Office Action 2: Final Rejection (2025-02-07)
Rejection types: Double Patenting

CLAIMS:
LISTING OF CLAIMS

1-30. (Canceled)229

31\. (Previously Presented) A wireless device comprising:a detection circuit configured to identify a component, of a multichannel input audio signal, according to a field-of-view, and wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect a common element in at least two channels of the multichannel input audio signal; and
an adjustment circuit configured to suppress the component of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal according to a characteristic of the component.

32\. (Previously Presented) The wireless device of claim 31, wherein the wireless device comprises a controller circuit configured to provide settings for controlling an adjustment applied via the adjustment circuit, wherein the settings are determined according to the identification of the component via the detection circuit.

33\. (Previously Presented) The wireless device of claim 32, wherein the controller circuit is configured to determine the settings.

34\. (Previously Presented) The wireless device of claim 32, wherein the adjustment circuit is configured to apply the adjustment to enhance a perception of the one or more other components.

35\. (Previously Presented) A system comprising:a wireless device configured to:
identify a component, of a multichannel input audio signal, according to a field-of-view; and
suppress the component of the audio signal to generate an output audio

signal, wherein:
the suppression is processed according to a characteristic of the component,
an audio processing circuit is configured to identify the component according to an identification of an element of the multichannel input audio signal, and the element is a common element of at least two channels.

36\. (Previously Presented) The system of claim 35, wherein the wireless device is configured to enhance a perception of at least one other component.

37\. (Previously Presented) The system of claim 35, wherein the system comprises an audio output component configured to convey the output audio signal.

38\. (Previously Presented) The system of claim 37, wherein the audio output component comprises a speaker.

39\. (Previously Presented) A method comprising:in a wireless device:
identifying a component, of a multichannel input audio signal, according to a field-of-view and according to an element of the multichannel input audio signal; and
suppressing the component of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal, wherein:
the suppression is processed according to a characteristic of the component, and
the element is a common element of at least two channels.

40\. (Previously Presented) The method of claim 39, wherein the method comprises enhancing a perception of at least one other component.

41\. (Previously Presented) A wireless device comprising:a detection circuit configured to identify a component, of a multichannel input audio signal, according to a field-of-view;
an adjustment circuit configured to suppress the component of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal according to a characteristic of the component; and
a controller circuit configured to provide settings for controlling the adjustment applied via the adjustment circuit, wherein the settings are determined according to the identification of the component via the detection circuit, and wherein the controller circuit is configured to determine the settings.

42\. (Previously Presented) The wireless device of claim 41, wherein the adjustment circuit is configured to apply an adjustment to enhance a perception of the one or more other components.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
===============

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.

Double Patenting
================

The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).

A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).

The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.

The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA/25, or PTO/AIA/26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.

Claims 31-42 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-24 of U.S. Patent No. 11,938,397 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because at least one claim of the instant application is being taught by the claims of the U.S. Patent.

Note that the previous patent granted of the parent application family are also considered such as: 11,484,786 B2, 10,709,974 B2, 10,232,256 B2, 9,782,672 B2 and provisional on 18/592,798.

Patented claim 1 recites a system which perform the feature of suppressing at least one of the one or more components of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal.

The pending claim 31 recites a wireless device which perform the similar feature of suppressing the component of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal according to a characteristic of the component.

Therefore, the patented claim 1 anticipates the pending 31.

Pending claims 32-42 have similar limitations comparing the patented claims 2- 24 as shown on the table below.

Pending claims

Patented claims

31\. A wireless device comprising: a detection circuit configured to identify a component, of a multichannel input audio signal, according to a field-of-view, and wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect a common element in at least two channels of the multichannel input audio signal; and an adjustment circuit configured to suppress the component of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal according to a characteristic of the component.

32\. The wireless device of claim 31, wherein the computing device comprises a controller circuit configured to provide settings for controlling an adjustment applied via the adjustment circuit, wherein the settings are determined according to the identification of the component via the detection circuit.

33\. The wireless device of claim 32, wherein the controller circuit is configured to determine the settings.

34\. The wireless device of claim 32, wherein the adjustment circuit is configured to apply the adjustment to enhance a perception of the one or more other components.

35\. A system comprising: a wireless device configured to: identify a component, of a multichannel input audio signal, according to a field-of-view; and suppress the component of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal, wherein: the suppression is processed according to a characteristic of the component, an audio processing circuit is configured to identify the component according to an identification of an element of the multichannel input audio signal, and the element is a common element of at least two channels.

