PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9959783-B2
Application Number: US-201715469368-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Converting audio to haptic feedback in an electronic device

Abstract:
In general, in one aspect, a method performed by one or more processes executing on a computer systems includes receiving an audio signal comprising a range of audio frequencies including high frequencies and low frequencies, converting a first portion of the range of audio frequencies into haptic data, shifting a second portion of the range of audio frequencies down to lower audio frequencies, and presenting at least one of the converted first portion and the shifted second portion to a human user. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 at an electronic device with one or more audio output generators and one or more haptic output generators:
 detecting the occurrence of an event that corresponds to a respective audio signal; 
 in response to detecting the occurrence of the event, concurrently:
 outputting, via the one or more audio output generators, a respective audio output that corresponds to a first portion of the respective audio signal; and 
 outputting, via the one or more haptic output generators, a respective haptic output that is generated based on a second portion of the respective audio signal that is different from the first portion of the respective audio signal; 
 
 wherein the respective audio signal includes a plurality of audio tracks, the method including deriving the respective haptic output from a first track of the plurality of the audio tracks of the respective audio signal, and deriving the respective audio output from a second track, different from the first track, of the respective audio signal. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, lower than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, higher than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respective haptic output is based on a sound effect in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respective audio signal includes a sound of an explosion, and the respective haptic output is based on the sound of the explosion in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respective haptic output is generated in advance of detecting the occurrence of the event. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respective audio signal is received in real time. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more haptic output generators comprise a plurality of haptic output generators, and outputting the respective haptic output includes using a first haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a first subset of the respective haptic output and using a second haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a second subset of the respective haptic output. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first subset of the respective haptic output is in a third range of frequencies and the second subset of the respective haptic output is in a fourth range of frequencies different from the third range of frequencies. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first haptic output generator and second haptic output generator have different capabilities. 
     
     
       11. An electronic device comprising:
 one or more audio output generators; 
 one or more haptic output generators that are distinct from the one or more audio output generators; 
 one or more input devices; and 
 a processor configured to execute instructions, stored in a non-transitory machine-readable medium, to cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising:
 detecting the occurrence of an event that corresponds to a respective audio signal; 
 in response to detecting the occurrence of the event, concurrently: 
 outputting, via the one or more audio output generators, a respective audio output that corresponds to a first portion of the respective audio signal; and 
 outputting, via the one or more haptic output generators, a respective haptic output that is generated based on a second portion of the respective audio signal that is different from the first portion of the respective audio signal; 
 
 wherein the respective audio signal includes a plurality of audio tracks, and the processor is configured to execute instructions to cause the electronic device to perform operations further including deriving the respective haptic output from a first track of the plurality of the audio tracks of the respective audio signal, and deriving the respective audio output from a second track, different from the first track, of the respective audio signal. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, lower than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, higher than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the respective haptic output is based on a sound effect in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, wherein execution of the one or more programs by an electronic device having one or more audio output generators, one or more haptic output generators that are distinct from the one or more audio output generators, and one or more input devices, causes the electronic device to perform operations comprising:
 detecting the occurrence of an event that corresponds to a respective audio signal; 
 in response to detecting the occurrence of the event, concurrently:
 outputting, via the one or more audio output generators, a respective audio output that corresponds to a first portion of the respective audio signal; and 
 outputting, via the one or more haptic output generators, a respective haptic output that is generated based on a second portion of the respective audio signal that is different from the first portion of the respective audio signal; 
 
 wherein the respective audio signal includes a plurality of audio tracks, and execution of the one or more programs by the electronic device causes the electronic device to perform operations further including deriving the respective haptic output from a first track of the plurality of the audio tracks of the respective audio signal, and deriving the respective audio output from a second track, different from the first track, of the respective audio signal. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, lower than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, higher than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the respective audio signal includes a sound of an explosion, and the respective haptic output is based on the sound of the explosion in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the respective haptic output is generated in advance of detecting the occurrence of the event. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the respective audio signal is received in real time. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more haptic output generators comprise a plurality of haptic output generators, and outputting the respective haptic output includes using a first haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a first subset of the respective haptic output and using a second haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a second subset of the respective haptic output. 
     
     
       22. The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the first subset of the respective haptic output is in a third range of frequencies and the second subset of the respective haptic output is in a fourth range of frequencies different from the third range of frequencies. 
     
