Apple Researching Methods to Offer Customized Control of Browser-Based Audio Content

[MacRumors]

In a patent application filed in November 2007 and released today, Apple reveals that it is researching methods for providing customized audio control for Internet browser content. The research is targeting the inability for a single system volume setting to address multiple simultaneous audio-generating applications, a common inconvenience for computer users. For example, a user may have audio content playing in the background through iTunes and may wish to mute only browser-based audio content coming from websites.

When using a web browser application (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer, Apple Safari), audio sources (e.g., websites) will often provide audio signals (e.g., music, noises) which may or may not be welcomed by the user. While operating system desktops often provide audio controls (e.g., volume controls), such audio controls adjust all audio signals playing on the host device, including desirable audio signals such as music the user desires to play from their music library while browsing the Web. Accordingly, if desktop audio controls are used, then desirable audio signals, as well as undesirable audio signals, will be adjusted together which may not be the intent of the user.

The patent application describes a browser-based system for adjusting the volume of Web-generated content and offers a system for remembering the user's preferences for future encounters with the audio content from those sources, identified by URL or domain.




Browser-based audio controls




Sample list of Internet audio sources and user preferences
(The category labeled "Moot" is a misspelling of "Mute".)
The application also describes an implementation of the invention in which the differing preferences can be activated depending on whether audio is already playing on the system. For example, audio from websites could be muted if audio content is currently being played from a media player application such as iTunes, but audible if iTunes was inactive. Another implementation offers a server-based preference system, which would allow user audio preferences to be shared across devices for which such control is desired.

Article Link: Apple Researching Methods to Offer Customized Control of Browser-Based Audio Content

[Eidorian]

Please add more mixer controls. I'm loving volume on a per application basis in Vista.

[jared_kipe]

About time. I'd love this kind of feature.

[Small White Car]

Ok, a good start, but now put controls like this in the computer's main preferenece panel to control EVERY program this way.

Safari wouldn't need this built in if the OS did this function itself!

EDIT: Although being able to control different URLs is a nice touch. I DO like this feature, it would still be needed in my fantasy world where the OS does the same thing. So I'm not complaining about Safari...this is a good step.

[Lesser Evets]

ABOUT

FREAKIN'

TIME.

They shoulda had this in Safari by now.

[zim]

Finally! But I am confused as to why they need to research it.. just put a flippn' volume control in the preferences like iChat has.

[DELLsFan]

Nice addition to browsers. Curious that it's taken so long to implement.

[stainlessliquid]

Vista already does this for all applications

[spice weasel]

I'm sorry, but I just can't get over the misspelling of mute. How do you submit a patent application with such a glaring error?

[digitalpencil]

Thankyou!! I can't believe there isn't even a 3rd party app that offers this functionality.

[Saladinos]

Originally Posted by Eidorian

Please add more mixer controls. I'm loving volume on a per application basis in Vista.

Agree. That's one of the things I really like about Vista.

[fleshman03]

Originally Posted by Eidorian

Please add more mixer controls. I'm loving volume on a per application basis in Vista.

YES! This was the one thing i missed when I switched from Vista to OSX. I often times would have some music (Beatles) playing in the background while surfing

Now, I get that interrupted with flash ads, myspace songs... Not to mention my EyeTV viewing would thank Apple.

[derryquinn]

Originally Posted by Saladinos

Agree. That's one of the things I really like about Vista.

Yup, same here, I really wish OS X had this too.

[Yvan256]

I've been using my own moot feature for web-based content for years.

It's called "disable plug-ins".

[lordthistle]

Linux users have been using a similar audio subsystem for years.

[kastenbrust]

Someone could make an add-on for Firefox that does this in about 5 mins, infact we'll probably see one tommorow after this news.

[RealMcCoy]

every available thumb up for that feature on safari !

[ywshang]

And that's worth a patent? Why waste human resources on submitting something so obvious.

[TheSlush]

Presumably they would build this capability into Mobile Me.

Can't wait for browser volume issues to be rendered mute!

I kill me.

[HONDAxACURA]

Apple does it again!

THANK-YOU APPLE!

[Mister Snitch]

Originally Posted by jared_kipe

About time. I'd love this kind of feature.

Definitely.

[Tones2]

Yea this is nice, but how is this PATENTABLE. Jeez.......the things they try to patent these days.

Also, what's the deal with the PICTURES they submit with the patent. They always look like someone's 10 year old child has drawn them. So this is the best picture they can submit to show the ideas of the patent?

Tony

[Clayne]

cool. I approve. :P

[pmjoe]

I propose jail time for junk patent applications like this. Or could we at least have a class-action suit for wasting taxpayer dollars?

[Hattig]

Originally Posted by ywshang

And that's worth a patent? Why waste human resources on submitting something so obvious.

It's absolutely ridiculous - it's just a table of URLs / IP addresses and their audio settings. Maybe they could add "block flash" for this site as another column? How about the default view zoom for that site? How about another column to disable javascript on a per-site basis?