Interactive sound reproducing

• US 8,977,375 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Beckmann, Paul Eric, Carvajal, Santiago, Perry, Christopher H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIEGEL, DAVID F
• Application Number:
  US13/728,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20130158693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/1081 Earphones, e.g. for telephones, ear protectors or headsets
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/30391 Resetting of the filter parameters or changing the algorithm according to prevailing conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3056 Variable gain
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/3214 Architectures, e.g. special constructional features or arrangements of features
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 2210/503 Diagnostics; Stability; Alarms; Failsafe
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/345 for loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2203/12 Beamforming aspects for stereophonic sound reproduction with loudspeaker arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/022 Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
• 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
• 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

An audio system attachable to a computer includes a sound reproduction device for producing audible sound from audio signals. The sound reproduction device includes a radio tuner and a powered speaker. The audio system further includes a connector for connecting the sound reproduction device with a computer. The computer provides audio signals from a plurality of sources, the sources including a computer CD player, digitally encoded computer files stored on the computer, and a computer network connected to the computer. The sound reproduction device further includes control buttons for controlling at least one of the computer CD player, the digitally encoded computer files and the computer network.

Claims

1. An audio system comprising:

(a) a sound reproduction device configured to operably connect to a plurality of remote digital music sources, the remote digital music sources comprising at least (i) user-defined playlists of digital music files and (ii) internet radio sites, the sound reproduction device comprising;

a digital-to-analog converter configured to receive a digital representation of content from the remote digital music sources and convert to analog form;

a powered speaker; and

a set of user-assignable preset indicators, wherein each indicator in the set of preset indicators is configured such that a user can assign to it an individual internet radio site or a particular user-defined playlists of digital music files; and

(b) a software program configured to run on a separate computer having a display, wherein the software program provides a user interface configured to present on the display of the computer one or more sets of preset indicators, wherein at least one of the sets of the preset indicators presented in the user interface corresponds to the set of preset indicators on the sound reproduction device.

2. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the sound reproduction device further comprises an enclosure, wherein the digital-to-analog converter and powered speaker are located within the enclosure, and the set of user-selectable preset indicators is located on the enclosure.

3. The audio system of claim 2, further comprising a remote control device configured to control one or more user functions of the sound reproduction device, the remote control device comprising a set of preset indicators corresponding to the preset indicators located on the enclosure.

4. The audio system of claim 1, wherein an indicator in the set of preset indicators may be assigned to both an individual internet radio site and a particular user-defined playlist of digital music files, wherein the assigned individual internet radio sites is selected when internet radio is selected as an audio source and the particular user-defined playlist of digital music files is selected when digital music files is selected as an audio source.

5. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the sound reproduction device further comprises an internal broadcast radio receiver.

6. The audio system of claim 5, wherein indicators in the set of preset indicators are also assignable by the user to broadcast radio stations.

7. The audio system of claim 6, wherein an indicator in the set of preset indicators may be assigned to both a broadcast radio station and an entity associated with a remote digital source, wherein the assigned broadcast radio station is selected when broadcast radio is the audio source and an entity associated with a remote digital source is selected when the remote digital source is the audio source.

8. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the digital music files that make up the user-defined playlists are stored on the computer.

9. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of digital music sources are provided via the computer.

10. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the software program automatically-causes assignment of the same user-selected entity to the same indicator in the set of preset indicators on the sound reproduction device and the user interface.

11. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the sound reproduction device is physically coupled to the plurality of digital music sources.

12. The audio system of claim 11, wherein the sound reproduction device is physically coupled to the plurality of digital music sources via a wire.

13. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the set of preset indicators comprise physical buttons.

14. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to present a source selection region that enables a user to select an audio source to be played by the sound reproduction device.

15. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to present a first assemblage of digital music files in a first set of groups according to a first type of metadata associated with the digital music files, and, in response to a user selection of a group in the first assemblage, present a second assemblage of music files in the selected group, wherein the second assemblage presents digital music files in the selected group in a second set of groups according to a second type of metadata associated with the digital music files in the second group.

16. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the computer is a personal computer.

17. A sound reproduction device configured to operably connect to a plurality of remote digital music sources, the remote digital music sources comprising at least digital music files and internet radio stations, wherein the sound reproduction device comprises:

an enclosure;

a powered speaker; and

a digital-to-analog converter, the digital-to-analog converter configured to receive a digital representation of content from the remote digital music source and convert to analog form;

a set of user-assignable preset indicators located on the enclosure, wherein each indicator in the set of preset indicators is configured such that a user can assign to it an individual internet radio site or a particular user-defined playlists of digital music files;

wherein an entity associated with a preset indicator on the enclosure is selectable by a user by at least each of the following;

(i) selecting the corresponding preset indicator on the enclosure;

(ii) selecting a corresponding preset indicator on a separate remote control associated with the sound reproduction device; and

(iii) selecting a corresponding preset indicator presented in a user interface on a separate computer operably coupled to the sound reproduction device.

18. The sound reproduction device of claim 17, wherein the digital-to-analog converter is located within the enclosure.

19. The sound reproduction device of claim 18, wherein the powered speaker is located within the enclosure.

20. The sound reproduction device of claim 17, wherein an indicator in the set of preset indicators may be assigned to both an individual internet radio site and a particular user-defined playlist of digital music files, wherein the assigned individual internet radio site is selected when internet radio is selected as an audio source and the particular playlist is selected when digital music files is selected as an audio source.

21. The sound reproduction device of claim 17, wherein the sound reproduction device further includes a broadcast radio receiver.

22. The sound reproduction device of claim 21, wherein the indicators in the set of user-assignable preset indicators are also assignable by the user to broadcast radio stations.

23. The sound reproduction device system of claim 22, wherein an indicator in the set of preset indicators may be assigned to both a broadcast radio station and an entity associated with a remote digital source, wherein the assigned broadcast radio station is selected when broadcast radio is selected as an audio source and the entity associated with a remote digital source is selected when the remote digital source is selected as an audio source.

24. The sound reproduction device of claim 17, wherein the sound reproduction device is configured to physically couple to at least the remote digital music source that provides the digital music files that make up the user-define playlists.

25. The sound reproduction device of claim 24, wherein the sound reproduction device is configured to physically couple with the digital music source via a wire.

26. The sound reproduction device of claim 17, wherein the set of preset indicators comprise physical buttons.