Gain Based on Play Responsibility

• US 20150180434A1
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Published: 06/25/2015
• 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., Reimann, Robert, Triplett, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 10,136,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• 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: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• 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 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• 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 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 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• 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: 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 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field

Abstract

Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. An example method includes 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. The example method includes automatically increasing the gain parameter to a higher gain parameter responsive to a determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker. The example method includes amplifying, according to the higher gain parameter, the audio signal containing no more than the subset of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

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 subset 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 subset of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that the speaker is configured to create a stereo pair with at least one other speaker.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that the speaker is configured as one of (a) a right channel speaker or (b) a left channel speaker.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that the speaker is configured to create a pair with at least one other speaker, wherein the at least on other speaker comprises a subwoofer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a signal processing filter to the audio signal so that no more than the subset of the range of the audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

6. 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.

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

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that another speaker is to augment the reproduction of the range of audio frequencies.

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

10. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement functions 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 subset 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 subset of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that the speaker is configured to create a stereo pair with at least one other speaker.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that the speaker is configured as one of (a) a right channel speaker or (b) a left channel speaker.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that the speaker is configured to create a pair with at least one other speaker, wherein the at least on other speaker comprises a subwoofer.

14. The device of claim 10, the functions further comprising:

applying a signal processing filter to the audio signal so that no more than the subset of the range of the audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

15. The device of claim 10, the functions further comprising:

receiving a signal indicating that a different player is to augment the reproduction of the range of audio frequencies.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that another speaker is to augment the reproduction of the range of audio frequencies.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the subset of the range of audio frequencies consists of middle and high audio frequencies.

16. The device of claim 16, wherein the different player comprises a subwoofer.

19. A computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement functions 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 subset 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 subset of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker comprises determining that the speaker is configured to create a stereo pair with at least one other speaker.