Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-02-20)

CLAIMS:
LISTING OF THE CLAIMS

1\. (Original) A system comprising:an audio input device configured to receive or obtain input audio; and
one or more circuits configured to:
determine when the system operates in an audio modifying mode; and
when the system operates in the audio modifying mode:
determine one or more audio control settings for modifying audio in the audio modifying mode; and
modify at least the input audio, based on the one or more audio control settings.

2\. (Original) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more audio control settings comprise parameters relating to one or more of audio pitch, audio intensity, and audio tone.

3\. (Original) The system of claim 1, wherein the input audio is associated with a user of the system, and wherein the one or more circuits are configured to determine at least one of the one or more audio control settings for modifying the input audio in conjunction with use of the system by the user.

4\. (Original) The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to determine the at least one of the one or more audio control settings for modifying the input audio in conjunction with an application used or performed via the system.

5\. (Original) The system of claim 4, wherein the input audio comprises or corresponds to a voice of the user, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to determine the at least one of the one or more audio control settings for adjusting the voice of the user in conjunction with an application used or performed via the system.

6\. (Original) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to determine at least one of the one or more audio control settings based on information obtained from a database associated with the system or with an application used or performed via the system.

7\. (Original) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to determine at least one of the one or more audio control settings based on a reference audio.

8\. (Original) The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to process the reference audio to determine the at least one of the one or more audio control settings.

9\. (Original) The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to obtain the reference audio from a database associated with an application used or performed via the system, and wherein the input audio is obtained and/or used during use or performing of the application.

10\. (Original) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to:determine, based on the one or more audio control settings, one or more sound effect adjustments; and
modify, based on the one or more sound effect adjustments, at least one output audio provided via the system.

11\. (Original) A method comprising:in a system that comprises at least an input device:
receiving or obtaining an input audio via the input device;
determining when the system operates in an audio modifying mode; and
when operating in the audio modifying mode:

determining one or more audio control settings for modifying audio in the audio modifying mode; and
modifying at least the input audio, based on the one or more audio control settings.

12\. (Original) The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more audio control settings comprise parameters relating to one or more of audio pitch, audio intensity, and audio tone.

13\. (Original) The method of claim 11, wherein the input audio is associated with a user of the system, and further comprising determining at least one of the one or more audio control settings for modifying the input audio in conjunction with use of the system by the user.

14\. (Original) The method of claim 13, further comprising determining the at least one of the one or more audio control settings for modifying the input audio in conjunction with an application used or performed via the system.

15\. (Original) The method of claim 14, wherein the input audio comprises or corresponds to a voice of the user, and further comprising determining the at least one of the one or more audio control settings for adjusting the voice of the user in conjunction with an application used or performed via the system.

16\. (Original) The method of claim 11, further comprising determining at least one of the one or more audio control settings based on information obtained from a database associated with the system or with an application used or performed via the system.

17\. (Original) The method of claim 11, further comprising determining at least one of the one or more audio control settings based on a reference audio.

18\. (Original) The method of claim 17, further comprising processing the reference audio to determine the at least one of the one or more audio control settings.

19\. (Original) The method of claim 17, further comprising obtaining the reference audio from a database associated with an application used or performed via the system, and wherein the input audio is obtained and/or used during use or performing of the application.

20\. (Original) The method of claim 11, further comprising:determining, based on the one or more audio control settings, one or more sound effect adjustments; and
modifying, based on the one or more sound effect adjustments, at least one output audio provided via the system.

OFFICE ACTION:
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This is an Examiner’s statement of reason for allowance.
Regarding the claimed terms, the Examiner notes that a “general term must be understood in the context in which the inventor presents it.” In re Glaug 283 F.3d 1335, 1340, 62 USPQ2d 1151, 1154 (Fed. Cir. 2002).  Therefore the Examiner must interpret the claimed terms as found on pages 1-25 of the specification.  Clearly almost all the general terms in the claims may have multiple meanings.  So where a claim term “is susceptible to various meanings, . . . the inventor’s lexicography must prevail . . . .” Id.  Using these definitions for the claims, the claimed invention was not reasonably found in the prior art.
4.	The closest prior art Reiss, Jordan et al (U.S. Pat. No. 8,602,892) which discloses a system/method for mixing player voice signals with game sounds signal. However, Reiss singularly or in combination fails to disclose the recited feature:
As per claims 1 and 11 “determine when the system operates in an audio modifying mode; and when the system operates in the audio modifying mode: determine one or more audio control settings for modifying audio in the audio modifying mode; and modify at least the input audio, based on the one or more audio control settings”.
Conclusion
5.

