Identifying a change to adjust audio data

Examples disclose a method of transmitting audio data to a wireless device and receiving frequency coefficients associated with the audio data from the device. Further, examples disclose analyzing the frequency coefficients to identify a change between the transmitted audio data and the received frequency coefficients. Additionally, examples also disclose adjusting a second audio data based on the identified change.

BACKGROUND

Audio music users increasingly rely on their wireless devices in networks to listen to music. The audio music files have a broad frequency scope to include the sounds of the music and as such may take a large amount of bandwidth while the wireless networks are limited in bandwidth. This creates a loss of fidelity of the music file, resulting in a poor listening experience for a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Transmitting audio music files across a wireless network may cause issues with the fidelity of the music as the bandwidth within the network is limited. In order to use the bandwidth efficiently, one solution is to compress the audio signals (i.e., audio data) prior to transmission in the wireless network. Compressing the audio signal enables the music file to be transmitted in a smaller amount of bandwidth. For example, the music file may be compressed from a mobile device prior to transmission to headphones and/or speakers. However, this creates a distortion of the audio file as the compression and transmission results in the loss of accuracy and exactness of the music file. Further this distortion leads to a loss of quality of the sound creating a poor listening experience for the user. Additionally, this compression may be optimized for voice data as the voices may contain less varying frequencies than music data, which results in additional distortion and loss.

In another solution, audio signals are compensated after transmission and arriving on the device. In this solution, incoming audio signals that may be lost during wireless transmission are compensated once received on the device. However, this solution may not fully compensate the audio signals to fully recover the lost data. For example, it may be difficult to predict the lost data during transmission. This results in distortion as the audio signals are not accurately compensated for the loss.

To address these issues, example embodiments disclosed herein provide a method to transmit audio data to a wireless device and receive frequency coefficients which are associated with the audio data to identify a change between the transmitted audio data and the received frequency coefficients. Identifying the change, enables a second audio data to adjust for future compensation loss. Adjusting the second audio data, provides a better listening experience for the user as the losses are compensated prior to transmission to the wireless device. Further this embodiment enhances the sound quality for the user.

Further, receiving the frequency coefficients corresponding to the audio data enables a reconstruction of the audio data to identify these changes. Reconstructing the received audio data, the difference between the received audio data and the transmitted audio data may be readily identified to efficiently adjust other audio data based on this difference.

In another embodiment, example embodiments disclose decompressing the audio data at the wireless devices and inversely transforming to obtain the frequency coefficients. This enables the processing of the audio data to occur at the wireless device to obtain the coefficients for identifying the change. Additionally, this allows the wireless device to include headphones and/or speaker as being physically separated from the wireless device. Physically separating the headphones and/or speaker from the wireless device enables a digital signal processing module to be located within the headphones and/or speaker rather than on the separated wireless device.

In a further embodiment, example embodiments disclose interpolating the frequency coefficients. In this embodiment, utilizing interpolation enables the frequency coefficients (i.e., known data points) to construct a received audio stream (i.e., new data points) based on the coefficients. The received audio signal is different from the transmitted audio signal as the received audio signal is assumed to be with losses, such as transmission and/or compression losses. This enables a quick and efficient identification of the change since the received audio signal may be in a similar structure to the transmitted audio signal.

Yet, in a further embodiment, example embodiments disclose transmitting the adjusted second audio data. In this embodiment, once the second audio data is adjusted using the identified change, the adjusted second audio data is transmitted to the wireless device. This embodiment enables a seamless experience to the user for listening to quality music files. This further provides a better listening experience for the user as the audio data is adjusted and transmitted without any input or prompting by the user.

In summary, example embodiments provide a more satisfying music listening experience for a user by compensating for transmission and/or compression losses of audio music files over a wireless network. Compensating for these wireless losses, thus providing a higher quality audio to a wireless device.

Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1is a block diagram of an example computing system102including a computing device104with a controller106and a transceiver120to transmit an audio signal112to a wireless device118and receive frequency coefficients114corresponding to the audio signal112. Additionally, the computing device104receives the frequency coefficients114to identify a change at module108and adjust a second audio signal at module110. Further, the computing device104transmits the adjusted second audio signal116to the wireless device118. Embodiments of the computing system102include a server, computing device, wireless network, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), computing network, or any other computing system suitable to support the wireless device118and the computing device104including the controller106and the transceiver120.

