Multi-zone media system and method for providing multi-zone media

• US 9,584,935 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sound United, LLC (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sound United, LLC (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Starobin, Bradley M., Lyons, Matthew, Lumsden, Stuart W., DiTullo, Michael, O'Connor, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLDER, REGINA NEAL
• Application Number:
  US14/725,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20160353217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• 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 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

Abstract

A multi-zone media system and method for providing multi-zone media. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide a system and method that flexibly presents media content (e.g., audio content) to a user as the user moves throughout a premises.

Claims

1. A system for presenting audio content, the system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least;

play audio content at a first loudspeaker;

receive a user input at a second loudspeaker; and

based, at least in part, on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, at least;

play the audio content at the second loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to synchronize the audio content playing at the second loudspeaker with the audio content playing at the first loudspeaker; and

modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user input is a voice input.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, establish a multicast communication link with a central controller.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to synchronize the audio content playing at the second loudspeaker with the audio content playing at the first loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to time the audio content playing at the second speaker to reach the user at a same time as the audio content playing at the first speaker.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to stop presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker after a time period without another user input at the first loudspeaker.

6. A system for presenting audio content, the system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least;

play audio content at a first loudspeaker;

receive a user input at a second loudspeaker; and

based, at least in part, on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, at least;

play the audio content at the second loudspeaker; and

modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker,

wherein the at least one module is operable to play the audio content at the second loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to select a volume at which to play the audio content at the second loudspeaker based at least in part on a user volume command input at the first loudspeaker.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, establish a multicast communication link with a central controller.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one module is operable to modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to stop presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker after a time period without another user input at the first loudspeaker.

9. A system for presenting audio content, the system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least;

play audio content at a first loudspeaker;

receive a user input at a second loudspeaker; and

based, at least in part, on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, at least;

play the audio content at the second loudspeaker; and

modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker,

wherein the at least one module is operable to modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to adjust the volume of the audio content being played at the first loudspeaker.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, establish a multicast communication link with a central controller.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one module is operable to modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to stop presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker after a time period without another user input at the first loudspeaker.

12. A system for presenting audio content, the system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least;

play audio content at a first loudspeaker;

receive a user input at a second loudspeaker; and

based, at least in part, on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, at least;

play the audio content at the second loudspeaker; and

modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker, wherein the at least one module is operable to, prior to receiving the user input at the second loudspeaker and while not playing the audio content at the second loudspeaker, perform digital signal processing on data associated with the audio content at the second loudspeaker in preparation for receiving the user input at the second loudspeaker and playing the audio content at the second loudspeaker.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, establish a multicast communication link with a central controller.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one module is operable to modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to stop presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker after a time period without another user input at the first loudspeaker.

15. A system for presenting audio content, the system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least;

play audio content at a first loudspeaker;

receive a user input at a second loudspeaker; and

based, at least in part, on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, at least;

play the audio content at the second loudspeaker; and

modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker,

wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, wake a third loudspeaker from a sleep mode in anticipation of future utilization of the third loudspeaker.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, establish a multicast communication link with a central controller.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one module is operable to modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to stop presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker after a time period without another user input at the first loudspeaker.

18. A system for presenting audio content, the system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least;

play audio content at a first loudspeaker;

receive a user input at a second loudspeaker; and

based, at least in part, on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, at least;

play the audio content at the second loudspeaker; and

modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker,

wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, play the audio content at a third loudspeaker in a third audio control zone that is different from a first audio control zone of the first loudspeaker and different from a second audio control zone of the second loudspeaker.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, establish a multicast communication link with a central controller.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one module is operable to modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to stop presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker after a time period without another user input at the first loudspeaker.

21. A system for presenting audio content, the system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least;

play audio content at a first loudspeaker;

receive a user input at a touch sensor associated with a second loudspeaker, wherein the touch sensor comprises an electronic touch sensor that comprises no moving parts; and

based, at least in part, on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, play the audio content at the second loudspeaker,

wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, modify the volume of the audio content being presented at the first loudspeaker.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the touch sensor comprises a piezo material that is mechanically integrated with an enclosure of the second loudspeaker.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the touch sensor is integrated with a device having a primary purpose that is unrelated to media presentation and/or user tracking.