Method for changing type of streamed content for an audio system

• US 9,904,508 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2016
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Drinkwater, Don L., Elliot, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quynh
• Application Number:
  US15/277,444
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 381 77
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• 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 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

Abstract

A method for changing types of streamed content for an audio system in which a first type of streamed content that has a first signal type is received at the audio system and arrangements are made to begin receiving at the audio system a second type of streamed content, where the second type of streamed content has a second signal type that is different than the first signal type.

Claims

1. An audio system that is configured to receive streamed audio content and play the streamed audio content as audio output, the audio system comprising:

a processor that is configured to;

receive a first type of streamed content that has a first signal type, wherein the first type of streamed content comprises a plurality of sequential tracks of content data; and

arrange to begin receiving a second type of streamed content, where the second type of streamed content has a second signal type that is different than the first signal type, wherein arranging to begin receiving a second type of streamed content comprises using information in the first type of streamed content to identify the second type of streamed content, and beginning to play the second type of streamed content after one track has played and before the next sequential track begins to play; and

an electroacoustic transducer that is configured to play the streamed content.

2. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the first signal type is of a first communication protocol and the second signal type is of a second communication protocol, where the first and second communication protocols are different from one another.

3. The audio system of claim 2, wherein the first communication protocol employs a wireless technology for exchanging data over short distances.

4. The audio system of claim 3, wherein the first communication protocol employs a Bluetooth wireless technology.

5. The audio system of claim 2, wherein the second communication protocol employs a wireless local area network.

6. The audio system of claim 5, wherein the second communication protocol employs a WiFi technology.

7. The audio system of claim 2, wherein the first communication protocol employs a Bluetooth wireless technology and wherein the second communication protocol employs a WiFi technology.

8. The audio system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless network interface.

9. The audio system of claim 1, wherein arranging to begin receiving a second type of streamed content further comprises receiving from a user a command to switch to the second type of streamed content.

10. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the first type of streamed content originates from a first digital audio source, and wherein arranging to begin receiving a second type of streamed content further comprises detecting a change in at least one of the first digital audio source and the first signal type.

11. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the change in at least one of the first digital audio source and the first signal type comprises at least one of a change in signal strength, a change in signal buffering and a change in power level of the first digital audio source.

12. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the first type of streamed content originates from a first digital audio source, and wherein arranging to begin receiving a second type of streamed content further comprises identifying the first digital audio source.

13. The audio system of claim 12, wherein the first signal type is of a first communication protocol, wherein identifying the first digital audio source comprises reviewing data that is specific to the first digital audio source in the first type of streamed content, and wherein arranging to begin receiving a second type of streamed content further comprises arranging for the delivery of streamed content from the first digital audio source over a second communication protocol, where the first and second communication protocols are different from one another.

14. The audio system of claim 12, wherein the first communication protocol employs a Bluetooth wireless technology and the second communication protocol employs a WiFi technology.

15. The audio system of claim 12, wherein identifying the first digital audio source comprises polling a plurality of different digital audio sources.

16. The audio system of claim 15, wherein a user of the audio system has an account with the first digital audio source, and wherein polling a plurality of different digital audio sources comprises screening the plurality of different audio sources to identify one or more audio sources with which the user has an account.

17. The audio system of claim 16, wherein identifying the first digital audio source further comprises selecting one identified digital audio source with which the user has an account based on an identification of the first type of streamed content that is being streamed to the audio system by the digital audio source.

18. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the first type of streamed content originates from a first digital audio source and includes content metadata, and wherein arranging to begin receiving a second type of streamed content further comprises using the metadata with a second digital audio source.

19. The audio system of claim 18, wherein using the metadata with a second digital audio source comprises seeding a second digital audio source with the metadata, so that the second digital audio source provides digital audio data that is similar to the first type of streamed content.

20. A wireless audio playback device, comprising:

a processor that is configured to;

receive a first type of streamed content that has a first signal type with a first communication protocol that employs a Bluetooth wireless technology; and

arrange to begin receiving a second type of streamed content, where the second type of streamed content has a second signal type with a second communication protocol that is different than the first communication protocol, wherein the second communication protocol employs a WiFi technology, wherein arranging to begin receiving a second type of streamed content comprises using information in the first type of streamed content to identify the second type of streamed content; and

an electroacoustic transducer that is configured to play the streamed content as audio output;

wherein the first type of streamed content comprises a plurality of sequential tracks of content data, and wherein arranging to begin receiving second type of streamed content further comprises beginning to play the second type of streamed content after one track has played and before the next sequential track begins to play.