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
AND
ARGUMENTS
nvents Act). Office Action at 2.Initially, Applicant notes that a goal of patent examination is to provide a prompt and complete examination of a patent application:
particu
when they serve as a basis for a rejection. W
practic
USPTO personnel should indicate how rejections may be overcome and how problems may be resolved. A failure to follow this approach can lead to unnecessary delays in the
prosecution of the application.
that the presentOffice Action has set forth "all reasons and bases" for rejecting the claims.
ndependent claims 1 and 11.
All of claims 1-20, as pending when the Office Action was issued, stand rejected. In particular, claims 1-20 stand rejected on double patenting grounds.
Applicant respectfully traverses these rejections at least based on the following remarks. In addition, Applicant also reserves the right to argue additional reasons beyond those set forth herein to support allowability of the claims, should a need arise in the future.
Double Patenting Claim Re
i
ections
11 Patent"). Office Action at 3-4.
Applicant respectfully traverses these rejections. Nonetheless, in order to further prosecution, Applicant submits herewith this correspondence terminal disclaimer(s), in compliance with 37 C.F.R. § 1.321(c), directed to the '911 Patent, to obviate these double patenting rejections.
Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the double patenting based rejection of claims 1-20 be withdrawn. Applicant also reserves the right to argue additional reasons beyond those set forth herein, should such a need arise.
Final Remarks
The Office Action makes various statements that are now moot in light of the above remarks. Thus, Applicant will not address such statements at the present time. However, Applicant expressly reserves the right to challenge such statements or provide additional arguments supporting patentability in the future should the need arise (e.g., should these statements become relevant or are relied upon in any proceeding involving this Application or a corresponding patent).
CONCLUSION


