Maintaining grouping information for audio speakers devices

• US 10,284,953 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PWV Inc
• Original Assignee: PWV Inc
• Inventors: Hammer, Jeremy Adam, Hammer, James Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul
• Application Number:
  US15/641,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20170303042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 381 79, 381 58, 381 59
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/06 Synchronising arrangements for television systems H04N5/04; bit-synchronisation H04L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0661 using timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• 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 2420/05 Detection of connection of 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

Abstract

Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for generating a synchronized time value for a wireless speaker having a first timer and a second timer. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and method may include reading a first timer value associated with the first timer, wherein the first timer is synchronized with a wireless network. Further, a first timer value associated with the second timer may be read. The first timer value associated with the second timer may be correlated to the first timer value associated with the first timer to generate the synchronized time value for the wireless speaker.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining speaker group information at a host device having a processor and memory, the method comprising:

receiving a first speaker group identifier from a first speaker, wherein the first speaker group identifier identifies a speaker group having one or more speakers;

storing the first speaker group identifier within the memory;

generating a second speaker group identifier;

providing the second speaker group identifier to the first speaker;

receiving a third speaker group identifier from the first speaker; and

storing the third speaker group identifier within the memory.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first speaker group does not include the first speaker.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a globally unique speaker identifier from the first speaker; and

storing the globally unique speaker identifier within the memory.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the globally unique speaker identifier identifies a second speaker.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving location information for the first speaker; and

storing the location information within the memory.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving location information from the first speaker for a speaker other than the first speaker; and

storing the location information within the memory.

7. The method according to claim 1, further including comprising:

establishing a secure connection between the host device and the first speaker.

8. A computer-readable device storing one or more instructions thereon, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of claim 1.

9. A method for maintaining speaker group information at a first speaker having a processor and memory, the method comprising:

receiving a first speaker group identifier from a first host device, wherein the first speaker group identifier identifies a first speaker group having one or more speakers;

storing the first speaker group identifier within the memory;

receiving a second speaker group identifier from a second host device, wherein the second speaker group identifier identifies a second speaker group having one or more speakers; and

storing the second speaker group identifier within the memory,

wherein at least one of the first speaker group identifier or the second speaker group identifier identifies a speaker group that does not include the first speaker.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a globally unique speaker identifier from the first host device; and

storing the globally unique speaker identifier within the memory of the first speaker.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the globally unique speaker identifier identifies a second speaker.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving location information for the first speaker; and

storing the location information within the memory.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving location information for a speaker other than the first speaker from at least one of the first and second host devices; and

storing the location information within the memory of the first speaker.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

establishing a secure connection between the first host device and the first speaker.

15. A computer-readable device storing one or more instructions thereon, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of claim 9.

16. A first speaker comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory including one or more processor-executable instructions, that when executed, cause the one or more processors to;

receive a first speaker group identifier from a first host device, wherein the first speaker group identifier identifies a first speaker group having one or more speakers;

store the first speaker group identifier within the memory;

receive a second speaker group identifier from a second host device, wherein the second speaker group identifier identifies a second speaker group having one or more speakers; and

store the second speaker group identifier within the memory,

wherein at least one of the first speaker group identifier or the second speaker group identifier identifies a speaker group that does not include the first speaker.

17. The first speaker of claim 16, wherein the one or more processor-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to:

receive a globally unique speaker identifier from the first host device; and

store the globally unique speaker identifier within the memory.

18. The first speaker of claim 16, wherein the globally unique speaker identifier identifies a second speaker.

19. The first speaker of claim 16, wherein the one or more processor-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to:

receive location information for the first speaker, and

store the location information within the memory.

20. The first speaker of claim 16, wherein the one or more processor-executable instructions cause the one or more processors to:

receive location information for a speaker other than the first speaker from at least one of the first and second host devices; and

store the location information within the memory.