WO2009122239A1 - Modification de niveau de volume - Google Patents

Modification de niveau de volume Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2009122239A1
WO2009122239A1 PCT/IB2008/051220 IB2008051220W WO2009122239A1 WO 2009122239 A1 WO2009122239 A1 WO 2009122239A1 IB 2008051220 W IB2008051220 W IB 2008051220W WO 2009122239 A1 WO2009122239 A1 WO 2009122239A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
volume
volume level
differential
audio signal
level
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2008/051220
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Simon John Parnall
Original Assignee
Nds Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nds Limited filed Critical Nds Limited
Priority to PCT/IB2008/051220 priority Critical patent/WO2009122239A1/fr
Publication of WO2009122239A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009122239A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
    • H04N5/60—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for the sound signals
    • H04N5/602—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for the sound signals for digital sound signals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/439—Processing of audio elementary streams

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of modifying the volume level of an audio signal output from a media device.
  • Dynamic range compression (also called DRC, audio level compression, volume compression, compression, or limiting) is a process that manipulates the dynamic range of an audio signal (the ratio of the loudest possible undistorted sound to the quietest or to the noise level). Compression is used, for example, during broadcasting to alter the perceived volume (or loudness) of audio.
  • a compressor is the device used to create compression is a form of automatic volume control. Loud sounds over a certain threshold are reduced in level; quiet sounds are not reduced. In this way it reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal. This may be done for aesthetic reasons, to deal with technical limitations of audio equipment, or to improve audibility of audio in noisy environments.
  • background noise can overpower quiet sounds.
  • a comfortable listening level for loud sounds makes the quiet sounds inaudible whilst a comfortable listening level for quiet sounds makes the loud sounds too loud.
  • compression is used to reduce the level of the loud sounds but not the quiet sounds and thus the audio level can be raised to a point where the quiet sounds are audible, but without the loud sounds being too loud.
  • compression is used extensively in broadcasting to alter the perceived volume of audio.
  • the degree of compression used by television channel/radio station operators varies. For example, a radio station that plays only classical music and whose target audience is home listeners (e.g. BBC Radio 3) may deliver broadcasts using a low level of compression whereas a radio station that expects its audience to be listening in noisier environments such as a workplace or vehicle (e.g. BBC Radio 1) may use a much higher level of compression. Consequently, in an environment where lots of television channels/radio stations are available for a user to choose from, there are many different compression policies. The result is a perception to the user that the change in volume level between television channels/radio stations is significant and irritating.
  • United States patent application US20060018493 describes a method of automatically compensating audio volume in response to a channel change.
  • the method includes generating a gain value to adjust a level of an input audio signal by comparing an average level of the input audio signal with a predetermined input/output level curve, adjusting an audio volume of the input audio signal by applying the generated gain value to the level of the input audio signal, and adjusting a dynamic range of the audio signal having the adjusted audio volume.
  • Japanese patent application JP11355684A2 describes a volume adjusting device which outputs an almost fixed volume level even at the time of changing a receiver channel from a ground wave channel to a CS broadcasting channel and switching a tuner of CATV broadcasting.
  • Japanese patent application JP10013764A2 describes a method to correct a sound volume difference to be almost constant in a listening sense by automatically correcting a sound volume difference of an output voice signal caused in the case of switching a signal source. In the case that a source VHF is changed into a source BS, the sound with almost a constant sound level is outputted from a speaker without manual sound volume adjustment by the user.
  • Korean patent application KR3090364A describes a device for automatically correcting an audio signal in a video display automatically correct an output level of an audio signal even if a channel is changed.
  • a microcomputer stores an output level of an audio signal output from an audio processor in regard to the current channel in an inner register, and examines whether a channel change signal is inputted. If the channel change signal is inputted, a comparator compares the output level of the audio signal to a preliminarily stored channel before change with an output level of the audio signal to a channel after change.
  • a level adjusting unit adjusts the output level of the audio signal output from the audio processor according to the result of the comparison of the comparator.
  • Japanese patent application JP03195300A2 describes the automatic sound volume adjustment of each channel by allowing a detection circuit to detect to which channel a sound signal comes from and allowing a control circuit to control the attenuation of the sound signal of a sound volume circuit of each channel.
