Patent ID: 8165319

Claim:
A method of reproducing an audio signal by way of an audio system which includes an earphone, the method including the steps of: providing at least one reproduction characteristic of an audio system based on at least one measured sound reproduction characteristic of the audio system; receiving an audio signal; estimating at least one short-term characteristic of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the received audio signal, the at least one short-term characteristic of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the received audio signal including at least one estimate of short-term level of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the received audio signal; providing at least one sound exposure limit, the at least one sound exposure limit including at least one sound exposure limit relevant to the at least one estimate of short-term level of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the received audio signal; controlling the received audio signal to produce a controlled audio signal including the conditional control that if the at least one estimate of short-term level of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the received audio signal exceeds the relevant at least one sound exposure limit, then controlling the received audio signal to produce a controlled audio signal in which this excess is reduced; estimating at least one short-term characteristic of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the controlled audio signal, the at least one short-term characteristic of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the controlled audio signal including at least one estimate of short-term level of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the controlled audio signal based on the at least one reproduction characteristic; storing the at least one short-term characteristic of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the controlled audio signal in memory for subsequent output, the at least one short-term characteristic of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the controlled audio signal including the at least one estimate of short-term level of sound exposure of a listener to the audio system reproducing the controlled audio signal based on the at least one reproduction characteristic; and outputting the controlled audio signal for reproduction.