Apple Inc. (20240256215). Method and System for Adjusting Sound Playback to Account for Speech Detection simplified abstract

Method and System for Adjusting Sound Playback to Account for Speech Detection

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Christopher T. Eubank of Mountain View CA (US)

Devin W. Chalmers of Oakland CA (US)

Kirill Kalinichev of San Francisco CA (US)

Rahul Nair of Santa Clara CA (US)

Thomas G. Salter of Foster City CA (US)

Method and System for Adjusting Sound Playback to Account for Speech Detection - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240256215 titled 'Method and System for Adjusting Sound Playback to Account for Speech Detection

Simplified Explanation: The patent application describes a method performed by an audio system with a headset that adjusts the audio playback based on detecting speech in the user's ambient environment.

• **Key Features and Innovation:**

   - Sending a playback signal to drive the headset speaker with user-desired audio content.
   - Receiving a microphone signal to capture sounds in the user's environment.
   - Performing a speech detection algorithm to detect speech in the microphone signal.
   - Adjusting the playback signal when speech is detected to accommodate conversation intentions.

• **Potential Applications:**

   - Hands-free communication in noisy environments.
   - Personalized audio experiences based on user interactions.
   - Enhanced user experience in virtual reality and augmented reality applications.

• **Problems Solved:**

   - Improving communication clarity in noisy environments.
   - Providing seamless audio adjustments based on user intentions.
   - Enhancing user experience in immersive audio environments.

• **Benefits:**

   - Improved user communication in various settings.
   - Enhanced user control over audio playback.
   - Seamless integration of audio adjustments based on user interactions.

• **Commercial Applications:**

   - "Adaptive Audio System for Enhanced Communication in Headsets"
   - This technology can be utilized in gaming headsets, virtual reality devices, and communication headsets for professionals in noisy environments.

• **Prior Art:**

   - Prior art related to this technology may include patents or research on speech detection algorithms in audio systems and adaptive audio technologies in headsets.

• **Frequently Updated Research:**

   - Stay updated on advancements in speech detection algorithms and adaptive audio technologies for headsets.

Questions about Adaptive Audio Systems for Headsets: 1. How does the speech detection algorithm work in the audio system? 2. What are the potential challenges in implementing adaptive audio technology in headsets?

Original Abstract Submitted

a method performed by an audio system comprising a headset. the method sends a playback signal containing user-desired audio content to drive a speaker of the headset that is being worn by a user, receives a microphone signal from a microphone that is arranged to capture sounds within an ambient environment in which the user is located, performs a speech detection algorithm upon the microphone signal to detect speech contained therein, in response to a detection of speech, determines that the user intends to engage in a conversation with a person who is located within the ambient environment, and, in response to determining that the user intends to engage in the conversation, adjusts the playback signal based on the user-desired audio content.