Electronic adapter unit for selectively modifying audio or video data for use with an output device

Abstract

A standalone or integrated electronic unit for selectively modifying audio or video data for use with an output device. The electronic unit has one or more audio or video inputs and one or more audio or video outputs for outputting the modified audio or video source material. The unit may include sensors, selectors, and/or logic for selecting from among a plurality of modification profiles and applies the selected profile to the audio or video source material before conveying it to the output device. The modification profile may be used to adapt an audio or video source for a specific type of audio or video playback or output device. For audio, the modification profile may be used to modify audio quality by altering the transfer function, and for video, the modification profile may be used to modify video quality by altering the visual characteristics of the video source signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic adapter unit, comprising:
 a portable housing;   at least one signal input received or derived from an external audio or video source;   at least one signal output coupled to an external audio or video output device;   a computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of modification profiles; and   a processor for receiving an audio or video signal from said at least one signal input, applying a selected one of said modification profiles to said audio or video signal based at least in part on a known or detected characteristic the external audio or video output device coupled to said at least one signal output, and providing a modified audio or video signal to said at least one signal output.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the audio or video output device is a brand of audio or video output device. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 2 , wherein the brand of audio or video output device is detected when the device is initially coupled to the signal output. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 3 , wherein the brand of audio or video output device is detected by conveying a code or indicia signifying the brand of audio or video output device from the audio or video output device to the electronic adapter unit. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 3 , wherein the brand of audio or video output device is detected by conveying a test signal from the electronic adapter unit to the audio or video output device. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 2 , further comprising a manual input, wherein the brand of audio or video output device is identified via the manual input. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the audio or video output device is a type of audio or video output device. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 7 , wherein the type of audio or video output device is detected when the device is initially coupled to the signal output. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 8 , wherein the type of audio or video output device is detected by conveying a code or indicia signifying the type of audio or video output device from the audio or video output device to the electronic adapter unit. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 8 , wherein the brand of audio or video output device is detected by conveying a test signal from the electronic adapter unit to the audio or video output device. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 7 , further comprising a manual input, wherein the type of audio or video output device is identified via the manual input. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the audio or video signal comprises an audio signal, and wherein the selected modification profile alters a transfer function of the audio signal non-uniformly across a predetermined audio frequency band. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 12 , wherein the audio or video output device comprises audio earphones. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the audio or video signal comprises an audio signal, wherein the at least one signal output is coupled to an earphone jack attached to the portable housing, and wherein the audio or video output device comprises audio earphones. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the audio or video signal comprises a video signal, and wherein the selected modification profile alters a visual characteristic of the video signal non-uniformly across a predetermined video frequency band. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 15 , wherein the visual characteristic is a contrast level of a video image represented by the video signal. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 15 , wherein the visual characteristic is a hue of a video image represented by the video signal. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 15 , wherein the visual characteristic is a tone a video image represented by the video signal. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 15 , wherein the visual characteristic is a saturation of a video image represented by the video signal. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 15 , wherein the audio or video output device comprises a video display. 
     
     
         21 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the audio or video signal comprises a video signal, and wherein the selected modification profile alters a plurality of visual characteristics of the video signal non-uniformly across a predetermined video frequency band. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of visual characteristics includes at least two of a contrast level, hue, tone and saturation of a video image represented by the video signal. 
     
     
         23 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the modification profile is further selected based at least in part on a characteristic of an audio or video input device providing the audio or video signal. 
     
     
         24 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 23 , wherein the characteristic of the audio or video input device is a brand of audio or video input device. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 23 , wherein the characteristic of the audio or video input device is a type of audio or video input device. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 23 , wherein the audio or video input device is an audio input device, and wherein the types of audio input devices affecting selection of the modification profile includes at least an MP3 player and a mobile phone device. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 26 , wherein the types of audio input devices further includes one or more of an AM radio source, FM radio source and a digital satellite radio source. 
     
     
         28 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 1 , wherein the modification profile is downloaded from a remote source and stored in said computer readable medium for subsequent use. 
     
     
         29 . An electronic audio or video adapter, comprising:
 a portable housing;   a computer readable medium contained within said portable housing and having stored thereon one or more modification profiles;   an audio or video source signal;   a signal output adapted for being electronically coupled to an external audio or video output device; and   a processor for receiving said audio or video source signal and an indication of a characteristic of the audio or video output device, and for selecting one of said one or more modification profiles based at least in part on the characteristic of the audio or video output device;   wherein said processor is configured to apply the selected modification profile to said audio or video source signal and provide a modified audio or video signal to said signal output.   
     
     
         30 . An electronic audio or video adapter integrated within an electronic device, comprising:
 an audio or video source signal;   a computer readable medium having stored thereon one or more modification profiles;   a signal output adapted for being electronically coupled to an audio or video output component; and   a processor for receiving said audio or video source signal, obtaining or deriving an indication of a characteristic of the audio or video output device or of the audio or video source signal, and for selecting one of said one or more modification profiles based at least in part on the characteristic of the audio or video output device or of the audio or video source signal;   wherein said processor is configured to apply the selected modification profile to said audio or video source signal and provide a modified audio or video signal to said signal output.   
     
     
         31 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 30 , wherein said audio or video source signal comprises a video signal, and wherein said output component comprises a video display. 
     
     
         32 . The electronic adapter unit of  claim 30 , wherein said audio or video source signal comprises an audio signal, and wherein said output component comprises audio earphones. 
     
     
         33 . A method for modifying an audio or video source signal for a playback device, comprising:
 receiving an audio or video source signal;   detecting a characteristic of a playback device, a local environment or the audio or video source signal;   selecting a modification profile from among a plurality of predetermined modification profiles;   applying the modification profile to the audio or video source signal to generate a modified audio or video signal; and   conveying the modified audio or video signal to an audio or video output component.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of detecting a characteristic of a playback device, a local environment or the audio or video source signal comprises detecting a brand or type of audio or video output component. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of detecting a characteristic of a playback device, a local environment or the audio or video source signal comprises detecting whether the audio or video source signal is compressed or uncompressed. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the audio or video source signal comprises an audio signal, and wherein the step of detecting a characteristic of a playback device, a local environment or the audio or video source signal comprises detecting a category of music or content associated with the audio source signal. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of detecting a characteristic of a playback device, a local environment or the audio or video source signal comprises detecting an ambient noise level in a proximity of the playback device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of detecting a characteristic of a playback device, a local environment or the audio or video source signal comprises detecting a type or brand of video display or audio earphones. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the modification profile is stored in a remote location. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the modification profile is applied to the audio or video source signal at a remote broadcast station.