Transportable Wireless Loudspeaker and System And Method for managing Multi-User Wireless Media Playback over a media playback system

• US 20150319288A1
• Filed: 05/05/2014
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric A. Sanders, Steven P. Kahn, Stuart W. Lumsden
• Original Assignee: Eric A. Sanders, Steven P. Kahn, Stuart W. Lumsden
• Inventors: Lumsden, Stuart W., Kahn, Steven P., Sanders, Eric A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,277,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A transportable wireless loudspeaker 110 and system 100 for managing multi-user wireless media playback over a media playback system 100. Allows for multiple users on user devices 150 to share their media wirelessly by seamlessly switching between users (501, 601, 701) connected to the media playback system 100. The ability to have multiple users sharing their media provides for more sources of media to be played.

Claims

1. ) A system for controlling wireless media playback, comprising;

a) a first portable media playback and communication device programmed and configured for use by a first prospective event-initiating user, wherein said first event-initiating user is designated as a “

Host”

, said first portable media playback and communication device being programmed with a Party Mode algorithm;

b) a first memory in said first device with a plurality of first-user media playback files;

c) a wireless transceiver in said first device configured to wirelessly transmit said first-user media playback files as media playback signals in response to received media transmission control signals;

d) a second portable media playback and communication device programmed and configured for use by second prospective event-initiating user, wherein said second event-initiating user is designated as a “

DJ”

or a “

Guest”

;

said second portable media playback and communication device being programmed with said Party Mode algorithm;

e) a second memory in said second device with a plurality of second-user media playback files;

f) a wireless transceiver in said second device configured to wirelessly transmit said second-user media playback files as media playback signals in response to received media transmission control signals; and

g) a wireless media playback system including a transceiver configured to transmit and receive media transmission control signals;

h) a controller connected to and responsive to said wireless media playback system transceiver and programmed to transmit media playback signals; and

i) an audio amplifier in said wireless media playback system connected to receive and amplify said media playback signals for playback over a transducer in response to wireless signals received from said first device and said second device, via said wireless media playback system transceiver.

2. ) The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless media playback system and said media playback and communication devices communicate wirelessly by way of a Bluetooth connection.

3. ) The system of claim 2, wherein said wireless media playback system transceiver is connected to transfer received media playback request signals from said first and said second portable media playback and communication devices to said controller.

4. ) The system of claim 3 wherein:

a) said controller incorporates a queue for received media playback request signals;

b) said controller being connected to said wireless media playback system transceiver to request a media playback file corresponding to the media playback request signal at the top of said queue from said first and second portable media playback devices;

c) said controller being connected to said audio amplifier to control playback of said media playback files by initiating and terminating playback; and

d) said controller being further connected to remove said media playback request signal at the top of said queue upon termination of playback and to set the next sequential media playback request signal as the top of said queue.

5. ) The system of claim 4, further comprising:

(a) a Party Mode network including a Party Mode server connected to said first and said second portable media playback devices.

6. ) The system of claim 5, wherein

(a) said Party Mode server being connected to said first and said second portable media playback devices wirelessly;

and

(b) said Party Mode server being connected to said first and said second portable media playback devices to receive data and respond to queries.

7. ) The system of claim 5, wherein said controller includes a memory for storing media playback request signals from said first and said second portable media playback devices in a queue and said media playback file corresponding to the media playback request signal at the top of said queue.

8. ) The system of claim 5, wherein said party mode algorithm includes:

(a) a first control signal for communicating with said controller to send media playback request signals from said first and said second portable media playback device;

(b) said first control signal further communicating with said controller to send said media playback file in response to said request from said controller; and

(c) a second control signal for communicating with said first and said second portable media playback device to transmit data and send queries to said Party Mode server.

9. ) The system of claim 5, further including a multiplicity of portable media playback and communication devices, wherein:

(a) said portable devices being connected to said Party Mode Network to view all media playback request signals sent to said controller and create a shared party media playlist.

