System and method for providing user location-based multi-zone media

• US 9,706,320 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• 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: O'Connor, Paul, Starobin, Bradley M., Lyons, Matthew, Lumsden, Stuart W., DiTullo, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLDER, REGINA NEAL
• Application Number:
  US14/726,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20160353218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• 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 system and method for providing user location-based 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. 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 associated with a first audio zone and not at a second loudspeaker associated with a second audio zone;

while playing the audio content at the first loudspeaker and not at the second loudspeaker, monitor a user location; and

based at least in part on a determination that the user has moved from the first audio zone to the second audio zone, at least;

play the audio content at the second loudspeaker;

determine whether to continue playing the audio content at the first loudspeaker, at least until the user leaves the second audio zone, while playing the audio content at the second loudspeaker;

if it is determined to continue playing the audio content at the first loudspeaker while playing the audio content at the second loudspeaker, then continue playing the audio content at the first loudspeaker; and

if it is determined to not continue playing the audio content at the first loudspeaker while playing the audio content at the second loudspeaker, then discontinue playing the audio content at the first loudspeaker.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to play the audio content at the second loudspeaker associated with the second audio zone 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 associated with the first audio zone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the monitored user location, adjust the volume of the audio content being played at the first loudspeaker, while continuing to play the audio content at the first loudspeaker at least until the user leaves the second audio zone.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to determine whether to play the audio content at the second loudspeaker based, at least in part, on a location-dependent priority of the user relative to a priority of another user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the second loudspeaker comprises a sensor; and

the at least one module is operable to monitor user location based, at least in part, on information from the sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to monitor the user location independent of a personal electronic device carried by the user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to receive a first user voice command indicating that the system is to play audio content through loudspeakers in a manner that follows the user around a premises, and a second user voice command indicating that the system is to stop following the user.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio content comprises telephone conversation audio content, and the at least one module is operable to determine, based at least in part on the monitored user location, whether to combine the telephone conversation audio content with other audio content being played at the second loudspeaker, and whether to receive telephone audio input at the second loudspeaker.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to:

predict a travel path of the user; and

determine to play the audio content at the second loudspeaker based, at least in part, on the predicted travel path.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one module is operable to predict the travel path of the user based, at least in part, on a plurality of monitored user locations and on historical movement patterns for the user at respective times of day.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to determine whether to play the audio content at the second loudspeaker based, at least in part, on conflict resolution rules comprising comparison of user priorities, where at least one of the compared user priorities is a function of time.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one module is operable to determine whether to play the audio content at the second loudspeakers based, at least in part, on conflict resolution rules comprising a content-based determination in which content priority varies as a function of location.

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

at least one module operable to, at least;

play audio content at an initial loudspeaker of a first set of speakers associated with a first audio zone;

monitor user location; and

based at least in part on the monitored user location, at least;

select a next loudspeaker of a second set of speakers associated with a second audio zone distinct from the first audio zone; and

prior to determining to play the audio content at the next loudspeaker, processing the audio content at the next loudspeaker.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one module is operable to:

predict a travel path of the user; and

select the next loudspeaker based, at least in part, on the predicted travel path.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one module is operable to wake the selected next loudspeaker from a low-power mode based at least in part on the predicted travel path.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one module is operable to predict the travel path of the user based, at least in part, on historical patterns of user travel at respective times of day.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one module is operable to, based at least in part on the monitored user location:

select a plurality of loudspeakers, each of which associated with a respective audio presentation area adjacent to an audio presentation area in which the user is presently located; and

prior to determining to play the audio content at any of the selected plurality of loudspeakers, processing the audio content at each of the plurality of loudspeakers.

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

at least one module operable to, at least;

play first audio content at a first loudspeaker;

while playing the first audio content at the first loudspeaker, play second audio content at a second loudspeaker;

monitor user location;

determine user priority based, at least in part, on the monitored user location; and

based at least in part on the monitored user location and on the determined user priority, at least;

determine to play the first audio content at the second loudspeaker instead of the second audio content; and

play at least the first audio content at the second loudspeaker.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one module is operable to determine user priority based, at least in part, on time-of-day and/or day-of-week.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one module is operable to determine to play the first audio content at the second loudspeaker based, at least in part, on a whether the second loudspeaker is associated with a locked status.