Defect detection via audio playback

• US 9,930,463 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Little, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): FALEY, KATHERINE A
• Application Number:
  US15/087,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20170289717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 381 58, 381 59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• 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 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00

Abstract

Embodiments of detecting detects in a playback device via audio playback are provided. A playback device may play a test sound during a time period, and capture, via one or more microphones of the playback device, the test sound during the time period. A determination that a defect in the playback device has been detected may be based on the recorded test sound.

Claims

1. A playback device, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more transducers configured to output sound;

one or more microphones;

memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

performing a first test, wherein performing the first test comprises;

playing back, via the one or more transducers, a first test sound;

recording, via the one or more microphones, the first test sound, wherein the recorded first test sound comprises audio data in a range of frequencies; and

detecting, based on the recorded first test sound, data indicating a defect of the playback device based on the recorded first test sound, wherein the data indicating the defect comprises data in a subrange of frequencies of the range of frequencies having at least one of (i) missing spectral characteristics and (ii) deteriorated spectral playback characteristics with respect to an expected test sound;

based on the data indicating the defect of the playback device, performing a second test that is different than the first test, wherein performing the second test comprises;

playing back, via the one or more transducers, a second test sound comprising only audio within the subrange of frequencies;

recording, via the one or more microphones, the second test sound; and

determining details on the defect of the playback device based on the recorded second test sound.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing a comparison of the recorded first test sound with the expected test sound.

3. The playback device of claim 2, wherein detecting the data indicating the defect in the playback device comprises:

receiving, from a computing device, an indication of the defect based on the comparison.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first test sound comprises a multi-tone audio signal.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting, to a computing device, a message indicating that the defect has been detected.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

monitoring time periods of activity; and

storing active time information comprising the time periods of activity.

7. The playback device of claim 6, wherein the functions further comprise:

comparing the active time information with a time threshold;

determining that active time information is at least the time threshold;

in response to determining that the active time information is at least the time threshold, initiating a re-calibration mode; and

in response to initiating the re-calibration mode, playing the first test sound.

8. The playback device of claim 6, wherein the functions further comprise:

comparing the active time information with a time threshold;

determining that the active time information is less than the time threshold;

in response to determining that the active time information is less than the time threshold, adjusting audio settings according to predetermined audio settings based on the active time information.

9. A method, comprising:

performing a first test, wherein performing the first test comprises;

playing back, via a playback device, a first test sound;

recording, via the playback device, the first test sound, wherein the recorded first test sound comprises audio data in a range of frequencies; and

detecting, based on the recorded first test sound, data indicating a defect of the playback device based on the recorded first test sound, wherein the data indicating the defect comprises data in a subrange of frequencies of the range of frequencies having at least one of (i) missing spectral characteristics and (ii) deteriorated spectral playback characteristics with respect to an expected test sound;

based on the data indicating the defect of the playback device, performing a second test that is different than the first test, wherein performing the second test comprises;

playing back, via the one or more transducers, a second test sound comprising only audio within the subrange of frequencies;

recording, via the one or more microphones, the second test sound; and

determining details on the defect of the playback device based on the recorded second test sound.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

causing a comparison of the recorded first test sound with the expected test sound.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the data indicating the defect in the playback device comprises:

receiving, from a computing device, an indication of the defect based on the comparison.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting, to a computing device, a message indicating that the defect has been detected.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

monitoring time periods of activity; and

storing active time information comprising the time periods of activity.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

comparing the active time information with a time threshold;

determining that the active time information is at least the time threshold;

in response to determining that the active time information is at least the time threshold, initiating a re-calibration mode; and

in response to initiating the re-calibration mode, playing the first test sound.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

comparing the active time information with a time threshold;

determining that the active time information is less than the time threshold;

in response to determining that the active time information is less than the time threshold, adjusting audio settings according to predetermined audio settings based on the active time information.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a playback device cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

performing a first test, wherein performing the first test comprises;

playing back a first test sound during a first time period;

recording, via one or more microphones of the playback device, the first test sound, wherein the recorded first test sound comprises audio data in a range of frequencies;

and

detecting, based on the recorded first test sound, data indicating a defect of the playback device based on the recorded first test sound, wherein the data indicating the defect comprises data in a subrange of frequencies of the range of frequencies having at least one of (i) missing spectral characteristics and (ii) deteriorated spectral playback characteristics with respect to an expected test sound;

based on the data indicating the defect of the playback device, performing a second test that is different than the first test, wherein performing the second test comprises;

playing back, via the one or more transducers, a second test sound during a second time period, wherein the second test sound comprises only audio within the subrange of frequencies;

recording, via the one or more microphones, the second test sound; and

determining details on the defect of the playback device based on the recorded second test sound.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing a comparison of the recorded first test sound with the expected test sound.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein detecting the data indicating the defect in the playback device comprises:

receiving, from a first computing device, an indication of the defect based on the comparison, and wherein the functions further comprise;

transmitting, to the first computing device or a second computing device, a message indicating that the defect has been detected.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise:

monitoring time periods of activity; and

storing active time information comprising the time periods of activity.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise:

monitoring time periods of activity;

storing active time information comprising the time periods of activity;

comparing the active time information with a time threshold;

determining that the active time information is at least the time threshold;

in response to determining that the active time information is at least the time threshold, initiating a re-calibration mode; and

in response to initiating the re-calibration mode, playing the first test sound.