36\. The system of claim 35, wherein the wireless device is configured to enhance a perception of at least one other component.

37\. The system of claim 35, wherein the system comprises an audio output component configured to convey the output audio signal.

38\. The system of claim 37, wherein the audio output component comprises a speaker.

39\. A method comprising: in a wireless device: identifying a component, of a multichannel input audio signal, according to a field-of-view and according to an element of the multichannel input audio signal; and suppressing the component of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal, wherein: the suppression is processed according to a characteristic of the component, and the element is a common element of at least two channels.

40\. The method of claim 39, wherein the method comprises enhancing a perception of at least one other component.

41\. A wireless device comprising: a detection circuit configured to identify a component, of a multichannel input audio signal, according to a field-of-view; an adjustment circuit configured to suppress the component of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal according to a characteristic of the component; and a controller circuit configured to provide settings for controlling the adjustment applied via the adjustment circuit, wherein the settings are determined according to the identification of the component via the detection circuit, and wherein the controller circuit is configured to determine the settings.

42\. The wireless device of claim 41, wherein the adjustment circuit is configured to apply an adjustment to enhance a perception of the one or more other components.

1\. A system comprising: a hearing device configured to: identify one or more components, of an input audio signal, according to one or more criteria related to a field-of-view associated with a user of the system, wherein the input audio signal comprises a left channel and a right channel; and suppress at least one of the one or more components of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal, wherein the suppression is processed according to a characteristic of the one or more components, as perceived by the user, when the user is receiving the output audio signal.

2\. The system of claim 1, wherein the hearing device is configured to enhance a perception of at least one other component.

3\. The system of claim 1, wherein the input audio signal comprises a plurality of channel signals.

4\. The system of claim 3, wherein an audio processing circuit is configured to identify the one or more components according to an identification of one or more elements in the plurality of channel signals.

5\. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more elements comprise common elements in a left channel and a right channel.

6\. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises an audio output component configured to convey the output audio signal.

7\. The system of claim 6, wherein the audio output component comprises a speaker.

8\. A method comprising: in a hearing device: identifying one or more components, of an input audio signal, according to one or more criteria related to a field-of-view associated with a user of the system, wherein the input audio signal comprises a left channel and a right channel; and suppressing at least one of the one or more components of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal, wherein the suppression is processed according to a characteristic of the one or more components, as perceived by the user, when the user is receiving the output audio signal.

9\. The method of claim 8, wherein the method comprises conveying the output audio signal to the user.

10\. The method of claim 8, wherein the method comprises enhancing a perception of at least one other component.

11\. The method of claim 8, wherein the input audio signal comprises a plurality of channel signals.

12\. The method of claim 11, wherein the method comprises identifying the one or more components according to one or more elements in the plurality of channel signals.

13\. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more elements comprise common elements in a left channel and a right channel.

14\. A hearing device comprising: a detection circuit configured to identify one or more components, of an input audio signal, according to one or more criteria related to a field-of-view associated with a user of the system, and wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect common elements in a left channel signal and a right channel signal of the input audio signal; and; an adjustment circuit configured to suppress at least one of the one or more components of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal, wherein the suppression is processed according to a characteristic of the one or more components, as perceived by the user, when the user is receiving the output audio signal.

15\. The hearing device of claim 14, wherein the hearing device comprises a controller circuit configured to provide settings for controlling the adjustment applied via the adjustment circuit, wherein the settings are determined according to the identification of the one or more components via the detection circuit.

16\. The hearing device of claim 15, wherein the controller circuit is configured to determine the settings.

17\. The hearing device of claim 14, wherein the adjustment circuit is configured to apply the adjustment to enhance a perception of the one or more other components.

18\. A system comprising: a hearing device configured to: identify one or more components, of an input audio signal, according to one or more criteria related to a field-of-view associated with a user of the system, wherein the input audio signal comprises a plurality of channel signals; and suppress at least one of the one or more components of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal, wherein: the suppression is processed according to a characteristic of the one or more components, as perceived by the user, when the user is receiving the output audio signal, an audio processing circuit is configured to identify the one or more components according to an identification of one or more elements in the plurality of channel signals, and the one or more elements comprise common elements in a left channel and a right channel.

19\. The system of claim 18, wherein the hearing device is configured to enhance a perception of at least one other component.

20\. The system of claim 18, wherein the system comprises an audio output component configured to convey the output audio signal.

21\. The system of claim 20, wherein the audio output component comprises a speaker.

