METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPRODUCING MULTI-CHANNEL SOUND USING CABLE/WIRELESS DEVICE

• US 20120237054A1
• Filed: 05/29/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: EO, Kil-su, CHO, Bong-hyun, BAE, Hee-jeong
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• 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

Abstract

A multi-channel music reproducing apparatus and method using a wired and/or wireless communication system are provided. The method includes confirming neighboring devices capable of wired and/or wireless communication; allocating audio channel information to confirmed neighboring devices; encoding the channel information and reproduction synchronization information as index information; transmitting the index information together with a music data file; receiving the encoded index information and music data; decoding the allocated channel information and the synchronization information; and outputting music data corresponding to the allocated channel.

Claims

1. A music reproducing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a master unit which detects at least one neighboring device, which allocates audio channel information to each of the at least one detected neighboring device, and which transmits the audio channel information and a reproduction synchronization information together with a music data file; and

a slave unit which decodes an audio channel and which outputs music data corresponding to the decoded audio channel by using the audio channel information and the reproduction synchronization information,

wherein the music reproducing apparatus is operable as a master device using the master unit or as a slave device using the slave unit, and a role of the music reproducing apparatus as a master device or a slave device is changeable by selecting the master unit or the slave unit according to the transmission and/or reception of information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the master unit comprises:

a controller which confirms that the at least one neighboring device has wired and/or wireless communication, assigns an identifier (ID) to each of the confirmed neighboring devices, allocates the audio channel information to each of the confirmed neighboring devices, and generates generate the reproduction synchronization information so that music is reproduced simultaneously by each of the confirmed neighboring devices;

an index information processor which encodes the ID for each of the confirmed neighboring devices assigned by the controller, the audio channel information for each of the confirmed neighboring devices, and the reproduction synchronization information; and

a data transceiver which adds information encoded by the index information processor to music file packets and transmits the music file packets to each of the confirmed neighboring devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the slave unit comprises:

a data communicator which receives index information and a music file in units of packets from one of the neighboring devices operating as the master device;

an index information processor which decodes the received the index information, and extracts the channel information and the reproduction synchronization information; and

a music decoder which confirms the channel information from the index information decoded by the index information processor, and decodes music data of a corresponding channel from the music file received by the data communicator.

4. The apparatus of claim 2,

wherein the controller allocating the audio channel information comprises:

the controller allocating audio output channel information to each of the detected neighboring devices, and generating the synchronization information so that the music is reproduced simultaneously from each of the neighboring devices; and

wherein the controller comprises a music reproducing apparatus which generates the reproduction synchronization information based on a performance of a wired and/or wireless communication system within which the music reproducing apparatus operates, a performance of the music reproducing apparatus, and a type and size of a music file.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller allocating the audio channel information comprises the controller analyzing a number of channels supported by a music file and a number of communication devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, if the apparatus transmits at least one of the audio channel information and the reproduction synchronization information, the apparatus is configured to operate as the master device using the master unit, and

wherein if the apparatus receives at least one of the audio channel information and the reproduction synchronization information, the apparatus is configured to operate as the slave device using the slave unit.

6. A multi-channel music reproducing system comprising:

a master apparatus which detects at least one slave device, allocates audio channel information to each of the at least one detected slave device, and transmits the audio channel information and a reproduction synchronization information together with a music data file; and

a slave apparatus which decodes an audio channel and outputs music data corresponding to an allocated channel by using the audio channel information and the reproduction synchronization information,

wherein roles of a master and a slave are changeable by selecting the master apparatus and the slave apparatus based on whether the respective apparatus is transmitting or receiving information.