Network addressible loudspeaker and audio play

• US 8,243,949 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Plantronics, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhow, Gunjan, Hart, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thinh T
• Application Number:
  US12/423,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20100260348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 381/81, 381/80, 381/85, 381/77, 709/217, 709/219, 707/1, 707/10
• US Class Current: 381/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• 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 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use

Abstract

Methods and systems for network addressable loudspeakers and audio play are presented. One or more network addressable loudspeakers are registered at a server. An end user selects a network addressable loudspeaker to output audio, and an audio file is streamed from an audio source to the selected network addressable loudspeaker.

Claims

1. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for managing audio play comprising:

receiving a plurality of registrations from a plurality of network addressable loudspeakers,

associating one or more selectable network addressable loudspeakers with a user profile;

associating one or more selectable audio sources with the user profile;

receiving a first user selection from a user associated with the user profile, the first user selection comprising a selected audio source and wherein the first user selection is from a user control device

receiving a second user selection from the user associated with the user profile, the second user selection comprising a selected network addressable loudspeaker; and

initiating streaming of an audio file from the selected audio source to the selected network addressable loudspeaker, wherein the selected network addressable loudspeaker and user control device are addressable at different network addresses within a communications network.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising receiving or identifying an availability status from each network addressable loudspeaker in the plurality of network addressable loudspeakers.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising receiving or identifying an availability status from each audio source in the one or more selectable audio sources.

4. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprises detecting a close proximity between the user control device and a network addressable loudspeaker.

5. The computer readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein upon detecting the close proximity between the user control device and a network addressable loudspeaker, automatically selecting the network addressable loudspeaker and initiating streaming audio file from the selected audio source to the network addressable loudspeaker.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, the method further comprising:

detecting a close proximity between a wearable device and one or more network addressable loudspeakers;

identifying a nearest network addressable loudspeaker;

automatically selecting the nearest network addressable loudspeaker; and

initiating streaming of the audio file from the selected audio source to the nearest network addressable loudspeaker.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the wearable device comprises a headset.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the second user selection is received from a user control device, and the method further comprising:

identifying one or more network addressable loudspeakers having a matching LAN gateway as the user control device; and

limiting the second user selection to the one or more network addressable loudspeakers having a matching LAN gateway.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the second user selection is received from a user control device, and the method further comprising:

identifying one or more network addressable loudspeakers having a desired physical proximity to the user control device; and

limiting the second user selection to the one or more network addressable loudspeakers having the desired physical proximity to the user control device.