

1 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a volume control system according to an embodiment is a volume control system for controlling a volume (volume) of an audio signal output from, for example, a television (TV) 120. In the illustrated embodiment, May include a mobile device 130 and a server device 140.

In one embodiment, the TV 120 is coupled to the set-top box 110 and may output to the user any video and / or audio content transmitted from the set-top box 110.

In the illustrated embodiment, it is assumed that the object of volume control is a combination of the set-top box 110 and the TV 120. In an alternative embodiment, the volume control object may be any sound output device, The apparatus may be any content reproducing means for outputting only audio signals or outputting audio and video signals together. For example, the sound wave output device may be an acoustic system installed in a home, a store, a movie theater, or the like.

In one embodiment, the sound wave signal (audio signal) output from the TV 120 may include any identification information. For example, the identification information may be a set-top box ID for distinguishing the set-top box 110 from other set-top boxes, and as another example, a program for distinguishing a broadcast program broadcasted through the TV 120 from another broadcast program ID. The identification information is information that is uniquely allocated to each set-top box (or each broadcast program) and distinguished from other set-top boxes (or broadcast programs), and may be composed of digital bits of a predetermined length, for example.

In one embodiment, this identification information may be included in the sound wave of the non-audible spectrum of the sound wave signal output from the TV 120. [ The non-audible range refers to a frequency band that can not be heard by human hearing, and may include frequencies in the 18 to 24 KHz band, for example.

In one embodiment, for example, a non-audible sound wave generator (not shown) installed in the set-top box 110 generates a sound wave in the non-audible range, and identification information such as the set-top box ID can be injected into the non-audible sound wave. For example, the identification information, which is digital data, is modulated by one of various modulation methods such as amplitude modulation (ASK), frequency modulation (FSK), chirp modulation, or phase modulation (PSK) It is possible to generate a non-audible sound wave containing identification information by sounding on a sound wave.

The technique of inserting the identification information into the non-audible sound wave and including the non-audible sound wave in the audio signal output from the TV 120 can be implemented using known techniques, for example, Korean Patent Application No. 10-1448823 A method of transmitting and receiving sound waves using time-varying frequency-based symbols, and a device using the same) or Korean Patent Application No. 2014-0169557 (a method of generating broadcast image files or streaming packets including non-audible sound waves and a television broadcast system using the method) The disclosed technique can be used.

The mobile device 130 may be, for example, a device owned by a user viewing the TV 120 and may be any communicatable computing device such as, for example, a smart phone, a cellular phone, a tablet PC,

The mobile device 130 includes a device (e. G., A microphone) for receiving sonic signals. In one embodiment, the mobile device 130 can recognize the sound wave signal output from the TV 120 and extract the identification information included in the non-audible spectrum of the recognized sound wave signal. Techniques for extracting specific information from a sound wave signal are known, and for example, a technique disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2015-0118809 (a training heat synchronization position estimation method and a receiver using the same) can be used.

In one embodiment, the mobile device 130 may measure the magnitude of the sound wave signal output from the TV 120. For example, the mobile device 130 can measure the absolute volume of the sound wave signal output from the TV 120, and can transmit the measured absolute volume information to the server device 140.

The server device 140 is communicably coupled to the mobile device 130 via any network. The network may be, for example, but not limited to the Internet, any wireless and / or wired communication network, or a combination thereof.

The server device 140 receives the absolute volume information from the mobile device 140, determines whether to adjust the volume (volume) of the sound signal output from the TV 120 based on the absolute volume information, and adjusts the volume And generates volume control information and transmits the generated volume control information to the set top box 110.

In one embodiment, the volume control information may include, for example, a command to 'raise the volume one step' or 'turn the volume down one step'. Upon receiving the volume control information, the set- And adjusts the size of the sound wave signal output from the sound wave output unit.

