System for wireless audio signal distribution between a plurality of active loudspeakers
First Claim
1. A system for distributing audio signals between a plurality of active loudspeakers for playing back said signals by the respective loudspeakers, the system comprising:
- at least two active loudspeakers, each active loudspeaker including;
acoustic transducer means;
associated amplifier means;
wireless interface means comprising transmitter and receiver means suitable for searching for and establishing a wireless link with at least one other loudspeaker of the system;
means for applying an audio channel signal to the amplifier means for playback by the transducer means, the audio channel signal being derived from the signal received by the wireless interface means; and
means for configuring the loudspeakers in a network, wherein said loudspeakers are initially not configured in a hierarchical network;
said transmitter and receiver means of each of said active loudspeakers are configured for searching for and establishing a wireless link with any other active loudspeaker of the system; and
said configuring means configuring the loudspeakers into a network that operates automatically;
a) enabling each loudspeaker to search for the other loudspeakers with which it can establish a direct wireless link;
b) on the basis of the results of said search, drawing up a table of mutual visibilities of each active loudspeaker with respect to the other active loudspeakers for which a link has been successfully established;
c) designating one of the loudspeakers as a network head loudspeaker; and
d) on the basis of the mutual visibility table, defining a network topology that is hierarchical from the network head loudspeaker.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Each loudspeaker (10, 10′) comprises means, e.g. of the Bluetooth type, for establishing a wireless interface with every other loudspeaker of the system. The network configures itself automatically by each loudspeaker searching for the other loudspeakers with which a wireless link can be established directly, by drawing up a table of mutual visibilities, and, on the basis of said table, defining a hierarchical network topology. One of the loudspeakers is designated as the network head so as to be capable of searching for and setting up a wireless link with a remote peripheral capable of transmitting a coded audio signal (A2DP) and/or a control signal (AVRCP). The other loudspeakers receive audio signals sent to them encapsulated in messages that include routing data, either directly, or after said signals have been relayed via another loudspeaker.
84 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for distributing audio signals between a plurality of active loudspeakers for playing back said signals by the respective loudspeakers, the system comprising:
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at least two active loudspeakers, each active loudspeaker including; acoustic transducer means; associated amplifier means; wireless interface means comprising transmitter and receiver means suitable for searching for and establishing a wireless link with at least one other loudspeaker of the system; means for applying an audio channel signal to the amplifier means for playback by the transducer means, the audio channel signal being derived from the signal received by the wireless interface means; and means for configuring the loudspeakers in a network, wherein said loudspeakers are initially not configured in a hierarchical network; said transmitter and receiver means of each of said active loudspeakers are configured for searching for and establishing a wireless link with any other active loudspeaker of the system; and
said configuring means configuring the loudspeakers into a network that operates automatically;a) enabling each loudspeaker to search for the other loudspeakers with which it can establish a direct wireless link; b) on the basis of the results of said search, drawing up a table of mutual visibilities of each active loudspeaker with respect to the other active loudspeakers for which a link has been successfully established; c) designating one of the loudspeakers as a network head loudspeaker; and d) on the basis of the mutual visibility table, defining a network topology that is hierarchical from the network head loudspeaker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for distributing audio signals between a plurality of active loudspeakers for playing back said signals by the respective loudspeakers,
the system comprising at least two active loudspeakers each having: -
acoustic transducer means; associated amplifier means; wireless interface means comprising transmitter and receiver means suitable for searching for and establishing a wireless link with any other loudspeaker of the system; means for applying an audio channel signal to the amplifier means for playback by the transducer means, the audio channel signal being derived from the signal received by the wireless interface means; and means for configuring the loudspeakers in a network; the loudspeakers are initially configured between one another relative to the network in a non-hierarchical manner; and the configuration means for configuring the loudspeakers into a network are means that operate automatically and that are suitable for; a) enabling each loudspeaker to search for the other loudspeakers with which it can establish a direct wireless link; b) on the basis of the results of said search, drawing up a mutual visibility table for each loudspeaker with the others; c) designating one of the loudspeakers as a network head loudspeaker; and d) on the basis of the mutual visibility table, defining a network topology that is hierarchical from the head loudspeaker as designated in this way, wherein the automatic configuration means is configured for; e) making at least one loudspeaker suitable for searching for and establishing a wireless link with a remote peripheral that is capable of transmitting an encoded multichannel audio signal and/or a control signal, the other loudspeakers being designated as dependent loudspeakers; f) receiving from a dependent loudspeaker an order to swap roles and for transmitting said order to the head loudspeaker; and g) for temporarily attributing dependent loudspeaker status to the head loudspeaker, temporarily attributing head loudspeaker status to the dependent loudspeaker that issued the role swapping order, and adapting the directed broadcast graph accordingly.
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Specification