MANAGING AUDIO OUTPUT THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY

• US 20130223642A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Jeremy Bruce, Thomas, Jeffrey Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 9,154,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/77
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/00 Line transmission systems combined with near-field transmission systems H04B5/00
• 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 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• 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

The present invention extends to methods, devices, systems, and computer program products for managing audio output through an intermediary. In some embodiments, an audio controller emulates a direct connection between an audio source device and an audio output device. In other embodiments, audio content local to an audio controller is combined with other audio content passing through the audio controller on its way from an audio source device to an audio output device. In additional embodiments, an audio output device is locked to an audio controller.

Claims

1. An audio controller, comprising

a parameter computation module configured to:

compute audio control parameters for transferring audio content from a source to an output; and

compute end-to-end audio control characteristics for transferring audio content from a source to an output device; and

a network interface controller coupled to the parameter computation module and configured to transfer audio content in accordance with the audio control parameters and the end-to-end audio control characteristics.

2. The audio controller of claim 1, the parameter computation module configured to formulate the end-to end audio control characteristics by regulating the computation of first audio control parameters used to transfer the audio content from the source device to the device and by regulating the computation of second audio control parameters used to transfer the audio content from the device to the output device.

3. The audio controller of claim 1, the parameter computation module configured to access pre-assigned characteristics for each of the source and the output for computing audio control parameters for the source and audio control parameters for the output.

4. An audio controller, comprising

an event processor configured to receive an event indication from a sensor coupled thereto;

an audio content modifier coupled to each of the network interface controller and the event processor and configured to combine audio content received from an audio source with locally stored audio content in response to the event indication to generate modified audio content; and

a network interface controller configured to receive the audio content from the audio source to send the modified audio content to an output device.

5. The audio controller of claim 4, the event processor configured to receive an event indication from at least one of an alarm sensor and a home automation sensor.

6. The audio controller of claim 4, the audio content modifier configured to combine the audio content and the locally stored audio content by at least one of mixing the locally stored audio into buffered audio content, pre-empting portions of the buffered audio content with the locally stored audio content, modifying the volume of the buffered audio content, and overlaying the locally stored audio into the buffered audio content.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform instructions for wirelessly transferring audio content from a source device to an output device, the instructions comprising:

receiving an audio content transfer request requesting transfer of audio content from the source device to an audio controller;

emulating to the source device a direct connection between the source device and the output device;

receiving a portion of the audio content from the source device sent in accordance with first audio control parameters and end-to-end audio control characteristics; and

sending the portion of audio content to the output device in accordance with second audio control parameters and the end-to-end audio control characteristics.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform instructions for modifying audio content being transferred through the audio controller, the instructions comprising:

wirelessly transferring the audio content from a source device to an output device; and

in response to receiving an indication of an occurrence of an external event from a sensor device;

determining that additional audio content related to the external event is to be output at the output device;

modifying one or more of the audio content and the transfer timing of the audio content in order to accommodate the additional audio content; and

combining the additional audio content with the audio content sent to the output device.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the receiving an indication comprising receiving the indication at a time when the audio controller is in the process of transferring the audio content to the output device for audio output.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform instructions for connecting an audio output device to an audio controller, the instructions comprising:

sending a request for communication configuration information to any accessible wireless access points;

receiving communication configuration information from a wireless audio controller;

sending an advertisement signal advertising availability to wirelessly pair with audio source devices;

accepting a pairing request from the wireless audio controller based on received controller pairing information; and

locking the audio output device to the wireless audio controller.

11. The non-transitory computer--readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein locking the audio output device to the wireless audio controller comprises:

storing the communication configuration information and controller pairing information in non-volatile storage; and

directing the audio output device to re-connect to the audio controller in response to a power cycle or soft reset of the audio output device.

12. An audio output device, comprising

a network interface controller to convey a request for communication configuration to any accessible wireless access points and receive communication configuration and pairing information from wireless audio controller;

memory for storing the communication configuration and pairing information received from the wireless audio controller; and

a boot module coupled to the memory and configured to determine a boot type and transition to an operational state based on the determined boot type.

13. The audio output device of claim 12, the network interface controller further configured to convey an advertisement signal advertising availability to pair with the wireless audio controller.

14. The audio output device of claim 12, the network interface controller further configured to lock the audio output device to the wireless audio controller in response to a prompt from the wireless audio controller.

15. The audio output device of claim 12, the boot module configured to direct the audio output device to re-connect to the wireless audio controller in response to one of a power cycle and a soft reset of the audio output device.

16. The audio output device of claim 12, the boot module configured to permit the audio output device to connect to any wireless access point and audio source device in response to a hard reset of the audio output device.

17. A system, comprising:

an audio source device;

an audio output device; and

an audio controller configured to communicatively couple with each of the audio source device and the audio output device and comprising a parameter computation module configured to;

compute audio control parameters for transferring the audio content from a source to an output; and

compute end-to-end audio control characteristics for transferring audio content from a source to an output device; and

a network interface controller coupled to the parameter computation module and configured to transfer audio content in accordance with the audio control parameters and the end-to-end audio control characteristics.

18. The system of claim 17, the audio controller further comprising an audio content modifier configured to combine audio content received from the audio source device with audio content stored in the audio controller to generate modified audio content in response to an event notification.

19. A system, comprising:

an audio controller including a network interface controller and a user interface control for transitioning the audio controller into a wireless pairing mode; and

an audio output device, comprising;

a network interface controller to convey a request for communication configuration to any accessible access points and receive communication configuration and pairing information from the audio controller;

memory for storing the communication configuration and pairing information received from the audio controller; and

a boot module coupled to the memory and configured to cause the audio output device to operate according to a detected boot type.

20. The system of claim 19, the boot module further configured to:

direct the audio output device to re-connect to the wireless audio controller in response to one of a power cycle and a soft reset of the audio output device; and

permit the audio output device to connect to any wireless access point and audio source device in response to a hard reset of the audio output device.