22\. A method comprising: in a hearing device: identifying one or more components, of an input audio signal, according to one or more criteria related to a field-of-view associated with a user of the system and according to one or more elements in the plurality of channel signals, wherein the input audio signal comprises a plurality of channel signals; and suppressing at least one of the one or more components of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal, wherein: the suppression is processed according to a characteristic of the one or more components, as perceived by the user, when the user is receiving the output audio signal, and the one or more elements comprise common elements in a left channel and a right channel.

23\. The method of claim 22, wherein the method comprises conveying the output audio signal to the user.

24\. The method of claim 22, wherein the method comprises enhancing a perception of at least one other component.

.

Response to Arguments
=====================

Applicant’s arguments, see page 5, filed 01/21/2015, with respect to:

Allowable Subject Matter

Claims 31-42 are allowed.

The examiner agrees that the claims are allowable over the prior art.

Rejections under 35 U.S.C. 103

Claims 21-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being allegedly unpatentable over Bonanno (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0040240) in view of Bellamy (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0164894).

The Applicant traverses these rejections, but in order to advance prosecution has claims 21-30 have been cancelled.

The examiner agrees that cancelling the claims overcome the 35 U.S.C. 103 rejection.

The applicant arguments have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 35 U.S.C. 103 rejection of claims 21-42 has been withdrawn.

Conclusion
==========

The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 form.

Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).

A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
The present application includes pending claims 2 1-42. Claims 2 1-30 have been rejected. Claims 3 1-42 are allowed. The Office Action of December 2, 2024 ("OA") has been carefully considered.
to expedite allowance ofvarious pending claims, claims 2 1-30 have been cancelled.
Note that such amendments are in no way to be construed as the Applicant agreeing with any rejections not specifically discussed below. The Applicant respectfully traverses the above rejections at least for the reasons previously set forth during prosecution and at least based on the following remarks. Examination and reconsideration of the claims in view of the following remarks are respectfully requested.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 31-42 are allowed.
Rej
ections under 35 U.S.C.
X
Claims 21-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being allegedly unpatentable over Bonanno (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0040240) in view of Bellamy (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0164894).
claims 2 1-30 have been cancelled.
Final Matters
including without limitationstatements regarding the claims, 35 U.S.C. § 103, the cited references, one of ordinary
skill in the art, etc., that are now moot in view of the previously presented amendments and/or arguments. Thus, the Applicant will not address all of such statements at the present time. However, the Applicant expressly reserves the right to challenge such statements in the future should the need arise (e.g., if such statements should become relevant by reappearing in a rejection of any current or future claim or be relied upon in any proceeding involving this application or a corresponding patent). The Applicant also respectfully reserves the right to argue additional reasons that support the allowability of all claims, whether or not argued in this Response or previous responses, should that need arise in the future.
Conclusion

NEXT OFFICE ACTION: 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.

Terminal Disclaimer
===================

The terminal disclaimer filed on February 10, 2025 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of 11,938,397 B2, 11,484,786 B2, 10,709,974 B2, 10,232,256 B2 and 9,782,672 B2 has been reviewed and is accepted. The terminal disclaimer has been recorded.

Allowable Claims
================

Claims 31-42 are allowed.

The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:

As to claims 31, 35, 39 and 41, in combination with other limitations of the claims, when considered as a whole, the prior art of record fails to disclose or specifically suggested wherein the detection circuit is configured to detect a common element in at least two channels of the multichannel input audio signal; and an adjustment circuit configured to suppress the component of the audio signal to generate an output audio signal according to a characteristic of the component.

In the specific, with combined limitations recited in the claims.

Furthermore, it would not have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to modify the prior art in order to arrive at the claim invention.

Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”

Response to Arguments
=====================

Applicant’s arguments, see page 5, filed on February 10, 2025, with respect to: Allowable Subject Matter

Claims 31-42 are allowed.

The examiner agrees that the claims are allowed over the cited prior art, but they are rejected for the non-statutory double patenting.

Double Patenting Rejection

The eTD, filed herewith, regarding U.S. Patent No. 11,938,397, U.S. Patent No. 11,484,786, U.S. Patent No. 10,709,974, U.S. Patent No. 10,232,256, and U.S. Patent No. 9,782,672 overcomes the nonstatutory double patenting rejection.

The examiner agrees that the submission of the terminal disclaimer overcome the non-statutory double patenting rejection.

The applicant’s arguments have been fully considered and are persuasive. The non-statutory double patenting of claims 31-42 has been withdrawn.

