Method and apparatus for location based loudspeaker system configuration

• US 9,877,135 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Backman, Juha Reinhold, Tikander, Miikka Olavi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): ODUNUKWE, UBACHUKWU A
• Application Number:
  US13/912,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20140362995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 381 17, 381 81, 381 80, 381 58, 704270, 4554561, 455 412, 455456, 455422, 726 3
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone

Abstract

In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention, a method is disclosed. Near field communication is detected between at least two devices. A location of at least one of the at least two devices is determined based on the detected near field communication. An audio channel of a multi-channel audio file is assigned based on the determined location of the at least one of the at least two devices.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting near field communication between at least two devices;

defining one of the at least two devices as a playback device based, at least partially, on the detected near field communication;

determining, with a processor, a dynamic location of at least the playback device relative to a user selected listening position defined by the other of the at least two devices in response to the detected near field communication;

in response to a tapping of the playback device, assigning, with the processor, a first respective audio channel of a multi-channel audio file based on the determined dynamic location of the playback device so as to adjust a playback setting for the assigned respective first audio channel relative to the user selected listening position;

assigning, with the processor, a second respective audio channel of the multi-channel audio file based on the tapping of the playback device; and

reproducing an adjusted respective audio channel by the playback device based on the determined dynamic location of at least the playback device relative to the user selected listening position.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the near field communication comprises tapping or contacting devices.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a distance between the listening location and the at least one of the at least two devices.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the assigning of the channel further comprises assigning at least one of:

a center sound channel, a right front sound channel, a left front sound channel, a right surround sound channel, or a left surround sound channel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the near field communication comprises one of:

a near field communication (NFC) method, or one or more sensors.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the determined location is stored and transmitted.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein each one of the at least two devices comprises an audio system having at least one speaker.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the playback device is configured to provide at least a portion of a synchronized multichannel sound reproduction and/or a synchronized multichannel recording.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the playback device is configured to transmit metadata in an inaudible audio range.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two devices are configured to record three dimensional (3D) video.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the playback setting comprises at least one of:

a propagation delay, a sound level, and an amplitude.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code

the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

detect near field communication between at least two devices;

define one of the at least two devices as a playback device based, at least partially, on the detected near field communication;

determine a dynamic location of at least the playback device relative to a user selected listening position defined by the other of the at least two devices in response to the detected near field communication;

in response to a tapping of the playback device, assign a first respective audio channel of a multi-channel audio file based on the determined dynamic location of the playback device so as to adjust a playback setting for the assigned respective first audio channel relative to the user selected listening position;

assign, with the processor, a second respective audio channel of the multi-channel audio file based on the tapping of the playback device; and

reproduce an adjusted respective audio channel by the playback device based on the determined dynamic location of at least the playback device relative to the user selected listening position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile device, and wherein the listening location is determined by the mobile device.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine a distance between the listening location and the device.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the near field communication comprises tapping or contacting devices.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each one of the devices comprises an audio device having at least one speaker.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the near field communication comprises one of:

a near field communication (NFC) method, or one or more sensors.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the playback device is configured to provide at least a portion of a synchronized multichannel sound reproduction and/or a synchronized multichannel recording.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the playback device is configured to transmit metadata in an inaudible audio range.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the at least two devices are configured to record three dimensional (3D) video.