Systems and methods for processing audio signals based on user device parameters

Abstract

In various applications, the system provides a method for processing audio signals, including: receiving a request for audio content; receiving an identifier encoded in a personal audio device comprising a transducer for playing audio; retrieving at least one parameter associated with the identifier; and processing the audio content using at least the request, the identifier and the at least one parameter, wherein the processing is customized for the personal audio device based on the at least one parameter associated with the identifier. In various applications the parameter is, one or more of, associated with a specification of the personal audio device, acoustic metrics of the transducer, relates to control of equalization, relates to permission to enable proprietary sonic processing for enhanced acoustic reception of streaming content, relates to acoustic metrics of the transducer and wherein the identifier is associated with permission to enable proprietary sonic processing for enhanced acoustic reception of streaming content, and/or is stored in a chip on the personal audio device, is retrieved from a server in a network, among other things. In various applications, the personal audio device comprises ear buds and the identifier is stored in a non-volatile memory of the ear buds.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for processing sounds, comprising:
 storing computer-executable code on an audio playing device configured to:
 communicate with one or more ear listening devices associated with the audio playing device to determine at least one identifier stored in the one or more ear listening devices; and 
 process an audio signal played by the audio playing device based on the at least one identifier, the audio signal processed for the one or more ear listening devices based on user-customized settings for sound, wherein the audio signal is processed by the audio playing device, by sending information to a server; 
   sending processed audio to the one or more ear listening devices using the audio playing device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one identifier includes a unique multi-bit identification code. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the a unique multi-bit identification code is up to 48 bits in length. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 polling the one or more ear listening devices with interrogation pulses to obtain the at least one identifier.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein in the polling is performed so as to be inaudible to the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one identifier is provided in response to actuation of the audio transducer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one identifier is provided in response to actuation of a button of the audio transducer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one audio playing device is a smart phone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one audio playing device is a computer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more ear listening devices includes an ear bud listening device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more ear listening devices includes a headphone listening device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 sending information relating to the at least one identifier to a server for processing sound.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 sending information relating to audio processing selections by a user of the one or more ear listening devices to a server for processing sound to be played to the user.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the storing computer-executable code includes code configured to provide a visual control interface for a user identified by the at least one identifier. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the storing computer-executable code includes code configured to send instructions for content stored on head-end distribution devices. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the storing computer-executable code includes code configured to send instructions for content stored on cloud storage devices. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the storing computer-executable code includes code configured to perform real-time processing of content on the audio playing device. 
     
     
         19 . A system for processing sounds, comprising:
 a smart phone including computer-executable code stored in a non-transitory machine readable medium, the smart phone and code configured to:
 communicate with one or more sound transducer devices associated with the smart phone to determine at least one identifier stored in the one or more sound transducer devices; and 
 obtain a processed audio signal to be played by the smart phone based on the at least one identifier, the audio signal processed for the one or more sound transducer devices based on user-customized settings for sound, wherein the audio signal is processed by the smart phone or by sending information to a server and receiving processed sounds, or by a combination of both, 
 wherein the at least one identifier is up to 48 bits and is inaudibly polled from the one or more sound transducer devices, and wherein the information sent to the server includes audio processing selections by a user associated with the at least one identifier. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising code configured to communicate user specific information with a remote server for receipt of processed sounds for the user. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising code to perform real-time processing by the smart phone, or to receive processed audio from one or more servers, or a combination thereof.