Wired, wireless, infrared, and powerline audio entertainment systems
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a first housing for a loudspeaker, the first housing having thereina first loudspeaker configured to play audio signals,an audio input configured to receive a multi-channel audio signal,a processor configured to convert the received multi-channel audio signal into a plurality of single-channel audio signals, each single-channel audio signal representing a different portion or channel of the multi-channel audio signal and being assigned to either a first group of audio signals or a second group of audio signals, not both, each group comprising at least one of the single-channel audio signals,an amplifier module wired to the processor and configured to amplify the first group of audio signals and then drive the first loudspeaker with the amplified first group of audio signals, anda wireless transmitter configured to transmit i) the second group of audio signals and ii) data indicative of user input, as a combined signal, to a separate, second housing having therein a second loudspeaker, wherein, during playback of the multi-channel audio signal, the processor is further configured to route i) the first group of the audio signals, not the second group, to the amplifier module, and ii) the second group of audio signals, not the first group, to the wireless transmitter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for communicating audio, video, and/or control signals within a home entertainment system. One or more signals are communicated between an input device and one or more output devices via one or more networks. The output device can include loudspeakers, display devices, and headphones. In some embodiments an output device, for example a center channel loudspeaker, transmits signals to other output devices. For example, the center channel loudspeaker can transmit a combined audio signal and control signal to a remote loudspeaker over a first network and transmit a video signal to a display device over a second network. The display device displays the video signal. The networks can be wireless, wired, infrared, RF, and powerline.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
a first housing for a loudspeaker, the first housing having therein a first loudspeaker configured to play audio signals, an audio input configured to receive a multi-channel audio signal, a processor configured to convert the received multi-channel audio signal into a plurality of single-channel audio signals, each single-channel audio signal representing a different portion or channel of the multi-channel audio signal and being assigned to either a first group of audio signals or a second group of audio signals, not both, each group comprising at least one of the single-channel audio signals, an amplifier module wired to the processor and configured to amplify the first group of audio signals and then drive the first loudspeaker with the amplified first group of audio signals, and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit i) the second group of audio signals and ii) data indicative of user input, as a combined signal, to a separate, second housing having therein a second loudspeaker, wherein, during playback of the multi-channel audio signal, the processor is further configured to route i) the first group of the audio signals, not the second group, to the amplifier module, and ii) the second group of audio signals, not the first group, to the wireless transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Specification