Conclusion
==========

The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See Pto-892 form.

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US6935959B2: Claims:
For use with an electronic game played on at least one multiplayer game console, a method for enabling players to verbally communicate in real-time while playing the game, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an audio sensor for at least one player who is using the multiplayer game console, said audio sensor producing an input signal to the game console in response to sound produced by said at least one player; (b) providing at least one sound transducer that is adapted to produce sound audible to another player of the game in response to an output signal; (c) encoding the input signal from the audio sensor to produce an encoded digital signal; (d) conveying the encoded digital signal through a voice channel associated with said other player; (e) decoding the encoded signal in the channel of the other player, to produce the output signal; and (f) providing the output signal to the sound transducer to produce an audible sound corresponding to the sound produced by said one player, so that a verbal communication by said one player is heard by said other player of the game.
(a) providing an audio sensor for at least one player who is using the multiplayer game console, said audio sensor producing an input signal to the game console in response to sound produced by said at least one player;
(b) providing at least one sound transducer that is adapted to produce sound audible to another player of the game in response to an output signal;
(c) encoding the input signal from the audio sensor to produce an encoded digital signal;
(d) conveying the encoded digital signal through a voice channel associated with said other player;
(e) decoding the encoded signal in the channel of the other player, to produce the output signal; and
(f) providing the output signal to the sound transducer to produce an audible sound corresponding to the sound produced by said one player, so that a verbal communication by said one player is heard by said other player of the game.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: (a) providing another audio sensor to detect sound produced by said other player, producing another input signal in response the sound produced by said other player; (b) providing a sound transducer for said one player, adapted to produce sound audible by said one player of the game in response to another output signal; (c) encoding the other input signal from the other audio sensor, producing another encoded digital signal; (d) conveying the other encoded digital signal through a channel associated with said one player; (e) decoding the other encoded signal in the channel associated with said one player, to produce the other output signal; and (f) providing the other output signal to the other sound transducer to produce an audible sound corresponding to the sound produced by said other player, so that a verbal communication by said other player is heard by said one player of the game.
(a) providing another audio sensor to detect sound produced by said other player, producing another input signal in response the sound produced by said other player;
(b) providing a sound transducer for said one player, adapted to produce sound audible by said one player of the game in response to another output signal;
(c) encoding the other input signal from the other audio sensor, producing another encoded digital signal;
(d) conveying the other encoded digital signal through a channel associated with said one player;
(e) decoding the other encoded signal in the channel associated with said one player, to produce the other output signal; and
(f) providing the other output signal to the other sound transducer to produce an audible sound corresponding to the sound produced by said other player, so that a verbal communication by said other player is heard by said one player of the game.
The method of claim 1 , wherein said one player and said other player are playing the electronic game on different multiplayer game consoles that are coupled in communication, so that the encoded signal is conveyed between the multiplayer game consoles of said one player and said other player.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of enabling said one player to select said other player with whom said one player will verbally communicate.
The method of claim 1 , wherein said one player and said other player are members of a team, further comprising the steps of repeating steps (a)-(f) for players on another team, to enable the players on the other team to verbally communicate with each other.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a)-(f) for additional players who are playing the electronic game using the multiplayer game console, to enable said additional players to verbally communicate with other selected players in the game.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of predefining a limit on processing resources that are allocated on the electronic game console for enabling verbal communication between the players of the electronic game.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying an audible effect to the encoded signal, said audible effect substantially altering characteristics of the audible sound produced by the sound transducer so that the audible sound differs from the sound produced by said one player.
The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of applying the audible effect substantially removes personal identifying characteristics of the sound produced by said one player so that a voice of said one player is substantially indistinguishable from a voice of another player.
The method of claim 8 , wherein the audible effect changes a tonal range of the audible sound from that of the sound produced by said one player.
The method of claim 8 , wherein the audible effect corresponds to change in a gender associated with the sound produced by said one player.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying an audible effect to the output signal so that the audible sound differs from the sound produced by said one player.
The method of claim 12 , wherein the audible effect is one of a frequency band equalization, a reverberation, and an echo.
A memory medium having a plurality of machine instructions for carrying out the steps of claim 1 .