     
       23. The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the first haptic output generator and second haptic output generator have different capabilities. 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the respective haptic output is based on a sound effect in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the respective audio signal includes a sound of an explosion, and the respective haptic output is based on the sound of the explosion in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the respective haptic output is generated in advance of detecting the occurrence of the event. 
     
     
       27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the respective audio signal is received in real time. 
     
     
       28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more haptic output generators comprise a plurality of haptic output generators, and outputting the respective haptic output includes using a first haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a first subset of the respective haptic output and using a second haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a second subset of the respective haptic output. 
     
     
       29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the first subset of the respective haptic output is in a third range of frequencies and the second subset of the respective haptic output is in a fourth range of frequencies different from the third range of frequencies. 
     
     
       30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the first haptic output generator and second haptic output generator have different capabilities. 
     
     
       31. A method, comprising:
 at an electronic device with one or more audio output generators and a plurality of haptic output generators:
 detecting the occurrence of an event that corresponds to a respective audio signal; 
 in response to detecting the occurrence of the event, concurrently:
 outputting, via the one or more audio output generators, a respective audio output that corresponds to a first portion of the respective audio signal; and 
 outputting, via the plurality of haptic output generators, a respective haptic output that is generated based on a second portion of the respective audio signal that is different from the first portion of the respective audio signal, including using a first haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a first subset of the respective haptic output and using a second haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a second subset of the respective haptic output. 
 
 
 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, lower than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, higher than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the respective haptic output is based on a sound effect in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the respective audio signal includes a sound of an explosion, and the respective haptic output is based on the sound of the explosion in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the respective haptic output is generated in advance of detecting the occurrence of the event. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the respective audio signal is received in real time. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first subset of the respective haptic output is in a third range of frequencies and the second subset of the respective haptic output is in a fourth range of frequencies different from the third range of frequencies. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first haptic output generator and second haptic output generator have different capabilities. 
     
     
       40. An electronic device, comprising:
 one or more audio output generators; 
 a plurality of haptic output generators that are distinct from the one or more audio output generators; 
 one or more input devices; and 
 a processor configured to execute instructions, stored in a non-transitory machine-readable medium, to cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising:
 detecting the occurrence of an event that corresponds to a respective audio signal; 
 in response to detecting the occurrence of the event, concurrently:
 outputting, via the one or more audio output generators, a respective audio output that corresponds to a first portion of the respective audio signal; and 
 outputting, via the plurality of haptic output generators, a respective haptic output that is generated based on a second portion of the respective audio signal that is different from the first portion of the respective audio signal, including using a first haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a first subset of the respective haptic output and using a second haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a second subset of the respective haptic output. 
 
 
 
     
     
       41. The electronic device of  claim 40 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, lower than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       42. The electronic device of  claim 40 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, higher than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       43. The electronic device of  claim 40 , wherein the respective haptic output is based on a sound effect in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       44. The electronic device of  claim 40 , wherein the respective audio signal includes a sound of an explosion, and the respective haptic output is based on the sound of the explosion in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       45. The electronic device of  claim 40 , wherein the respective haptic output is generated in advance of detecting the occurrence of the event. 
     
     
       46. The electronic device of  claim 40 , wherein the respective audio signal is received in real time. 
     
     
       47. The electronic device of  claim 40 , wherein the first subset of the respective haptic output is in a third range of frequencies and the second subset of the respective haptic output is in a fourth range of frequencies different from the third range of frequencies. 
     
     
       48. The electronic device of  claim 40 , wherein the first haptic output generator and second haptic output generator have different capabilities. 
     
     
       49. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, wherein execution of the one or more programs by an electronic device having one or more audio output generators, a plurality of haptic output generators that are distinct from the one or more audio output generators, and one or more input devices, causes the electronic device to perform operations comprising:
 detecting the occurrence of an event that corresponds to a respective audio signal; 
 in response to detecting the occurrence of the event, concurrently:
 outputting, via the one or more audio output generators, a respective audio output that corresponds to a first portion of the respective audio signal; and 
 outputting, via the plurality of haptic output generators, a respective haptic output that is generated based on a second portion of the respective audio signal that is different from the first portion of the respective audio signal, including using a first haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a first subset of the respective haptic output and using a second haptic output generator of the plurality of haptic output generators to generate a second subset of the respective haptic output. 
 
