Communication devices

US8259957B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• David Frohlich · Bristol, GB
• Lorna M. Brown · Cambridge, GB
• Abigail Durrant · London, GB
• Sian Lindley · Cambridge, GB
• Gerard Oleksik · Bradwell, GB
• Dominic Robson · Westminster, GB
• Francis Rumsey · Guildford, GB
• Abigail Sellen · Cambridge, GB
• John Williamson · Glasgow, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 10, 2008
• Grant date: Sep 4, 2012
• Expiry date: Jul 7, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04H60/80
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The disclosure relates to communication devices which monitor an audio environment at a remote location and convey to a user a representation of that audio environment. The “representation” may be an abstraction of the audio environment at the remote location or may be a measure of decibels or some other quality or parameter of the audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are two-way devices which allow users at remote locations to share an audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are one way devices. In some embodiments, the communication devices may have the form of a window and be arranged to present sound in a manner that mimics sound received through a window. In such embodiments, the more open the window is, the more sound is relayed by the communication device.