Managing audio output through an intermediary

• US 9,154,185 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Jeremy Bruce, Thomas, Jeffrey Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-See
• Application Number:
  US13/838,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20130223642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 381/61, 381/63, 381/77, 381 56- 59, 381 1- 3, 381/119, 700/94, 700/90, 340/539.1, 340/545.1, 340/537, 340540-542
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/00 Line transmission systems combined with near-field transmission systems H04B5/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• 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 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

The present invention extends to methods, devices, systems, and computer program products for managing audio output through an intermediary. In some embodiments, an audio controller emulates a direct connection between an audio source device and an audio output device. In other embodiments, audio content local to an audio controller is combined with other audio content passing through the audio controller on its way from an audio source device to an audio output device. In additional embodiments, an audio output device is locked to an audio controller.

Claims

1. An audio controller, comprising:

an event processor configured to receive an event indication from a sensor coupled thereto;

an audio content modifier coupled to a network interface controller and the event processor, the audio content modifier configured to;

buffer audio content received from an audio source in response to the event indication to generate modified audio content; and

combine the buffered audio content with locally stored audio content by mixing the locally stored audio content into the buffered audio content, pre-empting portions of the buffered audio content with the locally stored audio content, modifying the volume of the buffered audio content, and overlaying the locally stored audio content into the buffered audio content, and the network interface controller of the audio controller configured to receive the audio content from the audio source and send the modified audio content to an output device.

2. The audio controller of claim 1, the event processor configured to receive an event indication from at least one of an alarm sensor and a home automation sensor.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform instructions for modifying audio content being transferred through an audio controller, the instructions comprising:

wirelessly transferring the audio content from a source device to an output device; and

in response to receiving an indication of an occurrence of an external event from a sensor device;

determining that additional audio content related to the external event is to be output at the output device;

modifying one or more of the audio content from the source device and a transfer timing of the audio content from the source device in order to accommodate the additional audio content;

buffering the audio content from the source device; and

combining the additional audio content with the buffered audio content, by mixing the additional audio content into the buffered audio content, pre-empting portions of the buffered audio content with the additional audio content, modifying the volume of the buffered audio content, and overlaying the additional audio content into the buffered audio content.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, the receiving an indication comprising:

receiving the indication at a time when the audio controller is in the process of transferring the audio content to the output device for audio output.