UN-TETHERED WIRELESS STEREO SPEAKER SYSTEM

• US 20120058727A1
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Passif Semiconductor Corp. (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Trachewsky, Jason A., Cook, Benjamin W., Berny, Axel D., Watson, Clarke S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/16 in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0092 Error control systems characterised by the topology of the transmission link
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0097 Relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/05 Detection of connection of loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A wireless speaker system configured to receive stereo audio information wirelessly transmitted by an audio source including first and second loudspeakers. The first loudspeaker establishes a bidirectional secondary wireless link with the audio source for receiving and acknowledging receipt of the stereo audio information. The first and second loudspeakers communicate with each other via a primary wireless link, and the first and second loudspeakers are configured to extract first and second audio channels, respectively, from the stereo audio information. A wireless audio system including an audio source and first and second loudspeakers, each having a wireless transceiver. The first and second loudspeakers communicate via a primary wireless link. The audio source communicates audio information to the first loudspeaker via a secondary wireless link which is configured according to a standard wireless protocol. The first loudspeaker is configured to acknowledge successful reception of audio information via the secondary wireless link.

Claims

1. A wireless speaker system configured to receive stereo audio information wirelessly transmitted by an audio source, comprising:

a first loudspeaker including a first wireless transceiver, wherein said first loudspeaker establishes a bidirectional secondary wireless link with the audio source for receiving and acknowledging receipt of the stereo audio information;

a second loudspeaker including a second wireless transceiver, wherein said first and second loudspeakers communicate with each other via a primary wireless link; and

wherein said first and second loudspeakers are configured to extract first and second audio channels, respectively, from the stereo audio information.

2. The wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein said secondary wireless link is configured according to a standard wireless protocol.

3. The wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein said secondary wireless link is configured according to the Bluetooth protocol.

4. The wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein said first loudspeaker communicates at least one communication parameter to said second loudspeaker via said primary wireless link to enable said second loudspeaker to receive the stereo audio information transmitted by said audio source via said secondary wireless link.

5. The wireless speaker system of claim 4, wherein the audio source transmits the stereo audio information in audio packets, and wherein:

said second loudspeaker is configured to send an acknowledgement to said first loudspeaker via said primary wireless link upon successful reception of an audio packet; and

wherein said first loudspeaker is configured to send an acknowledgement to the audio source via said secondary wireless link upon successful reception of said audio packet and upon reception of an acknowledgement from said second loudspeaker.

6. The wireless speaker system of claim 4, wherein the audio source transmits the stereo audio information in audio packets, and wherein:

said second loudspeaker is configured to send an acknowledgement to said first loudspeaker via said primary wireless link upon successful reception of an audio packet;

wherein said first loudspeaker is configured to send an acknowledgement to the audio source via said secondary wireless link upon successful reception of said audio packet; and

wherein said first loudspeaker is configured to relay said audio packet to said second loudspeaker when an acknowledgement from said second loudspeaker is not received.

7. The wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein said first loudspeaker operates as a bridge and extracts first and second audio channel information from the stereo audio information and transmits said second audio channel information to said second loudspeaker via said primary wireless link.

8. The wireless speaker system of claim 7, wherein said second loudspeaker sends an acknowledgement to said first loudspeaker via said primary wireless link upon successful reception of said second audio channel information.

9. The wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein said primary wireless link includes a unidirectional acknowledgement link from said second loudspeaker to said first loudspeaker.

10. The wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein said primary wireless link includes a bidirectional acknowledgement link.

11. The wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein said first and second loudspeakers are programmed to be permanently paired with each other via said primary wireless link when powered up.

12. The wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein said first and second loudspeakers employ at least one locked frequency reference of the audio source to synchronize audio playback between said first and second loudspeakers.

13. The wireless speaker system of claim 1, wherein said first and second loudspeakers comprise a control loop with the audio source to synchronize audio playback between said first and second loudspeakers.

14. A wireless audio system, comprising:

an audio source and first and second loudspeakers, each having a wireless transceiver;

wherein said first and second loudspeakers are configured to communicate via a primary wireless link;

wherein said audio source communicates audio information to said first loudspeaker via a secondary wireless link which is configured according to a standard wireless protocol; and

wherein said first loudspeaker is configured to acknowledge successful reception of audio information via said secondary wireless link.

15. The wireless audio system of claim 14, wherein said standard wireless protocol is the Bluetooth protocol.

16. The wireless audio system of claim 14, wherein:

said first loudspeaker is configured to communicate at least one communication parameter to said second loudspeaker via said primary wireless link; and

wherein said second loudspeaker is configured to use said at least one communication parameter to operate as an observer of said secondary wireless link to receive said audio information.

17. The wireless audio system of claim 16, wherein said first loudspeaker extracts a first audio channel from said audio information and wherein said second loudspeaker extracts a second audio channel from said audio information.

18. The wireless audio system of claim 16, wherein:

said second loudspeaker is configured to use said primary wireless link to acknowledge to said first loudspeaker successful reception of said audio information; and

wherein said first loudspeaker is configured to send unacknowledged audio information to said second loudspeaker via said primary wireless link.

19. The wireless audio system of claim 16, wherein:

said second loudspeaker is configured to use said primary wireless link to acknowledge to said first loudspeaker successful reception of said audio information; and

wherein said audio source re-sends said audio information when not successfully received by either one or both of said first and second loudspeakers.

20. The wireless audio system of claim 14, wherein said first loudspeaker is configured as a bridge to extract first and second audio channels from said audio information and to send said second audio channel to said second loudspeaker via said primary wireless link.

21. The wireless audio system of claim 14, wherein said first and second loudspeakers employ at least one locked frequency reference of said audio source to synchronize audio playback between said first and second loudspeakers.