Managing audio output through an intermediary

• US 9,319,815 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NICE North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warren, Jeremy Bruce, Thomas, Jeffrey Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-See
• Application Number:
  US13/183,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20130016848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 381 1- 3, 381 56- 59, 381/61, 381/77, 700/94, 340/359.1, 340540-542, 340/545.1, 340/531, 369/2
• 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: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for managing audio output through an intermediary. In some embodiments, an audio controller emulates a direct connection between an audio source device and an audio output device. In other embodiments, audio content local to an audio controller is combined with other audio content passing through the audio controller on its way from an audio source device to an audio output device. In additional embodiments, an audio output device is locked to an audio controller. The lock survives power cycling and soft resets of the audio output device. A special hard reset can be used to release the audio output device.

Claims

1. A method for modifying audio content being transferred through an audio controller, comprising:

sending, via the audio controller, a pairing request to an output device, the pairing request including audio controller pairing information;

pairing the audio controller with the output device upon the output device accepting the pairing request, wherein the output device stores the controller pairing information upon accepting the pairing request;

upon losing the pairing between the audio controller, using the stored controller pairing information to reestablish the pairing between the audio controller and the output device, wherein the output device does not respond to pairing requests from other devices based on the stored controller pairing information;

wirelessly transferring, via the audio controller, the audio content from a source device to the output device for real-time output, the audio content comprising data in a digital audio format representing music;

receiving an indication of an occurrence of an external event from a sensor device, the indication received at a time when the audio controller is in the process of wirelessly transferring the audio content to the output device for audio output; and

in response to receiving the indication of the external event;

determining that additional audio content related to the external event is to be output at the audio output device;

modifying one or more of the audio content and the transfer timing of the audio content in order to accommodate the additional audio content; and

combining the additional audio content with the audio content sent to the output device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wirelessly transferring the audio content from a source device to an output device for real-time output comprises an act of one of:

an alarm system control panel and a home automation system control panel wirelessly transferring the audio content from a source device to an output device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the wirelessly transferring the audio content from a source device to an output device for real-time output comprises:

wirelessly transferring music from an audio source device to wireless speakers.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving an indication of an occurrence of an external event from a sensor device comprises:

receiving an alarm system event from an active or passive sensor included in an alarm system.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining that additional audio content related to the external event is to be output at the audio output device comprises:

determining that additional audio content related to an alarm system condition is to be output at the audio output device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the modifying one or more of the audio content and the transfer timing of the audio content in order to accommodate the additional audio content comprises:

lowering the volume of the audio content.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the combining the additional audio content with the audio content sent to the output device comprises:

mixing the additional audio content into the audio content.