Dynamic Control Of Audio In A Computing Device

Abstract

A headset, during play of a particular game, receives a plurality of audio channels carrying game sounds and determines whether a first of the game sounds overwhelms a second of the game sounds. In response to the determination, the headset adjusts a level of one or more of the audio channels such that perceptibility of the second game sound is improved relative to perceptibility of the first game sound prior to the adjustment, wherein for the adjustment, a level of one or more of the audio channels carrying the first game sound is decreased while a level of one or more of the audio channels carrying the second game sound is maintained or increased. The audio channels include three or more audio channels and the adjustment of the level of the audio channels is performed while the three or more audio channels are combined into two stereo channels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 in a computing device:
 while receiving an audio signal, detecting an audio signature of a particular audio clip; and 
 adjusting one or more levels of the audio signal according to control information corresponding to the particular audio clip. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the audio signal is generated by a video game.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the audio signal comprises a first sound from a first source and a second sound from a second source;   the audio signature of the particular audio clip is associated with the second sound; and   the adjusting comprises adjusting the audio signal to enhance the second sound with respect to the first sound.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first source is a user of the computing device.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the audio signal comprises a plurality of channels; and   the adjusting comprises adjusting a power level of one or more channels of the audio signal to enhance sound corresponding to the particular audio clip.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the adjusting occurs for a predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the adjusting occurs according to a power level of the particular audio clip relative to another portion of the audio signal.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the control information is acquired a priori; and   the adjusting occurs dynamically according to the acquired control information.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein:
 the control information is acquired and stored in the computing device when a particular video game is first played.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the computing device is a personal device worn on or in an ear of a user.   
     
     
         29 . A system, comprising:
 a computing device configured to:
 detect an audio signature of a particular audio clip, while receiving an audio signal; and 
 adjust one or more levels of the audio signal according to control information corresponding to the particular audio clip. 
   
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 the audio signal is generated by a video game.   
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 the audio signal comprises a first sound from a first source and a second sound from a second source;   the audio signature of the particular audio clip is associated with the second sound; and   the computing device is configured to adjust the audio signal to enhance the second sound with respect to the first sound.   
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein:
 the first source is a user of the computing device.   
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 the audio signal comprises a plurality of channels; and   the computing device is configured to adjust a power level of one or more channels of the audio signal to enhance sound corresponding to the particular audio clip.   
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 the computing device is configured to adjust the one or more levels of the audio signal for a predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 the computing device is configured to adjust the one or more levels of the audio signal according to a power level of the particular audio clip relative to another portion of the audio signal.   
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 the control information is acquired a priori; and   the computing device is configured to adjust the one or more levels of the audio signal dynamically according to the acquired control information.   
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein:
 the computing device is configured to acquire and store the control information when a particular video game is first played.   
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 the computing device is a personal device worn on or in an ear of a user.