Providing a multi-channel and a multi-zone audio environment

• US 10,721,575 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2018
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Jarvis, Simon, Lehnert, Hilmar, Ramos, Aurelio Rafael, Vega, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sellers, Daniel R
• Application Number:
  US16/102,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20190098421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/062 Synchronisation of signals having the same nominal but fluctuating bit rates, e.g. using buffers pulse-stuffing H04J3/07; asynchronous-synchronous conversion H04L5/24; speed conversion H04L25/05; speed conversion in computers G06F5/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0638 Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation synchronization for ring networks H04L12/422; data switching networks with synchronous transmission H04L12/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0664 unidirectional timestamps
• 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 2420/07 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 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

A multi-channel and multi-zone audio environment is provided. Various inventions are disclosed that allow playback devices on one or more networks to provide an effective multi-channel and a multi-zone audio environment using timing information. According to one example, timing information is used to coordinate playback devices connected over a low-latency network to provide audio along with a video display. In another example, timing information is used to coordinate playback devices connected over a mesh network to provide audio in one or more zones or zone groups.

Claims

1. A first networked device comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first networked device to perform a method comprising;

receiving a first audio signal at the first networked device from an audio source, wherein the first audio signal comprises home theater audio information for playback by a plurality of playback devices;

assigning a first plurality of home theater timestamps to portions of the home theater audio information, wherein individual home theater timestamps in the first plurality of home theater timestamps indicate times at which corresponding portions of the home theater audio information is to be played by a first type of playback device;

assigning a second plurality of home theater timestamps to portions of the home theater audio information, wherein individual home theater timestamps in the second plurality of home theater timestamps indicate times at which corresponding portions of the home theater audio information is to be played by a second type of playback device; and

sending the first plurality of home theater timestamps and corresponding portions of home theater audio information to the first type of playback device and sending the second plurality of home theater timestamps and corresponding portions of home theater audio information to the second type of playback device.

2. The first networked device of claim 1, wherein the first networked device is a playback device.

3. The first networked device of claim 1, wherein the first networked device is the first type of playback device.

4. The first networked device of claim 1, wherein the first networked device is the second type of playback device.

5. The first networked device of claim 1, wherein the audio source is a video device.

6. The first networked device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining whether the first networked device is coupled to the plurality of playback devices.

7. The first networked device of claim 6, wherein determining whether the first networked device is coupled to the plurality of playback devices further comprises determining whether the plurality of playback devices comprises at least the first type of playback device and the second type of playback device.

8. The first networked device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second audio signal comprising zone group audio information;

assigning the zone group audio information to a first queue for audio processing;

assigning the home theater audio information to a second queue for processing, wherein the second queue has a higher priority than the first queue.

9. The first networked device of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises identifying zone group audio information contained in the second audio signal.

10. The first networked device of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether one or more playback devices of the plurality of playback devices is part of a zone group; and

sending the zone group audio information to the one or more playback devices of the plurality of playback devices in the zone group.

11. The first networked device of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises determining whether the first networked device is part of the zone group.

12. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a first networked device to perform a method comprising:

receiving a first audio signal at the first networked device from an audio source, wherein the first audio signal comprises home theater audio information for playback by a plurality of playback devices;

assigning a first plurality of home theater timestamps to portions of the home theater audio information, wherein individual home theater timestamps in the first plurality of home theater timestamps indicate times at which corresponding portions of the home theater audio information is to be played by a first type of playback device;

assigning a second plurality of home theater timestamps to portions of the home theater audio information, wherein individual home theater timestamps in the second plurality of home theater timestamps indicate times at which corresponding portions of the home theater audio information is to be played by a second type of playback device; and

sending the first plurality of home theater timestamps and corresponding portions of home theater audio information to the first type of playback device and sending the second plurality of home theater timestamps and corresponding portions of home theater audio information to the second type of playback device.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first networked device is a playback device.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first networked device is the first type of playback device.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first networked device is the second type of playback device.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the audio source is a video device.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises determining whether the first networked device is coupled to the plurality of playback devices.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein determining whether the first networked device is coupled to the plurality of playback devices further comprises determining whether the plurality of playback devices comprises at least the first type of playback device and the second type of playback device.

19. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second audio signal comprising zone group audio information;

assigning the zone group audio information to a first queue for audio processing;

assigning the home theater audio information to a second queue for processing, wherein the second queue has a higher priority than the first queue.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether one or more playback devices of the plurality of playback devices is part of a zone group; and

sending the zone group audio information to the one or more playback devices of the plurality of playback devices in the zone group.