METHOD AND SYSTEM OF CONTROLLING MEDIA DEVICES CONFIGURED TO OUTPUT SIGNALS TO SURROUNDING AREA

• US 20150301791A1
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald Paul Harwood
• Original Assignee: Ronald Paul Harwood
• Inventors: Harwood, Ronald Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,061,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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

Abstract

A system of controlling media devices configured for outputting signals to a surrounding area. The system including a control strategy for controlling operation of the media devices to execute operations according to a common schedule and a communications strategy for use in communicating the control strategy between the media devices in such a manner as to facilitate distribution of the control strategy to the media devices desired to operate according to the common timeline.

Claims

1. A media messaging system for coordinating output of a plurality of media messages within a geographical area, the system comprising:

a plurality of media devices spaced apart within the geographical area, each media device including an output operable to output one or more of the plurality of media messages to an ambient environment associated therewith; and

a controller configured to issue control instructions sufficient for coordinating output of the one or more of the plurality of media messages according to a control strategy, the control strategy synchronizing output of the one or more media messages across the plurality of media devices to occur relative to a common timeline.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of media messages each correspond with one of a plurality of audio frames specified in a playlist; and

the control instructions synchronizing output of each audio frame relative to the common timeline.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:

the playlist specifies a first audio frame of the plurality of audio frames to be output and a second audio frame of the plurality of frames thereafter;

the common timeline specifies a first time for output of the first audio frame and a second time for output of the second audio frame; and

the controller issues the control instructions to synchronize output of the first and second audio frames from each of the plurality of media devices such that each of the plurality of media devices simultaneously output the first audio frame at approximately the first time and simultaneously output the second audio frame at approximately the second time.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein:

the controller polls one or more of the plurality of media devices to diagnose a status for each of the polled media devices relative to output of the first audio frame; and

the controller issues the control instructions to synchronize output of the second audio frame based at least in part on the one or more statuses such that the controller generates at least a portion of the control instructions synchronizing output of the plurality of audio frames after output of the first audio frame.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the one or more statuses indicate when the corresponding one or more media devices output the first audio frame such that the controller generates at least the portion of the control instructions synchronizing output of the second audio frame to adjust for timing differences between the plurality of media devices determined based on when the polled media devices output the first audio frame, thereby synchronizing output of the second audio frame to occur at approximately the second time.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein:

the playlist specifies a third audio framed to be output prior to the first audio frame;

the control strategy specifies output of the third audio framed upon detection of a triggering event; and

each of the plurality of media devices are configured to automatically output the third audio frame upon determining occurrence of the triggering event.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of media devices are configured to each individually determine occurrence of the triggering event based on a sensed condition in the ambient environment associated therewith.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller is configured to issue communication instructions sufficient for coordinating communications between the plurality of media devices according a communication strategy.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the communication strategy instructions a first media device of the plurality of media devices determining occurrence of the triggering event to transmit a notify to a second media device failing to determine occurrence of the triggering event, the second media device automatically outputting the third audio frame after receiving the notify.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the communication strategy instructions a first media device of the plurality of media devices within a wireless signaling range of the controller to communicate the communication strategy to at least a second media device of the plurality of media devices.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the communication strategy instructions a first media device of the plurality of media devices within a wireless signaling range of the controller to communicate the communication strategy to at least a second media device of the plurality of media devices beyond the wireless signaling range.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller is included on one of the plurality of media devices.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller is a standalone device within a wireless signal range of at least one of the plurality of media devices.

14. The system of claim 7 wherein the controller is a standalone device configured to communicate with at least one of the plurality of media devices.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of media messages each correspond with one of a plurality of video frames specified in a playlist; and

the control instructions synchronize output of each video frame to occur relative to the common timeline.

16. A media messaging system comprising:

a plurality of media devices spaced apart within a defined area, each media device including;

i. a memory loaded with a plurality of media messages;

ii. a sensor configured to sense for a plurality of conditions within an ambient environment associated therewith; and

iii. an output configured to selectively output one or more of the plurality of media messages to the ambient environment associated therewith; and

a controller configured for providing the plurality of media devices a control strategy in advance of sensing for the plurality of conditions, the control strategy controlling the plurality of media devices to automatically output one or more of the plurality of media messages depending on which one or more of the plurality of conditions is sensed for the ambient environment associated therewith.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the control strategy specifies output of a first media message of the plurality of media messages for a first condition of the plurality of conditions and a second media message of the plurality of media messages for a second condition of the plurality of conditions such that each of the plurality of media devices sensing the first condition automatically output the first media message and each of the plurality of media devices sensing the second condition automatically output the second media message.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller is configured for providing the plurality of media devices a communication strategy in advance of sensing for the plurality of conditions, the communication strategy instructing at least one of the media devices sensing the first condition to automatically instruct another one of the plurality of media devices failing to sense the first condition to output the first media message.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the controller is included as part of at least one of the plurality of media devices or is a standalone device in communication with at least one of the plurality of media devices.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a plurality of non-transitory instructions operable with a controller to facilitate synchronizing output of a plurality of media messages from a plurality of media output devices spaced apart within a geographical area, the non-transitory instructions being sufficient for:

scheduling the plurality of media output devices to output a first media message of the plurality of media messages at a first time and thereafter a second media message of the plurality of media messages at a second time;

polling one or more of the plurality of media devices to diagnose a status after outputting the first media message; and

based on the one or more statuses, varying the scheduling of the second media message for at least a first media output device of the plurality of media output devices to be output at a third time instead of the second time in order to synchronize output with a second one or more of the plurality of media output devices.