Apple Patents: New Audio & Recording Functionality Coming to iPod/iPhone, More

On August 9, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple’s patent application titled Presentation of audible media in accommodation with external sound. Every once in a while a practical patent comes our way and this is one of the best. The new patent in short, will allow iPod users who are wearing their earphones in public to simply click on a single button and be able to switch from listening to music, to listening to external sounds, without removing their earphones. The patent uses an example of a user listening to music on a plane and quickly switches to external mode to hear a message from the pilot without having to remove his headset. Another example is that of a jogger approaching an intersection and switches to external audio in order to stay alert while crossing the street. The new functionality may also allow users to record external sounds or presentations while still listening to their iTunes. Yes, I think that students may like that feature best.

Stored or External Sound for iPhone/iPod/iPhone

Apple’s patent FIG. 3 depicts a device 300 capable of presenting external sound 302 and/or stored digital data 304 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Stored digital data 304 can be presented (e.g., played) by a digital media player module 308 (e.g., a media player software module) via an audio interface 310 (e.g., headphones) provided for a user 312. In addition, external sound 302 can be received via a pass-through component (e.g., a microphone 314), processed by an external sound processor 316 and presented via the same audio interface 310 used to present the digital data 304. It should be noted that the external sound 302 can be stored in storage 306 as digital data (stored external sound 336).

Functionality to include Recording External Events

Apple’s patent FIG. 4 depicts a media player 400 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The media player can, for example, be an Apple iPod media player that, among other things, controls a user’s (102) environment with respect to presentation of media and external sound 406. The user 402 can listen to audio by placing a set of headphones 404. The set of headphones 404 effectively block or reduce the external sound 406 (e.g., outside noise) that would be otherwise audible to user 402. Typically, headphones 404 are used in order to listen to audio. However, headphones 404 alone or in combination with earbuds can be used primarily for blocking or reducing the external sound 406 without listening to audio media being presented.

In any case, when headphones 404 are in use, external sound 406 is at least reduced. However, user 402 can request to be presented with the external sound 406 via the headphones 404 without having to take the headphones 404 off. This request can, for example, be made by pressing a key (e.g., pause key) 410. Typically, the request for presentation of external sound 406 is made when audio is currently being presented via the headphones 404. In addition to audio, video can be displayed on a display 412. During the presentation of media, the user 402 can request to be presented with external sound 406 by pressing, for example, a pause button in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. As a result of pressing the pause button, the audio portion of media being presented via the headphones 404 is stopped or reduced to a determined level so that external sound 406 can be presented via the set of headphones 404. In other words, external sound 406, either alone or in combination of audio, is presented to user via the headphones 404 upon request. It should be noted that the user 402 can also be presented with external sound 406 after it has been stored as digital data. In other words, external sound 406 can be effectively recorded and subsequently presented to the user 402. As noted above, stored external sound can be presented with a full range of media playback features (e.g., forward, backward, pause, replay). It should be noted that the external sound 406 can be received via a microphone 420. Furthermore, the user 402 can control/adjust the presentation of external sound 406 by using a input/controller 422 provided on the same input line 430 of the media player too.

Various Summary Notes

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a digital media player can present both media and external sound via the same audio-output device (e.g., headphones). During presentation of media, the user can request presentation of external sound (e.g., by pressing a pause button). Depending on user’s preference, at least the audio-portion of the media being presented is automatically adjusted (e.g., volume is lowered, audible media is effectively paused) to accommodate presentation of the external sound. This allows the user to use the headphones to listen, for example, to an announcement being made by the pilot, converse with flight attendants or other passengers without having to take the headphones off. In addition, the media player can automatically resume the presentation of the media upon request (e.g., by pressing the pause again). It will be appreciated that external sound and digitally stored audible media (e.g., music files) can be combined (or blended) and presented to the user via the headphones in accordance with user input or various other programmable criteria.

It will also be appreciated that the media player can also store external sound as digital data and present it to the user with various play-back functions (e.g., pause, forward, backward, skip) that digital media players normally provide in connection with presentation of digital media. As such, users can configure the media player to effectively store the external sound while media is being presented to them. The user can later listen to the stored external sound when it is convenient. In addition, the use can conveniently go over the stored external sound with play-back functionality similar to that provided by digital media players.

Although reduction of external sound is often desirable or at least tolerable, conventional techniques for presentation of audio conventional noise-reduction devices (e.g., headphones, ear-buds) do provide a convenient way to hear the external sound when it is desirable to do so. By way of example, a media player has to be stopped and/or headphones have to be taken off when a user, who is listening to music, while traveling on a plane, wants to hear an announcement by the pilot. This limitation has proved to be more than an inconvenience when, for example, headphones are used to listen to music in busy street, where the sound of a horn or other warning signs can be completely blocked. With ever increasing popularity of digital media, alternative techniques for presentation of media have become even more useful.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a digital media player can present both media and external sound via the same audio-output device (e.g., headphones).

Today’s Other Apple Patent Filings
Other patents were published today that were primarily considered continuation patents as follows:

Wide touchpad on a portable computer

Apple’s Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a portable computer having a display assembly coupled to a base assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position. Palm rest areas are formed by a touchpad disposed on the surface of the base assembly. In an alternative embodiment, a touchpad disposed on the base assembly has a width that extends substantially into the palm rests areas of the base assembly. I covered this patent back in March 2006. This patent is a continuation of a co-pending patent dating back to 2004.

Apple’s Zooming Controller patent has resurfaced again as a continuation patent. The patent covers patent from 1991 through to 2004. . Apple’s 2004 patent was clearly acknowledged as an Apple patent, here. For more details on this patent, refer to patent 20070182763.

Apple’s continuation patent filed today titled Method and apparatus for enabling a computer system, generally relates to computer operating systems boot sequence and initialization methods and apparatus.

Apple’s continuation patent filing titled “Method and apparatus for supporting and presenting multiple serial bus nodes using distinct configuration ROM images,” generally pertains to configuration ROM implementations for IEEE Standard 1394 nodes. More particularly, the invention is a method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of link devices as separate nodes within a singe serial bus module by generating individual or a distinct configuration ROM image for each link device in the module. Apple’s patent relates to a co-pending patent dating back to 1999. For more details on this patent, please refer to patent 20070186013.

Apple’s last continuation patent filing today was titled “Partial Display Updates in a Windowing System using a Programmable Graphics Processing Unit.” For more details on this patent, please refer to patent 20070182749

NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.

Written and researched by Neo.