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20090063156A1: Claims:
A voice synthesis method, said method comprising a step of recording the natural voice of a first person, said method being characterized in that comprises: a step of determining at least one situation parameter of a character chosen by a second person, from among a set of predefined parameters, each predefined parameter being associated with a spectral alteration of perceived sounds, the determined situation parameters particularly characterizing the environment or the physical or psychological state of the character, a step of spectrally altering the recorded natural voice so as to conform with the spectral alteration associated with the situation parameter of the character chosen by the second person.
a step of recording the natural voice of a first person,
said method being characterized in that comprises:
a step of determining at least one situation parameter of a character chosen by a second person, from among a set of predefined parameters, each predefined parameter being associated with a spectral alteration of perceived sounds, the determined situation parameters particularly characterizing the environment or the physical or psychological state of the character,
a step of spectrally altering the recorded natural voice so as to conform with the spectral alteration associated with the situation parameter of the character chosen by the second person.
An interpersonal communication method, said method comprising: a voice synthesis step according to claim 1 , based on the natural voice of a first person, for obtaining an altered natural voice, a step of choosing a synthetic voice from among a set of voices having predetermined spectral signatures, a step of transforming the altered natural voice so that it conforms with the spectral signature of the chosen synthetic voice, the voice transformed in this manner being recorded, a step of determining at least one situation parameter for a character chosen by the first person, from among a set of predefined parameters, each predefined parameter being associated with a spectral alteration of the perceived sounds, the determined situation parameter particularly characterizing the environment or the physical or psychological state of the character chosen by the first person, a step of spectrally altering the transformed voice so as to conform with the spectral alteration associated with the situation parameter of the character associated with the first person.
a voice synthesis step according to claim 1 , based on the natural voice of a first person, for obtaining an altered natural voice,
a step of choosing a synthetic voice from among a set of voices having predetermined spectral signatures,
a step of transforming the altered natural voice so that it conforms with the spectral signature of the chosen synthetic voice, the voice transformed in this manner being recorded,
a step of determining at least one situation parameter for a character chosen by the first person, from among a set of predefined parameters, each predefined parameter being associated with a spectral alteration of the perceived sounds, the determined situation parameter particularly characterizing the environment or the physical or psychological state of the character chosen by the first person,
a step of spectrally altering the transformed voice so as to conform with the spectral alteration associated with the situation parameter of the character associated with the first person.
Ref US20060025214A1: Claims:
A multi-player video game playing method comprising: converting a player's speech to text; analyzing said speech and/or said text for at least one predetermined characteristic; and displaying, to at least one other video game player, at least a portion of said text including a distinctive indication responsive to said analysis.
converting a player's speech to text;
analyzing said speech and/or said text for at least one predetermined characteristic; and
displaying, to at least one other video game player, at least a portion of said text including a distinctive indication responsive to said analysis.
The method of claim 1 wherein said indication comprises a display format.
The method of claim 1 wherein said indication includes font size.
The method of claim 1 wherein the indication includes font color.
The method of claim 1 wherein the indication includes punctuation.
The method of claim 1 wherein the indication includes font style.
The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic comprises amplitude.
The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic comprises the use of predetermined stress words.
The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic comprises emotion.
The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristic comprises a threat.
Video game playing equipment comprising: a computing device executing video game play instructions; a microphone that, in use, receives speech from at least one human game player; a speech-to-text converter that converts said received speech into text; an analyzer that analyzes said speech and/or text to determine whether at least one predetermined characteristic is present; and a text formatter that formats said text for display at least in part in response to said analyzer determination.
a computing device executing video game play instructions;
a microphone that, in use, receives speech from at least one human game player;
a speech-to-text converter that converts said received speech into text;
an analyzer that analyzes said speech and/or text to determine whether at least one predetermined characteristic is present; and
a text formatter that formats said text for display at least in part in response to said analyzer determination.
A digital storage medium comprising: a first program instruction storage area storing video game play instructions; a second instruction storage area storing instructions for converting speech into text; a third instruction storage area storing instructions that analyze said speech and/or text to determine whether a predetermined characteristic is present; and a fourth instruction storage area that stores display format instructions that format said text for display based at least in part on said analysis performed by said analyzing instructions.
a first program instruction storage area storing video game play instructions;
a second instruction storage area storing instructions for converting speech into text;
a third instruction storage area storing instructions that analyze said speech and/or text to determine whether a predetermined characteristic is present; and
a fourth instruction storage area that stores display format instructions that format said text for display based at least in part on said analysis performed by said analyzing instructions.
A video game chat system comprising: a plurality of video game play sites, each said site including a user input device and a display, said display providing interactive video game play in response to user inputs said user input device provides, wherein at least one of said sites further includes an audio transducer that picks up speech; a speech recognizer coupled to said audio transducer, said speech recognizer converting said speech into displayable indicia and further analyzing said speech to determine whether a predetermined characteristic is present therein; and a display formatter that displays said displayable indicia on at least one said displays, said display formatter formatting said display at least in part in response to whether said predetermined characteristic is present.
a plurality of video game play sites, each said site including a user input device and a display, said display providing interactive video game play in response to user inputs said user input device provides, wherein at least one of said sites further includes an audio transducer that picks up speech;
a speech recognizer coupled to said audio transducer, said speech recognizer converting said speech into displayable indicia and further analyzing said speech to determine whether a predetermined characteristic is present therein; and
a display formatter that displays said displayable indicia on at least one said displays, said display formatter formatting said display at least in part in response to whether said predetermined characteristic is present.
Ref US20130006629A1: Claims:
A searching device comprising: a voice recognition unit to subject input voice to voice recognition; a matching unit to perform matching, regarding each of a plurality of word strings for search results which are word strings that are to be search results for word strings corresponding to said input voice, of a pronunciation symbol string for search results, which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of said word string search result, and a recognition result pronunciation symbol string which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of the voice recognition results of said input voice; and an output unit to output a search result word string which is the result of searching the word strings corresponding to said input voice from said plurality of word strings for search results, based on the matching results of said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string.
a voice recognition unit to subject input voice to voice recognition;
a matching unit to perform matching, regarding each of a plurality of word strings for search results which are word strings that are to be search results for word strings corresponding to said input voice, of a pronunciation symbol string for search results, which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of said word string search result, and a recognition result pronunciation symbol string which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of the voice recognition results of said input voice; and
