Apparatus for Automatically Mixing Audio Signals in a Predetermined Manner

Abstract

A recorded voice message having a first length and a background sound having a second length longer than the first length are received. The first length of the recorded voice message is determined. The level of a portion of the background sound is lowered, the lowered portion having a length that is substantially the same as the first length. The recorded voice message and the lowered portion of the background sound are interleaved. The length of the background sound is adjusted to the first length plus a third length.

1 . A host node for automatically mixing audio signals in a predetermined manner comprising:
 a network interface enabling a network coupling between the host node and a client node;   means for receiving from the client node over the network a recorded voice message having a first length;   a database containing a plurality of background sounds;   means for receiving from the client node over the network a selection indication of a background sound selected from the plurality of background sounds, the background sound having a second length, said second length being longer than said first length;   means for lowering the level of a portion of the background sound, the lowered portion having a length that is substantially the same as the first length;   means for interleaving the recorded voice message and the lowered portion of the background sound; and   means for adjusting the length of the background sound to the first length plus a third length.   
     
     
         2 . The host node of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a back punctuating sound having a fourth length shorter than the third length; and   means for interleaving the back punctuating sound and the background sound such that an end of the adjusted length background sound occurs within the fourth length of the back punctuating sound.   
     
     
         3 . The host node of  claim 2 , wherein the end of the adjusted length background sound coincides with an end of the back punctuating sound. 
     
     
         4 . The host node of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a front punctuating sound having a fifth length shorter than the third length; and   means for interleaving the front punctuating sound and the background sound such that a start of the reduced length background sound occurs within the fifth length of the front punctuating sound.   
     
     
         5 . The host node of  claim 4 , wherein the start of the adjusted length background sound coincides with a start of the front punctuating sound. 
     
     
         6 . The host node of  claim 1 , wherein lowering the level of the background sound includes lowering the level to approximately 10-18 dB below the level of the recorded voice message. 
     
     
         7 . The host node of  claim 1 , wherein reducing the length of the background sound includes lowering the level of the background sound over a time interval. 
     
     
         8 . The host node of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a back punctuating sound having a fourth length shorter than the third length;   means for receiving a front punctuating sound having a fifth length shorter than the third length; means for interleaving the back punctuating sound and the background sound such that an end of the adjusted length background sound occurs within the fourth length of the back punctuating sound; and   means for interleaving the front punctuating sound and the background sound such that a start of the reduced length background sound occurs within the fifth length of the front punctuating sound.   
     
     
         9 . The host node of  claim 8 , wherein the end of the adjusted length background sound coincides with an end of the back punctuating sound, and the start of the adjusted length background sound coincides with a start of the front punctuating sound. 
     
     
         10 . A client node for automatically mixing audio signals in a predetermined manner comprising:
 a network interface enabling a network coupling between the client node and a host node;   means for recording a voice message;   means for sending from the client node over the network to the host node the recorded voice message having a first length;   means for selecting from a database containing a plurality of background sounds residing at the host node a background sound;   means for sending from the client node over the network to the host node a selection indication of a background sound selected from the plurality of background sounds, the background sound having a second length, said second length being longer than said first length; and   means for receiving from the host a mixed media message where: the level of a portion of the background sound is lowered by the host, the lowered portion having a length that is substantially the same as the first length; the recorded voice message and the lowered portion of the background sound are interleaved; and the length of the background sound is adjusted to the first length plus a third length.   
     
     
         11 . The client node of  claim 10 , wherein the host is further adapted to receive a back punctuating sound having a fourth length shorter than the third length, and interleave the back punctuating sound and the background sound such that an end of the adjusted length background sound occurs within the fourth length of the back punctuating sound. 
     
     
         12 . The client node of  claim 11 , wherein the end of the adjusted length background sound coincides with an end of the back punctuating sound. 
     
     
         13 . The client node of  claim 10 , wherein the host is further adapted to receive a front punctuating sound having a fifth length shorter than the third length, and interleave the front punctuating sound and the background sound such that a start of the reduced length background sound occurs within the fifth length of the front punctuating sound. 
     
     
         14 . The client node of  claim 13 , wherein the start of the adjusted length background sound coincides with a start of the front punctuating sound. 
     
     
         15 . The client node of  claim 10 , wherein lowering the level of the background sound includes lowering the level to approximately 10-18 dB below the level of the recorded voice message. 
     
     
         16 . The client node of  claim 10 , wherein reducing the length of the background sound includes lowering the level of the background sound over a time interval. 
     
     
         17 . The client node of  claim 10 , wherein the host is further adapted to receive a back punctuating sound having a fourth length shorter than the third length, receive a front punctuating sound having a fifth length shorter than the third length, interleave the back punctuating sound and the background sound such that an end of the adjusted length background sound occurs within the fourth length of the back punctuating sound, and interleave the front punctuating sound and the background sound such that a start of the reduced length background sound occurs within the fifth length of the front punctuating sound. 
     
     
         18 . The client node of  claim 17 , wherein the end of the adjusted length background sound coincides with an end of the back punctuating sound, and the start of the adjusted length background sound coincides with a start of the front punctuating sound.