WIRED, WIRELESS, INFRARED, AND POWERLINE AUDIO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A device for transmitting signals to speakers, the device comprising:
- an audio input configured to receive a multi-channel audio signal from at least one input device, the received multi-channel audio signal being encoded in a channel format having a plurality of single-channel audio signals;
a processor configured to decode the received multi-channel audio signal into a first group of audio signals and a second group of audio signals, each of the first and second groups of audio signals comprising at least one of the plurality of single-channel audio signals;
an amplifier module configured to amplify only the first group of audio signals;
a destination address input configured to receive instructions from a user selecting one of the speakers for broadcasting one of the plurality of single-channel audio signals from the second group and determine a destination address associated with the selected speaker; and
a transmitter configured to transmit the selected single-channel audio signal from the second group along with the associated destination address to a plurality of speakers via a network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for communicating audio, video, and/or control signals within a home entertainment system. One or more signals are communicated between an input device and one or more output devices via one or more networks. The output device can include loudspeakers, display devices, and headphones. In some embodiments an output device, for example a center channel loudspeaker, transmits signals to other output devices. For example, the center channel loudspeaker can transmit a combined audio signal and control signal to a remote loudspeaker over a first network and transmit a video signal to a display device over a second network. The display device displays the video signal. The networks can be wireless, wired, infrared, RF, and powerline.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for transmitting signals to speakers, the device comprising:
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an audio input configured to receive a multi-channel audio signal from at least one input device, the received multi-channel audio signal being encoded in a channel format having a plurality of single-channel audio signals; a processor configured to decode the received multi-channel audio signal into a first group of audio signals and a second group of audio signals, each of the first and second groups of audio signals comprising at least one of the plurality of single-channel audio signals; an amplifier module configured to amplify only the first group of audio signals; a destination address input configured to receive instructions from a user selecting one of the speakers for broadcasting one of the plurality of single-channel audio signals from the second group and determine a destination address associated with the selected speaker; and a transmitter configured to transmit the selected single-channel audio signal from the second group along with the associated destination address to a plurality of speakers via a network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for transmitting signals to speakers, the device comprising:
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means for receiving a multi-channel audio signal from at least one input device, the received multi-channel audio signal being encoded in a channel format having a plurality of single-channel audio signals; means for decoding the received multi-channel audio signal into a first group of audio signals and a second group of audio signals, each of the first and second groups of audio signals comprising at least one of the plurality of single-channel audio signals; means for amplifying only the first group of audio signals; means for receiving instructions from a user selecting one of the speakers for broadcasting one of the plurality of single-channel audio signals from the second group and determining a destination address associated with the selected speaker; and means for transmitting the selected single-channel audio signal from the second group along with the associated destination address to a plurality of speakers via a network.
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20. A device for transmitting signals to speakers, the device comprising:
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an audio input configured to receive a multi-channel audio signal from at least one input device, the multi-channel audio signal being encoded in a channel format having multiple audio channels; a processor configured to convert the received multi-channel audio signal into a plurality of single-channel audio signals, each of the single-channel audio signals representing one of the multiple audio channels and being assigned to either a first group or a second group of audio signals, each of the first and second group comprising at least one of the single-channel audio signals; a power amplifier module configured to amplify the first group of audio signals but not the second group of audio signals; a destination address input configured to, based on instruction from a user to select one of the speakers for broadcasting a selected one of the audio signals in the unamplified second group, determine a destination address for the selected speaker; and a transmitter configured to transmit the selected audio signal in the unamplified second group along with at least one control signal and the destination address to a plurality of speakers via a network, the destination address identifying the selected speaker for broadcasting the selected audio signal in the unamplified second group, wherein the control signal is to be used by the selected speaker to manipulate the selected audio signal in the unamplified second group.
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Specification