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Spatial mapping of audio playback devices in a listening environment

  • US 9,949,054 B2
  • Filed: 09/30/2015
  • Issued: 04/17/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • sending by a given playback device, a first signal indicative of a position of the given playback device wherein the given playback device is associated with a first channel of a plurality of audio channels;

    receiving, via a plurality of microphones of the given playback device, a second signal indicative of a respective position of each of one or more other playback devices, wherein each of the one or more other playback devices is associated with a respective channel of the plurality of audio channels;

    determining the position of the given playback device relative to each position of the one or more other playback devices based on the second signal indicative of the respective position of each of the one or more other playback devices;

    determining an angular orientation of the given playback device relative to each orientation of the one or more other playback devices based on a difference in time delay of receipt of the second signal by the plurality of microphones;

    determining an angle between a listening position in the listening environment and a virtual point, wherein the virtual point is a position in the listening environment between the given playback device and one of the one or more other playback devices;

    causing a controller device to output, to a display of the controller device, a device map indicating the positions in the listening environment of the given playback device and the one or more other playback devices, wherein the device map is oriented on the display at the determined angle between the listening position and the virtual point;

    comparing the determined position and the determined orientation of the given playback device relative to each position and to each orientation of the one or more other playback devices to a corresponding one or more relative reference positions and reference orientations, respectively, wherein the one or more relative reference positions and the one or more relative reference orientations are defined by a predefined audio standard, and wherein a corresponding relative reference position associated with the given playback device and a given device of the one or more other playback devices is based on the first channel associated with the playback device and the respective channel associated with the given device; and

    based on the comparison, causing a controller device to output an indication in the device map on the display that at least one of the given playback device and the one or other more playback devices is not positioned or oriented in accordance with the one or more relative reference positions or with the one or more reference orientations, respectively, such that repositioning or reorienting in accordance with the one or more relative reference positions and the one or more reference orientations will improve playback of audio by the given playback device and the one or more other playback devices, wherein causing the controller device to output the indication comprises displaying one or more alerts indicating improper placement in the device map, wherein individual alerts of the one or more alerts are positioned in the device map adjacent the at least one of the given playback device and the one or more other playback devices not positioned or oriented in accordance with the one or more relative reference positions or with the one or more reference orientations, respectively.

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