Network Speaker

• US 20170332132A1
• Filed: 07/08/2017
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clearone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NetStreams LLC (Clearone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Braithwaite, Michael, Cardenas, Herman
• Application Number:
  US15/644,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20170332132A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• 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: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4398 involving reformatting operations of audio signals details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6338 directed to network

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a network speaker that includes a network controller and a network interface. The network speaker includes one or more processors that uses or includes a speaker/microphone driver to provide the external connection for the speaker/microphone components. In addition, the network speaker includes an amplifier and sensors. And, the network speaker also includes one or more microphones and one or more speakers.

Claims

1. A network speaker used in an audio system that uses a LAN (local area network), comprising:

a network controller that controls the processing of the digital audio signal to and from the LAN network;

a network interface that couples said network controller to the LAN network;

one or more processors with memory and storage, said processor uses or includes a speaker/microphone driver to provide the external connection for the speaker/microphone components;

an amplifier that amplifies the audio signal;

sensors that include a microphone that receives and/or gathers control information that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance the protection and performance from the surroundings of the network speaker;

one or more microphones that couple to said speaker/microphone driver and receives the audio signal; and

one or more speakers that couple to said speaker/microphone driver and transmits the audio signal.

2. The claim according to claim 1 wherein the network speaker receives and transmits the control information to other devices on the LAN.

3. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said microphone provides a connection to enable voice recognition and or voice control.

4. The claim according to claim 1 wherein the network speaker receives control commands from a networked audio source device and/or a network control server, wherein said networked audio source device includes one or more of the following:

a personal digital assistant, and a personal computer.

5. The claim according to claim 1 wherein the network speaker receives music from a networked audio source device and/or a network control server, wherein said networked audio source device includes one or more of the following:

a personal digital assistant, and a personal computer.

6. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed to function as a web server.

7. The claim according to claim 1 wherein the network speaker further includes an electronic crossover for frequency division.

8. A method to make a network speaker used in an audio system that uses a LAN (local area network), comprising:

providing a network controller that controls the processing of the digital audio signal to and from the LAN network;

coupling a network interface to said network controller to the LAN network;

providing one or more processors with memory and storage, said processor uses or includes a speaker/microphone driver to provide the external connection for the speaker/microphone components;

providing an amplifier that amplifies the audio signal;

providing sensors that include a microphone that receives and/or gathers control information that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance from the surroundings of the network speaker;

coupling one or more microphones to the network speaker, said microphones receive the audio signal; and

coupling one or more speakers to the network speaker, said speakers transmit the audio signal.

9. The claim according to claim 8 wherein the network speaker receives and transmits the control information to other devices on the LAN.

10. The claim according to claim 8 wherein said microphone provides a connection to enable voice recognition and or voice control.

11. The claim according to claim 8 wherein the network speaker receives control commands from a networked audio source device and/or a network control server, wherein said networked audio source device includes one or more of the following:

a personal digital assistant, and a personal computer.

12. The claim according to claim 8 wherein the network speaker receives music from a networked audio source device and/or a network control server, wherein said networked audio source device includes one or more of the following:

a personal digital assistant, and a personal computer.

13. The claim according to claim 8 wherein said processor is programmed to function as a web server.

14. The claim according to claim 8 wherein the network speaker further includes an electronic crossover for frequency division.

15. A method to use a network speaker used in an audio system that uses a LAN (local area network), comprising:

processing of the digital audio signal to and from the LAN network with a network controller;

providing a network interface that couples said network controller to the LAN network;

providing one or more processors with memory and storage, said processor uses or includes a speaker/microphone driver to provide the external connection for the speaker/microphone components;

amplifying the audio signal with an amplifier;

receiving and/or gathering control information with sensors that include a microphone, the control information enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance from the surroundings of the network speaker;

receiving the audio signal with one or more microphones coupled to the network speaker; and

transmitting the audio signal with one or more speakers coupled to the network speaker.

16. The claim according to claim 15 wherein the network speaker receives and transmits the control information to other devices on the LAN.

17. The claim according to claim 15 wherein said microphone provides a connection to enable voice recognition and or voice control.

18. The claim according to claim 15 wherein the network speaker receives control commands from a networked audio source device and/or a network control server, wherein said networked audio source device includes one or more of the following:

a personal digital assistant, and a personal computer.

19. The claim according to claim 15 wherein the network speaker receives music from a networked audio source device and/or a network control server, wherein said networked audio source device includes one or more of the following:

a personal digital assistant, and a personal computer.

20. The claim according to claim 15 wherein said processor is programmed to function as a web server.

21. The claim according to claim 15 wherein said the network speaker further includes an electronic crossover for frequency division.

22. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a computing device that tangibly embodies a program of instructions executable by the computing device to perform a method to use a network speaker used in an audio system that uses a LAN (local area network), comprising:

processing of the digital audio signal to and from the LAN network with a network controller;

providing a network interface that couples said network controller to the LAN network;

providing one or more processors with memory and storage, said processor uses or includes a speaker/microphone driver to provide the external connection for the speaker/microphone components;

amplifying the audio signal with an amplifier;

receiving and/or gathering control information with sensors that include a microphone, the control information enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance from the surroundings of the network speaker;

said processor uses or includes a speaker/microphone driver to provide the external connection for the speaker/microphone components;

receiving the audio signal with one or more microphones coupled to the network speaker; and

transmitting the audio signal with one or more speakers coupled to the network speaker.

23. The claim according to claim 22 wherein the network speaker receives and transmits the control information to other devices on the LAN.

24. The claim according to claim 22 wherein said microphone provides a connection to enable voice recognition and or voice control.

25. The claim according to claim 22 wherein the network speaker receives control commands from a networked audio source device and/or a network control server, wherein said networked audio source device includes one or more of the following:

a personal digital assistant, and a personal computer.

26. The claim according to claim 22 wherein the network speaker receives music from a networked audio source device and/or a network control server, wherein said networked audio source device includes one or more of the following:

a personal digital assistant, and a personal computer.

27. The claim according to claim 22 wherein said processor is programmed to function as a web server.

28. The claim according to claim 22 wherein said the network speaker further includes an electronic crossover for frequency division.