 
     
     
       50. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, lower than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       51. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the first portion of the respective audio signal includes a first range of frequencies of the respective audio signal, and the second portion of the respective audio signal includes a second range of frequencies, higher than the first range of frequencies, of the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       52. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the respective haptic output is based on a sound effect in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       53. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the respective audio signal includes a sound of an explosion, and the respective haptic output is based on the sound of the explosion in the respective audio signal. 
     
     
       54. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the respective haptic output is generated in advance of detecting the occurrence of the event. 
     
     
       55. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the respective audio signal is received in real time. 
     
     
       56. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the first subset of the respective haptic output is in a third range of frequencies and the second subset of the respective haptic output is in a fourth range of frequencies different from the third range of frequencies. 
     
     
       57. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein the first haptic output generator and second haptic output generator have different capabilities.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/752,334, filed Jun. 26, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/231,381, filed Sep. 13, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,083,821, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/493,380, filed Jun. 3, 2011, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to shifting audio frequency ranges and converting audio data into haptic data to convey information through haptic feedback to a user of a mobile device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A person with a hearing impairment may be deaf to certain frequencies potentially limiting the person&#39;s ability to fully realize information contained in audio data. For example, listening to music rich in high frequencies may be less enjoyable to a person who is partially or completely deaf to some or all of those high frequencies. 
     Mobile devices typically include a mechanism for providing haptic feedback. For example, a mobile phone may include a motor, e.g., a piezoelectric motor, for providing haptic feedback to a user of the mobile device. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure describes technology, which can be implemented as a method, apparatus, and/or computer software embodied in a computer-readable medium, to convert audio data to haptic data, for example, for use in conveying audible information to a hearing-impaired user of a mobile device through haptic feedback. 
     In general, in one aspect, a method performed by one or more processes executing on a computer systems includes receiving an audio signal comprising a range of audio frequencies including high frequencies and low frequencies, converting a first portion of the range of audio frequencies into haptic data, shifting a second portion of the range of audio frequencies down to lower audio frequencies, and presenting at least one of the converted first portion and the shifted second portion to a human user. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products. 
     This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the following features. The performance of the converting and the shifting can overlap in time at least in part. The performance of the converting and the shifting can be order independent. The presenting may occur while one or more of the receiving, converting and shifting are ongoing. Presenting the converted first portion may comprise providing the human user with haptic feedback via a haptic mechanism associated with the electronic device and the haptic feedback may comprise vibration. Presenting the shifted second portion may comprise providing the human user with sounds corresponding to the shifted second portion via an audio output mechanism associated with the electronic device. The first portion and the second portion may be mutually exclusive. The first portion and the second portion may overlap at least in part. Converting the first portion may comprise converting a subset of the low frequencies to haptic data. Shifting the second portion may comprise shifting a subset of the high frequencies to lower frequencies. The electronic device may comprise a mobile communications device having an audio subsystem and a haptic subsystem. The one or both of the converting and the shifting may be performed according to one or more hearing-related parameters associated with the human user where the hearing-related parameters associated with the human user may be defined by a hearing profile associated with the human user. 
     Potential advantages described in this disclosure may include improved delivery of audible data to a hearing-impaired user of a mobile device. For example, a user of a mobile device may have a specific hearing impairment that renders the user partially or completely deaf to a certain range of high frequencies. By shifting that particular range of high frequencies into a frequency range audible to the hearing-impaired user, and converting to a vibration pattern those frequencies in a lower frequency range that convey sound effect information, the hearing-impaired user may still be provided with the sensation of enjoying the original information in the audio data. 