The computing device104includes the transceiver120to transmit the audio signal112to the wireless device118and receive the frequency coefficients114corresponding to the audio signal112. The computing device104then adjusts the frequency coefficients114to compensate for the losses across the network. Such losses include transmission and/or compression losses. Additionally, the computing device104includes the controller106to process the frequency coefficients114to identify the change at module108. The change represents the differences (i.e., transmission and/or compression losses) between the transmitted audio signal112and the received audio signal112by the wireless device118. Further, the computing device104adjusts the second audio signal110for transmission116. In this embodiment, the computing device104acts as a type of calibration device by using the change identified at module108to adjust other audio signals. In this regard, the audio signal112is a type of base measurement to determine the losses for audio signals across a wireless network. Embodiments of the computing device104include a server, computing source, client device, personal computer, desktop computer, laptop, a mobile device, or other computing device suitable to include components106and120and capable of transmitting audio signals112and116and receiving frequency coefficients114.

The controller106identifies the change at module108and adjusts the second audio signal at module110. In one embodiment, the controller106may retrieve the audio signal112from a storage area (not illustrated) for the transceiver120to transmit to the wireless device118. Embodiments of the controller106include a microchip, chipset, electronic circuit, processor, microprocessor, semiconductor, microcontroller, central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), visual processing unit (VPU), or other programmable device capable of identifying the change at module108to adjust the second audio signal at module110.

The transceiver120is an electronic component as part of the computing device104which may both transmit audio signal112and116and receive frequency coefficients114. In this embodiment, the transceiver120may include both a transmitter and receiver which may be combined to share common circuitry. In another embodiment, the transceiver120includes the transmitter and the receiver as separate components within the computing device104. Embodiments of the transceiver120include a transponder, transverter, repeater, two-way radio, medium attachment unit, or other type of transceiver capable of transmitting audio signals112and116and receiving frequency coefficients114.

The audio signal112(i.e., audio data) is a representation of sound from a source (i.e., the computing device104) to the wireless device118. In this embodiment, the audio signal112is considered as a previously known signal by the computing device104to enable the frequency coefficients114to be compared to the audio signal112to identify the change at module208. The audio signal112is may include a song and/or music as it may be intended to sound as by an audio engineer (i.e., without losses). Embodiments of the audio signal112include audio data, audio packet, audio, song, music file, music stream, or other type of audio signal including sound for output on the wireless device118. The audio signal112contains broad frequency responses as part of a song unlike single voice streams which has a narrow frequency response. Since music has considerable broad frequency variance, it takes up more bandwidth than a voice signal which has a tighter frequency channel. For example, the music file may include a bass beat which has a lower note frequency while a synthesized note has a higher note frequency, thus resulting in a more broad frequency.

The wireless device118receives the audio signal112from the computing device104and processes the audio signal112to obtain the frequency coefficients114. In one embodiment, the wireless device118includes headphones and/or speaker to output music from the adjusted second audio signal116. In another embodiment, the wireless device118includes a controller and/or a digital signal processing module. Placing a digital signal processing module on the wireless device118, specifically with the output device (i.e., speakers, headphones, etc.), the computing system102may correct and compensate for future losses of audio. In a further embodiment, the wireless device118may inversely transform the audio signal112to obtain the frequency coefficients114to transmit to the computing device104. These embodiments are described in detail in later figures. Embodiments of the wireless device118include a client device, personal computer, desktop computer, laptop, a mobile device, headset, headphones, earbuds, speakers, or other wireless device suitable receive the audio signal112and transmit the frequency coefficients114.

The frequency coefficients114represent the frequencies of the audio signal112as received by the wireless device118(i.e., with transmission and/or compression losses). In this embodiment, the frequency coefficients114correspond to the audio signal112as these represent the varying frequencies of the audio signal112received from the computing device104. For example, the audio signal112may include a song and as such, the frequency coefficients114represent the varying frequencies of the song from drum beats to synthesized notes as received by the wireless device118. Further, in this embodiment, the frequency coefficients114correspond to what is received by the wireless device118. For example, the audio signal112prior to transmission from the computing device104is without any transmission loses, while the wireless device118receives the audio signal112with transmission and/or compression losses. Using the frequency coefficients114, the computing device104may track what losses the wireless device118receives and thus may compensate other audio signals for these losses. Embodiments of the frequency coefficients114include a character, value, term, symbol, factor, expression, variable, representation, or other coefficient representing the frequencies corresponding the audio signal112received by the wireless device118.

