STACKABLE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

• US 20090214051A1
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: LOCKETT, David A., Heaton, Kurtis G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,610,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/00 Details of selecting apparatus or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2203/12 Beamforming aspects for stereophonic sound reproduction with loudspeaker arrays
• 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 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• 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 3/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0021 Side-by-side or stacked arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus describes a stackable communications system. A system is modularized and stacked in various configurations. The interconnections between the modules may be by close proximity inductively coupled wireless Ethernet connections or a physical connection mechanism. Each module detects the power requirement of modules installed next to it. When a new module is installed, the module below determines the power requirements of the new module and whether adequate power is available. If adequate power is available, the new module is powered. An audio system that comprises an audio server and individual speaker clients may also be connected. Individual speaker clients may be the same physical configuration. When the audio server detects each speaker client, the audio server configures each speaker to a particular purpose. This allows the same type of speakers to be used for different features. Other audio devices may also be connected to the audio server.

Claims

1. A stackable communications system, comprising:

a plurality of modules, wherein each module is able to perform a particular function or group of functions of the system;

wherein each module comprises;

a power controller;

a power switch;

surface interconnections to connect to other modules; and

components to perform the particular function or group of functions;

each module connecting to at least one other module via the surface interconnections;

at least one module able to be connected via the surface interconnections to more than one module; and

each module communicating with at least one other module in the plurality of modules.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein surface interconnections are physical interconnections between the modules.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein interconnections are physical interconnections of pogo pins between the modules.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein one module of the plurality of modules is the base module, wherein the base module further comprises:

a total power determination subsystem that determines total power available from a power supply;

a remaining power computation subsystem that computes a first remaining power available to other modules by subtracting power required by the base module from the total power available;

a remaining power storage subsystem that stores the first remaining power available to other modules;

a module detecting subsystem that detects a module that is connected to the base module;

a power query subsystem that queries the module that is connected for power requirements of the module;

a power computation subsystem that computes a second remaining power available to other modules by subtracting the power requirements of the module from the first remaining power available to other modules;

a power transmission subsystem that powers the module that is connected if the second remaining power available to other modules is greater than zero; and

a remaining power transmission subsystem that sends the second remaining power available to other modules to the module that is connected for storage.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein proper alignment of the modules is via magnets.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein a particular module detects orientation of a connected module.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein a particular module further comprises:

a module detecting subsystem that detects a module that is connected to the particular module;

a power query subsystem that queries the module that is connected for power requirements of the module;

a power computation subsystem that computes a new remaining power available to other modules by subtracting the power requirements of the module from remaining power available to other modules stored on the particular module;

a power transmission subsystem that powers the module that is connected if the new remaining power available to other modules is greater than zero; and

a remaining power transmission subsystem that sends the new remaining power available to other modules to the module that is connected for storage.

8. A stackable communications system, comprising:

a plurality of modules, wherein each module is able to perform a particular function or group of functions of the system;

wherein each module comprises;

a power controller;

a power switch;

induction interconnections to connect to other modules, wherein the interconnections are via close proximity inductively coupled Ethernet connections; and

components to perform the particular function or group of functions;

each module connecting to at least one other module via the interconnections; and

each module communicating with at least one other module in the plurality of modules.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein one module of the plurality of modules is the base module, wherein the base module further comprises:

a total power determination subsystem that determines total power available from a power supply;

a remaining power computation subsystem that computes a first remaining power available to other modules by subtracting power required by the base module from the total power available;

a remaining power storage subsystem that stores the first remaining power available to other modules;

a module detecting subsystem that detects a module that is connected to the base module;

a power query subsystem that queries the module that is connected for power requirements of the module;

a power computation subsystem that computes a second remaining power available to other modules by subtracting the power requirements of the module from the first remaining power available to other modules;

a power transmission subsystem that powers the module that is connected if the second remaining power available to other modules is greater than zero; and

a remaining power transmission subsystem that sends the second remaining power available to other modules to the module that is connected for storage.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein proper alignment of the modules is via magnets.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein a particular module detects orientation of a connected module.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein a particular module further comprises:

a module detecting subsystem that detects a module that is connected to the particular module;

a power query subsystem that queries the module that is connected for power requirements of the module;

a power computation subsystem that computes a new remaining power available to other modules by subtracting the power requirements of the module from remaining power available to other modules stored on the particular module;

a power transmission subsystem that powers the module that is connected if the new remaining power available to other modules is greater than zero; and

a remaining power transmission subsystem that sends the new remaining power available to other modules to the module that is connected for storage.

13. An audio system, comprising:

an audio server that processes audio portions of media content; and

at least one speaker client;

wherein the audio server detects a speaker client;

wherein the audio server determines a location of the speaker client; and

wherein the audio server configures the speaker client based at least in part on the determined location of the speaker client.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the audio server is resident in a speaker bar.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a display subsystem that displays a graphical interface to a user;

a user input subsystem that receives user command input that indicates a preferred configuration from the graphical interface for the speaker client selected by a user; and

wherein the audio server reconfigures the speaker client based upon the user command input received.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the speaker client further comprises an indicator that indicates a preferred configuration of the speaker client.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a configuration detection subsystem that detects the preferred configuration of the speaker client; and

wherein the audio server configures the speaker client based at least in part on the preferred configuration of the speaker.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the audio server and the speaker clients are connected via wireless connections.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein newly placed speaker clients transmit a signal to the audio server to initiate detection and configuration of the newly placed speaker client.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein all of the speaker clients have a common physical configuration.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the audio server comprises a module on a stackable communications system.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the audio server is connected to a stackable communications system.

23. An audio system, comprising:

an audio server that processes audio portions of media content;

at least one speaker client;

a display subsystem that displays a graphical interface to a user; and

a user input subsystem that receives user command input that indicates a configuration from the graphical interface for the speaker client selected by a user;

wherein the audio server detects a speaker client; and

wherein the audio server configures the speaker client based upon the user command input received.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the audio server is resident in a speaker bar.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the speaker client further comprises a mechanism that indicates a preferred configuration of the speaker client.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

a configuration detection subsystem that detects the preferred configuration of the speaker client; and

wherein the audio server configures the speaker client based at least in part on the preferred configuration of the speaker.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the audio server and the speaker clients are connected via wireless connections.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein newly placed speaker clients transmit a signal to the audio server to initiate detection and configuration of the newly placed speaker client.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein all of the speaker clients have a common physical configuration.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the audio server comprises a module on a stackable communications system.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the audio server is connected to a stackable communications system.

32. A method to process audio portions of media content, comprising:

detecting a speaker client;

determining a location of the speaker client and configuring the speaker client based at least in part on the determined location of the speaker client.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein configuring the speaker client further comprises:

displaying a graphical interface to a user;

receiving user command input that indicates a preferred configuration from the graphical interface for the speaker client selected by a user; and

reconfiguring the speaker client based upon the user command input received.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein configuring the speaker client further comprises:

detecting a preferred configuration of the speaker client transmitted by the speaker client; and

configuring the speaker client based at least in part on the preferred configuration of the speaker client.