Abstract:
A convenient electronic sound producing device is an electronic sound producing device that is physically configured to be easy to use in the field. A control module faces the use while the sound is projected away from the user. A pistol grip can be used to ease holding and using the call. A remote can further ease operation and allow control from a distance. A timer allows for nearly autonomous operation. Control modules can be fixed to a firearm, bow, crossbow, or camera to minimize the user&#39;s movement while simultaneously calling and preparing for a shot. A pinning hole or a stake can allow for reliably fixing the sound producing device to a surface, to vegetation, or to other objects.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation of and claims priority and benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/113,050 filed May 21, 2011 entitled “Cell Phone Based Sound Production” and of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/220,551 filed Aug. 29, 2011 entitled “Convenient Electronic Sound Producing Device” and both of which are herein included by reference in their entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/220,551 is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/652,328 filed on Jan. 11, 2007 entitled “Convenient Electronic Sound Producing Device”, and of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/113,050 and both of which are incorporated therein by reference in their entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/113,050 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/622,370 filed on Jan. 11, 2007 entitled “Cell Phone Based Animal Sound Imitation” and which is incorporated therein by reference in its entirety. This application therefor claims priority and benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/652,328, 11/622,370, 13/113,050, and 13/220,551. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments relate to sound producing devices, digital audio devices, remote controls, cellular telephones, communications networks, and data servers. Embodiments also relate to hunting, wildlife observation, and wildlife vocalizations. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    People have made and used sound producing devices to produce sounds since prehistoric times and continue to make and use them. Sounds are produced for a variety of reasons. Call sounds are sounds whose purpose is to imitate an animal. Certain sounds can entice an animal to respond and sometimes to come closer. Other sounds are enjoyable to humans and can invoke a human response. Over time, sound production technology has changed while the purposes have largely remained the same. 
         [0004]    A person uses a call sound producing device to produce a call sound. In general, the sound is an attractive sound such as an imitation of an animal vocalization. Different sounds are appropriate for enticing different responses. For example, elk can respond to any of a variety of elk vocalizations or other attractive sounds such as antlers thrashing in brush. Similarly, turkey can respond to any of a variety of turkey vocalizations or other attractive sounds such as beating wings. Predators, such as coyotes, often respond to prey animal vocalizations such as those of a distressed rabbit. 
         [0005]    Electronic sound producing devices are devices that are readily available from a variety of manufacturers. These devices can store digitized game animal vocalizations and other sounds. Electronic sound producing devices, however, are additional pieces of equipment that must be carried or bought. Furthermore, current electronic sound producing devices have cumbersome methods at best for obtaining and storing new sounds. A need therefore exists for an easily loaded and carried electronic sound producing device. 
         [0006]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/113,050, of which this application is a continuation, discloses embodiments in which a cell phone is used to store and produce sounds and vocalizations. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/113,050 is included herein by reference and in its entirety for its teachings of cell phones, servers, communications networks, sound altering modules, and the other hardware and software infrastructure and modules involved that result in devices capable of obtaining, storing, and producing sounds on cell phones. 
         [0007]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/220,551, of which this application is a continuation, discloses embodiments in which a device is used to store and produce sounds and vocalizations. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/220,551 is included herein by reference and in its entirety for its teachings of sound producing devices, remote controls, remote actuators, wireless speakers, servers, communications networks, sound altering modules, and the other hardware and software infrastructure and modules involved that result in devices capable of obtaining, storing, and producing call sounds on electronic devices. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. 
         [0009]    It is therefore an aspect of the embodiments for a sound producing module to play a call sound on a speaker. Optionally, a user can operate a control module to select what sound or sounds to play and can operate an actuator to cause the sound to actually be played. 
         [0010]    It is also an aspect of embodiments that the call sounds can be obtained from a remote server. Furthermore, recovery information can be generated such that lost sounds can be recovered. Lost sounds are sounds that were stored in the non-volatile memory but have become lost due to malfunction, error, or some other event. 
         [0011]    It is also an aspect of embodiments that a cell phone can obtain the call sounds from a remote server. A presentation on the cell phone display offers the user a number of available call sounds. The user can select one to thereby cause it to be downloaded and become playable as one of the stored call sounds. In some embodiments the cell phone can also be used to select what sound is to be played and to trigger the playing of that sound. 
         [0012]    It is an aspect of certain embodiments to have a remote controller optionally attached to a weapon such that the user can operate the electronic game call without letting go of the weapon. 