     Another potential advantage may include real-time audio frequency shifting and conversion into haptic data. For example, a user of a mobile device may be at a concert listening to music rich in high frequencies. The user may desire to have the high frequencies shifted to different frequencies and/or converted into a vibration pattern to augment the audible information. Such conversion can be done in a real-time manner at the mobile device and the information can be conveyed to the user through any suitable audio reproduction device and/or haptic mechanism. 
     Another potential advantage may include using a haptic mechanism of a mobile device to alert a user of specific events. For example, a unique vibration pattern may be assigned to any number of events such that the unique vibration pattern can alert the user of the specific event. For example, ambient noise can be detected by the mobile device, e.g., fire alarms, cars, emergency vehicles, car horns, screams, dog barking, music, environmental noise, phone ringing, knock at the door, etc. In response to detecting the ambient noise, a unique vibration pattern can be actuated by a haptic mechanism within a mobile device to augment the auditory information with haptic feedback. In some implementations, a database of classified sounds may exist. Ambient audio data received by a mobile device may be compared with the database to determine a classification of the ambient audio data and upon determining the type of audio data the ambient audio data corresponds to, haptic feedback may be provided to a user of the mobile device based on the classification. 
     Another potential advantage may include using haptic feedback in connection with a musical instrument. For example, a hearing impaired user may play a musical instrument and concurrently receive haptic feedback from a mobile device that informs them user whether they are playing the musical instrument in the correct tune or playing a song correctly. 
     Details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and potential advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of exemplary architecture of a mobile device. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary network operating environment for mobile devices. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile device configured to convert audio data to vibration patterns. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an exemplary haptic subsystem. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of playback of audio and haptic data. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an exemplary method for converting audio data to haptic data. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exemplary method for converting audio data to haptic data. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an exemplary method for creating a hearing profile. 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of exemplary architecture  100  of a mobile device configured to perform motion-based operations. A mobile device can include memory interface  102 , one or more data processors, image processors and/or processors  104 , and peripherals interface  106 . Memory interface  102 , one or more processors  104  and/or peripherals interface  106  can be separate components or can be integrated in one or more integrated circuits. Processors  104  can include one or more application processors (APs) and one or more baseband processors (BPs). The application processors and baseband processors can be integrated in one single process chip. The various components in mobile device  100 , for example, can be coupled by one or more communication buses or signal lines. 
     Sensors, devices, and subsystems can be coupled to peripherals interface  106  to facilitate multiple functionalities. For example, motion sensor  110 , light sensor  112 , and proximity sensor  114  can be coupled to peripherals interface  106  to facilitate orientation, lighting, and proximity functions of the mobile device. Motion sensor  110  can include one or more accelerometers configured to determine change of speed and direction of movement of the mobile device. Location processor  115  (e.g., GPS receiver) can be connected to peripherals interface  106  to provide geopositioning. Electronic magnetometer  116  (e.g., an integrated circuit chip) can also be connected to peripherals interface  106  to provide data that can be used to determine the direction of magnetic North. Thus, electronic magnetometer  116  can be used as an electronic compass. Gravimeter  117  can be coupled to peripherals interface  106  to facilitate measurement of a local gravitational field of Earth. 
     Camera subsystem  120  and an optical sensor  122 , e.g., a charged coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) optical sensor, can be utilized to facilitate camera functions, such as recording photographs and video clips. 
     Communication functions can be facilitated through one or more wireless communication subsystems  124 , which can include radio frequency receivers and transmitters and/or optical (e.g., infrared) receivers and transmitters. The specific design and implementation of the communication subsystem  124  can depend on the communication network(s) over which a mobile device is intended to operate. For example, a mobile device can include communication subsystems  124  designed to operate over a CDMA system, a WiFi™ or WiMax™ network, and a Bluetooth™ network. In particular, the wireless communication subsystems  124  can include hosting protocols such that the mobile device can be configured as a base station for other wireless devices. 
     Audio subsystem  126  can be coupled to a speaker  128  and a microphone  130  to facilitate voice-enabled functions, such as voice recognition, voice replication, digital recording, and telephony functions. In addition, microphone  130  may detect ambient noise and other audible frequencies. 
     Haptic subsystem  180  and haptic mechanism  182 , e.g., spinning motor, servo motor, piezoelectric motor, vibrator, etc., can be utilized to facilitate haptic feedback, such as vibration, force, and/or motions. 
