COMPUTER-READABLE PROGRAM, AUDIO CONTROLLER, AND WIRELESS AUDIO SYSTEM

• US 20180253276A1
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Published: 09/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D&M Holdings Incorporated (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: D&M Holdings Incorporated (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kodama, Sho
• Granted Patent: US 10,310,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 15/00 Acoustics not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/06 Arranging circuit leads; Relieving strain on circuit leads
• 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 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of changing an output characteristic of music data more efficiently with a simpler operation irrespective of whether or not the music data is being played back, an audio controller (2) identifies a usage environment of a wireless speaker (1) from picked-up image data on an installation room of the wireless speaker (1). Then, an output characteristic suitable for the identified usage environment is selected, and the selected output characteristic is set as an output characteristic of music data to be output from the wireless speaker (1). In this case, a ratio between a width of a wall behind the wireless speaker (1) and a width of the speaker is obtained from the picked-up image data obtained by picking up an image of the installation room of the wireless speaker (1) so that boundaries between the wall behind the wireless speaker (1) and both sides thereof are aligned with both edges of an angle of view, and a size of the installation room of the wireless speaker (1) is identified based on this ratio to be used as the usage environment. Further, an installation position of the speaker is identified based on a display position of the speaker in the picked-up image data to be also used as the usage environment.

Claims

1. A program readable by a computer, for causing the computer to function as an audio controller,

the program comprising:

output characteristic storage means for storing an output characteristic of a playback signal for each usage environment of a speaker;

picked-up image data acquisition means for acquiring picked-up image data on an installation area of the speaker, which includes the speaker;

usage environment identification means for identifying the usage environment of the speaker based on the picked-up image data acquired by the picked-up image data acquisition means; and

output characteristic determination means for determining an output characteristic stored in the output characteristic storage means in association with the usage environment identified by the usage environment identification means, as an output characteristic of a playback signal to be output from the speaker.

2. A program readable by a computer according to claim 1,

wherein the picked-up image data acquisition means is configured to acquire, as first picked-up image data, picked-up image data obtained by picking up an image of the installation area of the speaker so that boundaries on both sides of a wall behind the speaker are aligned with both edges of an angle of view, and

wherein the usage environment identification means is configured to obtain a ratio between a width of the wall behind the speaker and a width of the speaker from the first picked-up image data, and to identify, as the usage environment of the speaker, a size of the installation area of the speaker based on the ratio.

3. A program readable by a computer according to claim 2,

wherein the picked-up image data acquisition means is configured to further acquire, as second picked-up image data, picked-up image data obtained by picking up an image of the installation area of the speaker so that boundaries on both sides of a wall beside the speaker are aligned with both edges of an angle of view, and

wherein the usage environment identification means is configured to further obtain a ratio between a width of the wall beside the speaker and a depth of the speaker from the second picked-up image data, and to identify, as the usage environment of the speaker, a size of the installation area of the speaker based on the ratio obtained from the second picked-up image data and the ratio obtained from the first picked-up image data.

4. A program readable by a computer according to claim 1,

wherein the picked-up image data acquisition means is configured to acquire, as first picked-up image data, picked-up image data obtained by picking up an image of the installation area of the speaker so that boundaries on both sides of a wall behind the speaker are aligned with both edges of an angle of view, and

wherein the usage environment identification means is configured to identify, as the usage environment of the speaker, an installation position of the speaker within the installation area based on a display position of the speaker in the first picked-up image data.

5. A program readable by a computer according to claim 4,

wherein the picked-up image data acquisition means is configured to further acquire, as second picked-up image data, picked-up image data obtained by picking up an image of the installation area of the speaker so that boundaries on both sides of a wall beside the speaker are aligned with both edges of an angle of view, and

wherein the usage environment identification means is configured to identify, as the usage environment of the speaker, an installation position of the speaker within the installation area based on a display position of the speaker in each of the first picked-up image data and the second picked-up image data.

6. A program readable by a computer according to claim 1, wherein the picked-up image data acquisition means is configured to acquire the picked-up image data on the installation area of the speaker by picking up an image of the installation area through use of a camera function of the computer.

7. A program readable by a computer according to claim 1, wherein the audio controller further comprises output characteristic transmission means for transmitting the output characteristic identified by the output characteristic determination means to a predetermined audio device.

8. An audio controller, which is configured to determine an output characteristic of a playback signal to be output from a speaker, the audio controller comprising:

output characteristic storage means for storing an output characteristic of a playback signal for each usage environment of the speaker;

picked-up image data acquisition means for acquiring picked-up image data on an installation area of the speaker, which includes the speaker;

usage environment identification means for identifying the usage environment of the speaker based on the picked-up image data acquired by the picked-up image data acquisition means;

output characteristic determination means for determining an output characteristic stored in the output characteristic storage means in association with the usage environment identified by the usage environment identification means, as the output characteristic of the playback signal to be output from the speaker; and

output characteristic transmission means for transmitting the output characteristic identified by the output characteristic determination means to a predetermined audio device.

9. A wireless audio system, comprising:

the audio controller of claim 8; and

a wireless speaker having an audio playback function,

wherein the output characteristic transmission means of the audio controller is configured to wirelessly transmit an output characteristic identified by the output characteristic determination means to the wireless speaker, and

wherein the wireless speaker includes;

output characteristic reception means for receiving the output characteristic transmitted wirelessly from the audio controller; and

output characteristic setting means for setting the output characteristic received by the output characteristic reception means as an output characteristic of a playback signal of music data to be output from the wireless speaker.