Multi-Channel Pairing in a Media System

• US 20140286507A1
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kallai, Christopher, Ericson, Michael Darrell Andrew, Lambourne, Robert A., Reimann, Robert, Triplett, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,219,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• 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 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• 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 5/04 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 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field

Abstract

Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. Particularly, the embodiments described herein enable two or more playback devices to be paired, such that multi-channel audio is achieved. Such embodiments may be used to produce stereo and multi-channel audio environments for television and movies.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing audio in a multi-channel listening environment, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface to facilitate communication on a network, wherein the network interface receives audio data over the network;

a plurality of speaker drivers;

an amplifier for powering the plurality of speaker drivers; and

a processor for processing the audio data to be output through the plurality of speaker drivers and further for configuring a first equalization of the output from the plurality of speaker drivers in accordance with a first type of pairing and configuring a second equalization of the output from the plurality of speaker drivers in accordance with a second type of pairing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first equalization comprises using a first type of pass filter to modify the output based on the first type of pairing, wherein the second equalization comprises using a second type of pass filter to modify the output based on the second type of pairing, and wherein the first type of pass filter and the second type of pass filter are different.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a playback device, and wherein the first type of pairing comprises no pairing with another playback device and the second type of pairing comprises pairing with one or more additional playback devices.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a playback device, and wherein the first type of pairing comprises pairing with a second playback device and the second type of pairing comprises pairing with a plurality of playback devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first type of pairing comprises reproducing two channel sound via the plurality of speaker drivers and wherein the second type of pairing comprises reproducing no more than one channel of the two channel sound via the plurality of speaker drivers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first type of pairing comprises reproducing a first audio channel via the plurality of speaker drivers and wherein the second type of pairing comprises reproducing a second audio channel via the plurality of speaker drivers, and wherein the first audio channel and the second audio channel are different.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first type of pairing comprises reproducing the audio content via the plurality of speaker drivers in stereo mode and wherein the second type of pairing comprises reproducing the audio content via the plurality of speaker drivers in theater mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first type of pairing comprises reproducing the audio content via the plurality of speaker drivers and wherein the second type of pairing comprises reproducing the audio content via the plurality of speaker drivers when in consolidated mode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to separate the audio data into separate audio channels, wherein at least one separate audio channel is output from the plurality of speaker drivers and at least one additional separate audio channel is transmitted by the network interface over the network.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a playback device and the network interface receives a signal from a controller over the network to pair with one or more playback devices.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a playback device and the network interface receives a signal from a controller over the network to configure the playback device in consolidation mode.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a playback device and further comprises a button that when selected chooses the channel of the playback device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network is a wireless network.

14. A method for providing audio in a multi-channel listening environment, the method comprising:

receiving audio data over a network;

processing the audio data to be output through a plurality of speaker drivers; and

configuring a first equalization of the output from the plurality of speaker drivers in accordance with a first type of pairing and configuring a second equalization of the output from the plurality of speaker drivers in accordance with a second type of pairing.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first equalization comprises using a first type of pass filter to modify the content based on the first type of pairing and wherein the second equalization comprises using a second type of pass filter to modify the output based on the second type of pairing, wherein the first type of pass filter and the second type of pass filter are different.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first type of pairing comprises no pairing with another playback device and the second type of pairing comprises pairing with one or more additional playback devices.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first type of pairing comprises pairing with a second playback device and the second type of pairing comprises pairing with a plurality of playback devices.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first type of pairing comprises reproducing two channel sound via the plurality of speaker drivers and wherein the second type of pairing comprises reproducing no more than one channel of the two channel sound via the plurality of speaker drivers.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first type of pairing comprises reproducing a first audio channel via the plurality of speaker drivers and wherein the second type of pairing comprises reproducing a second audio channel via the plurality of speaker drivers, and wherein the first audio channel and the second audio channel are different.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first type of pairing comprises reproducing the audio content via the plurality of speaker drivers and wherein the second type of pairing comprises reproducing the audio content via the plurality of speaker drivers when in consolidated mode.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to separate the audio data into separate audio channels, wherein at least one separate audio channel is output from the plurality of speaker drivers and at least one additional separate audio channel is transmitted by the network interface over the network.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending a signal over the network to a controller that selects a channel of the audio data that is output from the plurality of speaker drivers.