     I/O subsystem  140  can include touch screen controller  142  and/or other input controller(s)  144 . Touch-screen controller  142  can be coupled to a touch screen  146  or pad. Touch screen  146  and touch screen controller  142  can, for example, detect contact and movement or break thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensitivity technologies, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with touch screen  146 . 
     Other input controller(s)  144  can be coupled to other input/control devices  148 , such as one or more buttons, rocker switches, thumb-wheel, infrared port, USB port, and/or a pointer device such as a stylus. The one or more buttons (not shown) can include an up/down button for volume control of speaker  128  and/or microphone  130 . 
     In one implementation, a pressing of the button for a first duration may disengage a lock of the touch screen  146 ; and a pressing of the button for a second duration that is longer than the first duration may turn power to mobile device  100  on or off. The user may be able to customize a functionality of one or more of the buttons. The touch screen  146  can, for example, also be used to implement virtual or soft buttons and/or a keyboard. 
     In some implementations, mobile device  100  can present recorded audio and/or video files, such as MP3, AAC, and MPEG files. In some implementations, mobile device  100  can include the functionality of an MP3 player. Mobile device  100  may, therefore, include a pin connector that is compatible with the iPod. Other input/output and control devices can also be used. 
     Memory interface  102  can be coupled to memory  150 . Memory  150  can include high-speed random access memory and/or non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical storage devices, and/or flash memory (e.g., NAND, NOR). Memory  150  can store operating system  152 , such as Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks. Operating system  152  may include instructions for handling basic system services and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In some implementations, operating system  152  can include a kernel (e.g., UNIX kernel). 
     Memory  150  may also store communication instructions  154  to facilitate communicating with one or more additional devices, one or more computers and/or one or more servers. Memory  150  may include graphical user interface instructions  156  to facilitate graphic user interface processing; sensor processing instructions  158  to facilitate sensor-related processing and functions; phone instructions  160  to facilitate phone-related processes and functions; electronic messaging instructions  162  to facilitate electronic-messaging related processes and functions; web browsing instructions  164  to facilitate web browsing-related processes and functions; media processing instructions  166  to facilitate media processing-related processes and functions; GPS/Navigation instructions  168  to facilitate GPS and navigation-related processes and instructions; camera instructions  170  to facilitate camera-related processes and functions; magnetometer data  172  and calibration instructions  174  to facilitate magnetometer calibration. The memory  150  may also store other software instructions (not shown), such as security instructions, web video instructions to facilitate web video-related processes and functions, and/or web shopping instructions to facilitate web shopping-related processes and functions. In some implementations, the media processing instructions  166  are divided into audio processing instructions and video processing instructions to facilitate audio processing-related processes and functions and video processing-related processes and functions, respectively. An activation record and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) or similar hardware identifier can also be stored in memory  150 . Memory  150  can include haptic instructions  176 . Haptic data  176  can be configured to cause the mobile device to perform haptic-based operations, for example providing haptic feedback to a user of the mobile device as described in reference to  FIGS. 2-8 . 
     Each of the above identified instructions and applications can correspond to a set of instructions for performing one or more functions described above. These instructions need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules. Memory  150  can include additional instructions or fewer instructions. Furthermore, various functions of the mobile device may be implemented in hardware and/or in software, including in one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of exemplary network operating environment  200  for the mobile devices configured to perform motion-based operations. Mobile devices  202   a  and  202   b  can, for example, communicate over one or more wired and/or wireless networks  210  in data communication. For example, a wireless network  212 , e.g., a cellular network, can communicate with a wide area network (WAN)  214 , such as the Internet, by use of a gateway  216 . Likewise, an access device  218 , such as an 802.11g wireless access device, can provide communication access to the wide area network  214 . 
     In some implementations, both voice and data communications can be established over wireless network  212  and the access device  218 . For example, mobile device  202   a  can place and receive phone calls (e.g., using voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) protocols), send and receive e-mail messages (e.g., using Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)), and retrieve electronic documents and/or streams, such as web pages, photographs, and videos, over wireless network  212 , gateway  216 , and wide area network  214  (e.g., using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP)). Likewise, in some implementations, the mobile device  202   b  can place and receive phone calls, send and receive e-mail messages, and retrieve electronic documents over the access device  218  and the wide area network  214 . In some implementations, mobile device  202   a  or  202   b  can be physically connected to the access device  218  using one or more cables and the access device  218  can be a personal computer. In this configuration, mobile device  202   a  or  202   b  can be referred to as a “tethered” device. 
