Auto-configurable speaker system

• US 9,866,965 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2016
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Friedlander, Steven, Young, David, Yi, Hyehoon, Demerchant, Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): BERNARDI, BRENDA C
• Application Number:
  US15/018,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20170230753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/05 Detection of connection of loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• 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

Various aspects of a speaker system and a method for auto-configuration of the speaker system is disclosed herein. The speaker system includes an electronic device, which reproduce a first audio in a first speaker configuration. A first sound reproduction device is detected within a pre-defined range of the electronic device. Based on the detection, the first audio is communicated to the first sound reproduction device by the electronic device. The first speaker configuration is modified to a second speaker configuration to reproduce the communicated first audio at the first sound reproduction device.

Claims

1. A speaker system, comprising:

circuitry in an electronic device configured to reproduce a first audio in a first speaker configuration, said circuitry is further configured to;

detect a first sound reproduction device within a range of said electronic device;

communicate said first audio to said first sound reproduction device based on said detection of said first sound reproduction device;

modify said first speaker configuration to a second speaker configuration to reproduce said communicated first audio at said first sound reproduction device; and

automatically transmit, based on a detection of a change in position of said first sound reproduction device with respect to said electronic device, a second calibration setting to said first sound reproduction device.

2. The speaker system according to claim 1,

wherein said electronic device corresponds to one of a central speaker, a sound bar, or a central control device, and

wherein said first sound reproduction device corresponds to one of a side speaker, a digital speaker, a loudspeaker, or a portable sound reproduction device.

3. The speaker system according to claim 1,

wherein said first speaker configuration corresponds to a first multi-channel audio system configuration and said second speaker configuration corresponds to a second multi-channel audio system configuration.

4. The speaker system according to claim 1,

wherein said circuitry is further configured for a first audio calibration in said second speaker configuration based on a first position of said first sound reproduction device, and

wherein a first calibration setting is communicated to said first sound reproduction device for said first audio calibration.

5. The speaker system according to claim 1,

wherein said circuitry is further configured for a second audio calibration in said second speaker configuration based on said second calibration setting.

6. The speaker system according to claim 5,

wherein said change in position corresponds to a movement of said first sound reproduction device from said first position to a second position with respect to said electronic device in a first room space.

7. The speaker system according to claim 5,

wherein said change in position corresponds to a movement of said first sound reproduction device from said first position to a second position,

wherein said first position is at a first room space and said second position is at a second room space, and

wherein said first sound reproduction device and said electronic device function as a unified multi-channel audio system based on said second audio calibration.

8. The speaker system according to claim 1,

wherein said circuitry is further configured to automatically connect to said first sound reproduction device via a wireless communication protocol based on said detection of said first sound reproduction device within said range of said electronic device.

9. The speaker system according to claim 1,

wherein said circuitry is further configured to connect to a second sound reproduction device via a wireless communication protocol based on a detection of said second sound reproduction device within said range of said electronic device.

10. The speaker system according to claim 9,

wherein said circuitry is further configured to concurrently communicate said first audio to said first sound reproduction device and said second sound reproduction device, and

wherein said second speaker configuration is modified to a third speaker configuration to reproduce said communicated first audio at said first sound reproduction device and said second sound reproduction device.

11. The speaker system according to claim 9,

wherein said circuitry is further configured to communicate said first audio to said first sound reproduction device and a second audio to said second sound reproduction device, and

wherein said second speaker configuration is modified to a third speaker configuration to reproduce said communicated first audio at said first sound reproduction device and said second audio at said second sound reproduction device.

12. The speaker system according to claim 1,

wherein said circuitry is further configured to auto-reconfigure said first speaker configuration based on a disconnection of said first sound reproduction device from said electronic device.

13. The speaker system according to claim 1,

wherein said circuitry is further configured to wirelessly recharge said first sound reproduction device, and

wherein said first sound reproduction device comprises a rechargeable power bank.

14. A method for auto-configuration of a speaker system, said method comprising:

reproducing, by an electronic device, a first audio in a first speaker configuration;

detecting, by said electronic device, a first sound reproduction device within a range of said electronic device;

communicating, by said electronic device, said first audio to said first sound reproduction device based on said detection;

modifying, by said electronic device, said first speaker configuration to a second speaker configuration to reproduce said communicated first audio at said first sound reproduction device; and

automatically transmitting, based on a detection of a change in position of said first sound reproduction device with respect to said electronic device, a second calibration setting to said first sound reproduction device.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising a first audio calibration, by said electronic device, in said second speaker configuration based on a first position of said first sound reproduction device, wherein a first calibration setting is communicated to said first sound reproduction device for said first audio calibration.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising a second audio calibration, by said electronic device, in said second speaker configuration based on said second calibration setting.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising connecting, by said electronic device, to said first sound reproduction device via a wireless communication protocol based on said detection of said first sound reproduction device within said range of said electronic device.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising connecting, by said electronic device, to a second sound reproduction device via a wireless communication protocol based on a detection of said second sound reproduction device within said range of said electronic device.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising communicating, by said electronic device, said first audio to said first sound reproduction device and said second sound reproduction device, wherein said second speaker configuration is modified to a third speaker configuration to reproduce said communicated first audio at said first sound reproduction device and said second sound reproduction device.

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising an auto-reconfiguration, by said electronic device, of said first speaker configuration based on a disconnection of said first sound reproduction device from said electronic device.