         [0013]    It is also another aspect of the embodiments that a sound producing module accesses the stored call sounds and plays them on a speaker. The speaker can be an internal speaker that is part of the electronic device or can be an external speaker that is not. External speakers receive signals from the electronic device and uses them to produce sound. Signals can be transmitted using wires, wirelessly using electromagnetic radiation, or in some other way. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate aspects of the embodiments and, together with the background, brief summary, and detailed description serve to explain the principles of the embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates a user using a sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates a control module in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a base in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates speaker ports in a housing in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates a remote in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates a high level block diagram of a sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates a firearm configured for use with a sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of using a hook in a pinning hole in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of using a hook in a pinning hole in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cell phone adapted for use as a call sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  illustrates a high level block diagram of a cell phone adapted for use as a call sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  illustrates a high level block diagram of an electronic call sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  illustrates available call sounds in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  illustrates a high level block diagram of obtaining and playing a call sound in accordance with aspects of embodiments; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  illustrates a high level block diagram of using an inactivated cell phone as an electronic call sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  illustrates shifting a call sound in pitch and tempo in accordance with aspects of embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. In general, the figures are not to scale. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  illustrates a call sound producing device  101  in accordance with aspects of embodiments. A housing  102  has a control module  104  mounted in back and a speaker  103  mounted in front. The housing  102  is illustrated as having a pistol grip  105  and a base  106 . A trigger type actuator  107  is mounted to the housing  102  such that a user holding the pistol grip  105  can squeeze it. A deployable spike  108  is shown extending from the bottom of the base. The deployable spike  108  is not fixed in place but can be removed. In some embodiments, the deployable spike  108  can be stored within the housing  102  and can be deployed by a user. The deployable spike  108  is used to fix the sound producing device  101  in place. For example, the deployable spike  108  can be driven into the ground so that the sound producing device  101  is fixed in place on the ground. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  illustrates a user  201  using a call sound producing device  101  in accordance with aspects of embodiments. The user  201  is holding the pistol grip and squeezing the actuator. The sound producing device  101  is producing a call sound  202 . Notice that the user  201  is looking at the control module on the back of the housing and that the call sound is emitted from the front of the housing. A spike such as that illustrated in  FIG. 1  is not illustrated as deployed in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  illustrates a control module  104  in accordance with aspects of embodiments. The control module  104  has a control layout  308  that specifies the positions of labels, indicators, and buttons. As such, the control module  104  has two label rows, each row having five labels. The control module  104  also has two indicator rows, each having five indicators. The top label row has labels such as “A5”  301 . The labels used are intended to indicate where labels can be positioned. In practice, the labels can be “coyote howl”, “distressed rabbit”, “cat howl”, or any other call name. The top indicator row has indicators such as the “A5” indicator  304 . A light emitting diode (LED) can be used as an indicator. The lower label row is illustrated as positioned under the lower indicator row and containing labels such as “B1”. The lower indicator row contains indicators such as the “B5” indicator  305 . 
         [0036]    A selector row can contain buttons such as the leftmost button  306 . A bank selector  303  can be used to select the top row or the bottom row. The bank selector  303  is illustrated as selecting the top row. Pressing the rightmost button  307  with the bank selector  303  in the top position selects call sound “A5” and the “A5” indicator  301  lights up. 
         [0037]    Multifunction indicators, such as multifunction LEDs can also be used. A multifunction LED can display two or more colors. For example, a control module can have two label rows and a multifunction LED row. In this case the “A5” indicator  304  becomes the “A5/B5” indicator  304  and the “B5” indicator does not exist. A red “A5/B5” indictor  304  can indicate that call sound “A5” is selected whereas a green “A5/B5” indictor  304  can indicate that call sound “B5” is selected. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a base  106  in accordance with aspects of embodiments. The deployable spike  108  is illustrated mounted in a spike hole  402  in the base. A pinning hole  401  in the base  106  can be used in a number of ways. The pinning hole  401  can be used to hang the sound producing device from a tree branch, in which case the sound producing device would be up side down. A nail or pin through the pinning hole  401  can fix the sound producing device to another object, such as a tree or the ground. A cord can be threaded through the pinning hole  401  and tied to something or used to hang the sound producing device from a tree branch. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates speaker ports  501  in a housing  102  in accordance with aspects of embodiments. Those practiced in the arts of acoustics or speaker enclosures are familiar with systems and methods for using speaker ports to improve the sound of a speaker. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  illustrates a remote  600  in accordance with aspects of embodiments. The remote  600  has a remote housing  602  and a remote control module  601 . Notice that the remote control module  601  and the control module illustrated in  FIG. 3  have the same configuration of labels, indicators, selectors, and bank selector. It is advantageous for the control module and the remote control module  601  to look the same and be operated the same because a user who can use one can immediately use the other without additional instruction. The remote  600  also has a remote actuator  603 . 