A method for enabling a plurality of players on a game console to verbally communicate through the game console during play of a game, comprising the steps of: (a) for each of the plurality of players who are participating in the game, providing an audio sensor and an audio transducer coupled to the game console for use by the player, said audio sensor producing an input signal to the game console in response to a verbal utterance produced by the player, said audio transducer producing sound audible to the player in response to an output signal from the game console; (b) encoding the input signal from each audio sensor into a format used by the game console for transfer to at least one intended recipient from among the plurality of players; (c) for each intended recipient, decoding from the format used by the game console, to produce the output signal for the intended recipient; and (d) for each intended recipient, producing an audible signal corresponding to the output signal, using the audio transducer of the intended recipient so that the intended recipient hears a verbal communication from another player of the game.
(a) for each of the plurality of players who are participating in the game, providing an audio sensor and an audio transducer coupled to the game console for use by the player, said audio sensor producing an input signal to the game console in response to a verbal utterance produced by the player, said audio transducer producing sound audible to the player in response to an output signal from the game console;
(b) encoding the input signal from each audio sensor into a format used by the game console for transfer to at least one intended recipient from among the plurality of players;
(c) for each intended recipient, decoding from the format used by the game console, to produce the output signal for the intended recipient; and
(d) for each intended recipient, producing an audible signal corresponding to the output signal, using the audio transducer of the intended recipient so that the intended recipient hears a verbal communication from another player of the game.
The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of predefining a level of computing resources allocated to processing verbal communication on the game console, said level being fixed and independent of changes in a number of players using voice communication while playing the game.
The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of communicating data in said format over one of a direct link and a network to said at least one intended recipient, wherein said at least one intended recipient is using another game console to play the game and to process the data in said format.
The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of enabling each player to select the intended recipient of a verbal communication of the player, said intended recipient being selected from among the plurality of players of the game in accord with any constraints imposed by the game.
The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of encoding comprises the steps of: (a) converting the input signal from an analog signal to a digital signal; and (b) compressing the digital signal to produce a compressed digital signal having said format.
(a) converting the input signal from an analog signal to a digital signal; and
(b) compressing the digital signal to produce a compressed digital signal having said format.
The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of decoding comprises the steps of: (a) decompressing the compressed digital signal that has said format to produce a decompressed digital signal; and (b) converting the decompressed digital signal to the output signal that drives the audio transducer.
(a) decompressing the compressed digital signal that has said format to produce a decompressed digital signal; and
(b) converting the decompressed digital signal to the output signal that drives the audio transducer.
The method of claim 15 , wherein the format comprises a plurality of data packets, each data packet extending over at least one audio time frame.
The method of claim 21 , wherein a predefined number of encoding instances are operative on the game console during each audio time frame, and said predefined number is less than a total number of players on the game console who are producing verbal utterances.
The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of encoding comprises the step of encoding input signals for a plurality players in parallel on a single encoding instance on the game console during an audio time frame.
The method of claim 22 , wherein the verbal utterances of players on the game console are encoded so that if more players on the game console than the predefined number of encoding instances are speaking in successive audio time frames, a round robin selection is applied in choosing the verbal utterances that are encoded in the successive audio time frames.
The method of claim 22 , further comprising the step of enabling a game to determine the predefined number of encoding instances active at one time.
The method of claim 21 , further comprising one of the steps: (a) mixing streams of data packets from different multiplayer game consoles before the step of decoding; and (b) decoding streams of data packets from different multiplayer game consoles and then mixing decoded digital signals to produce the output signal for each different intended recipient.
(a) mixing streams of data packets from different multiplayer game consoles before the step of decoding; and
(b) decoding streams of data packets from different multiplayer game consoles and then mixing decoded digital signals to produce the output signal for each different intended recipient.
The method of claim 26 , wherein the step of decoding streams comprising the step of decoding the streams in parallel.
The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: (a) assigning selected players to a channel; and (b) enabling players assigned to a common channel to selectively verbally communicate with each other.
(a) assigning selected players to a channel; and
(b) enabling players assigned to a common channel to selectively verbally communicate with each other.
The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: (a) assigning each player a listener channel on which the player can receive a verbal communication from at least one other player; (b) assigning each player making a verbal utterance to a talker channel over which the verbal utterance is conveyed to another player; (c) determining whether verbal utterances that are heard by a specific player by logically combining the listener channel of the specific player with the talker channel of the player making the verbal utterance; and (d) enabling the specific player to hear the verbal utterances as a function of a result of the step of logically combining.
(a) assigning each player a listener channel on which the player can receive a verbal communication from at least one other player;
