Audio output balancing during synchronized playback

• US 9,226,087 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Ramos, Aurelio Rafael
• Primary Examiner(s): Edun, Muhammad N
• Application Number:
  US14/174,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20150222991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/001 Digital control of analog signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 7/002 in untuned or low-frequency amplifiers, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G7/007, H03G7/001, H03G7/008, H03G7/02, H03G7/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 11/00 Transducers of moving-armature or moving-core type acoustic diaphragm of magnetisable material directly coacting with electromagnet H04R13/00
• 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 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/03 Synergistic effects of band splitting and sub-band processing
• 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 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/14 Cross-over networks
• 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 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• 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 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/308 Electronic adaptation dependent on speaker or headphone connection

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein for balancing of outputs from playback devices playing audio content in synchrony. In one embodiment, the balancing of outputs may involve receiving a first audio signal to be played by a first playback device, determining a first limiting result by applying to a second audio signal a limiting function associated with a second playback device, determining a limiting function based on the first limiting result, and configuring the first playback device to apply the determined limiting function when playing the first audio signal. In some cases, the first and second playback devices may be configured to play the first and second audio signals, respectively, in synchrony.

Claims

1. A first playback device comprising:

a processor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising;

receiving a first audio signal, wherein the first playback device is configured to play the first audio signal;

determining a first limiting result that represents playback of a second audio signal by a second playback device by applying to the second audio signal a pre-determined volume-limiting function that is associated with the second playback device;

based on the first limiting result, determining another volume-limiting function; and

configuring the first playback device to apply the determined volume-limiting function to the first audio signal such that a playback volume of the first audio signal is scaled according to the determined volume-limiting function.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first audio signal and second audio signal are first and second audio components, respectively, of an audio content, and wherein the first playback device is configured to play the first audio signal in synchrony with a playback of the second audio signal by the second playback device.

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

applying the determined volume-limiting function when playing the first audio in synchrony with the playback of the second audio signal by the second playback device.

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

sending the second audio signal to the second playback device; and

configuring the second playback device to apply the pre-determined volume-limiting function associated with the second playback device when playing the second audio signal.

5. The first playback device of claim 4, wherein the functions further comprise:

applying the pre-determined volume-limiting function associated with the second playback device to the second audio signal to generate a volume-limited second audio signal;

sending the limited second audio signal to the second playback device; and

configuring the second playback device to play the limited second audio signal in synchrony with playback of the first audio signal according to the determined volume-limiting function.

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

prior to determining the first limiting result, receiving the pre-determined volume-limiting function associated with the second playback device.

7. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first audio signal comprises content in a first frequency range, and wherein the second audio signal comprises content in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

8. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first playback device is a left channel speaker, and the second playback device is a right channel speaker.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first playback device, a first audio signal and a second audio signal, wherein the first playback device is configured to play the first audio signal in synchrony with a playback of the second audio signal by a second playback device;

determining, by the first playback device, a first limiting result that represents playback of the first audio signal by the first playback device by applying, to the first audio signal, a first pre-determined volume-limiting function that is associated with the first playback device;

determining, by the first playback device, a second limiting result by applying, to the second audio signal, a second pre-determined volume-limiting function that is associated with the second playback device;

determining, by the first playback device, a third volume-limiting function based on the first limiting result and the second limiting result; and

configuring the first playback device to apply the third volume-limiting function to the first audio signal such that a playback volume of the first audio signal is scaled according to the determined volume-limiting function.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending, by the first playback device, the second audio signal to the second playback device; and

configuring, by the first playback device, the second playback device to apply the second pre-determined volume-limiting function associated with the second playback device when playing the second audio signal.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

applying, by the first playback device, the second pre-determined volume-limiting function associated with the second playback device to the second audio signal to generate a limited second audio signal;

sending, by the first playback device, the limited second audio signal to the second playback device; and

configuring the second playback device to play the limited second audio signal in synchrony with playback of the first audio signal according to the determined third volume-limiting function by the first playback device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

prior to determining the first limiting result, receiving the second pre-determined volume-limiting function associated with the second playback device.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising, wherein the first audio signal comprises signals in a first frequency range, and wherein the second audio signal comprises signals in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first playback device is a left channel speaker, and the second playback device is a right channel speaker.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a first playback device to cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a first audio signal, wherein the first playback device is configured to play the first audio signal;

determining a first limiting result that represents playback of a second audio signal by a second playback device by applying to the second audio signal a pre-determined volume-limiting function that is associated with the second playback device;

based on the first limiting result, determining another volume-limiting function; and

configuring the first playback device to apply the determined volume-limiting function to the first audio signal such that a playback volume of the first audio signal is scaled according to the determined volume-limiting function.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise:

applying the determined volume-limiting function when playing the first audio in synchrony with the playback of the second audio signal by the second playback device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first audio signal and second audio signal are first and second audio components, respectively, of an audio content, and wherein the first playback device is configured to play the first audio signal in synchrony with a playback of the second audio signal by the second playback device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to determining the first limiting result, receiving the pre-determined volume-limiting function associated with the second playback device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first audio signal comprises signals in a first frequency range, and wherein the second audio signal comprises signals in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first playback device is a left channel speaker, and the second playback device is a right channel speaker.