  • United States patent application US20040199933A1 describes a system and method for maintaining a consistent volume level as the user changes channels in a set top box adopted for use in a television system, comprising selecting a reference channel and adjusting the gain of a pre-amp so that the mean output level of the pre-amp remains the same on the new channel.
  • the system and method also provides for allowing multiple users to specify unique channel volume configurations for one, some or all the channel receivable by a set top box, and for dynamically adjusting audio amplification to maintain the output audio in an acceptable range.
  • Korean patent application KR3009639A describes a method of setting a volume level of a set top box to respectively set volume levels of channels based on a user's preference and store the set volume levels in a set top box so that the user does not set the volume levels whenever the user changes the channels.
  • a method of modifying the volume level of an audio signal output from a media device including a memory, the memory including a master volume memory location storing a master volume level, and one or more differential volume memory locations each of the one or more differential volume memory locations storing a differential volume level, the method including: determining a modified volume level for the audio signal by summing the master volume level and one differential volume level; and outputting the audio signal at the modified volume level.
  • the method further includes an initial step of initializing the one or more differential volume memory locations in response to tuning to a first audio signal
  • the initializing includes setting all differential volume levels stored in the one or more differential volume memory locations to a level of OdB.
  • the method further includes: determining a first modified volume level for the first audio signal by summing the master volume level and a first differential volume level associated with the first audio signal and stored in a first differential volume memory location; and outputting the first audio signal at the first modified volume level.
  • the method further includes: determining a second modified volume level for the second audio signal by summing the master volume level and a second differential volume level associated with the second audio signal and stored in a second differential volume memory location; and outputting the second audio signal at the second modified volume level.
  • the method further includes: detecting a user initiated volume change; and adjusting the second modified volume level by making an adjustment to the second differential volume level stored in the second differential volume memory location, the adjustment corresponding to the user initiated volume change.
  • the making an adjustment is conditional on detecting the user initiated volume change within a predetermined period of the tuning to the second audio signal.
  • the method further includes: detecting a user initiated volume change; and adjusting the second modified volume level by making an adjustment to the master volume level stored in the master volume memory location, the adjustment corresponding to the user initiated volume change.
  • the making an adjustment is conditional on detecting the user initiated volume change after a predetermined period of the tuning to the second audio signal.
  • the media device further includes a timer operable to measure the predetermined period.
  • the memory includes non-volatile memory.
  • the method further includes: determining an average of all of the differential volume levels stored in the one or more differential volume memory locations; adjusting the differential volume levels stored in the one or more differential volume memory locations by the average in order to adjust the average of all differential volume levels to a level of OdB; and adjusting the master volume level by making an adjustment to the master volume level stored in the master volume memory location by the average in order to maintain the modified volume level.
  • a computer program product including computer program code adapted, when loaded on a computer, to perform any of the methods described above.
  • a media device operable to output an audio signal
  • the media device including: a memory, the memory including a master volume memory location storing a master volume level, and one or more differential volume memory locations each of the one or more differential volume memory locations storing a differential volume level; and an amplifier operable to determine a modified volume level for the audio signal by summing the master volume level and one differential volume level, the amplifier being further operable to output the audio signal at the modified volume level.
  • a media device operable to output an audio signal
  • the media device including: storage means including master volume storage means for storing a master volume level, and one or more differential volume storage means each of the one or more differential volume storage means for storing a differential volume level; and amplification means for determining a modified volume level for the audio signal by summing the master volume level and one differential volume level, and for outputting said audio signal at said modified volume level.
  • Figure 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a volume modification system constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the media device of figure 1
  • Figure 3 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the volume memory of the media device of figure 1 ;
  • Figure 4 is a flow chart of a volume modification method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 5 is a flow chart of a volume modification method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
  • remote control 103 comprises an infra-red remote control although someone skilled in the art will realize that other suitable remote control technologies would be suitable.