In one embodiment, the server device 140 may use one or more of various identification methods to identify the set-top box 110 among a plurality of set-top boxes connected to the server device 140. For example, if the set-top box ID is included in the non-audible range of the sound signal output from the TV 120, the mobile device 130 extracts the set-top box ID from the sound signal, To the server device 140.

Alternatively, when the set-top box ID is not included in the sound wave signal output from the TV 120 (for example, only the program ID of the TV program is included in the sound wave signal, or no information is included in the non- For example, GPS and / or WiFi of the mobile device 130 may be used. For example, the mobile device 130 may acquire its own location information using the location measurement function and then transmit the location information together with the absolute volume information to the server device 140, and the server device 140 It is possible to specify or estimate the set-top box 110 based on the position information.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a volume control system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a concrete configuration example of the mobile device 130 and the server device 140 shown in FIG.

Referring to the drawings, the mobile device 130 may include a microphone 131, an automatic gain control (AGC) 132, an A / D converter (ADC) 133, and a sound receiving module 134.

The microphone 131 converts the received sound wave signal into an electrical signal of an analog type. The AGC 132 has a function of keeping the output constant even when the level of the input sound wave varies. The ADC 133 converts the analog signal passed through the AGC 132 into a digital signal. In an alternative embodiment, the AGC 132 and the ADC 133 may be arranged in reversed order.

The sound wave receiving module 134 is a module for processing the digital sound wave signal outputted from the ADC 133. In the illustrated embodiment, the sound wave receiving module 134 can extract the identification information from the sound wave signal and measure the sound volume . For this, the sound wave receiving module 134 may include, for example, a frequency converting unit 1341, a received signal processing module 1342, and a sound volume measuring module 1343.

The frequency converter 1341 performs an operation of converting the digital signal into the frequency domain signal by the ADC 133. [ In one embodiment, the frequency converter 1341 may perform a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) operation to convert the digital signal into the frequency domain.

The received signal processing module 1342 can perform a function of extracting identification information from a sound wave signal and a technique for extracting identification information from a sound wave signal is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2015-0118809 Receiver using it), and the received signal processing module 1342 can be implemented according to this known technology. The received signal processing module 1342 may be implemented as hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software.

The volume measurement module 1343 measures the size of the sound wave signal. In one embodiment, the loudness measurement module 1343 calculates an absolute loudness in a predetermined frequency band of the sound wave signal. The sound wave signal output from the TV 120 is processed through the microphone 131 and the ADC 133 in the mobile device 130 and then measured by the sound volume measurement module 1343. Thus, The measured value is the relative volume. Accordingly, weight values that can calculate the absolute volume in consideration of the microphone performance and the sound signal processing process in the mobile device 130 are prepared in advance, and the volume measurement module 1343 adds weight values to the relative volume measured for the predetermined frequency band Can be applied to calculate the absolute volume.

At this time, the relative volume measured by the volume measurement module 1343 can be measured in units of dBFS (Full Scale). dBFS refers to how low a digital device is compared to the full scale that a digital device can have. In a process where a sound wave is processed as a sound wave signal before being converted into a physical sound, i.e., in the mobile device 130, Can be measured. In one embodiment, the absolute volume can be calculated in dBSPL units. dBSPL is a measure of how much the sound pressure is above the minimum audible sound pressure (20 micro Pascal).

As shown in the figure, in one embodiment, the weight may be stored in advance as the absolute volume conversion table 135. [ The absolute volume conversion table 135 may be generated one by one, for example, in accordance with the product model of the mobile device 130. For example, an absolute volume conversion table may be created in advance for each model of each mobile device and stored in the server device 140 or any other storage device The mobile device 130 may download an absolute volume conversion table corresponding to the model of the mobile device via the network and store the absolute volume conversion table in the mobile device 130. [

The absolute volume conversion table 135 previously stores weights for each frequency band for at least one frequency band of the sound wave signal. In one embodiment, the frequency band for calculating the absolute volume may be an unvoiced sound wave band. In another embodiment, the frequency band for calculating the absolute volume may be a 1/3 octave band whose center frequency is 20 KHz. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of frequencies or frequency bands may be used. For example, an absolute volume may be calculated for each of a plurality of frequencies or a plurality of frequency bands within a 1/3 octave band whose center frequency is 20 KHz, and an absolute value of the absolute volume may be determined as an absolute volume. In an alternative embodiment, the weights may have a value that is predetermined according to the product model of the mobile device 130, in which case an absolute loudness conversion table is not needed.