         [0041]    The remote  600  can communicate with the sound producing device such that remote operations are equivalent to directly operating the sound producing device. For example, pressing the remote actuator  603  can cause a remote output signal corresponding to actuation to be sent to the sound producing device that then reacts as if the actuator  107  was operated. Similarly, selecting a call remotely can cause a remote output signal corresponding to call selection to be sent to the sound producing device that then reacts as if the control module were used to select a call. For example, a user can select call “A4” on the remote  600 . The remote&#39;s “A4” indicator is lit in response and a remote output signal is transmitted. The sound producing device receives the remote output signal, selects the “A4” call, and lights the sound producing device&#39;s “A4” indicator. If the sound producing device plays a call sound on selection, then the sound producing device can also play a call sound on remote selection. 
         [0042]    Placement of the control module on the back of the sound producing device allows the user to observe it from a distance while directing call sounds in a forward direction. In practice, a user can position the sound producing device and then move back from it. The user can remotely select calls and see the reaction on the control module. As such, the user is confident that remote operation is working reliably. 
         [0043]    The sound producing device and the remote can be kept in synchronization if the sound producing device can send a call output signal to the remote. One example of synchronization is that when a user selects a call sound on the remote, the remote sends a remote output signal to the call sound producing device. The call sound producing device can respond by selecting the desired call sound, lighting the appropriate indicator on the control module, and sending a call output signal to the remote. The remote can respond by lighting the appropriate indicator on the remote control module. A second example is when the user uses the control module to select a call sound. The call sound producing device can respond by lighting the appropriate indicator on the control module and sending a call output signal to the remote. The remote can respond by lighting the appropriate indicator on the remote control module. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  illustrates a high level block diagram of a sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments. Non-volatile memory  701 , such as a flash memory, read only memory, or magnetic disk can contain at least one stored call signal  702 . An electronics module  704  can access the stored call signal  702 . A control module  703  and the electronics module  704  use control signals  707  to communicate. An actuator  705  sends an actuation signal  708  to the electronics module  704 . The electronics module  704  obtains one of the possibly many stored call signals  702  based on the control signals  707 . On receiving the actuation signal  708 , the electronics module  704  sends a call signal  709  to the speaker  706 . The speaker  706  then produces a call sound. 
         [0045]    A timer  710  can be used to trigger periodic call sounds. The user can use a timer control interface on the control module  703  or remote control module  712  to select a time interval. Those practiced in setting alarm clocks, cooking timers, watches, or similar devices are familiar with timer control interfaces. The timer  710  can repeatedly produce a timed actuation signal  711  each time the time interval elapses. As such, the timer can count down until the time interval ends and then automatically reset and begin counting down again. The electronics module reacts to the timed actuation signal by sending the call signal  709  to the speaker  706 . 
         [0046]    A remote can contain a remote control module  712 , transmitter  716 , and remote electronics module  714 . The remote control module  712  and the remote electronics module  714  can use remote electronic module inputs  713  to communicate. The remote electronics module  714  can send a remote output signal to a transmitter  716 , such as a radio, that transmits it to a receiver  718  from which the remote output signal goes to the electronics module  704 . As such, the electronics module  704  can react to the remote control module  712  in the same way it would react to the control module  703 . Similarly, a remote actuator  715  can send a remote actuation signal  719  to the remote electronics module  714  such that, eventually, the electronics module  704  reacts by producing the call signal  709 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  illustrates a firearm  801  configured for use with a sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments. The firearm  801  has a barrel  802 , action  803 , and stock  804 . A forward interface  806  can be attached to the fore stock  805 , which is the front part of the stock  804 . A back interface  807  can be located near the action  803 . While aiming the firearm  801 , a user can manipulate the forward interface  806  with one hand or the back interface  807  with the other hand. The front interface  806  can have a remote actuator, a remote control module, or both. The back interface  807  can also have a remote actuator, a remote control module, or both. The firearm  801  is illustrated with both a front interface  806  and back interface  807  although in practice only one interface is needed. A bow, crossbow, or camera can also be configured with an interface such as the back interface  807  or front interface  806 . A fastener, such as glue, adhesive, or Velcro can be used for attaching an interface. 