  • television 105 is operable to receive an audio/video (AfV) signal from a communications network (e.g. a terrestrial broadcast network, a satellite broadcast network, a cable broadcast network, an internet protocol television (IPTV) network etc.)
  • A/V audio/video
  • a communications network e.g. a terrestrial broadcast network, a satellite broadcast network, a cable broadcast network, an internet protocol television (IPTV) network etc.
  • IPTV internet protocol television
  • the present invention is not concerned with the picture information and therefore it suffices to say that the decoded picture information is passed to a display device (not shown), which turns the picture information into visual images (not shown), which user 101 can view.
  • the decoded sound information is passed to an amplifier 203 and loudspeaker 205, which turn the sound information into audio to accompany the visual images.
  • Amplifier 203 operates under the control of a controller 211, which accepts commands from remote control 103 (operated by user 101) via an infrared interface 207.
  • controller 207 is also in operative association with a volume memory 211, which will be described in more detail below.
  • volume memory 211 preferably comprises a non- volatile memory having a plurality of memory locations.
  • a master volume memory location 301 is assigned to store a master volume level for television 105.
  • a differential volume level is attributed to each and every television channel that is received by television 105.
  • Differential volume memory locations 303/305/307 are assigned to store differential volume levels (which may be positive or negative) for channel 1 , channel 2 and channel 3 respectively, which television 105 is operable to receive.
  • differential volume levels which may be positive or negative
  • embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to three television channels. However, someone skilled in the art will realize that television 105 could be operable to receive many more television channels and in such a case there would be a differential volume memory location assigned for each and every television channel receivable by television 105.
  • controller 207 is operable to: retrieve the master volume level to television 105 from master volume memory location 301; retrieve the differential volume level for the selected television channel (e.g. channel 1) from the appropriate differential volume memory location (in this case, differential volume memory location 303 (DIF CH I)); and pass the master volume level and differential volume level to amplifier 203.
  • Amplifier 203 is then operable to add the master volume level and differential volume level together in order to calculate an actual volume level at which to output the audio from loudspeaker 205.
  • controller 207 When user 101 adjusts the volume on television 105, controller 207 is also operable to determine whether to adjust the stored master volume level or one of the stored differential volume levels. A process by which controller 207 makes such a determination will now be described in relation to figures 4and 5.
  • the volume modification system according to embodiments of the present invention is preferably activated by the user turning on television 105.
  • controller 207 initializes all the differential volume levels stored in differential volume memory locations DIF CH 1 303, DIF CH 2 305 and DIF CH 3 307 (e.g. sets them all to a gain of OdB) (step 401). Controller 207 then waits for a volume adjustment.
  • controller 207 checks to see whether the volume adjustment was made in response to user 101 switching to a different television channel (step 405). If the volume adjustment was not made in response to a channel change (i.e.
  • controller 207 adjusts the master volume level stored in master volume memory location 301.
  • controller 207 adjusts the differential volume level corresponding to the newly tuned to channel and stored in the corresponding differential volume memory location. Controller then reverts to waiting for a further volume adjustment.
  • controller 207 waits for user 101 to adjust the volume.
  • controller 207 initializes a timer which starts counting upwards (step 503).
  • controller 207 checks whether or not the volume adjustment occurred within a predetermined amount of time of the channel change (e.g. checks whether or not the timer has passed a predetermined time; or checks whether or not the timer has expired).
  • controller 207 adjusts the differential volume level corresponding to the newly tuned to channel and stored in the corresponding differential volume memory location (step 511). Controller then reverts to waiting for a further volume adjustment. If, however, the volume adjustment occurred after the predetermined time or after the timer expired, it is assumed that the volume adjustment was not a consequence of the channel change and in this case controller 207 adjusts the master volume level stored in master volume memory location 301 (step 509) and reverts to waiting for a further volume adjustment. Controller 207 resets the timer each time user 101 tunes to a different television channel.
  • the predetermined time is set between 10s and 30s but someone skilled in the art will realize that a predetermined time from as little as a few seconds to as much as a minute (or possibly longer) would be suitable.
  • a longer period of time is advantageous in case there is a reason why the newly tuned to channel may be unusually and temporarily louder than normal (e.g. a particularly loud section of a television program, a commercial break or other interstitial content).
  • having a longer time window or timer expiration time means that the differential volume level for the newly tuned to channel will end up being adjusted according to the normal/usual volume level for the newly tuned to channel.
