Microsoft *beep* patent

By Tom Warren, 20 October 2008 - 16:42  28 comments

Those b#$*@*%s at Microsoft got another patent.

This time it's a patent for blocking out or bleeping words in an audio stream. In the patent description the company notes that "The censored speech can either be stored or made available to an audience in real-time."

Originally filed 4 years ago the company only had the patent approved last week. It's expected Microsoft will use the technology in upcoming versions of Xbox Live where it can filter bad words that people use on its network.

news.com suggests that the technology could be used for more than just censoring profanity, suggesting that perhaps China or another government would want it employed for other phrases, such as Tibet or free speech.

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Comments (28)

  1. vetSHoTTa35 - 20 October 2008 - 16:46

    wow... holy &*%#!!! LOL... I guess it's good to filter out that stuff but i guess they can't stop me from saying it and that's the good part. Other's have the right to not hear it but i have to right to say it 4yrs for a patten though... kinda crazy.

    Oh and yeah, &%# it! LOL

  2. Marshalus - 20 October 2008 - 16:52

    For those of you throwing a fit about the "bypassing" in the story... the story is about censoring an audio stream... it's editorial freedom... our news is not bound by the same rules that you have to follow as a poster in the forums.

  3. +Vykranth - 20 October 2008 - 16:55

    It's expected Microsoft will use the technology in upcoming versions of Xbox Live where it can filter bad words that people use on its network.

    I wanna hear that in action. If this work, this is going to be fun going to a lobby: "Why You *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep*"

  4. Tom W - 20 October 2008 - 16:57

    haha that would be rather funny to listen to actually.

  5. vetSHoTTa35 - 20 October 2008 - 16:59

    i LOLed just reading that, i would definitely be ROFLMFAO if i heard it go exactly like that on Xbox live! LOL

  6. Doli - 20 October 2008 - 19:22

    The "beep beep..." would be funny. I wonder if they will use other sounds.

  7. rm20010 - 20 October 2008 - 20:38

    creamhackered said,
    haha that would be rather funny to listen to actually.

    Indeed.

  8. Izlude - 20 October 2008 - 16:59

    swear words? nah, i made up my own. i say things like, chargleberry sauce, gabazooba, echofinder, endobubble, MOKURA!!! (some of those words originated from the mario rpg) chargleberry was a misinterpretation of takkaberry (from star trek voyagers episode innocence) so i use it now. yea... oh, and i heard gabazooba from shmorky of SA. he always comes up with the craziest terms like armadillo yams! swearing doesn't exist in my book.

  9. gnuman - 20 October 2008 - 17:35

    So technically that Apple ad where Vista is being blocked out is breaking the patent laws. Now it makes that ad so much funnier everytime Mac says Vista the PC guy uses the buzzer.

  10. StepASide - 20 October 2008 - 18:23

    - So what if Microsoft got another patent? What's your problem with it?

  11. Slugsie - 21 October 2008 - 08:36

    StepASide said,
    - So what if Microsoft got another patent? What's your problem with it?

    Here, have some new batteries for your humour detector, yours appear to be flat.

  12. Foub - 21 October 2008 - 08:37

    StepASide said,
    - So what if Microsoft got another patent? What's your problem with it?


    Its not so much getting a patent, but a patent of what....

  13. n_K - 20 October 2008 - 19:12

    there was me thinking this was for office live communications server =/

  14. Recon415 - 20 October 2008 - 19:41

    It doesn't matter if Microsoft is getting another patent, what matters is that maybe some people believe that Xbox Live shouldn't be censored, and that they would be infringing on our free speech rights.

    Other than that, Neowin is turning increasingly Apple-oriented. First the Apple first in the Main menu and the little mini banner. Then this article. And I do recall one of the developers saying in a thread about Neowin 5 something along the lines of "I put Apple first on purpose, I'll show you.". What ever happened to neutrality?

  15. BoondockSaint - 21 October 2008 - 04:22

    Recon415 said,
    It doesn't matter if Microsoft is getting another patent, what matters is that maybe some people believe that Xbox Live shouldn't be censored, and that they would be infringing on our free speech rights.

    Aside from the fact that not every country has freedom of speech in their constitution - if you are playing on MS servers, you have to abide by their rules. They are not stopping you from swearing, they are just choosing to beep the words out.

    I don't have a problem with this tbh - nothing more annoying than playing online with little kiddies who think they are awesome because they swear.

  16. Slugsie - 21 October 2008 - 08:41

    +Recon415 said,
    It doesn't matter if Microsoft is getting another patent, what matters is that maybe some people believe that Xbox Live shouldn't be censored, and that they would be infringing on our free speech rights.

    Just because you have the right to say what you want doesn't mean you also have the right to force others to actually have to listen to you.

    Say what you like, and where you like, I for the most part don't care. Just don't expect me or anyone else around to listen - we may do, but don't count on it.

  17. IntelliMoo - 20 October 2008 - 22:01

    Guess this fooookin technology will incorporate some deitydamned fuzzy logic to handle all the bratspeak of today's times? lmao

  18. Darran - 20 October 2008 - 22:53

    Does it run on V****?

  19. vetCalum - 21 October 2008 - 00:08

    Haha, perfect timing for that comment as I only saw that ad about 30 mins ago! :D

  20. Foub - 21 October 2008 - 08:34

    Well, frack....

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