When the absolute volume is calculated in the volume measurement module 1343, the mobile device 130 transmits the absolute volume information to the server device 140. [ In another embodiment, the mobile device 130 may transmit the set-top box ID to the server device 140 along with the absolute volume information. In yet another embodiment, the mobile device 130 may transmit location information of the mobile device 130 to the server device 140 along with absolute volume information.

In one embodiment, the server device 140 includes a volume control determination unit 141 and a volume control information generation unit 142. Each of the volume control determining unit 141 and the volume control information generating unit 142 may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. In the case of software, the volume control determining unit 141 and the volume control information The generating unit 142 may be implemented as one application.

The volume control determination unit 141 determines whether it is necessary to adjust the volume of the sound wave signal output from the TV 120 based on the received absolute volume information. In one embodiment, the volume control determination unit 141 can make such a determination by referring to the previously stored volume recording unit 143 for each terminal.

The terminal-specific volume recording unit 143 may be stored in a database or an arbitrary storage unit for storing absolute volume information received from the mobile device 130 for each mobile device.

In one embodiment, the volume control determination unit 141 determines whether the average value of the absolute volume values of a plurality of times received from the mobile device 130 within a predetermined time period is smaller than a preset first threshold value, 2 threshold value and judge whether volume control is necessary or not.

As another example, the volume control determination unit 141 determines whether the number of times smaller than the first threshold value among the plurality of absolute volumes received from the mobile device within a predetermined time period is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, It is possible to judge whether volume control is necessary or not.

As another example, the volume control determination unit 141 may determine whether volume control is necessary by determining whether the absolute volume value received from the mobile device gradually increases or decreases within a predetermined time period.

When it is determined that the volume control is required by the volume control determination unit 141, the volume control information generation unit 142 generates volume control information including a command for adjusting the volume of the set-top box 110 And transmits it to the set-top box 110. At this time, the volume control information may include, for example, an instruction to 'raise the volume one step' or 'turn the volume down one step'. In another embodiment, the volume control information may include, for example, an instruction to 'set the volume to a volume of a specific value (sound pressure)', and in another example, the volume control information may simply include the 'current volume is low' Volume is high '.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a volume control method according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the mobile device 130 may detect whether a predetermined event has occurred (S110). Here, 'event' may be an event that triggers to initiate an absolute volume measurement, for example, a user command input from a touch screen of the mobile device 130, or as another example, the time at which the absolute volume measurement was last performed May be a predetermined period of time.

  If the mobile device 130 detects the occurrence of the event, the mobile device 130 may stop the operation of the automatic gain control unit (AGC) 132 in the device (S120). The AGC 132 is a function unit that automatically adjusts a gain when a magnitude of an input sound signal changes, and outputs a constant output. Therefore, it is preferable to turn off the AGC function for measuring an absolute volume.

Then, the mobile device 130 receives the sound wave signal output from the TV 120 (S130), for example, the sound volume measurement module 1343 may calculate the absolute sound volume in a predetermined frequency band of the sound wave signal (S140) . As described with reference to Fig. 2, the absolute volume calculation is performed by measuring a relative volume in a predetermined frequency band, searching a weight in the corresponding frequency band in the absolute volume conversion table, and applying this weight to the relative volume, Can be calculated.

