System with Speaker, Transceiver and Related Devices and Methods

• US 20180376266A1
• Filed: 09/04/2018
• Published: 12/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Mayman, Avrum G., Yewell, Scott Talbot, Zamir, Lee, Drimusz, Laszlo Otto
• Granted Patent: US 10,499,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/36 for access to common bus or bus system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4072 Drivers or receivers G06F13/4086 takes precedence; for multistate logic circuits H03K19/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/42 Bus transfer protocol, e.g. handshake; Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/00 Modulated-carrier systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement
• 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: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A method includes wirelessly receiving audio content via a first transceiver included in a housing of a first device and producing a first audible signal from the audio content via a speaker included in the housing of the first device. The audio content is wirelessly transmitted via the first transceiver to a second transceiver integrated within a first remote speaker. A second audible signal is produced from the audio content via the first remote speaker. The method also includes wirelessly relaying the audio content via the second transceiver to a third transceiver integrated within a second remote speaker and producing a third audible signal from the audio content via the second remote speaker. The second remote speaker is located outside of the transmission range of the first transceiver.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

wirelessly receiving audio content via a first transceiver included in a housing of a first device;

producing a first audible signal from the audio content via a speaker included in the housing of the first device;

wirelessly transmitting the audio content via the first transceiver to a second transceiver integrated within a first remote speaker;

producing a second audible signal from the audio content via the first remote speaker;

wirelessly relaying the audio content via the second transceiver to a third transceiver integrated within a second remote speaker; and

producing a third audible signal from the audio content via the second remote speaker,

wherein the second remote speaker is located outside of the transmission range of the first transceiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a network among the first device, the first remote speaker, and the second remote speaker, the network being one or more of a mesh network and a point-to-point network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a wireless communication path between a handheld media device and the first device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein establishing the communication path between the handheld media device and the first device comprises coupling the first device to the handheld media device via a cradle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cradle is capable of receiving the handheld media device and holding the handheld media device in a substantially upright position.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein establishing the communication path between the handheld media device and the first device comprises establishing a wireless connection between the cradle and the first device.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting the audio content from the handheld media device to the first device via the cradle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting visual content from the first device to the first and second remote speakers via the second and third transceivers, and a displaying the visual content on at least one of the first and second remote speakers.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving visual content via one or more of the first transceiver, the second transceiver, and the third transceiver;

and displaying the visual content on at least one of the first device, the first remote speaker, and the second remote speaker.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the visual content comprises one or more of text and graphics.

11. A method comprising:

producing a first audible signal from digital audio content via a speaker integrated within a housing of the base station;

wirelessly transmitting a first signal containing the digital audio content to a remote speaker via a transceiver that is integrated in the housing of the base station;

producing a second audible signal from the digital audio content via the remote speaker;

wirelessly relaying the digital audio content from the remote speaker to an other remote speaker that is disposed beyond the transmission range of the transceiver of the base station; and

producing a third audible signal from the digital audio content via the other remote speaker.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising establishing a communication path between a handheld media device and the base station.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein establishing the communication path between the handheld media device and the base station comprises coupling the first device to the base station via a cable.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein establishing the communication path between the handheld media device and the base station comprises coupling the base station to the handheld media device via a cradle.

15. The method claim 14, wherein the cradle is capable of receiving the handheld media device and holding the handheld media device in a substantially upright position.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein establishing the communication path between the handheld media device and the base station comprises establishing a wireless connection between the cradle and the base station.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of producing the first audible signal and producing the second audible signal comprise simultaneously producing the first and second audible signals from the audio content at the base station and the remote speaker, respectively.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of producing the first audible signal, producing the second audible signal, and producing the third audible signal comprise simultaneously producing the first, second, and third audible signals from the audio content at the base station, the remote speaker, and the other remote speaker, respectively.