         [0048]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of using a hook in a pinning hole in accordance with aspects of embodiments. The lower portion of a pistol grip  105  is connected to a base having a pinning hole  902 . A hook  901  is attached to the pinning hole  902 . The sound producing device can be hung by the hook. Other hanging means, such as cords, carabiners, or wire can be used instead of the hook. 
         [0049]      FIG. 10  illustrates a front view of using a hook in a pinning hole in accordance with aspects of some embodiments. The lower portion of a pistol grip  105  is connected to a base having a pinning hole  902 . A hook  901  is attached to the pinning hole  902 . In this embodiment, unlike that illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the pinning hole  902  does not pass from the top of the base to the bottom of the base. Instead, it passes from the front of the base to the bottom of the base. In other embodiments, the pinning hole can be positioned elsewhere on the housing. 
         [0050]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cell phone  1103  adapted for use as a call sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments. The cell phone  1103  is illustrated as having an internal speaker  1104 , display  1105 , and keypad  1112 . The display  1105  is illustrated as showing a presentation  1108  of available sounds such as “Turkey Cluck”  1106  and “Turkey Purr”  1109 . “Turkey Cluck”  1106  is also the selected sound as indicated by the heavy outline. The keypad  1112  is a human input device (HID) having keys  1107  that a user  1111  can press. Many cell phones have other HIDs such as joy sticks or touch sensitive displays. Regardless of the HID, the user  1111  can manipulate the HID to navigate the user interface and to select available call sounds. 
         [0051]    The cell phone  1103  can use a communications network  1110  to send and receive data from a server  1101 . The cell phone  1103  can download a served sound, such as “Crow Caw”  1102  from the server and store it in non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory is memory that persists after a device is turned off. Storing “Crow Caw” in non-volatile memory creates the “Crow Caw” stored sound. 
         [0052]    Non-volatile memory can fail for a number of reasons. For example, the cell phone can catch fire destroying all stored data. A backup server  1113  can be used to recover the stored data. The backup server  1113  can contain recovery information  1114  or the recovery information  1114  can be held elsewhere, perhaps in removable storage. The recovery information  1114  can be used to recover all the call sounds that the user  1111  had stored in the cell phone  1103 . 
         [0053]    Sounds can be free or can be paid for. When they are paid for, the user  1111  can provide information to a payment processor  1115  who uses a payment processing module  1116  to obtain payment. The information often includes an account number, user identifier, and the sound, or sounds, which the user  1111  wants. The payment processor  1115  can then inform a fulfillment module  1117  that the user  1111  is allowed to access the sounds. The user  1111  can then obtain the sounds from the server  1101 . 
         [0054]    Permission information can be used to prevent or allow the playing of sounds. The permission information can be used to restrict the playable sounds to those obtained from a specific server or provider. For example, a provider can encrypt a sound so that a decryption key is required for playing it. The permission information can restrict playing to a specific device. For example, every cell phone has a unique identifier that can be used to verify that a particular cell phone is allowed to play a particular sound. Another possibility is that a password can be required to unlock a sound. Those familiar with the digital rights management are familiar with permission information. 
         [0055]      FIG. 12  illustrates a high level block diagram of a cell phone  1103  adapted for use as a sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments. The cell phone  1103  has a non-volatile memory  1205  for storing stored call sounds  1206 . The keypad  1112 , display  1105 , and any other HIDs are part of the user interface  1207 . The cell phone uses a cellular radio  1204  to communicate with the communications network. The user interface  1207  is used to select available sounds and the sound retrieval module  1201  can use the cellular radio  1204  to help obtain served sounds from a server. A sound producing module  1210  can access the stored call sounds  1206  and play them on a speaker. 
         [0056]    The sound producing module  1210  can play a call sound when a key is pressed, upon receiving a timed actuation signal  1208 , or upon some other event. A timing module  1203  can produce the timed actuation signal  1208 . A timed actuation signal can be periodic or can occur once after a time period elapses. 
         [0057]    The cell phone  1103  can also contain a payment module  1209  and a cell phone control module  1202 . The payment module  1209  interacts with the payment processing module of  FIG. 11  to facilitate payment. The cell phone control module  1202  can shut down and restart the cellular radio  1204 . Shutting down the cellular radio  1204  conserves energy while using the cell phone  1103  as a sound producing device. The reason is that being outside the range of the communications network makes the cellular radio  1204  useless. Furthermore, many cell phones go into a power consumptive mode when searching for a communications network or when barely in range of a communications network. 