     Mobile devices  202   a  and  202   b  can also establish communications by other means. For example, wireless mobile device  202   a  can communicate with other wireless devices, e.g., other mobile devices  202   a  or  202   b , cell phones, etc., over the wireless network  212 . Likewise, mobile devices  202   a  and  202   b  can establish peer-to-peer communications  220 , e.g., a personal area network, by use of one or more communication subsystems, such as the Bluetooth™ communication devices. Other communication protocols and topologies can also be implemented. 
     The mobile devices  202   a  or  202   b  can, for example, communicate with one or more services  230 ,  240 , and  250  over the one or more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, one or more hearing profile training services  230  can be used to deliver one or more hearing profiles. Hearing profile delivery service  240  can provide one or more hearing profiles to mobile devices  202   a  and  202   b  for converting audio data to haptic data. Additionally, combined audio and haptic data delivery service  250  can provide one or more data files containing audio and/or haptic data for playback at mobile devices  202   a  and  202   b.    
     Mobile device  202   a  or  202   b  can also access other data and content over the one or more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, content publishers, such as news sites, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, web sites, blogs, social networking sites, developer networks, etc., can be accessed by mobile device  202   a  or  202   b . Such access can be provided by invocation of a web browsing function or application (e.g., a browser) in response to a user touching, for example, a Web object. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile device  300  configured to convert audio data to vibration patterns. Mobile device  300  can include a microphone  302 , an audio data store  304 , and input subsystem  306 . Microphone  302  can be configured to detect audible frequencies in real-time, for example, ambient noise, music, talking, or any other audibly detectable frequencies. Audio data store  304  can include a storage device that stores one or more audio data files. Input subsystem  306  can include line-in functionality to receive audio data from another device, for example another mobile device without the audio conversion to vibration functionality described in this disclosure. 
     Mobile device  300  can include audio subsystem  310  and haptic subsystem  314 . Audio subsystem  310  can be configured to receive and processes audio data  308  received from any one of microphone  302 , audio data store  304 , and input subsystem  306 . Audio subsystem  310  can process audio data  308  in accordance with a hearing profile  318  received from hearing profile data store  312 . For example, based on hearing profile  318 , audio subsystem  310  can shift a certain range of audible frequencies in audio data  308  into a different range of audible frequencies. In some implementations, audio profile  318  corresponds to the hearing capabilities of a user of mobile device  300  and indicates that the user is deaf to a certain range of frequencies. For example, an elderly user may have a specific hearing impairment that renders the elderly user partially or completely deaf to a range of high frequencies. In such case, it may be difficult for the elderly user to enjoy audio data, e.g., music and other audible stimulations, containing high frequencies within that range. To accommodate such users with a hearing impairment to a range of high frequencies, using corresponding hearing profile  318 , audio subsystem  310  can shift a specific range of high frequencies in audio data  308  into a lower range of frequencies that, according to hearing profile  318 , the user can hear. Frequency shifting can be performed by any suitable method. For example, by a linear shift of frequencies, morphing the frequencies, or applying common techniques involving Fourier Transforms to isolate a certain range of frequencies. 
     Haptic subsystem  314  can be configured to receive and process audio data  308  received in real-time from microphone  302 , from storage in audio data store  304 , or input from another source via input subsystem  306 . Haptic subsystem  314  can process audio data  308  in accordance with a hearing profile  318  received from hearing profile data store  312 . For example, based on audio profile  318 , haptic subsystem  314  can convert a range of audible frequencies in audio data  308  into a vibration pattern  324 . Returning again to the hearing profile  318  of the elderly user with a specific hearing impairment that renders the elderly user partially or completely deaf to a range of high frequencies. The hearing profile  318  may indicate that the elderly user, in addition to or in place of frequency shifting performed by audio subsystem  310 , desires to have the specific range of high frequencies converted into a vibration pattern  324 . Similarly, a range of lower frequencies can also be converted into a vibration pattern  324 . 
     In other implementations, hearing profile  318  may correspond to the hearing preferences of a user of mobile device  300  and indicate that the user prefers certain frequencies in audio data  308  to be converted from audible frequencies into a vibration pattern  324 . For example, regardless of whether the user of mobile device  300  has a hearing impairment, the user may desire to have a range of audible frequencies in audio data  308  converted into a vibration pattern  324 . For example, the user may be watching a motion picture and desire to receive haptic feedback corresponding to sound effects in the motion picture. Although converting audio data into vibration patterns may not produce an accurate representation of the audio data, it may still provide a user with the sensation of enjoying the audio data by conveying the information associated with the audio data to the user. 