At the same time, the received signal processing module 1342 can extract identification information (e.g., set-top box ID) inserted in the non-audible band of the sound wave signal.

Next, in step S150, the mobile device 130 transmits absolute volume information to the server device 140. [ In an embodiment in which the server device 140 does not have information to identify the set-top box 110, the mobile device 130 may transmit the set-top box ID to the server device 140 together with the absolute volume information. Or in an alternative embodiment, the mobile device 130 may transmit the location information of the mobile device 130 to the server device 140 along with the absolute volume information.

2, the server device 140 determines whether it is necessary to adjust the volume of the sound wave signal based on the received absolute volume information (S160). If it is determined that volume control is necessary, Control information is generated (S170) and transmitted to the set-top box 110 (S180).

Upon receiving the volume control information, the set-top box 110 can adjust the size of a sound signal to be output by the TV 120 according to a command in the volume control information.

4 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the volume control system according to the second embodiment is a volume control system for controlling the volume of an audio signal output from a television (TV) 220. The volume control system includes a mobile device 230 and a server device 240, . ≪ / RTI >

4 and the second embodiment of FIG. 4, the second embodiment of FIG. 4 differs from the first embodiment of FIG. 4 in that the mobile device 230 transmits relative volume information, not absolute volume information, to the server device 240 And the other configurations are the same or similar.

That is, the mobile device 230 according to the second embodiment measures the relative volume and transmits the relative volume information and the terminal information to the server 240. When the server 240 determines that the relative volume information and the terminal information Thereby calculating the absolute volume.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining a volume control system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a specific configuration example of the mobile device 230 and the server device 240 of FIG.

Referring to the drawings, the mobile device 230 includes a microphone 231, an automatic gain control (AGC) 232, an A / D converter (ADC) 233, and a sound reception module 234, The module 234 includes a frequency converter 2341, a received signal processing module 2342, and a volume measurement module 2343.

The remaining components of these components, except for the volume measurement module 2343, are the components of the first embodiment of FIG. 2, namely the microphone 131, the AGC 132, the ADC 133, and the received signal processing module 2342 ), And have the same or similar functions as those of the constituent elements, so that the description thereof will be omitted.

The volume measurement module 2343 according to the second embodiment measures a relative volume of a sound wave signal in a predetermined frequency band. At this time, preferably, after the operation of the AGC 232 is stopped, the relative sound volume of the sound signal is measured after receiving the sound signal.

After measuring the relative volume, the mobile device 230 transmits the terminal information together with the relative volume information to the server device 240. At this time, the terminal information may include information about the product model of the mobile device 240, for example. In an alternative embodiment, the mobile device 230 may extract the set-top box ID from the sound wave signal and transmit the relative volume information, the terminal information, and the set-top box ID to the server device 240. In yet another alternative embodiment, the mobile device 230 may transmit relative volume information and terminal information to the server device 240 along with location information obtained using a location measurement function such as GPS and / or WiFi.

In one embodiment, the server device 240 includes an absolute volume measurement unit 241, a volume control determination unit 242, and a volume control information generation unit 243.

The absolute volume measuring section 241 is a function section for calculating the absolute volume of the sound wave signal, and corresponds in part to the role of the volume measuring module in the embodiment of FIG. In one embodiment, the absolute volume measuring unit 241 may calculate the absolute volume of the sound wave signal from the relative volume information received from the mobile device 230 and the terminal information.

For example, the absolute volume conversion table 244, which is matched for each product model of the mobile device 230, is stored in advance in the server device 240 as shown in FIG. The absolute volume of the corresponding frequency band can be calculated by applying the weight retrieved from the table 244 to the relative volume.

At this time, the server device 240 may store different conversion tables 244 for a plurality of mobile device product models, and may determine from the terminal information received from the corresponding mobile device 230 The absolute volume conversion table 244 can be searched and referred to. The absolute volume conversion table 244 has the same or similar configuration and function as the absolute volume conversion table 135 described with reference to FIG. 2, and therefore, description thereof will be omitted.