         [0058]      FIG. 13  illustrates a high level block diagram of an electronic sound producing device  1304  in accordance with aspects of embodiments. The electronic sound producing device  1304  has many of the same components as the cell phone of  FIGS. 11 and 12 . However, a communications module  1301  takes the place of the cellular radio. A remote actuator  1303  is illustrated sending a remote actuation signal  1305  that can trigger the sound producing module  1210  to play the selected call sound. The sound producing module  1210  can play the call sound on an external speaker  1302 . The external speaker can have a wired or wireless connection to the electronic sound producing device  1304 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 14  illustrates available sounds  1401  in accordance with aspects of embodiments. Stored call sound 1  1402  and stored call sound 2  1403  are in the non-volatile memory while served call sound 1  1404  and served call sound 2  1405  are on a server. All four call sounds are available because the call sound retrieval module can obtain the served call sounds and store them. A presentation  1406  presents a user with available call sounds. Available call sound 1  1407  corresponds to stored call sound 1  1402 . Available call sound 2  1408  corresponds to stored call sound 2  1403 . Available call sound 3  1409  corresponds to served call sound 1  1404 . Available call sound 4  1410  corresponds to served call sound 2  1405 . 
         [0060]    The user selects one of the available call sounds as the call sound selection  1411 . The call sound selection  1411  corresponds to the selected call sound  1412  that is also one of the available call sounds  1401 . The call sound selection is communicated to the game calling module  1210 . If the selected call sound  1412  is not among the stored call sounds  1413 , then the call sound retrieval module  1201  can obtain it from the server  1101  and store it. The game calling module  1210  can play the selected call sound  1412 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 15  illustrates a high level block diagram of obtaining and playing a call sound in accordance with aspects of embodiments. After the start  1501 , the server is accessed  1503  and call sounds downloaded for storage  1504 . The user is presented with the available call sounds  1505  and makes a call sound selection  1506 . If the selected call sound is not stored  1507 , then it must be obtained  1508  from the server. Once the selected call sound is stored, an actuation signal can be waited for  1509 . On receiving the actuation signal, the selected call sound is played  1510  and the process is done  1511 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 16  illustrates a high level block diagram of using an inactivated cell phone  1601  as an electronic call sound producing device in accordance with aspects of embodiments. A cell phone, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 12 , can be inactivated by removing its association with a cellular network. For example, people often upgrade their cell phones and end up with an old cell phone that is inactivated. They cannot use the old cell phone to make calls or to access the cellular network because it is inactivated. An Inactivated cell phone  1601  can have a functioning cellular radio, but the cellular network ignores it. As such, the cellular radio merely wastes power. 
         [0063]    The inactivated cell phone  1601  can function as an electronic call sound producing device similar to the cell phone  1103  of  FIG. 2  with a few exceptions. The inactivated cell phone cannot use the cellular radio to connect to a server and obtain additional sounds. Call sounds can, however, be obtained from a computer  1602  with access to sounds  1603 . Most cell phones, inactivated or not, can be connected to a computer by a link  1605 . Some links are wired and others, such as Bluetooth links, are wireless. Most computers require a cell phone access module  1604  in order to access the data and modules within a cell phone. Regardless, the computer  1602  can place stored sounds  1206  into a cell phone. In fact, a computer  1602  can configure an inactivated cell phone  1601  as an electronic sound producing device by downloading all the required sounds and modules. As such, a useless inactivated cell phone can be recycled to produce an electronic call sound producing device. 
         [0064]      FIG. 17  illustrates shifting a sound  1701  in pitch and tempo in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. A sound  1701  passing through a pitch shifting module  1702  results in a pitch shifted sound  1703 . Passing a sound  1701  through a tempo shifting module  1704  results in a tempo shifted call sound  1705 . Those practiced in the art of signal processing are familiar with techniques for shifting a signal&#39;s pitch or tempo. 
         [0065]    Pitch can be shifted by modulation or by using a Fourier transform algorithm to obtain the signals spectrum. The spectrum can then simply be moved in the frequency domain and then converted back into a temporal signal. Tempo can be altered by adding or deleting sample points in the signal&#39;s digital waveform. Resampling can also be used for changing tempo. Sound engineers in the music industry often use signal processing packages to manipulate music. Pitch shifting modules, tempo shifting, and resampling modules are among the most basic modules within a modern signal processing package. 
         [0066]    As anyone who has played a phonographic record or an analog magnetic tape at the wrong speed knows, shifting tempo can cause an induced pitch change. As such, pitch shifting modules are often used to correct for the induced pitch change. 
         [0067]    It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.