Interactive Sound Reproducing

• US 20100179672A1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Beckmann, Paul E., Carvajal, Santiago, Perry, Christopher H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/30391 Resetting of the filter parameters or changing the algorithm according to prevailing conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3056 Variable gain
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3214 Architectures, e.g. special constructional features or arrangements of features
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/503 Diagnostics; Stability; Alarms; Failsafe
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2203/12 Beamforming aspects for stereophonic sound reproduction with loudspeaker arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/022 Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
• 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 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• 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 system attachable to a computer includes a sound reproduction device for producing audible sound from audio signals. The sound reproduction device includes a radio tuner and a powered speaker. The audio system further includes a connector for connecting the sound reproduction device with a computer. The computer provides audio signals from a plurality of sources, the sources including a computer CD player, digitally encoded computer files stored on the computer, and a computer network connected to the computer. The sound reproduction device further includes control buttons for controlling at least one of the computer CD player, the digitally encoded computer files and the computer network.

Claims

1. A sound reproduction device comprising:

a housing comprising an audio system including one or more speakers and an amplifier for powering the one or more speakers;

an interface at least partially within the housing configured to directly couple to a separate audio source device having stored music files, wherein the interface is configured to receive audio signals corresponding to music files stored in the audio source device and to receive control commands originating from the audio source device for controlling a function of the audio system.

2. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to couple exclusively to the audio source device.

3. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to couple exclusively to a single type of audio source device.

4. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to provide a direct device-to-device connection to the audio source device.

5. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a wired connection.

6. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a connector.

7. The sound reproduction device of claim 5, wherein the connector comprises a dedicated cable.

8. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to couple to the audio source device in close proximity to said device.

9. The sound reproduction device of claim 8, wherein the interface is configured to couple to the audio source device adjacent to the audio system.

10. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the audio system further comprises a radio tuner at least partially within the housing.

11. The sound reproduction device of claim 10, wherein the audio system further comprises an alarm clock at least partially within the housing.

12. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device for controlling the volume of the audio system.

13. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device to control a power setting of the audio system.

14. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device to control the muting of sound produced by the audio system.

15. The sound reproduction device of claim 10, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device to select the radio tuner as the audio source for the sound reproduction device.

16. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device to play audio data corresponding to a music file transmitted by the audio source device.

17. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device to pause playback of audio data corresponding to a music file transmitted by the audio source device.

18. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device to stop playback audio data corresponding to of a music file transmitted by the audio source device.

19. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the audio source device comprises a disk drive.

20. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the audio source device comprises a microprocessor and a display.

21. The sound reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the audio source device comprises a computer.

22. The sound reproduction device of claim 21, wherein the computer comprises a personal computer.

23. The sound reproduction device of claim 1 further comprising:

a remote control device configured to transmit at least two commands to the audio system, including a first command for controlling a function of the audio system and a second command for controlling a function of the audio source device.

24. The sound reproduction device of claim 23, wherein the second command comprises a command to cause the audio source device to advance to the next track.

25. The sound reproduction device of claim 23, wherein the second command comprises a command to cause the audio source device to provide music files organized in a playlist.

26. The sound reproduction device of claim 23, wherein the second command comprises a command to stop transmission of audio data corresponding to music files to the audio system.

27. The sound reproduction device of claim 23, wherein the first command comprises a command for controlling volume of the audio system.

28. The sound reproduction device of claim 23 wherein the first command comprises a command for controlling a power setting of the audio system.

29. A sound reproduction device comprising:

a housing comprising an audio system including one or more speakers and an amplifier for powering the one or more speakers;

a separate audio source device that is configured to store music files and is capable of communicating with the audio system via an interface, wherein the interface is configured to transmit audio data corresponding to music files stored in the audio source device to the audio system and to transmit at least one command originating from the audio source device to the audio system for controlling a function of the audio system.

30. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the interface is configured to couple exclusively to the audio source device.

31. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the interface is configured to couple exclusively to a single type of audio source device.

32. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the interface is configured to provide a direct device-to-device connection to the audio source device.

33. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the interface comprises a wired connection.

34. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the interface comprises a connector.

35. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the interface is configured to couple to the audio source device in close proximity to the audio system.

36. The sound reproduction device of claim 35, wherein the interface is configured to physically couple the audio source device to the audio system.

37. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the audio system further comprises a radio tuner at least partially within the housing.

38. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device for controlling the volume of the audio system.

39. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device to control a power setting of the audio system.

40. The sound reproduction device of claim 37, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device to select the radio tuner as the audio source for the audio system.

41. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the audio system is configured to respond to a command received from the audio source device to play audio data corresponding to a music file transmitted by the audio source device.

42. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the audio source device comprises a disk drive.

43. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the audio source device comprises a microprocessor and a display.

44. The sound reproduction device of claim 29, wherein the audio source device comprises a computer.

45. The sound reproduction device of claim 44, wherein the computer comprises a personal computer.

46. The sound reproduction device of claim 29 further comprising:

a remote control device configured to transmit at least two commands to the audio system, including a first command for controlling a function of the audio system and a second command for controlling a function of the audio source device.

47. The sound reproduction device of claim 46, wherein the second command comprises a command to cause the audio source device to advance to the next track.

48. The sound reproduction device of claim 46, wherein the second command comprises a command to cause the audio source device to provide audio data corresponding to music files organized in a playlist.

49. The sound reproduction device of claim 46, wherein the second command comprises a command to stop transmission of audio data corresponding to music files to the audio system.

50. The sound reproduction device of claim 46, wherein the first command comprises a command for controlling volume of the audio system.

51. The sound reproduction device of claim 46 wherein the first command comprises a command for controlling a power setting of the audio system.