System and method for controlling output of multiple audio output devices

• US 9,578,418 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Le Nerriec, Johan, Menter, Judah John, Tai, Daniel, Smith, Matthew Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US14/601,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20160212535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 310/313.D, 381/2, 381/57, 381/58, 381/81, 381/82, 381/107, 381/300, 381/335, 381/17, 381/71.11, 381/74, 381/103, 381/174, 381/734, 381/86, 381/307, 700/94, 704/246, 704/236, 704/500, 704/501, 704/270, 367/83, 367/95, 379/406.01, 846/00, 846/15, 846/22, 348/734, 705/17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2420/07 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 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation

Abstract

Multiple audio output devices are individually triggered to generate an acoustic identification signal. A controller device can perform a comparison of the acoustic identification signal from each of the multiple audio output devices. The output from one or multiple audio output devices is controlled based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method for outputting audio signals, the method being performed by a computing device and comprising:

receiving an acoustic reference signal from each of a plurality of audio output devices;

comparing the acoustic reference signal from each of the plurality of audio output devices with the acoustic reference signals from others of the plurality of audio output devices;

configuring one or more audio output characteristics of the plurality of audio output devices based at least in part on the comparison of the acoustic reference signals; and

dynamically reconfiguring the audio output characteristics of at least one of the plurality of audio output devices in response to changes in the received acoustic reference signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring comprises:

determining, from the comparison, a location of the computing device relative to each of the plurality of audio output devices; and

configuring the one or more audio output characteristics based at least in part on the location of the computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuring further comprises:

delaying audio signals output by at least one of the plurality of audio output devices to enable corresponding audio signals output from each of the plurality of audio output devices to arrive at the location of the computing device at substantially the same time.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuring further comprises:

adjusting a volume of audio signals output by at least one of the plurality of audio output devices based on the location of the computing device relative to the at least one of the plurality of audio output devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each acoustic reference signal is an audible signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each acoustic reference signal includes information identifying which of the plurality of audio output devices outputted the corresponding acoustic reference signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each acoustic reference signal is an inaudible signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing comprises:

determining differences in arrival times, at the computing device, among the acoustic reference signals.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively deactivating one or more of the plurality of audio output devices based at least in part on the comparison.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamically reconfiguring comprises:

detecting a movement of the computing device based on the changes in the acoustic reference signals received from the plurality of audio output devices; and

reconfiguring the audio output characteristics of the at least one of the plurality of audio output devices based on the movement of the computing device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the acoustic reference signal represents at least a portion of audio content output by the plurality of audio output devices.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

triggering the plurality of audio output devices to output the acoustic reference signals at substantially the same time.

13. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to;

receive an acoustic reference signal from each of a plurality of audio output devices;

compare the acoustic reference signal from each of the plurality of audio output devices with the acoustic reference signals from others of the plurality of audio output devices;

configure one or more audio output characteristics of the plurality of audio output devices based at least in part on the comparison of the acoustic reference signals; and

dynamically reconfigure the audio output characteristics of at least one of the plurality of audio output devices in response to changes in the received acoustic reference signals.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein execution of the instructions to configure the one or more audio output characteristics causes the computing device to:

determine, from the comparison, a location of the computing device relative to each of the plurality of audio output devices; and

configure the one or more audio output characteristics based at least in part on the location of the computing device.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein execution of the instructions to configure the one or more audio output characteristics causes the computing device to:

delay audio signals output by at least one of the plurality of audio output devices to enable corresponding audio signals output from each of the plurality of audio output devices to arrive at the location of the computing device at substantially the same time.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein execution of the instructions to configure the one or more audio output characteristics causes the computing device to:

adjust a volume of audio signals output by at least one of the plurality of audio output devices based on the location of the computing device relative to the at least one of the plurality of audio output devices.

17. The computing device of claim 13, wherein execution of the instructions to dynamically reconfigure the audio output characteristics causes the computing device to:

detect a movement of the computing device based on the changes in the acoustic reference signals received from the plurality of audio output devices; and

reconfigure the audio output characteristics of the at least one of the plurality of audio output devices based on the movement of the computing device.

18. The computing device of claim 13, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to:

selectively deactivate one or more of the plurality of audio output devices based at least in part on the comparison.

19. The computing device of claim 13, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to:

trigger the plurality of audio output devices to output the acoustic reference signals at substantially the same time.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

receive an acoustic reference signal from each of a plurality of audio output devices;

compare the acoustic reference signal from each of the plurality of audio output devices with the acoustic reference signals from others of the plurality of audio output devices;

configure one or more audio output characteristics of the plurality of audio output devices based at least in part on the comparison of the acoustic reference signals; and

dynamically reconfigure the audio output characteristics of at least one of the plurality of audio output devices in response to changes in the received acoustic reference signals.