Audio system employing multiple mobile devices in concert

• US 20080045140A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Korhonen, John V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• 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

Abstract

An audio reproduction system includes a plurality of mobile devices, such as mobiles phones. Each of the mobile devices includes a loudspeaker, memory for storing audio data, and instructions, stored in memory, for prompting the plurality of mobile devices to each output at least a portion of an audio data file to the loudspeaker of the respective mobile device. A processor is configured for executing the instructions, thereby enabling contemporaneous play of the audio data file by the plurality of mobile devices.

Claims

1. An audio reproduction system comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices, each of the mobile devices comprising;

a loudspeaker;

memory for storing audio data;

instructions, stored in memory, for prompting the plurality of mobile devices to each output at least a portion of an audio data file to the loudspeaker of the mobile device for achieving contemporaneous play of the audio data file by the plurality of mobile devices; and

a processor which executes the instructions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions include instructions for synchronizing the plurality of mobile devices for synchronized play of the audio data file by the plurality of mobile devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the mobile devices comprises a wireless transceiver and the processor is programmed to cause the transceiver to pulse a synchronization pulse for initiating synchronized play by others of the mobile devices and programmed to initiate play in response to a synchronization pulse received from another of the mobile devices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile devices comprise mobile phones.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio file comprises a plurality of channels and wherein the instructions include instructions for prompting a first of the mobile devices to play a first of the channels and a second of the mobile devices to play a second of the channels.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor of at least one of the plurality of mobile devices executes instructions for assigning a frequency band to each of the mobile devices whereby a first of the mobile devices plays audio data in a first frequency band and a second of the mobile devices plays audio data in a second frequency band.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions include instructions for comparing frequency responses of the plurality of mobile devices and assigning the frequency band based on the frequency responses.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio file comprises at least one of a music file, a radio transmission, and a video file with an audio component.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions include instructions for transmitting a synchronization pulse from a first of the mobile devices to a second of the mobile devices.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile devices each include a transceiver for short distance wireless communication and wherein the instructions include instructions for prompting other mobile devices from the plurality of devices by short distance wireless communication.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the mobile devices includes a housing and wherein the loudspeaker, memory, and processor are associated with the housing.

12. A mobile device comprising:

a loudspeaker;

memory for storing audio data files; and

a processor which executes instructions for synchronizing a plurality of mobile devices including the mobile device and for outputting at least a portion of an audio data file to the loudspeaker for synchronized play of the audio data file by the plurality of mobile devices.

13. A method for playing an audio file comprising:

assigning at least a portion of the audio file to each of a plurality of mobile devices;

synchronizing the mobile devices; and

playing the assigned portions of the audio file contemporaneously on the synchronized mobile devices such that a listener positioned to hear the plurality of mobile devices hears the audio file.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the synchronization comprises pulsing a synchronization pulse from a first of the mobile devices to a second of the mobile devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the synchronization further comprises communicating a loudspeaker delay for playing the assigned portion between the second of the mobile devices and the first of the mobile devices:

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the playing of the assigned portions comprises:

a first of the mobile devices playing a first channel of the audio file and a second of the mobile devices playing a second channel of the audio file.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the channels are stereo channels.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the playing of the assigned portions comprises:

a first of the mobile devices playing a first frequency band of the audio file and a second of the mobile devices playing a second frequency band of the audio file.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

communicating the at least the portion of the audio file from a first of the mobile devices to a second of the mobile devices.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the communication includes short distance wireless communication.

21. A computer program product which stores instructions for performing the method of claim 13.