The module108identifies the change from the frequency coefficients114and the audio signal112transmitted to the wireless device118. Embodiments of the module108include a set of instructions, instruction, process, operation, logic, algorithm, technique, logical function, firmware, and or software executable by the computing device104to analyze the frequency coefficients114received from the wireless device118to identify the change. In another embodiment, module108may include interpolating the frequency coefficients114to generate an audio signal as received by the wireless device118. In this embodiment, the computing device104may compare both the audio signal112transmitted to the wireless device118and the audio signal constructed from the frequency coefficients114to readily identify the change. This embodiment is described in detail in later figures.

The module110adjusts a second audio signal110based on the change identified at module108. Embodiments of the module110include a set of instructions, instruction, process, operation, logic, algorithm, technique, logical function, firmware, and or software executable by the computing device104to adjust the second audio signal based on the identified change at module108. The adjusted second audio signal116is transmitted from the computing device104to the wireless device118once the second audio signal is adjusted at module110.

The adjusted second audio signal116is created at module110and includes the second audio signal with the change identified at module108. As such, the second audio signal may be adjusted and/or over-compensated based on the change which represents the wireless losses over the network. In the embodiment, the wireless device118may receive compensated audio signals to prevent wireless loss and/or distortion. Embodiments of the adjusted audio signal include audio data, audio packet, song, music file, music stream, or other type of audio signal including sound for output on the wireless device118.

FIG. 2is a block diagram of an example computing system202including a computing device204with a controller206and a transceiver220, and further including a wireless device218with a digital signal processing module222, output device224, analyze module226, and controller228. The computing device204transmits an audio signal212, adjusted second audio signal216, and receives frequency coefficients214from the wireless device218to identify a change at module208and adjust a second audio signal at module210. The computing system202and the computing device204, may be similar in structure and functionality to the computing system102and the computing device104as inFIG. 1.

The controller206retrieves the audio signal212for transmission by the transceiver220to the wireless device218. Additionally, the controller206and the transceiver220receive frequency coefficients214to identify the change at module208and adjusts the second audio signal at module210. The controller206and the transceiver220may be similar in structure and functionality to the controller106and the transceiver120as inFIG. 1.

The audio signal212transmitted from the computing device204represents a song and/or music without wireless losses. The audio signal may be similar in structure and functionality to the audio signal112as inFIG. 1.

The frequency coefficients214are generated by the wireless device218as a way to track the wireless losses from the computing device204to the wireless device218(i.e., over the wireless network). The frequency coefficients214may be similar in structure and functionality to the frequency coefficients112as inFIG. 1.

The module208and the module210receive the frequency coefficients214to identify the change and adjust the second audio signal. The change identified at module208represents the difference between the audio signal212and the frequency coefficients214. The audio signal212is assumed to be without distortion as the audio signal212as it is prior to transmission to the wireless device218and as such, without losses. The frequency coefficients214are assumed to have suffered distortion as these214correspond to the audio signal212after transmission to the wireless device218. The module208and the module210may be similar in functionality to the modules108and110as inFIG. 1.

The wireless device218includes the controller228to receive the audio signal212for analysis at module226to obtain the frequency coefficients214. Additionally, the wireless device218may process the digital signal aspect of the audio signal212for analysis and output the adjusted second audio signal216at modules222-226. The wireless device218may be similar in structure and functionality to the wireless device118as inFIG. 1.

The controller228receives the audio signal212for analysis, output, and/or processing at modules222-226. The controller228may be similar in structure to the controller206and as such, embodiments of the controller228include a microchip, chipset, electronic circuit, processor, microprocessor, semiconductor, microcontroller, central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), visual processing unit (VPU), or other programmable device receiving the audio signal212for analysis, processing, and/or output at modules222-226.

The module226analyzes the audio signal212received from the computing device204to obtain the frequency coefficients214corresponding to the audio signal212. In one embodiment, the module226inversely transforms the received audio signal212to generate the frequency coefficients214. In this embodiment, the wireless device226contains the set of instructions needed to analyze the audio signal212to send back data corresponding to the audio signal212for the computing device204to track and compensate for the losses. In another embodiment, the module226includes the digital signal processing module222for analysis. Embodiments of the module226include a set of instructions, instruction, process, operation, logic, algorithm, technique, logical function, firmware, and or software executable by the wireless device218to analyze the audio signal212.

