Multi-channel pairing in a media system

• US 10,028,056 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kallai, Christopher, Ericson, Michael Darrell Andrew, Lambourne, Robert A., Reimann, Robert, Triplett, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCORD, PAUL C
• Application Number:
  US14/619,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20150181336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field

Abstract

Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. Particularly, the embodiments described herein enable two or more playback devices to be paired, such that multi-channel audio is achieved. Such embodiments may be used to produce stereo and multi-channel audio environments for television and movies.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via a network interface of a first playback device from a source device, stereo audio data comprising a left audio channel and a right audio channel;

detecting, by the first playback device, one or more presses of a designated button on the first playback device, the one or more presses of the designated button on the first playback device representing a first command to form a stereo pair;

detecting, by a second playback device, one or more presses of a designated button on the second playback device, the one or more presses of the designated button on the second playback device representing a second command to form the stereo pair with the first playback device;

in response to the first command and the second command, forming a particular stereo pair, wherein the first playback device is designated to play the left audio channel of the stereo audio data and a second playback device is designated to play the right audio channel of the stereo audio data;

after forming the particular stereo pair, (i) sending, from the first playback device to the second playback device, at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data, and (ii) playing, by the first playback device, the left audio channel of the stereo audio data; and

after forming the particular stereo pair, (i) wirelessly receiving, by the second playback device from the first playback device, at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data, and (ii) playing, by the second playback device, the right audio channel of the stereo audio data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting one or more presses of the designated button on the first playback device comprises detecting a single press of the designated button on the first playback device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting one or more presses of the designated button on the second playback device comprises detecting a single press of the designated button on the second playback device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data comprises sending both of (i) the left audio channel and (ii) the right audio channel.

5. The method of claim 1, sending at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data comprises sending only the right audio channel.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after detecting the first command, detecting by the first playback device, the second playback device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after detecting the second command, detecting by the second playback device, the first playback device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein detecting one or more presses of the designated button on the first playback device comprises detecting a single press of the designated button on the first playback device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein detecting one or more presses of the designated button on the second playback device comprises detecting a single press of the designated button on the second playback device.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein sending at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data comprises sending both of (i) the left audio channel and (ii) the right audio channel.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein sending at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data comprises sending only the right audio channel.

13. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

after detecting the first command, detecting by the first playback device, the second playback device.

14. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

after detecting the second command, detecting by the second playback device, the first playback device.

8. A system comprising:

a first playback device comprising;

a first network interface;

one or more first speaker drivers;

a first processor; and

a first memory comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first playback device to carry out functions comprising;

receiving, via the first network interface from a source device, stereo audio data comprising a left audio channel and a right audio channel;

detecting one or more presses of a designated button on the first playback device, the one or more presses of the designated button on the first playback device representing a first command to form a stereo pair;

in response to the first command, forming a particular stereo pair, wherein the first playback device is designated to play the left audio channel of the stereo audio data; and

after forming the particular stereo pair, (i) sending, via the first network interface to a second playback device, at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data, and (ii) playing, via the one or more first speaker drivers, the left audio channel of the stereo audio data; and

the second playback device comprising;

a second network interface;

one or more second speaker drivers;

a second processor; and

a second memory comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the second processor, cause the second playback device to carry out functions comprising;

detecting one or more presses of a designated button on the second playback device, the one or more presses of the designated button on the second playback device representing a second command to form the stereo pair with the first playback device;

in response to the second command, forming the particular stereo pair, wherein the second playback device is designated to play the right audio channel of the stereo audio data; and

after forming the particular stereo pair, (i) wirelessly receiving, via the second network interface from the first playback device, at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data, and (ii) playing, via the one or more second speaker drivers, the right audio channel of the stereo audio data.

15. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor to cause a media playback system to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via a network interface of a first playback device of the media playback system from a source device, stereo audio data comprising a left audio channel and a right audio channel;

detecting, by the first playback device, one or more presses of a designated button on the first playback device, the one or more presses of the designated button on the first playback device representing a first command to form a stereo pair;

detecting, by a second playback device of the media playback system, one or more presses of a designated button on the second playback device, the one or more presses of the designated button on the second playback device representing a second command to form the stereo pair with the first playback device;

in response to the first command and the second command, forming a particular stereo pair, wherein the first playback device is designated to play the left audio channel of the stereo audio data and a second playback device is designated to play the right audio channel of the stereo audio data;

after forming the particular stereo pair, (i) sending, from the first playback device to the second playback device, at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data, and (ii) playing, by the first playback device, the left audio channel of the stereo audio data; and

after forming the particular stereo pair, (i) wirelessly receiving, by the second playback device from the first playback device, at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data, and (ii) playing, by the second playback device, the right audio channel of the stereo audio data.

16. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein detecting one or more presses of the designated button on the first playback device comprises detecting a single press of the designated button on the first playback device.

17. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein detecting one or more presses of the designated button on the second playback device comprises detecting a single press of the designated button on the second playback device.

18. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein sending at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data comprises sending both of (i) the left audio channel and (ii) the right audio channel.

19. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, sending at least the right audio channel of the stereo audio data comprises sending only the right audio channel.

20. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

after detecting the first command, detecting by the first playback device, the second playback device; and

after detecting the second command, detecting by the second playback device, the first playback device.