INTELLIGENTLY INCREASING THE SOUND LEVEL OF PLAYER

• US 20130287228A1
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kallai, Christopher, Chamness, Mike, Ericson, Michael Darrell Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,729,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/107
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/10 having semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/14 Cross-over networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/00 Stereophonic arrangements stereophonic pick-ups H04R9/16, H04R11/12, H04R17/08, H04R19/10

Abstract

Techniques for optimizing a player based on the addition of a second player are disclosed. In an embodiment, when a first player no longer needs to play certain audio frequencies due to the addition of a second player, the gain of the first player is automatically increased as part of the setup process. In another embodiment, when a first player needs to play certain audio frequencies, for example due to the removal of a second player, the gain of the first player is automatically decreased. Many other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an audio signal containing a range of audio frequencies;

amplifying, according to a gain parameter, the audio signal to be reproduced by at least one speaker;

automatically increasing the gain parameter to a higher gain parameter responsive to a determination that no more than a portion of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker; and

amplifying, according to the higher gain parameter, the audio signal containing no more than the portion of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining in real-time the higher gain parameter based on the portion of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the higher gain parameter is defined prior to the determination that no more than the portion of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a signal processing filter to the audio signal so that no more than a portion of the range of the audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a signal indicating that a different player is to augment the reproduction of the range of audio frequencies.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the different player comprises a subwoofer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the determination that no more than the portion of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that a different player is to augment the reproduction of the range of audio frequencies.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the range of audio frequencies consists of middle and high audio frequencies.

9. A computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method comprising:

receiving an audio signal containing a range of audio frequencies;

enabling amplification, according to a gain parameter, the audio signal to be reproduced by at least one speaker;

automatically increasing the gain parameter to a higher gain parameter responsive to a determination that no more than a portion of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker; and

enabling amplification, according to the higher gain parameter, the audio signal containing no more than the portion of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, the method further comprising determining in real-time the higher gain parameter based on the portion of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the higher gain parameter is defined prior to the determination that no more than the portion of the range of audio frequencies it to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, the method further comprising applying a signal processing filter to the audio signal so that no more than a portion of the range of the audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, the method further comprising receiving a signal indicating that a different player is to augment the reproduction of the range of audio frequencies.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the different player comprises a subwoofer.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the determination that no more than the portion of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that a different player is to augment the reproduction of the range of audio frequencies.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the portion of the range of audio frequencies consists of middle and high audio frequencies.

17. A device comprising:

an amplifier for receiving an audio signal containing a range of audio frequencies and amplifying, according to a gain parameter, the audio signal to be reproduced by at least one speaker; and

a processor for automatically increasing the gain parameter to a higher gain parameter responsive to a determination that no more than a portion of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker;

wherein the amplifier amplifies, according to the higher gain parameter, the audio signal containing no more than the portion of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the processor makes the determination that no more than the portion of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker is made.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the processor applies a signal processing filter to the audio signal so that no more than a portion of the range of the audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the higher gain parameter is defined prior to the determination that no more than the portion of the range of audio frequencies it to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.