of a pronunciation symbol string for search results, which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of said word string search result, and
a recognition result pronunciation symbol string which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of the voice recognition results of said input voice; and
an output unit to output a search result word string which is the result of searching the word strings corresponding to said input voice from said plurality of word strings for search results, based on the matching results of said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string.
The searching device according to claim 1 , wherein said pronunciation symbol is a symbol expressing the pronunciation of a syllable or a phoneme; and wherein said matching unit, in the matching of said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string, for a vector for search results which is a vector expressing said pronunciation symbol string for search results and a recognition result vector which is a vector expressing said recognition result pronunciation symbol string, finds a correction distance wherein the cosine distance of a vector-space method has been corrected, so as to reduce influence from the difference in lengths between said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string.
and wherein said matching unit, in the matching of said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string, for a vector for search results which is a vector expressing said pronunciation symbol string for search results and a recognition result vector which is a vector expressing said recognition result pronunciation symbol string, finds a correction distance wherein the cosine distance of a vector-space method has been corrected, so as to reduce influence from the difference in lengths between said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string.
in the matching of said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string,
for a vector for search results which is a vector expressing said pronunciation symbol string for search results and a recognition result vector which is a vector expressing said recognition result pronunciation symbol string,
finds a correction distance wherein the cosine distance of a vector-space method has been corrected, so as to reduce influence from the difference in lengths between said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string.
The searching device according to claim 2 , further comprising; a pronunciation symbol converting unit to convert the voice recognition results of said input voice into said recognition result pronunciation symbol string.
a pronunciation symbol converting unit to convert the voice recognition results of said input voice into said recognition result pronunciation symbol string.
The searching device according to claim 3 , wherein said pronunciation symbol converting unit further converts said word string for search results into said pronunciation symbol string for search results.
The searching device according to claim 2 , wherein, in computations to find said cosine distance, said matching unit finds said correction distance by using the square root of a value that multiples the size of said vector for search results and the size of said recognition result vector, instead of the size of said vector for search results.
The searching device according to claim 2 , wherein said in computations to find said cosine distance, said matching unit finds said correction distance by using the size of said recognition result vector.
A searching method that includes the steps of a searching device which searches for a word string corresponding to an input voice: subjecting said input voice to voice recognition; performing matching regarding each of a plurality of word strings for search results which are word strings that are to be search results for word strings corresponding to said input voice, of a pronunciation symbol string for search results, which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of said word string search result, and a recognition result pronunciation symbol string which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of the voice recognition results of said input voice; and outputting a search result word string, which is the result of searching the word strings corresponding to said input voice from said plurality of word strings for search results, based on the matching results of said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string.
subjecting said input voice to voice recognition;
performing matching regarding each of a plurality of word strings for search results which are word strings that are to be search results for word strings corresponding to said input voice, of a pronunciation symbol string for search results, which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of said word string search result, and a recognition result pronunciation symbol string which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of the voice recognition results of said input voice; and
outputting a search result word string, which is the result of searching the word strings corresponding to said input voice from said plurality of word strings for search results, based on the matching results of said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string.
A program causing a computer to function as: a voice recognition unit to subject input voice to voice recognition; a matching unit to perform matching regarding each of a plurality of word strings for search results which are word strings that are to be search results for word strings corresponding to said input voice, of a pronunciation symbol string for search results, which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of said word string search result, and a recognition result pronunciation symbol string which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of the voice recognition results of said input voice; and an output unit to output a search result word string which is the result of searching the word strings corresponding to said input voice from said plurality of word strings for search results, based on the matching results of said pronunciation symbol string for search results and said recognition result pronunciation symbol string.
a matching unit to perform matching regarding each of a plurality of word strings for search results which are word strings that are to be search results for word strings corresponding to said input voice, of a pronunciation symbol string for search results, which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of said word string search result, and a recognition result pronunciation symbol string which is an array of pronunciation symbols expressing pronunciation of the voice recognition results of said input voice; and
Ref US7785197B2: Claims:
A multi-player video game playing method for use with a networked multi-player video game playing system that, in use, accepts interactive inputs from a first game player and additional inputs from at least a second game player over a network and thereby provides interactive multiplayer game play for both said first game player and said second game player, said method comprising: receiving user inputs from said first game player manipulating at least a first handheld video game controller; communicating multiplayer game playing information over a network with the second game player's video game playing system; displaying, in a coordinated manner on a first display associated with said first game player and on a second display associated with said second game player, multiplayer interactive video game play at least in part in response to said received user input and said communicated multiplayer game playing information; sensing audible speech uttered by the first game player; automatically, by computer, converting the sensed uttered speech to written text; analyzing said speech and/or said text for aggressive content; and generating formatting for said text for display to the second video game player on the second display, including formatting at least a portion of said displayed text in a way so that as displayed on the second display the formatting of the text display at least in part reflects how aggressive the first game player's speech is.
receiving user inputs from said first game player manipulating at least a first handheld video game controller;
communicating multiplayer game playing information over a network with the second game player's video game playing system;
displaying, in a coordinated manner on a first display associated with said first game player and on a second display associated with said second game player, multiplayer interactive video game play at least in part in response to said received user input and said communicated multiplayer game playing information;
sensing audible speech uttered by the first game player;
automatically, by computer, converting the sensed uttered speech to written text;
analyzing said speech and/or said text for aggressive content; and
generating formatting for said text for display to the second video game player on the second display, including formatting at least a portion of said displayed text in a way so that as displayed on the second display the formatting of the text display at least in part reflects how aggressive the first game player's speech is.
The method of claim 1 wherein said formatting includes aggression-indicating font size.
The 
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