Patent ID: 7415120

Claim:
An audio system for optimizing playing of an audio program, which includes a preferred audio signal and a remaining audio signal, for end users, which includes both hearing impaired and non-hearing impaired listeners, comprising: a) a first end user adjustable amplifier for receiving the preferred audio signal and a first gain selected by an end user, and for amplifying the preferred audio signal to a level corresponding to the first gain specified by the user, said first end user adjustable amplifier having a range of amplification from zero to a maximum value, and said first end user adjustable amplifier having as a control output a gain selection value representing a numerical value of the first gain selected by the end user of the first end user adjustable amplifier; b) a second end user adjustable amplifier for receiving the remaining audio signal and a second gain selected by the end user, and for amplifying the remaining audio signal to a level corresponding to the second gain specified by the user, said second end user adjustable amplifier having a range of amplification from zero to a maximum value, and said second end user adjustable amplifier having as a control output a gain selection value representing a numerical value of the second gain selected by the end user of the second end user adjustable amplifier; and c) a corrector circuit for receiving as a first input the control output of the first end user adjustable amplifier, for receiving as a second input the control output of the second end user adjustable amplifier, for calculating a desired preferred audio signal to remaining audio signal ratio based on the first input and the second input, for receiving as a third input the output of the first end user adjustable amplifier, for receiving as a fourth input the output of the second end user adjustable amplifier, and for modifying the output of the first end user adjustable amplifier and the output of the second end user adjustable amplifier so that the actual preferred audio signal to remaining audio signal (PSRA) ratio corresponds to the calculated desired value of the preferred audio signal to remaining audio signal (PSRA) ratio.