Apple's audio playback patent filing
The United States Patent and Trademark Office this week published a patent filing by Apple Computer that describes techniques for modifying the playback rate of an speech-based audio track on a computer or iPod digital music player.
The company said its approach to the technology is also more resource efficient than existing techniques.
"Portable media devices, such as media players, are small and highly portable and have limited processing resources," it explained. "Given the resource efficiency of these techniques, the improved techniques are also well suited for use with portable electronic devices having audio playback capabilities, such as portable media devices."
In the filing, Apple says the invention is "well suited for audio items pertaining to speech, such as audiobooks, meeting recordings, and other speech or voice recordings." It also makes reference to "an interface" (shown below) that "can facilitate a user's selection of a desired playback rate."
One of the advantage of the invention, the company said, is that speech-related audio can maintain its intelligibility despite a wide range of timescale modification. It would therefore allow users to speed up playback of pre-recorded meeting dialog or audio books for faster digestion.
The April 1, 2005 filing is credited to Apple employees Aram Lindahl and Joseph Mark Williams.
17 Comments
April 1, 2005? The patent office sure takes their time, huh?
This would also be a useful tool for musicians trying to transcribe solos or learn how to play something that is technically difficult. There are several devices that already allow you to slow down audio without changing pitch, but perhaps this is much deeper than that. I'm sure they will limit what audio files you can slow down.
April 1, 2005? The patent office sure takes their time, huh?
patent applications are published 18 months after the filing date.
think about what would happen if someone applied for a patent and the next day the PTO published your idea for everyone to see.
Amazing Slow Downer (excellent program) has been doing this sorta thing for years for musicians.
I think Apple is shooting more for the iPod on this.
http://www.ronimusic.com/amsldox.htm
I've never seen it mentioned before, but the latest iPod already HAS this.
Just got a new 30, and going through the settings there's one (I think under audiobook) that gives a choice of slow/standard/fast.
So yeah, Apple has already implemented this and released it.