In another embodiment, the absolute volume conversion table may not be used. For example, only one weight is stored in advance for each product model of the mobile device 230, and the weight of the mobile device product model matched to the terminal information is obtained from the terminal information, and the weight is applied to the relative volume to calculate the absolute volume have.

The volume control determination unit 242 determines whether it is necessary to adjust the volume of the sound wave signal output from the TV 220 based on the absolute volume information received by referring to the previously stored volume recording unit 245 for each terminal do. The volume control information generation unit 243 may generate volume control information including a command for adjusting the volume of the set top box 210 and may transmit the volume control information to the set top box 210. [

The volume control determination unit 242, the volume control information generation unit 243 and the terminal-specific volume recording unit 245 are connected to the volume control determination unit 141, the volume control information generation unit 142, Volume recording unit 143 and performs the same or similar functions, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Each of the absolute volume measurement unit 241, the volume control determination unit 242, and the volume control information generation unit 243 may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. When implemented in software, At least two components of the measurement unit 241, the volume control determination unit 242, and the volume control information generation unit 243 may be implemented as one application.

If these components are implemented as an application, the application may be stored in any computer-readable recording medium. For example, assuming that the server device 240 has a processor and a memory, May be loaded into the memory from the recording medium under control of the server device 240 and executed within the server device 240. [

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a volume adjusting method according to the second embodiment.

Comparing the flowchart of the first embodiment of Fig. 3 with the flowchart of the second embodiment of Fig. 6, only the steps S240 and S250 of the second embodiment of Fig. 6 are different from the steps S140 and S150 of the first embodiment of Fig. And the remaining steps S210 to S230 and S260 to S290 are the same as or similar to the corresponding steps S110 to S130 and S160 to S190 in FIG. 3, so that detailed description of these remaining steps will be omitted .

6, when the mobile device 230 receives a sound wave signal from the TV 220 in step S230, the mobile terminal 230 receives a sound wave signal from the sound wave signal in a predetermined frequency band And transmits the measured relative volume information and the terminal information to the server 240 (S240).

At this time, identification information (e.g., set-top box ID) in which the mobile device 230 is inserted in the non-audible bandwidth of the sound wave signal can be extracted. In step S240, the set- To the device (240). As another example, when the set-top box ID is not included in the sound wave signal, the mobile device 230 obtains its own position information using a position measurement function such as GSP and / or WiFi, And transmits the information and the relative volume information to the server apparatus 240.

2 or 4, the server apparatus 240 calculates an absolute volume by applying a predetermined weight to the relative volume of the predetermined frequency band (S250), and then performs steps after S260 . The steps S260 to S290 subsequent to S260 correspond to the steps S160 to S190 described with reference to FIG. 3, respectively, and therefore, description thereof will be omitted.

7 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to the third embodiment.

7, the volume control system according to the third embodiment is a volume control system for controlling the volume of an audio signal output from a television (TV) 320, and includes a mobile device 330 and a server device 340, . ≪ / RTI >

Comparing the third embodiment of FIG. 7 with the first embodiment (FIG. 1) and the second embodiment (FIG. 4), in the third embodiment of FIG. 7, the server device 340 transmits volume control information to the set- To the mobile device (330) without direct transmission to the mobile device (310).

For example, when the server apparatus 340 does not directly have the set-top box 310 identification information (e.g., set-top box ID), the server apparatus 340 transmits the volume control information to the mobile apparatus 330, And to configure the mobile device 330 to transmit volume control information to the set-top box 310.

The components and functions of the third embodiment other than those described above are the same as or similar to those of the first or second embodiment. For example, the absolute volume may be measured at the mobile device 330 and absolute volume information may be transmitted to the server device 340. At this time, the configuration and functions of the mobile device 330 and the server 340 are the same as those of the first embodiment The configuration and function of the device 130 and the server 140 are the same or similar.