(b) assigning each player making a verbal utterance to a talker channel over which the verbal utterance is conveyed to another player;
(c) determining whether verbal utterances that are heard by a specific player by logically combining the listener channel of the specific player with the talker channel of the player making the verbal utterance; and
(d) enabling the specific player to hear the verbal utterances as a function of a result of the step of logically combining.
The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: (a) producing oral synchronization data for controlling an oral portion of an animated graphic character in the game controlled by a player who is producing a verbal utterance; and (b) using the oral synchronization data to control the oral portion of the animated graphic character to move in synchronization with the verbal utterance of the player who corresponds to the animated graphic character.
(a) producing oral synchronization data for controlling an oral portion of an animated graphic character in the game controlled by a player who is producing a verbal utterance; and
(b) using the oral synchronization data to control the oral portion of the animated graphic character to move in synchronization with the verbal utterance of the player who corresponds to the animated graphic character.
A memory medium having machine executable instructions for carrying out the steps (b)-(d) of claim 15 .
A system that enables verbal communication between players who are playing a game, comprising: (a) a multiplayer game console that includes a processor and a memory in which are stored machine instructions for causing the processor to carry out a plurality of functions, said functions including executing an instance of a game; (b) verbal communication input and output devices for each player who will be verbally communicating during a game, each verbal communication input and output device comprising: (i) a sound sensor that produces an input signal indicative of sound incident on the sound sensor; and (ii) a sound transducer that produces an audible sound in response to an output signal that is applied to the sound transducer; (c) an encoder that encodes the input signal applied to the encoder from a sound transducer, producing an encoded signal; and (d) a decoder that decodes the encoded signal, producing the output signal that is applied to at least one sound transducer.
(a) a multiplayer game console that includes a processor and a memory in which are stored machine instructions for causing the processor to carry out a plurality of functions, said functions including executing an instance of a game;
(b) verbal communication input and output devices for each player who will be verbally communicating during a game, each verbal communication input and output device comprising: (i) a sound sensor that produces an input signal indicative of sound incident on the sound sensor; and (ii) a sound transducer that produces an audible sound in response to an output signal that is applied to the sound transducer;
(i) a sound sensor that produces an input signal indicative of sound incident on the sound sensor; and
(ii) a sound transducer that produces an audible sound in response to an output signal that is applied to the sound transducer;
(c) an encoder that encodes the input signal applied to the encoder from a sound transducer, producing an encoded signal; and
(d) a decoder that decodes the encoded signal, producing the output signal that is applied to at least one sound transducer.
The system of claim 32 , further comprising an interface that is adapted to couple the multiplayer game console in communication with at least one other multiplayer game console and to convey a stream of encoded data between the multiplayer game console and the other multiplayer game console, to enable verbal communication between at least one player playing the game on the multiplayer game console and at least one other player playing the game on the other multiplayer game console.
The system of claim 33 , wherein the processor and the interface cooperate to produce and receive packets comprising the stream of encoded data over one of a direct link and a network.
The system of claim 32 , wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to implement the functions of the encoder and of the decoder.
The system of claim 32 , wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to maintain a queue of encoded data received, for serial input to the decoder.
The system of claim 32 , wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to enable a player to select and apply a sound modifying effect to substantially change the input signal so that the audible sound that is produced by the sound transducer of another player who is a recipient of a verbal communication is altered in a defined manner from the sound that was incident on the sound sensor of said player.
The system of claim 32 , wherein the encoded signal comprises a plurality of time frames and wherein each encoder processes input signals for successive time frames, using a round robin technique, where there are fewer encoders than player producing sound to be encoded on the multiplayer game console.
The system of claim 32 , wherein the encoded data comprises compressed data and wherein each decoder processes data streams comprising the encoded data in parallel, where each data stream is received from a different player.
The system of claim 32 , wherein the encoder encodes input signals applied to the encoder in parallel from a plurality of sound transducers.
The system of claim 40 , further comprising one of: (a) a mixer that mixes data streams to produced a mixed data stream that is supplied to the decoder; and (b) a mixer that mixes decoded data received from the decoder.
(a) a mixer that mixes data streams to produced a mixed data stream that is supplied to the decoder; and
(b) a mixer that mixes decoded data received from the decoder.
The system of claim 32 , wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to associate players with different voice channels and enable a player to select a voice channel from among the different voice channels over which to verbally communicate with players that are associated with the voice channel that is selected.
The system of claim 32 , wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to: (a) associate a talker channel with each player and a listener channel on which the player can receive a verbal communication; and (b) when a verbal communication is received over any talker channel, the listener channel of a player is logically combined with the t
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