10. ) A method for providing and controlling media playback, comprising:

a) connecting at least a first and a second portable media playback and communication device to a wireless media playback system wirelessly;

b) transmitting media playback request signals for media playback files wirelessly from said first and second portable media playback devices to said wireless media playback system;

c) receiving said media playback request signals;

d) storing said media playback request signals received from said first and second portable media playback device sequentially in a queue;

e) selecting and requesting the media playback file corresponding to a media playback request signal at the top of said queue from a corresponding one of said first and second portable media playback devices;

f) receiving the selected media playback file and transmitting corresponding media playback signals to a transducer via said wireless media playback system;

g) controlling playback of said selected media playback files by initiating and terminating playback; and

h) removing the media playback request signal at the top of said queue upon termination of playback and setting the next sequential media playback request signal as the top of the queue and repeating steps (e) to (h) until said queue is empty.

11. ) The method of claim 10, further comprises:

a) creating a Party network for creating a party, wherein said party allows a team of at least said first and said portable media playback devices to view all media playback request signals sent to said wireless media playback system; and

(b) connecting said first and said second portable media playback devices to said Party Mode network wirelessly to facilitate creating a shared party media playlist with said first and second portable media playback devices via a Party Mode algorithm.

12. ) The method of claim 11, wherein connecting to a Party Mode network wirelessly further comprises connecting a first one of said first and said second portable media playback devices to host a party.

13. ) The method of claim 12, wherein hosting a party comprises the steps of:

a) creating settings for said party;

b) viewing and editing said party settings;

c) viewing said shared party media playlist;

d) submitting at least one media playback request signal, wherein said media playback request signal is a media submission for said shared media playlist;

e) transmitting said media playback file of said media playback request signal upon request from said wireless media playback system;

f) viewing a profile on said first and second media playback devices;

g) voting on said media playback request signals on said shared media playlist; and

h) ending said party.

14. ) The method of claim 11, wherein connecting to a Party Mode network wirelessly further comprises connecting a second one of said first and said second portable media playback devices to join an existing party.

15. ) The method of claim 14, wherein joining a party comprises the steps of:

a) searching for said party in close proximity to said wireless media playback system;

b) connecting to said party;

c) viewing said shared party media playlist;

d) submitting at least one media playback request signal, wherein said media playback request signal is a media submission for said shared media playlist; and

e) transmitting said media playback file of said media playback request signal upon request from said wireless media playback system;

f) viewing a profile on said first and second media playback devices;

g) voting on said media playback request signals on said shared media playlist; and

h) leaving said party.

16. ) The method of claim 11, wherein connecting to a Party Mode network wirelessly further comprises connecting said first and said second portable media playback devices either to host a party or to join an existing party, wherein:

a) hosting a party includes;

i) creating settings for said party;

ii) viewing and editing said party settings;

iii) viewing said shared party media playlist;

iv) submitting at least one media playback request signal, wherein said media playback request signal is a media submission for said shared media playlist;

v) transmitting said media playback file of said media playback request signal upon request from said wireless media playback system;

vi) viewing a profile on said first and second media playback devices;

vii) voting on said media playback request signals on said shared media playlist; and

viii) ending said party.

b) joining a party includes;

i) searching for said party in close proximity to said wireless media playback system;

ii) connecting to said party;

iii) viewing said shared party media playlist;

iv) submitting at least one media playback request signal, wherein said media playback request signal is a media submission for said shared media playlist;

v) transmitting said media playback file of said media playback request signal upon request from said wireless media playback system;

vi) viewing a profile on said first and second media playback devices;

vii) voting on said media playback request signals on said shared media playlist; and

viii) leaving said party.

17. ) A wireless loudspeaker for providing and controlling media playback, comprising:

(a) a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive media transmission control signals;

(b) a controller connected to and responsive to said wireless loudspeaker transceiver and programmed to transmit media playback signals; and

(c) an audio amplifier in said wireless loudspeaker connected to receive and amplify said media playback signals for playback over a transducer in response to wireless signals from said wireless loudspeaker transceiver.

18. ) The wireless loudspeaker of claim 17, wherein said wireless signals are received from a first device and a second device.