As another example, it is also assumed that the mobile device 330 measures the relative volume and transmits the relative volume information and the terminal information to the server device 340. The mobile device 330 and the server 340 Are the same as or similar to those of the mobile device 230 and the server 230 of the second embodiment.

8 is a view for explaining a volume control system according to the fourth embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, the volume control system according to the fourth embodiment may include a mobile device 430 as a volume control system for adjusting the volume of an audio signal output from a television (TV)

Comparing the fourth embodiment of FIG. 8 with the first embodiment (FIG. 1), there is no server device in the fourth embodiment of FIG. 8, but instead the role of the server device 140 in the first embodiment And is performed by the mobile device 430. That is, the mobile device 430 performs both the absolute volume measurement, the volume control decision, and the volume control information generation, and transmits the volume control information to the set-top box 410.

In this regard, FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining a volume control system according to the fourth embodiment, and shows a concrete configuration example of the mobile device 430 of FIG.

The mobile device 430 includes a microphone 431, an automatic gain control unit (AGC) 432, an A / D converter (ADC) 433, a sound wave reception module 434, a volume control determination unit 435 ), And a volume control information generation unit 436. [

Each of these components includes components described with reference to FIG. 2, namely, a microphone 131, an AGC 132, an ADC 133, a sound wave reception module 134, a volume control determination section 141, Information generating unit 142 and have the same or similar functions.

However, in the fourth embodiment, the absolute volume conversion table 437 may have only one conversion table corresponding to the product model of the mobile device 430, and the volume recording unit 438 may also store only the volume record of the mobile device 430 It will be understood that it differs from the absolute volume conversion table 135 and the terminal-specific volume recording section 143 of the first embodiment in that it stores the same.

In the illustrated fourth embodiment, each of the volume measurement module 4343, the volume control determination unit 435, and the volume control information generation unit 436 may be implemented by hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software, When implemented in software, at least two components of the volume measurement module 4343, the volume control determination unit 435, and the volume control information generation unit 436 may be implemented as one application.

When these components are implemented in an application, the application may be stored in any computer-readable recording medium and the application may be loaded into memory and executed under the control of the processor within the mobile device 430. [

10 is a flowchart for explaining a volume adjusting method according to the fourth embodiment.

Comparing the flow chart of the first embodiment of Fig. 3 with the flow chart of the fourth embodiment of Fig. 10, steps S310 to S340 are the same or similar respectively corresponding to the steps S110 to S140 of the first embodiment, S350 to S380 perform the same or similar functions corresponding to the steps S160 to S190 of the first embodiment, respectively.

That is, since there is no server in the fourth embodiment, it is not necessary to transmit the absolute volume information to the server. Steps S350 and S360 for determining whether to control the volume and generating volume control information are all performed by the mobile device 430 ), Which is different from the first embodiment.

The fifth to seventh embodiments will now be described with reference to Figs. 11 to 13. Fig.

The fifth to seventh embodiments include cases in which the volume control target is extended to any sound output apparatus other than the TV or set-top box.

For example, the fifth embodiment of FIG. 11 is similar to the first embodiment of FIG. 1 except that the combination of the set-top box 110 and the TV 120 is replaced by an arbitrary sound output apparatus 550. The configuration and functions of the mobile device 530 and the server device 540 are the same as or similar to those of the mobile device 130 and the server device 140 of FIG.

In Fig. 11, the sonic outputting device 550 may be, for example, only an audio signal output device, or any content reproducing device (or any hardware device equipped with the content reproducing software) that outputs audio and video signals together. For example, in the case where the present invention is applied to a digital advertisement panel, the sound output device 550 may be a hardware device equipped with a video playback device separately installed in the advertisement panel or video playback software included in the panel, Lt; / RTI >

As another example, when the present invention is applied to an in-store acoustic system, the sound output device 550 may be, for example, an MP3 player or a computer device connected for sound reproduction, or separately installed sound reproduction software.

