Playback Based on Number of Listeners

• US 20160353224A1
• Filed: 08/12/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Reilly, Jonathon, Van Erven, Niels
• Granted Patent: US 10,455,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/023 Monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/80 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• 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 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/302 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus to process audio signals based on a number of listeners are disclosed. An example implementation involves a playback device processing, via an audio processing component, an audio signal for playback according to a first audio characteristic. While processing the audio signal for playback according to the first audio characteristic, the playback device detects, via a location component, a number of listeners in a listening area. The playback device determines a second audio characteristic based on the detected number of listeners in the listening area, and after determining the second audio characteristic, processes, via the audio processing component, the audio signal for playback according to the second audio characteristic.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

a location component;

an audio processing component; and

data storage for storing instructions that when executed cause the playback device perform functions comprising;

processing, via the audio processing component, an audio signal for playback according to a first audio characteristic;

while processing the audio signal for playback according to the first audio characteristic, detecting, via the location component, a number of listeners in a listening area; and

determining a second audio characteristic based on the detected number of listeners in the listening area; and

after determining the second audio characteristic, processing, via the audio processing component, the audio signal for playback according to the second audio characteristic.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the location component comprises an image capture device.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the location component comprises a microphone.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the location component comprises a sensor configured to detect transmitted packets.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first audio characteristic comprises a first audio filter, and wherein the second audio characteristic comprises a second audio filter.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first audio characteristic comprises a first volume level, and wherein the second audio characteristic comprises a second volume level.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the number of listeners in the listening area is zero.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the number of listeners in the listening area is one.

9. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the number of listeners in the listening area is greater than one.

10. The playback device of claim 1, the functions further comprising:

sending an indication of the number of listeners in the listening area to a network device.

11. The playback device of claim 10, wherein the playback device is a first playback device, and wherein the network device is a second playback device.

16. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback device is a first playback device, the functions further comprising:

sending an indication of the number of listeners in the listening area to a second playback device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the location component comprises one or more of:

(a) an image capture device, (b) a microphone, or (c) a sensor configured to detect transmitted packets

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first audio characteristic comprises a first audio filter, and wherein the second audio characteristic comprises a second audio filter.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first audio characteristic comprises a first volume level, and wherein the second audio characteristic comprises a second volume level.

12. Tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:

processing, via an audio processing component, an audio signal for playback according to a first audio characteristic;

while processing the audio signal for playback according to the first audio characteristic, detecting, via a location component, a number of listeners in a listening area; and

determining a second audio characteristic based on the detected number of listeners in the listening area; and

after determining the second audio characteristic, processing, via the audio processing component, the audio signal for playback according to the second audio characteristic.

13. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the location component comprises one or more of:

(a) an image capture device, (b) a microphone, or (c) a sensor configured to detect transmitted packets

14. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the first audio characteristic comprises a first audio filter, and wherein the second audio characteristic comprises a second audio filter.

15. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the first audio characteristic comprises a first volume level, and wherein the second audio characteristic comprises a second volume level.

17. A method comprising

processing, via an audio processing component of a playback device, an audio signal for playback according to a first audio characteristic;

while processing the audio signal for playback according to the first audio characteristic, detecting, via a location component of the playback device, a number of listeners in a listening area; and

determining, via the playback device, a second audio characteristic based on the detected number of listeners in the listening area; and

after determining the second audio characteristic, processing, via the audio processing component of the playback device, the audio signal for playback according to the second audio characteristic.