  • the timer is frozen by controller 207 when user 101 adjusts the volume (if the timer has not expired) in order to prevent the timer from expiring whilst user 101 is adjusting the volume. In other embodiments, if the timer expires after user 101 has started to adjust the volume (but before user 101 has completed adjusting the volume) controller 207 discounts the expiration of the timer.
  • controller 207 initializes the differential volume levels when user 101 turns on television 105 for the first time.
  • the differential volume levels for each of the three television channels are shown in the table below:
  • controller 207 makes an appropriate adjustment to the differential volume level of channel 2 stored in differential volume memory location DIF CH 2 305.
  • the volume adjustment is -3dB and the resultant differential volume levels for the television channels are shown in the table below:
  • Controller then passes the master volume level and the differential volume level for channel 2 to amplifier 203.
  • controller 207 makes an appropriate adjustment to the differential volume level of channel 3 stored in differential volume memory location DIF CH 3 307.
  • the volume adjustment is +6dB and the resultant differential volume levels for the television channels are shown in the table below:
  • Controller then passes the master volume level and the differential volume level for channel 3 to amplifier 203.
  • controller 207 would pass the master volume level and the differential volume level for channel 1 to amplifier 203.
  • controller 207 can intermittently normalize the differential volume levels by scanning all the differential volume levels stored in the differential volume memory locations and adjusting them all appropriately so as to bring the average to OdB.
  • the differential volume levels might be as indicated in the table below:
  • controller 207 could adjust the differential volume levels by -4dB in order to bring the average to OdB.
  • the resulting differential volume levels are shown in the table below:
  • a corresponding change of +4dB is made to the master volume level so that the overall volume level remains the same and the user perceives no difference in the volume level.
  • volume modification system that included television 105.
  • the same volume modification system and methods could similarly be applied to: a radio (where differential volume levels would be stored for each radio station that the radio could tune in to), a compact disc (CD) or digital video disc (DVD) player (where differential volume levels would be stored for each disc played on the player), a digital music player (where differential volume levels would be stored for each album/artist/song/producer etc.) etc.
  • a radio where differential volume levels would be stored for each radio station that the radio could tune in to
  • CD compact disc
  • DVD digital video disc
  • digital music player where differential volume levels would be stored for each album/artist/song/producer etc.
  • user 101 may view television broadcasts or other video content via an external device such as a set top box (STB), personal video recorder (PVR), integrated receiver decoder (IRD), DVD player etc.
  • an external device such as a set top box (STB), personal video recorder (PVR), integrated receiver decoder (IRD), DVD player etc.
  • the volume memory and controller sub-systems would be comprised in the external device with the volume modification control applied in the external device.
  • the external device would output a volume modified audio signal from an amplifier associated with the external device. When the user adjusts the volume, the volume modification is applied in the external device.
  • user 101 may also decide to record a broadcast or other video content, information is stored with the recorded broadcast/video content that carries the differential volume offset for the recorded broadcast/video content (which can be obtained from the volume memory at the time the recording is made since the source of the broadcast/video content (i.e. channel) is known). Alternatively, information is stored with the recorded broadcast/video content that identifies the appropriate volume memory locations to use when calculating the modified volume level. In this way, the volume can be modified when user 101 plays back the recorded broadcast/other video content from the PVR.
  • software components of the present invention may, if desired, be implemented in ROM (read only memory) form. The software components may, generally, be implemented in hardware, if desired, using conventional techniques. It is further appreciated that the software components may be instantiated, for example: as a computer program product; on a tangible medium; or as a signal interpretable by an appropriate computer.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Control Of Amplification And Gain Control (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un procédé de modification du niveau de volume d'un signal audio délivré par un dispositif multimédia. Le dispositif multimédia comprend une mémoire, la mémoire comprend un emplacement de mémoire de volume maître stockant un niveau de volume maître, et un ou plusieurs emplacements de mémoire de volume différentiel, chacun des emplacements de mémoire de volume différentiel stockant un niveau de volume différentiel. Le procédé comprend : la détermination d'un niveau de volume modifié pour le signal audio par addition du niveau de volume maître et d'un niveau de volume différentiel; et l'émission du signal audio au niveau de volume modifié. Un appareil et des procédés apparentés sont également décrits.
PCT/IB2008/051220 2008-04-01 2008-04-01 Modification de niveau de volume WO2009122239A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2008/051220 WO2009122239A1 (fr) 2008-04-01 2008-04-01 Modification de niveau de volume

