Method and apparatus for reproducing multi-channel sound using cable/wireless device

• US 8,208,653 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Eo, Kil-su, Cho, Bong-hyun, Bae, Hee-jeong
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUTHERS, DOUGLAS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/634,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20070211907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 381/79, 381/80, 381/77, 381/82, 381/334
• US Class Current: 381/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/024 Positioning of loudspeaker enclosures for spatial sound reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

A multi-channel music reproducing apparatus and method using a wired and/or wireless communication system are provided. The method includes confirming neighboring devices capable of wired and/or wireless communication; allocating audio channel information to confirmed neighboring devices; encoding the channel information and reproduction synchronization information as index information; transmitting the index information together with a music data file; receiving the encoded index information and music data; decoding the allocated channel information and the synchronization information; and outputting music data corresponding to the allocated channel.

Claims

1. A multi-channel music reproducing method using a plurality of communication devices of a music reproducing apparatus, the method comprising:

confirming neighboring communication devices, of a communication device, capable of wired and/or wireless communication;

allocating audio channel information to each confirmed neighboring device;

generating reproduction synchronization information according to a performance of the music reproducing apparatus, and a type and a size of a music file to be transmitted;

encoding the channel information and reproduction synchronization information;

receiving the channel information and reproduction synchronization information;

decoding the channel information allocated to a current communication device and reproduction synchronization information; and

outputting music data corresponding to the allocated channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel information and reproduction synchronization information is encoded into index information.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the confirming neighboring communication devices comprises detecting neighboring devices capable of wired and/or wireless communication and assigning IDs to each detected neighboring device;

wherein the allocating audio channel information comprises allocating audio output channel information to each detected neighboring device;

wherein the generating the reproduction synchronization information comprises, generating the reproduction synchronization information to ensure that music is reproduced simultaneously from each neighboring device; and

wherein the encoding the channel information and the reproduction synchronization information into index information comprises encoding the generated ID information, the audio channel information and the synchronization information into index information.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the channel information together with a music data file.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating the reproduction synchronization information is performed by the music reproducing apparatus.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the allocating of the channel information comprises analyzing a number of channels supported by the music file and a number of communication devices.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the allocating of the channel information to each confirmed neighboring device is done by a user.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving the channel information and reproduction synchronization information comprises confirming the reproduction synchronization information in order to synchronize reproduction of music by an audio output channel allocated to a current communication device with audio output channels of other communication devices;

wherein the decoding the channel information and the reproduction synchronization information comprises decoding music data from among data received according to the reproduction synchronization information; and

wherein the outputting music data corresponding to the allocated channel comprises selecting a signal of an audio channel to be output by the current communication device from among the decoded music data, and outputting the audio channel signal to a speaker.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the channel information and the reproduction synchronization information together with the music data.

10. A multi-channel music reproducing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a master unit apparatus operable to detect slave devices capable of wired and/or wireless communication, allocate audio channel information to each detected slave device, generate reproduction synchronization information according to a performance of the music reproducing apparatus and a type of a music file to be transmitted, encode the channel information and reproduction synchronization information into index information, and transmit the index information together with a music data file; and

at least one slave unit apparatus operable to receive the encoded index information and music data from the master unit, decode the channel information allocated to the at least one slave unit and synchronization information, and output music data corresponding to the allocated channel.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the master unit apparatus comprises:

a control unit operable to confirm slave devices capable of wired and/or wireless communication, assign an ID to each confirmed slave device, allocate audio channel information to each confirmed slave device, and generate the reproduction synchronization information to ensure that music is reproduced simultaneously with each confirmed slave device;

an index information processing unit operable to encode the ID information of each confirmed slave device assigned by the control unit, audio channel information of each confirmed slave device, and the reproduction synchronization information; and

a data transmission and reception unit operable to add the index information processed in the index information processing unit to music file packets and transmit the music file packets to each confirmed slave device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the slave unit apparatus comprises:

a data communication unit operable to receive index information and a music file in units of packets from the master unit;

an index information processing unit operable to decode the index information received from the data transmission and reception unit, and extract the channel information and the reproduction synchronization information; and

a music decoder unit operable to confirm the channel information from the index information decoded by the index information processing unit, and decode music data of a corresponding channel from the music file received by the data transmission and reception unit.

13. A music reproducing apparatus, comprising:

a control unit apparatus operable to detect neighboring devices capable of wired and/or wireless communication, assign an ID to each detected neighboring device, allocate audio channel information to respective IDs, and generate reproduction synchronization information to ensure that audio is reproduced simultaneously with each detected neighboring device;

an information encoding unit apparatus operable to encode the ID information, the channel information and the reproduction synchronization information generated in the control unit into index information;

a transmission unit apparatus operable to add the index information processed in the information encoding unit to a music file and transmit the music file to each detected neighboring device;

a reception unit apparatus operable to receive the index information and the music file in units of packets from the transmission unit;

an information decoding unit apparatus operable to decode the index information received by the reception unit, and extract the channel information and the reproduction synchronization information; and

a music decoder unit apparatus operable to confirm channel information from the index information decoded by the information decoding unit, and decode music data of a corresponding channel from the music file received by the reception unit;

wherein the reproduction synchronization information is generated according to a performance of the music reproducing apparatus and a type and a size of a music file to be transmitted.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with a program that causes a computer of a music reproducing apparatus to execute the steps of:

confirming neighboring communication devices, of a communication device, capable of wired and/or wireless communication;

allocating audio channel information to each confirmed neighboring device;

encoding the channel information and reproduction synchronization information into index information;

generating reproduction synchronization information according to a performance of the music reproduction apparatus and a type and a size of a music file to be transmitted;

transmitting the index information together with a music data file;

receiving the encoded index information and music data;

decoding the channel information allocated to a current communication device and reproduction synchronization information; and

outputting music data corresponding to the allocated channel.

15. A multi-channel music reproducing method using a music reproducing device capable of wired and/or wireless communication, the method comprising:

a first music reproducing apparatus detecting neighboring music reproducing apparatuses capable of wired and/or wireless communication;

allocating audio channel information to the first music reproducing apparatus and at least one of the detected neighboring music reproducing apparatuses capable of wired and/or wireless communication; and

synchronizing the first music reproducing apparatus with the at least one of the detected neighboring music reproducing apparatuses to which the audio channel information is allocated and reproducing the music;

wherein the synchronizing comprises generating reproduction synchronization information according to a performance of the music reproducing apparatus and a type of a music file to be transmitted.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the allocating of the audio channel information comprises analyzing the number of the detected neighboring music reproducing apparatuses capable of wired and/or wireless communication.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting music data to be reproduced.

18. A multi-channel music reproducing apparatus comprising:

a control unit apparatus operable to confirm slave devices capable of wired and/or wireless communication, allocate audio channel information to each confirmed slave device, and generate reproduction synchronization information to ensure that music is reproduced simultaneously with each confirmed slave device;

an index information processing unit apparatus operable to encode the audio channel information of each confirmed slave device and the synchronization information; and

a data transmission and reception unit apparatus operable to transmit the audio channel information and synchronization information encoded in the index information processing unit;

wherein the reproduction synchronization information is generated according to a performance of the music reproducing apparatus and a type of music file to be transmitted.