US5726701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for stimulating the responses of a physically-distributed audience
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1996-10-22
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Granted: 1998-03-10
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Expires: 2016-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A response metric which indicates the response of an audience member(s) is first generated and transferred to the system which is broadcasting the presentation. The broadcast system uses the response metric to generate a combined response metric. The broadcast system then generates an audio feedback by activating a response synthesizer(s) based on this combined response metric. In one embodiment, the broadcast system generates the combined response metric by combining response metrics received from multiple audience systems. In an alternate embodiment, each audience system generates the audio feedback locally. In one embodiment, the audience response being synthesized is applause.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradford H. Needham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:49
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/29; H04H60/33
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of simulating the responses of a physically-distributed audience, the method comprising the steps of: a) repeatedly monitoring an input; b) automatically recognizing an audience response at the input; c) generating a response metric having a value based on the recognized audience response; d) transferring the response metric to a broadcast system; e) generating a combined response metric based on the response metric; and f) repeatedly producing audio feedback by activating a response synthesizer based on the combined response metric.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of simulating the responses of a physically-distributed audience, the method comprising the steps of: a) repeatedly monitoring an input; b) automatically recognizing an audience response at the input; c) generating a response metric having a value based on the recognized audience response; d) transferring the response metric to a broadcast system; e) generating a combined response metric based on the response metric; and f) repeatedly producing audio feedback by activating a response synthesizer based on the combined response metric.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring step a) comprises the step of repeatedly monitoring an audio input received from the audience.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the generating step e) comprises the step of generating the combined response metric by combining a plurality of response metrics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a plurality of response metrics at periodic intervals from a plurality of physically-distributed audience systems.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of automatically simulating the responses of a physically-distributed audience, the method comprising the steps of: a) repeatedly monitoring an audio input; b) automatically recognizing applause at the input; c) repeatedly generating a response metric having a first value responsive to the applause being recognized, otherwise generating the response metric having a second value; d) automatically transferring, at periodic intervals, the response metric to a broadcast system; e) generating a combined response metric based on the response metric; and f) repeatedly producing audio feedback by activating a response synthesizer based on the combined response metric.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of automatically simulating the responses of a physically-distributed audience, the method comprising the steps of: a) repeatedly monitoring an audio input; b) automatically recognizing applause at the input; c) repeatedly generating a response metric having a first value responsive to the applause being recognized, otherwise generating the response metric having a second value; d) automatically transferring, at periodic intervals, the response metric to a broadcast system; e) generating a combined response metric based on the response metric; and f) repeatedly producing audio feedback by activating a response synthesizer based on the combined response metric.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the producing step f) comprises the steps of: determining a number of applause synthesizers to activate; determining a rate for each of the number of applause synthesizers; and activating each of the number of applause synthesizers according to the rate of each of the number of applause synthesizers.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for automatically simulating the responses of a physically-distributed audience comprising: means for repeatedly monitoring an input; means operative to automatically recognize an audience response; means for generating a response metric having a first value responsive to the audience response being recognized, otherwise generating the response metric having a second value; means for transferring the response metric to a broadcast system; means for generating a combined response metric based on the response metric; and means for producing audio feedback by activating a response synthesizer based on the combined response metric.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for automatically simulating the responses of a physically-distributed audience comprising: means for repeatedly monitoring an input; means operative to automatically recognize an audience response; means for generating a response metric having a first value responsive to the audience response being recognized, otherwise generating the response metric having a second value; means for transferring the response metric to a broadcast system; means for generating a combined response metric based on the response metric; and means for producing audio feedback by activating a response synthesizer based on the combined response metric.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for repeatedly monitoring an input including means for monitoring an audio input received from the audience.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for generating a combined response metric generates the combined response metric by combining a plurality of response metrics.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means for receiving a plurality of response metrics at predetermined intervals from a plurality of physically-distributed audience systems.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the audience response is applause, and wherein the input is an audio input.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for producing audio feedback comprises: means for determining a number of applause synthesizers to activate; means for determining a rate for each of the number of applause synthesizers; and means for activating each of the number of applause synthesizers according to the rate of each of the number of applause synthesizers.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
126 words
A system which simulates audience response comprising: a plurality of audience systems; a broadcast system; a communication link coupled to each of the plurality of audience systems and the broadcast system; wherein the broadcast system is operative to provide an audio broadcast to the plurality of audience systems via the communication link, and wherein the broadcast system is also configured to receive a response metric from a first audience system of the plurality of audience systems and to repeatedly generate an audio feedback based on the response metric; and wherein the first audience system is configured to repeatedly monitor an input in order to automatically recognize an audience response, and to generate the response metric having a value based on whether the audience response is recognized.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
126 words
A system which simulates audience response comprising: a plurality of audience systems; a broadcast system; a communication link coupled to each of the plurality of audience systems and the broadcast system; wherein the broadcast system is operative to provide an audio broadcast to the plurality of audience systems via the communication link, and wherein the broadcast system is also configured to receive a response metric from a first audience system of the plurality of audience systems and to repeatedly generate an audio feedback based on the response metric; and wherein the first audience system is configured to repeatedly monitor an input in order to automatically recognize an audience response, and to generate the response metric having a value based on whether the audience response is recognized.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 13, wherein the broadcast system is also configured to incorporate the audio feedback into the audio broadcast.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of audience systems is configured to provide, at predetermined intervals, a response metric to the broadcast system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the broadcast system is also configured to combine the response metrics from each of the plurality of audience systems and generate the audio feedback based on the combined response metrics.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
66 words
An apparatus for simulating audience feedback in a physically-distributed system comprising: a storage device; an output device; and a processor coupled to the storage device and the output device, the processor operative to repeatedly monitor an input to automatically recognize an audience response, to generate a response metric based on whether the audience response is recognized, and to transfer the response metric to a broadcast system.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
66 words
An apparatus for simulating audience feedback in a physically-distributed system comprising: a storage device; an output device; and a processor coupled to the storage device and the output device, the processor operative to repeatedly monitor an input to automatically recognize an audience response, to generate a response metric based on whether the audience response is recognized, and to transfer the response metric to a broadcast system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor is also configured to repeatedly monitor an audio input received from the audience.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for simulating audience feedback in a physically-distributed system comprising: a memory device; an output device; and a processor coupled to the memory device and the output device, wherein the processor is operative to repeatedly generate a response metric which indicates applause, to transfer, at predetermined intervals, the response metric to a broadcast system, and to repeatedly monitor an audio input in an attempt to automatically recognize the applause and to generate the response metric having a first value responsive to the applause being recognized, otherwise generating the response metric having a second value.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for simulating audience feedback in a physically-distributed system comprising: a memory device; an output device; and a processor coupled to the memory device and the output device, wherein the processor is operative to repeatedly generate a response metric which indicates applause, to transfer, at predetermined intervals, the response metric to a broadcast system, and to repeatedly monitor an audio input in an attempt to automatically recognize the applause and to generate the response metric having a first value responsive to the applause being recognized, otherwise generating the response metric having a second value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring step a) comprises the step of repeatedly monitoring the input to recognize applause.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-09 | 2001-09-08 | 2002-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-09 | 2005-09-08 | 2006-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-09 | 2009-09-08 | 2010-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |