Controlling and grouping in a multi-zone media system

• US 20130243199A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kallai, Christopher, Ericson, Michael Darrell Andrew, Lambourne, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• 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: H04S 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/308 Electronic adaptation dependent on speaker or headphone connection

Abstract

Techniques for grouping or pairing individual audio products with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment are disclosed. In instead of grouping selected players to play back an audio item, a user is allowed to activate one of the players to process the data of the audio item, essentially separating the data into individual streams, each of the streams representing a single-sound track and being played back in one of the players, thus creating a multi-channel listening environment with the selected players.

Claims

1. A method for simulating a multi-channel listening environment, the method comprising:

grouping a set of players to simulate the multi-channel listening environment, the players capable of communicating over a data network;

designating which of the players to reproduce which one of audio channels in a title selected on a controller with a display screen;

causing to process data representing the selected title into streams, each of the streams representing one of audio channels;

causing to distribute the streams respectively to the players; and

causing the players to play back the streams in synchronization.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the players located in an environment, each of the players is capable to play back the selected title when the data is all transported thereto.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said causing to process data representing the selected title into streams comprises:

determining where the data is located; and

causing one of the players to retrieve the data via the data network from another device when the data is not locally stored.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said causing to distribute the streams respectively to the players comprises:

causing to retain one of the streams for the one of the players; and

causing the one of the players to upload remaining of the streams respectively to remaining of the players.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller displays a graphical user interface for a user to group the set of players, the players being respectively identified with locations to facilitate the user to group the players, disperse a group and control sound quality of each of the players.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the controller is used to manage the group and create, edit or update a playlist.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the controller is used to search the title in the playlist.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

determining where the data is located;

designating one of the players to retrieve the data according to the title selected by the user when the data is not locally available in the one of the players;

and wherein said causing to distribute the streams respectively to the players comprises;

causing to retain one of the streams for the one of the players; and

causing the one of the players to upload remaining of the streams respectively to remaining of the players.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the controller is a smart phone with internet capability.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

causing one of the players to measure a time delay in communicating with each of remaining of the players;

and said causing the players to play back the streams in synchronization comprises;

causing the one of the players to incorporate the time delay so that all of the players play back the streams in synchronization.

11. A system for a stereo listening environment, the system comprising:

a plurality of players, at least a first one and a second one of the players located in one place; and

a controller providing a mechanism to allow a user to select the first and second players to be paired to simulate the stereo listening environment, the first player being configured to process data for a selected title into two streams respectively for left and right sound channels, wherein the controller provides a user interface to allow the user to determine which one of the first and second players to reproduce the left sound channel or the right sound channel, the controller is further configured to display a playlist from which the title is selected.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the first player is configured to retain one of the two streams locally and the second player is caused to receive another one of the two streams.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the players and the controller are coupled to a data network, the players are being controlled by the controller using Internet Protocol (IP)-based data packets.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the data is retrieved from another device on the Internet.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the data is represented in data packets.

16. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the first player includes:

a memory space for storing code;

a processor, coupled to the memory, to execute the code to perform operations of;

retaining one of the two streams according to an instruction of the controller, wherein the instruction indicates which of the left sound channel and the right sound channel is being played back by the first player; and

uploading another one of the two streams to the second players.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the first player is configured to measure a time delay in communicating with the second player, the operations being performed in the first player further comprising incorporating the time delay in playing back the one of the two streams so that the first and second players are configured to play back the two streams in synchronization.

18. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the controller is a smart phone with Internet capability.

19. An apparatus for a stereo listening environment, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface to facilitate the apparatus to communicate with the Internet;

a phone networking interface to facilitate the apparatus to communicate with a cell phone network provided by a service provider;

a user interface to enable the network interface and the phone networking interface;

a display screen to allow a user to control a plurality of audio players being coupled to an ad-hoc network, select first and second audio players to be paired to simulate a stereo listening environment, both of the first and second audio players being configured to process a data stream for a selected title into two streams respectively for left and right sound channels, wherein the user determines which one of the first and second audio players to reproduce the left sound channel or the right sound channel, and configures to display a playlist from which the title is selected to be played in the stereo listening environment.