     Audio subsystem  310  and haptic subsystem  314  may operate in conjunction with one another to convey information associated with audio data to a user of mobile device  300 . For example, a user of mobile device  300  may be watching a movie rich in high audible frequencies. In addition, the user may possess a hearing impairment that renders the user partially or completely deaf to a range of higher frequencies corresponding to talking or dialog in the movie. Utilizing audio subsystem  310  and haptic subsystem  314 , although the user might have a hearing impairment relating to those higher frequencies, the user may still receive the information contained in those higher frequency ranges. For example, haptic subsystem  314  can convert the lower frequencies, e.g., sound effects and explosions, into vibration patterns and audio subsystem  310  can shift the higher frequencies that the user cannot hear into a lower range of frequencies which the user can hear. 
     In some implementations, sounds effects and spoken words are separated out into separate tracks for a movie. In such a case, audio subsystem  310  may be utilized to frequency shift all or a portion of the spoken words track into a different frequency range. Similarly, haptic subsystem  314  may be utilized to convert all or a portion of the sound effects track to haptic data and a corresponding vibration pattern. 
     Mobile device  300  can include mixer  330  and combined audio and haptic data store  344 . Mixer  330  may be configured to receive audio data  322  from audio subsystem  322  and haptic data  324  from haptic subsystem  314 . Mixer  330  can combine audio data  322  and haptic data  324  into a file of combined audio and haptic data. Data combined by mixer  330  can be stored in combined audio and haptic data store  344  for later playback by a mobile device. 
     Mobile device  300  may also include or be in communication with one or more audio reproduction devices or haptic feedback devices, for example speaker(s)  340  and haptic mechanism(s)  342 . Speaker(s)  340  may, for example, be contained within mobile device  300 . In some implementations, mobile device  300  may be in communication with headphones, copular implants, external hearing aids, or a Bluetooth device comprising speaker(s)  340 . Haptic mechanism(s)  342  may be any suitable device for providing haptic feedback. For example, a spinning motor, servo motor, or piezoelectric motor, can be utilized to facilitate haptic feedback, such as vibration, force, and/or motions. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplarily haptic subsystem  400 . Haptic subsystem  400  may be configured to receive both haptic data  402  and audio data  404 . In some implementations, haptic data  404  may be data that has previously been processed from audio data into haptic data. For example, haptic data  324  in  FIG. 3 . Audio data  404  may be received from microphone  302  in real-time, from storage in audio data store  304 , and/or input from another source via input subsystem  306 . 
     Dynamic filtering subsystem  410  can perform operations on the haptic data  402  and audio data  404  in accordance with a hearing profile  418  received from hearing profile data store  412 . For example, dynamic filtering subsystem can perform a low pass filter on audio data  404  to filter frequency ranges as specified in hearing profile  418 . Likewise, dynamic filtering subsystem  410  can perform a band-pass or high-pass filter on audio data  404  to filter specific ranges of audio frequencies as specified in hearing profile  418 . In some implementations, dynamic filtering subsystem  410  can perform a dynamic analysis of the audio data  404  to determine which frequencies should be converted into haptic data. Any suitable technique for filtering audio data may be implemented by dynamic filtering subsystem  410 . 
     Audio conversion to vibration pattern subsystem  430  may receive filtered audio data from dynamic filtering subsystem  410  and convert a specific range or ranges into a corresponding vibration pattern. For example, if dynamic filtering subsystem  410  utilized a low-pass filter, audio conversion to vibration pattern subsystem may isolate intensities corresponding to the lower frequencies and create a suitable vibration pattern to be stored as haptic data. In some implementations, the vibration pattern can be created by taking an average of a specific range of frequencies, for example the range (20 hz-40 hz), to determine how much intensity to be included in the vibration pattern. Similarly, dynamic filtering subsystem  410  can assign a weight to the most common low frequencies and base a vibration pattern on the occurrence of the most common low frequencies. 
     In a mobile device with multiple haptic mechanisms  444 ,  446 , and  448 , audio conversion to vibration pattern subsystem  430  can include a haptic mechanism selection subsystem  432  to determine at which haptic mechanism a vibration pattern should be actuated. Haptic mechanisms  444 ,  446 , and  448  may, for example, be any one of a spinning motor, servo motor, vibrator, piezoelectric device, or other suitable mechanical device for providing haptic feedback. Each haptic mechanism  444 ,  446 , and  448 , may be suitable for actuating haptic feedback corresponding to a certain audio frequency range. For example, haptic mechanism  444  may be best suited for vibration patterns  434  that correspond to audio data in the range (0 hz to 20 hz). Similarly, haptic mechanism  446  and  448  may be best suited for vibration patterns  436  and  438  corresponding to audio data in the ranges (20 hz-40 hz) and (40 hz-200 hz), respectively. In a mobile device with multiple haptic mechanisms, audio conversion to vibration pattern subsystem can create vibration patterns based on the specific capabilities of the haptic mechanisms  444 - 448 , thus allowing for a richer variety of haptic feedback. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating playback of audio and haptic data. Mobile device  500  may contain audio and haptic data files stored in combined audio and haptic data store  544 . The audio and haptic data may be part of separate files or combined into a single audio and haptic file. Audio subsystem can receive data  520 , which may contain both audio and haptic data, process, and communicate the audio data  520  to speaker(s)  540  for audible playback to a user of mobile device  500 . Haptic subsystem  514  can receive data  522 , which may contain both audio and haptic data, process, and communicate the haptic data to haptic mechanism (s)  542  for actuating haptic feedback, e.g., a vibration pattern. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method  600  for converting audio data to haptic data. In step  610 , a device may receive audio data corresponding to audible frequencies. For example, ambient audio data received from a microphone in real-time, music audio data from data storage, or audio data input from another device. In step  620 , a range of frequencies within the audio data may be converted into haptic data. In step  630 , a range of frequencies within the audio data may be shifted into a different range of audible frequencies. In step  640 , the haptic and shifted audio data can be combined into a single data file. In step  650 , the combined haptic and audio data can be conveyed to a mobile device for audible and haptic feedback at the mobile device. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method  700  for converting audio data to haptic data. Method  700  can begin with audio data  710 . Audio data  710  may be filtered by audio data filter  712  in accordance with hearing profile  718  to isolate a particular range of audible frequencies for frequency shifting. Frequency shifter  714  can shift the filtered audio data received from audio data filter  712  into a different frequency range as specified by hearing profile  718 . Likewise, audio filter  720  can filter audio data  710  in accordance with hearing profile  718  to isolate a particular range of audible frequencies for conversion into haptic data. Haptic converter  722  can convert the filtered audio data received from audio data filter  720  into a haptic data corresponding to a vibration pattern as specified by hearing profile  718 . Mixer  726  can receive shifted frequency data  716  and haptic data  724  and combine the data into combined audio and haptic data  728 . 
     Users of a mobile device may possess a wide variety of hearing impairments. Therefore, it may be beneficial to provide a user of a mobile device with the ability to create a hearing profile specifically tailored to the user.  FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method  800  for creating a hearing profile. In step  810 , a user selects to begin creation of a hearing profile. In step  812 , a test audio signal may be communicated to the user. In step  814 , the mobile device can receive input from the user that specifies whether or not the user was able to hear the audio signal. In step  816 , the hearing profile is updated to reflect whether or not the user was able to hear the audible signal in step  812 . For example, the audible signal played in step  812  may have been a frequency beyond the hearing capabilities of the user, in which case the hearing profile would be updated to reflect that the user cannot hear that frequency. In step  818 , either from user input or based on a predetermined number of test audio signals, the hearing profile creation process can play another test audio signal. Otherwise, the user may specify certain preferences to be included in the custom hearing profile. For example, a user may prefer that sound effects contained in audio data be converted to haptic data and sent to a haptic mechanism and that spoken tracks be frequency shifted and sent to an audio output device. In step  820 , the custom hearing profile creation process may ask a user more general questions, such as, “what type of hearing impairment do you have,” “would you like to shift these frequencies down or up,” or “would you like to add haptic feedback to your movie watching experience.” In step  822 , the hearing profile may be stored in a suitable hearing profile data storage device. 
     In addition to or in place of creating a hearing profile, a user may select a hearing profile from a predetermined number of predefined hearing profiles. For example, hearing profiles that have been created based on hearing impairment standards or conventions. 
     A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, while the examples described herein discuss audio and haptic feedback, in some examples visual feedback may also be conveyed to a user of a mobile device. For example, visual feedback on a display of the mobile device, using lights on the mobile device, or any other suitable visual means. Audio data may be converted to visual data by utilizing similar techniques to those described in this disclosure for converting audio data to haptic data. 
     In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20170324
Publication Date: 20180501
Grant Date: 20180501
Priority Date: 20110603
Inventors: HUGHES, GREGORY F.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G09B21/009", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M19/047", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B1/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M19/047", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B1/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M19/047", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09B21/009", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G08B1/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 47261226