The output device224outputs the adjusted second audio signal216and/or the audio signal212for playback on the wireless device218. The output device224includes an electrical device to produce sound in response to the audio signal212input and/or audio signal212. In another embodiment, the output device224is physically separated from the wireless device218. For example, the wireless device218may include a mobile phone, while the output device224may include a wireless headset separated from the mobile phone. Embodiments of the output device224include a speaker, headphones, headset, earbuds, earphones, stereo, transducer, electroacoustic transducer, or other device capable of producing sound in response to the adjusted second audio signal216.

The module222processes the digital signal aspect of the audio signal212for analysis. The digital signal processing module222manipulates data within the audio signal212to modify and/or improve to generate the frequency coefficients214and/or for playback. In one embodiment, module222filters the audio signal212to remove noise. Embodiments of module222include a set of instructions, instruction, process, operation, logic, algorithm, technique, logical function, firmware, and or software executable by the wireless device218to process the digital aspect of the audio signal212.

The adjusted second audio signal216is compensated with the change as identified at module208prior to transmission to the wireless device218to account for wireless losses. The adjusted second audio signal216may be similar in structure and functionality to the adjusted second audio signal116as inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3is a flowchart of an example method performed on a computing device to transmit audio data, receive frequency coefficients for analysis to identify a change, and adjust a second audio data based on the identified change. AlthoughFIG. 3is described as being performed on computing device104and204as inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, it may also be executed on other suitable components as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example,FIG. 3may be implemented in the form of executable instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium or on a wireless device118and218as inFIG. 1andFIG. 2or in the form of electronic circuitry.

At operation302the computing device transmits audio data to the wireless device. In an embodiment, the computing device compresses the audio data prior to transmission. In another embodiment, operation302transmits audio signals which may include a music file. In a further embodiment, the computing device retrieves the audio data from a memory to transmit to the wireless device.

At operation304the computing device receives frequency coefficients from the wireless device corresponding to the audio data transmitted at operation302. In an embodiment, the wireless device decompresses the audio data transmitted at operation302. In this embodiment, the wireless device analyzes the audio data to obtain the frequency coefficients for transmission to the computing device at operation306.

At operation306the computing device analyzes the frequency coefficients associated with the audio data to identify a change. The change is a difference between the audio data at operation302and the frequency coefficients received at operation304. In an embodiment, operation306includes performing interpolation of the frequency coefficients to reconstruct a received audio data. In this embodiment, the computing device may readily identify the change since the received audio data may be reconstructed into a similar structure to the audio data transmitted at operation302.

At operation308the computing device adjusts a second audio data based on the change identified at operation306. In one embodiment, the adjusted second audio data is transmitted to the wireless device. In this embodiment, the audio data is compensated for the losses as predicted from change identified at operation306.

FIG. 4is a flowchart of an example method performed on a computing device to transmit audio data, receive frequency coefficients, analyze the frequency coefficients to identify a change including comparing the coefficients and interpolating, compress a second audio data, and adjust the second audio data based on the identified change for transmission. AlthoughFIG. 4is described as being performed on computing device104and204as inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, it may also be executed on other suitable components as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example,FIG. 4may be implemented in the form of executable instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium or on a wireless device118and218as inFIG. 1andFIG. 2or in the form of electronic circuitry.

At operation404the computing device transmits the audio data to the wireless device. In an embodiment, operation404includes the wireless device receiving the audio data. In these embodiments, the received audio data unlike the transmitted audio data, is assumed to be lossy (i.e., with transmission and/or compression losses) as the audio data is transmitted over a wireless network. In another embodiment, the wireless device includes a wireless headset and/or speaker. In this embodiment, a digital signal processing module is located within the device to filter and/or modify the audio data to remove noise and/or to filter frequencies that may be too high or too low. In a further embodiment of operation404, the wireless device decompresses the audio data. Yet, in a further embodiment of operation404, the wireless device inversely transforms the audio data to obtain the frequency coefficients received by the computing device at operation406. In this embodiment, wireless device utilizes a mathematical operation and/or manipulation, such as Laplace transforms, Fourier transforms, or Fast Fourier transforms (FFT) to obtain the frequency coefficients.

At operation406the computing device receives frequency coefficients from the wireless device for analysis at operation408. The frequency coefficients are associated with the audio data transmitted at operation404. The frequency coefficients correspond with the audio data received by that wireless device that represents the highs and lows of the various sounds of the received audio data. The computing devices utilizes the frequency coefficients of the received audio data to determine where and how the losses occurred prior to the transmission of the audio data.

