Playback Device Calibration

• US 20160014534A1
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Sheen, Timothy W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,706,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation

Abstract

Examples described herein involve calibrating a playback device for a playback environment based on audio signals detected by a microphone of a network device as the network device moves about the playback environment. While the playback device is playing a first audio signal and the network device is moving within the playback environment from a first physical location to a second physical location, the network device may detect by a microphone of the network device, a second audio signal. The network device may then identify an audio processing algorithm based on data indicating the second audio signal, and transmit to the playback device, data indicating the identified audio processing algorithm. Similar functions may also be performed by the playback device being calibrated or a computing device, such as a server to coordinate calibration of the playback device.

Claims

1. A network device comprising:

a microphone;

a processor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

while (i) a playback device is playing a first audio signal and (ii) the network device is moving from a first physical location to a second physical location, detecting by the microphone, a second audio signal;

based on data indicating the second audio signal, identifying an audio processing algorithm; and

transmitting, to the playback device, data indicating the identified audio processing algorithm.

2. The network device of claim 1, wherein the second audio signal comprising a portion corresponding to the first audio signal played by the playback device.

3. The network device of claim 1, wherein identifying the audio processing algorithm further comprises:

determining a frequency response based on data indicating the second audio signal; and

identifying the audio processing algorithm based on the determined frequency response.

4. The network device of claim 1, wherein the first physical location and the second physical location are within a playback environment, and wherein an application of the audio processing algorithm by the playback device when playing the first audio signal in the playback environment produces a third audio signal having an audio characteristic substantially the same as a predetermined audio characteristic.

5. The network device of claim 1, wherein identifying the audio processing algorithm further comprises:

sending, to a computing device, data indicating the second audio signal; and

receiving, from the computing device, data indicating the audio processing algorithm.

6. The network device of claim 1, wherein the playback device is a first playback device, wherein the second audio signal further comprises a portion corresponding to a third audio signal played by a second playback device.

7. The network device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing the playback device to play the first audio signal.

8. The network device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

while detecting the second audio signal, displaying on a graphical display of the network device, an indication to move the network device within the playback environment.

9. A playback device comprising:

a processor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

playing a first audio signal;

receiving from a network device, data indicating a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the network device while the network device was moving from a first physical location to a second physical location within a playback environment;

identifying an audio processing algorithm based on the data indicating the second audio signal; and

applying the identified audio processing algorithm when playing audio content in the playback environment.

10. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the second audio signal comprises a portion corresponding the first audio signal played by the first playback device.

11. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the first physical location and the second physical location are within a playback environment, and wherein applying the identified audio processing algorithm when playing audio content in the playback environment provides a third audio signal having an audio characteristic substantially similar to a predetermined audio characteristic.

12. The playback device of claim 9, wherein identifying the audio processing algorithm further comprises:

determining a frequency response based on data indicating second audio signal; and

identifying the audio processing algorithm based on the frequency response.

13. The playback device of claim 9, wherein identifying the audio processing algorithm further comprises:

sending to a computing device, data indicating the second audio signal;

receiving from the computing device, data indicating the audio processing algorithm.

14. The playback device of claim 9, wherein the playback device is a first playback device, and wherein the second audio signal further comprises a portion corresponding to a third audio signal played by a second playback device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving from a network device, data indicating an audio signal detected by a microphone of a network device while the network device moved within a playback environment from a first physical location to a second physical location;

identifying an audio processing algorithm based on data indicating the detected audio signal; and

transmitting to a playback device in the playback environment, data indicating the audio processing algorithm.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the detected audio signal is a second audio signal, and wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to receiving the data from the network device, causing the playback device to play a first audio signal.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the detected audio signal is a second audio signal that comprises a portion corresponding to a first audio signal played by the playback device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein an application of the audio processing algorithm by the playback device when playing the first audio signal in the playback environment produces a third audio signal having an audio characteristic substantially the same as a predetermined audio characteristic.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein identifying the audio processing algorithm further comprises:

determining a frequency response based on the data indicating the second audio signal; and

identifying the audio processing algorithm based on the determined frequency response.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the playback device is a first playback device, wherein the detected audio signal further comprises a portion corresponding to a third audio signal played by a second playback device.