Audio reproduction system which adaptively assigns different sound parts to different reproduction parts

• US 6,738,318 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dolby International AB (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huber, Paul W.
• Application Number:
  US09/799,460
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 369/1, 369/2, 369/5, 369/47.15, 369/47.16, 369/47.17, 369/47.23, 369/47.24, 369/53.2, 369/53.18, 369/53.31, 369/53.33
• US Class Current: 369/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/501 Performance criteria
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/002 Loudspeaker arrays
• 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

Abstract

Audio is adaptively associated with speakers, depending on the speaker configuration that is present. Each speaker it receives an audio assignment based on its individual spectral characteristics. As more speakers are added, content is adaptively associated with that you speaker, and taken away from the previous.

Claims

1. An audio reproduction system, comprising:

a computer controlled sound reproduction system receiving sound information, including a first part that stores information indicative of sonic characteristics of attached sound reproduction equipment, and a processor determining which sound reproduction equipment reproduces which parts of said sound information based on individual characteristics of said sound reproduction equipment.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a connection element, connecting between said sound reproduction equipment and said processor, allowing automatically obtaining said individual characteristics of said sound reproduction equipment.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein said connection element communicates wirelessly.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein said communication element is over Bluetooth.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein said attached sound reproduction equipment includes speakers.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said connection element communicates over a line between an audio amplifier and attached audio speakers.

7. An audio reproduction system, comprising:

a sound reproduction part including an audio controller, and a processor, associated with said audio controller, said processor determining information indicative of sonic characteristics of a plurality of separate other sound reproduction equipment, said sound reproduction part having an audio input adapted to receive sound information, and said processor operating to determine, which of said other sound reproduction equipment should reproduce different parts of the sound information based on individual sonic characteristics of each of said sound reproduction equipment.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein said other sound reproduction equipment includes audio speakers, and said individual sonic characteristics is information indicative of optimum reproduction characteristics of said audio speakers.

9. A system as in claim 7, further comprising at least first and second separate other sound reproduction equipment, and a connection between said first and second other sound reproduction equipment and said processor.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein said connection is over an existing audio connection wire between said sound reproduction equipment and said audio amplifier.

11. A system as in claim 9, wherein said connection is via universal serial bus.

12. A system as in claim 9, wherein said connection is via a wireless connection.

13. A system as in claim 7, wherein said processor determines how to reproduce said audio based on information that is encoded within a played audio program.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein said played audio program includes multiple tracks, and also includes information about sonic characteristics of each of said multiple tracks, wherein said processor is responsive to said information to determine which sound reproduction equipment should reproduce each of said multiple tracks.