At operation408the computing device analyzes the frequency coefficients received at operation406to identify a change. The change is the difference between the audio data transmitted at operation404and the received audio data that may be reconstructed using the frequency coefficients. In this embodiment, by identifying the change, the computing device may regenerate the audio data received by wireless device to account and adjust for those frequencies which may have been attenuated and/or lost in the wireless transmission from the computing device to the wireless device. In this regard, the computing device may reverse engineer using the frequency coefficients to identify the wireless losses. In another embodiment of operation408, the frequency coefficients may be interpolated and/or compared to the transmitted audio data at operations410and412to identify the change. Additionally, these embodiments enable the computing device to adjust other audio data using the change (i.e., difference) to account for the losses prior to transmission. Thus when the audio data arrives at the wireless device, the audio data will have a better quality sound for the user.

At operation410the computing device compares the frequency coefficients received at operation406to the transmitted audio data at operation404to identify the change. In this embodiment, the change represents the loss of the audio data transmitted at step404across a wireless network.

At operation412the computing device interpolates the frequency coefficients received at operation406to identify the change. In this embodiment, the frequency coefficients are known data points as determined by the wireless device at operation404. The computing device uses these known data points (i.e., range) to construct new data points. Additionally in this embodiment, by constructing new data points based on the known data points the computing device reconstructs the audio data as received by the wireless device. The received audio data is different from the transmitted audio data as the received audio data is assumed to be with losses. Using both the transmitted and the received audio data, the computing device may identify the change between the audio data.

At operation414the computing device compresses the second audio data prior to the adjustment at operation418and transmission to a wireless device at operation418. In one embodiment of operation414, while analyzing the frequency coefficients at operation408while in another embodiment, the computing device compresses the second audio data prior to the adjusting of the second audio data at operation416. Compressing the audio data prior to transmission uses less bandwidth for transmission, rather than transmitting an uncompressed audio data. In another embodiment, the computing device retrieves the audio data from a storage area.

At operation416the computing device adjusts a second audio data with the changed identified at operations408-412. In this embodiment, the second audio data may be adjusted to provide a higher quality audio to the wireless device. In another embodiment, operation416transmits the adjusted second audio data which was compressed at operation414. In a further embodiment, operation416includes compressing the second audio data after adjusting the second audio data.

At operation418the computing device transmits the second audio data adjusted at operation416to the wireless device. In another embodiment, operation418outputs the adjusted second audio data on the wireless device for listening. In this embodiment, the second audio data is adjusted to account for the wireless losses enabling a higher quality audio data to be played on speakers and/or headset associated with the wireless device.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a block diagram of an example computing device500for transmitting audio data to identify a change over a wireless network and adjusting a second audio data based on the identified change. Although the computing device500includes controller502and machine-readable storage medium504, it may also include other components that would be suitable to one skilled in the art. For example, the computing device502may include a transceiver120and220as inFIG. 1andFIG. 2. Additionally, the computing device500includes the functionality of the computing devices104and204as set forth above inFIG. 1andFIG. 2.

The controller502may fetch, decode, and execute instructions508,510,512,514,516, and518. Embodiments of the controller502include a microchip, chipset, electronic circuit, microprocessor, semiconductor, processor, microcontroller, central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), visual processing unit (VPU), or other programmable device capable of executing instructions508-518. The controller502executes instructions to: transmit the audio data instructions508; receive frequency coefficients corresponding to the audio data from a wireless device instructions510; interpolate the frequency coefficients to construct received audio data from the wireless device instructions512; analyze the constructed received audio data to identify a change between the transmitted audio data and the received audio data instructions514; adjust a second audio data based on the identified change to compensate for losses to the wireless device instructions516; and transmit the adjusted second audio data instructions518.

The machine-readable storage medium504may include instructions506-518for the controller502to fetch, decode, and execute. The machine-readable storage medium504may be an electronic, magnetic, optical, memory, flash-drive, or other physical device that contains or stores executable instructions. Thus, the machine-readable storage medium504may include for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only memory (EEPROM), a storage drive, a memory cache, network storage, a Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) and the like. As such, the machine-readable storage medium504can include an application and/or firmware which can be utilized independently and/or in conjunction with the controller502to fetch, decode, and/or execute instructions on the machine-readable storage medium504. The application and/or firmware can be stored on the machine-readable storage medium504and/or stored on another location of the computing device500.

In summary, example embodiments provide a more satisfying music listening experience for a user by compensating for the losses of audio music files over a wireless network. Compensating for the wireless losses, provides higher quality audio to a wireless device.