Managing audio output through an intermediary

• US 10,484,806 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2018
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Jeremy Bruce, Thomas, Jeffrey Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-See
• Application Number:
  US16/120,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20190075410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 381 1- 3, 381 56- 59, 381 61, 381 77, 700 94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for managing audio output through an intermediary. In some embodiments, an audio controller emulates a direct connection between an audio source device and an audio output device. In other embodiments, audio content local to an audio controller is combined with other audio content passing through the audio controller on its way from an audio source device to an audio output device. In additional embodiments, an audio output device is locked to an audio controller. The lock survives power cycling and soft resets of the audio output device. A special hard reset can be used to release the audio output device.

Claims

1. A method for wirelessly connecting an audio output device to an audio controller, the method comprising:

sending, by a wireless network interface, a request for communication configuration information to accessible wireless access points;

receiving, by the wireless network interface, communication configuration information from a wireless audio controller, the communication configuration information for use in subsequent wireless communication with the wireless audio controller;

sending an advertisement signal advertising availability of the audio output device to wirelessly pair with audio source devices;

accepting a pairing request from the wireless audio controller based at least in part on received controller pairing information;

receiving, by the wireless network interface, a signal from the wireless audio controller, the signal prompting the audio output device to stop sending advertisement signals; and

locking the audio output device to the wireless audio controller based at least in part on the received signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein locking the audio output device to the wireless audio controller comprises:

storing the communication configuration information and controller pairing information in a non-volatile storage;

directing the audio output device to re-connect to the audio controller in response to a power cycle or soft reset of the audio output device; and

permitting the audio output device to connect to a wireless access point and an audio source device in response to a hard reset of the audio output device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein directing the audio output device to re-connect to the audio controller comprises:

automatically re-establishing wireless communication with the wireless audio controller using the stored communication configuration information;

re-advertising availability to wirelessly pair with audio source devices;

accepting a pairing request from the previously wirelessly paired audio controller based on the stored controller pairing information; and

rejecting pairing requests from other devices based on the stored controller pairing information.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein directing the audio output device to re-connect to the audio controller comprises:

automatically re-establishing wireless communication with the wireless audio controller using the stored communication configuration information;

re-advertising availability to wirelessly pair with audio source devices;

accepting a pairing request from the previously wirelessly paired audio controller based on the stored controller pairing information; and

refraining from responding to pairing requests from other devices based on the stored controller pairing information.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein permitting the audio output device to connect to any wireless access point and audio source device comprises:

removing the communication configuration information and controller pairing information from the non-volatile storage; and

sending, by the wireless network interface, a second request for communication configuration information to the accessible wireless access points.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a selection of a user interface control at the audio output device for connecting to a wireless access point; and

wherein sending the request for communication configuration information to the accessible wireless access points comprises sending the request for communication configuration information in response to the selection of the user interface control.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

powering on the audio output device; and

wherein sending the request for communication configuration information to the accessible wireless access point comprises sending the request for communication configuration information in response to powering on the audio output device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio output device is a wireless speaker.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rejecting an audio pairing request that does not originate from the wireless audio controller from which the audio output device received the communication configuration information.

10. An audio output device, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to;

send a request for communication configuration information to any accessible wireless access points;

receive communication configuration information from a wireless audio controller, the communication configuration information for use in subsequent wireless communication with the wireless audio controller;

send an advertisement signal advertising availability of the audio output device to wirelessly pair with audio source devices;

accept a pairing request from the wireless audio controller based at least in part on received controller pairing information;

receive a signal from the wireless audio controller, the signal prompting the audio output device to stop sending advertisement signals; and

lock the audio output device to the wireless audio controller based at least in part on the received signal.

11. The audio output device of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

store the communication configuration information and controller pairing information in a non-volatile storage;

direct the audio output device to re-connect to the audio controller in response to a power cycle or soft reset of the audio output device; and

permit the audio output device to connect to a wireless access point and an audio source device in response to a hard reset of the audio output device.

12. The audio output device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

automatically re-establish wireless communication with the wireless audio controller using the stored communication configuration information;

re-advertise availability to wirelessly pair with audio source devices;

accept a pairing request from the previously wirelessly paired audio controller based on the stored controller pairing information; and

reject pairing requests from other devices based on the stored controller pairing information.

13. The audio output device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to s:

automatically re-establish wireless communication with the wireless audio controller using the stored communication configuration information;

re-advertise availability to wirelessly pair with audio source devices;

accept a pairing request from the previously wirelessly paired audio controller based on the stored controller pairing information; and

refrain from responding to pairing requests from other devices based on the stored controller pairing information.

14. The audio output device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

remove the communication configuration information and controller pairing information from the non-volatile storage; and

send a second request for communication configuration information to the accessible wireless access points.

15. The audio output device of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

detect a selection of a user interface control at the audio output device for connecting to a wireless access point; and

wherein sending the request for communication configuration information to the accessible wireless access points comprises sending the request for communication configuration information in response to the selection of the user interface control.

16. The audio output device of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

power on the audio output device; and

wherein sending the request for communication configuration information to the accessible wireless access points comprises sending the request for communication configuration information in response to powering on the audio output device.

17. The audio output device of claim 10, wherein the audio output device is a wireless speaker.

18. The audio output device of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

reject an audio pairing request that does not originate from the wireless audio controller from which the audio output device received the communication configuration information.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of an audio output device storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

send a request for communication configuration information to accessible wireless access points;

receive communication configuration information from a wireless audio controller, the communication configuration information for use in subsequent wireless communication with the wireless audio controller;

send an advertisement signal advertising availability of the audio output device to wirelessly pair with audio source devices;

accept a pairing request from the wireless audio controller based at least in part on received controller pairing information;

receive a signal from the wireless audio controller, the signal prompting the audio output device to stop sending advertisement signals; and

lock the audio output device to the wireless audio controller based at least in part on the received signal.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

store the communication configuration information and controller pairing information in a non-volatile storage;

direct the audio output device to re-connect to the audio controller in response to a power cycle or soft reset of the audio output device; and

permitting the audio output device to connect to a wireless access point and an audio source device in response to a hard reset of the audio output device.