As another example, when the present invention is applied to a movie theater, the sound output device 550 may be a device for reproducing an image to be displayed in an auditorium or a player on a server computer or a device on a server computer capable of reproducing sound separately, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI >

Meanwhile, in the fifth embodiment, the sound wave signal output from the sound wave output device 550 may include identification information for identifying the sound wave output device 550 with another sound wave output device. In this case, when the mobile device 530 receives the sound wave signal, it can extract the identification information of the sound wave output device 550 from the sound wave signal and simultaneously calculate the volume (absolute volume or relative volume) of the sound wave signal in a predetermined frequency band have.

The mobile device 530 transmits absolute volume information or relative volume information and terminal information to the server device 540. The server device 540 determines whether volume control is to be performed based on the absolute volume information and generates volume control information And transmits it to the sound wave output device 550.

At this time, when the mobile device 530 also transmits the identification information of the sound output device 550 to the server device 540, the server device 540 transmits the volume control information to the sound output device 550, Lt; / RTI >

If the server device 540 does not know the identification information of the sound output device 550, it may be implemented as the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 12, for example.

12, server device 640 may generate volume control information and then pass this information to mobile device 630 and mobile device 630 may send volume control information to sonic output device 640 have.

As yet another alternative embodiment, the seventh embodiment of Fig. 13 represents a volume control system in which no server device is present, and is similar to the fourth embodiment of Fig. That is, the combination of the set-top box 410 and the TV 420 is replaced with the sound output device 750, and the configuration and functions of the mobile device 720 are the same as or similar to those of the mobile device 430.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the described embodiments, but should be determined by the scope of the appended claims, as well as the appended claims.

110, 210, 310, 410: set-top box
120, 220, 320, 420: TV
130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630, 720:
140, 240, 340, 540, 640: Server device
550, 650, 750: Sound wave output device

Claims (17)