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IB2008/051220 WO2009122239A1 (fr) 2008-04-01 2008-04-01 Modification de niveau de volume

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009122239A1 true WO2009122239A1 (fr) 2009-10-08

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2008/051220 WO2009122239A1 (fr) 2008-04-01 2008-04-01 Modification de niveau de volume

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WO (1) WO2009122239A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140328499A1 (en) * 2013-05-03 2014-11-06 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Methods and systems for controlling volume
JP2015144485A (ja) * 2015-03-31 2015-08-06 シャープ株式会社 コンテンツ再生装置、およびコンテンツ再生装置の動作方法
WO2020092999A1 (fr) * 2018-11-02 2020-05-07 Netflix, Inc. Lecture vidéo dans un environnement de diffusion en flux continu en ligne
EP3745730A1 (fr) * 2019-05-31 2020-12-02 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Appareil électronique et son procédé de commande
WO2021086420A1 (fr) * 2019-11-01 2021-05-06 Levan Larry D Système et procédé de commande de volume dans un dispositif audio ou audiovisuel

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040199933A1 (en) * 2003-04-04 2004-10-07 Michael Ficco System and method for volume equalization in channel receivable in a settop box adapted for use with television
US20060018493A1 (en) * 2004-07-24 2006-01-26 Yoon-Hark Oh Apparatus and method of automatically compensating an audio volume in response to channel change

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040199933A1 (en) * 2003-04-04 2004-10-07 Michael Ficco System and method for volume equalization in channel receivable in a settop box adapted for use with television
US20060018493A1 (en) * 2004-07-24 2006-01-26 Yoon-Hark Oh Apparatus and method of automatically compensating an audio volume in response to channel change

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140328499A1 (en) * 2013-05-03 2014-11-06 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Methods and systems for controlling volume
WO2014179298A1 (fr) * 2013-05-03 2014-11-06 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Procédés et systèmes de réglage de volume
US9385678B2 (en) 2013-05-03 2016-07-05 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Methods and systems for controlling volume
JP2015144485A (ja) * 2015-03-31 2015-08-06 シャープ株式会社 コンテンツ再生装置、およびコンテンツ再生装置の動作方法
WO2020092999A1 (fr) * 2018-11-02 2020-05-07 Netflix, Inc. Lecture vidéo dans un environnement de diffusion en flux continu en ligne
US11317158B2 (en) 2018-11-02 2022-04-26 Netflix, Inc. Video playback in an online streaming environment
EP3745730A1 (fr) * 2019-05-31 2020-12-02 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Appareil électronique et son procédé de commande
US11350171B2 (en) 2019-05-31 2022-05-31 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Electronic apparatus and controlling method thereof
EP4262224A3 (fr) * 2019-05-31 2023-12-06 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Appareil électronique et son procédé de commande
WO2021086420A1 (fr) * 2019-11-01 2021-05-06 Levan Larry D Système et procédé de commande de volume dans un dispositif audio ou audiovisuel

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