A method for adjusting the volume of a sound wave output apparatus,
Receiving a sound wave signal output from the sound wave output device by a mobile device;
Calculating an absolute volume in a predetermined frequency band of the sound wave signal received by the mobile device or a server device communicating with the mobile device;
The mobile device or the server device. Determining whether to control the volume of the sound wave output device based on the calculated absolute volume;
Generating a volume control information based on a result of the determination; And
And transmitting, by the mobile device or the server device, the volume control information to the sound wave output device. The method according to claim 1,
And stopping the operation of the automatic gain control unit (AGC) of the mobile device when the mobile device detects a predetermined event before receiving the sound wave signal. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the predetermined frequency band is a 1/3 octave band whose center frequency is 20 kHz. The method according to claim 1,
If the step of calculating the absolute volume is performed in a mobile device,
(S150) the mobile device transmits absolute volume information about the calculated absolute volume to the server,
Wherein the server determines whether to control the volume of the sound wave output device based on the absolute volume information (S160). 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the step of calculating the absolute volume comprises:
Extracting a relative sound volume in the predetermined frequency band from the received sound wave signal; And
And calculating an absolute volume by applying a predetermined weight to the relative volume,
Wherein the weight is a value that is preset in accordance with the product model of the mobile device or a value retrieved from an absolute volume conversion table in which weights are pre-matched for each frequency band of at least one frequency band of the sound wave signal How to adjust the volume. 5. The method of claim 4,
When the step of transmitting the volume control information to the sound wave outputting device is performed in the mobile device,
And after the volume control information is generated, the server transmits the volume control information to the mobile device. The method according to claim 1,
When the step of calculating the absolute volume is performed in the server apparatus,
The mobile device calculating a relative sound volume of the sound wave signal in the predetermined frequency band; And
Further comprising: transmitting, by the mobile device, relative volume information on the relative volume and terminal information related to the mobile device to the server,
Wherein the server calculates an absolute volume of the sound wave signal in a predetermined frequency band based on the received relative volume information and the terminal information. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the step of calculating the absolute volume comprises calculating an absolute volume by applying a predetermined weight to the relative volume,
Wherein the weight is a value that is preset in accordance with the product model of the mobile device or a value retrieved from an absolute volume conversion table in which weights are pre-matched for each frequency band of at least one frequency band of the sound wave signal How to adjust the volume. 8. The method of claim 7,
When the step of transmitting the volume control information to the sound wave outputting device is performed in the mobile device,
And after the volume control information is generated, the server transmits the volume control information to the mobile device. A server apparatus capable of transmitting volume control information for adjusting a volume of a sound wave output apparatus to the sound wave output apparatus,
The server apparatus includes a processor, a memory, and a computer-readable recording medium recording a volume control program,
Wherein the volume control program causes the server apparatus to control the volume control program when loaded and executed in the memory under the control of the processor,
Obtaining absolute volume information of a sound wave signal output from the sound wave output apparatus in a predetermined frequency band;
Determining whether to control the volume of the sound wave output device based on the absolute volume information;
Generating volume control information based on the determination result; And
And transmitting the generated volume control information to the sound wave output device,
Wherein the absolute volume information includes an absolute volume calculated for a sound wave signal received from the sound wave output device by a mobile device communicating with the server device. 11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the mobile device receives the sound wave signal in a state in which the operation of the automatic gain control unit (AGC) of the mobile device is interrupted so that the relative sound volume information about the relative sound volume in the predetermined frequency band of the sound wave signal, When the terminal information is transmitted to the server device,
Wherein the step of obtaining the absolute volume information comprises the step of the server calculating an absolute volume of the sound wave signal in a predetermined frequency band based on the relative volume information and the terminal information. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the step of calculating the absolute volume comprises calculating an absolute volume by applying a predetermined weight to the relative volume,
Wherein the weight is a value that is preset in accordance with the product model of the mobile device or a value retrieved from an absolute volume conversion table in which weights are pre-matched for each frequency band of at least one frequency band of the sound wave signal Server device. 11. The method of claim 10,
When the mobile device receives the sound wave signal and calculates an absolute sound volume in the predetermined frequency band of the sound wave signal in a state where the operation of the automatic gain control unit (AGC) of the mobile device is interrupted,
Wherein the obtaining of the absolute volume information comprises receiving absolute volume information on the absolute volume from the mobile device. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the absolute volume is a value calculated by extracting a relative volume in the predetermined frequency band from the sound wave signal and applying a predetermined weight to the relative volume,
Wherein the weight is a value that is preset in accordance with the product model of the mobile device or a value retrieved from an absolute volume conversion table in which weights are pre-matched for each frequency band of at least one frequency band of the sound wave signal Server device. A mobile device capable of transmitting volume control information for controlling the volume of a sound output device to the sound output device,
The mobile device includes a processor, a memory, and a computer-readable recording medium recording a volume control program,
Wherein the volume control program causes the mobile device to, when loaded and executed in the memory under the control of the processor,
Receiving a sound wave signal output from the sound wave output device;
Calculating an absolute volume of the sound wave signal in a predetermined frequency band;
Determining whether to control the volume of the sound wave output device based on the absolute volume information;
Generating volume control information based on the determination result; And
And transmitting the generated volume control information to the sound wave output device. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the method further comprises stopping the operation of the automatic gain controller (AGC) prior to receiving the sound wave signal. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the step of calculating the absolute volume comprises:
Extracting a relative sound volume in the predetermined frequency band from the received sound wave signal; And
And calculating an absolute volume by applying a predetermined weight to the relative volume,
Wherein the weight is a value that is preset in accordance with the product model of the mobile device or a value retrieved from an absolute volume conversion table in which weights are pre-matched for each frequency band of at least one frequency band of the sound wave signal Mobile device.

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