Networked speaker system with follow me

• US 9,699,579 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Carlsson, Gregory Peter, Vega, Oscar Manuel, Resch, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, VIVIAN C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Odunukwe, Ubachukwu
• Application Number:
  US14/974,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20160105754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 381 81, 381 77, 381 80, 381 82, 381 85, 4554561, 340 441, 340 757, 340 81, 340 91, 3403847
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• 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 2420/03 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: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/308 Electronic adaptation dependent on speaker or headphone connection

Abstract

In a multi-speaker audio system for, e.g., a home entertainment system or other entertainment system, each networked-speaker (wired or wireless) is activated or deactivated as appropriate such that audio play follows a user as the user moves around the home.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that comprises instructions executable by at least one processor for;

receiving, at least at a first locator device distanced from and outside of respective housings of at least first and second speakers located in a building, at least a first wireless signal from an electronic device;

comparing the first wireless signal received by the locator device to a signal strength threshold;

responsive to a determination that the first wireless signal satisfies the signal strength threshold, activating or maintaining activated at least one speaker closest to the locator device, and deactivating or maintaining deactivated at least one speaker further away from the locator device than the at least one speaker closest the locator unit; and

responsive to a determination that the first wireless signal does not satisfy the signal strength threshold, deactivating or maintaining deactivated at least one speaker closest to the locator device, and activating or maintaining activated at least one speaker further away from the locator device than the at least one speaker closest the locator unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one locator device is established by at least first and second locator units disposed in respective first and second rooms in the building.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are executable for comparing signal strength of the first wireless signal received at the locator device against the signal strength threshold and responsive to signal strength at the locator device satisfying the signal strength threshold, activating a respective speaker in the room in which the locator device is disposed.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one locator device is established by one and only one locator unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless signal is established by one or more of radiofrequency identification signals, Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth signals, ultra wideband signals.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising the at least one processor executing the instructions.

7. Device comprising:

at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that comprises instructions executable by at least one processor for;

presenting on a display a user interface (UI) including;

a first selector selectable to enable logic to activate and deactivate speakers in a building,

a second selector selectable to disable the logic to activate and deactivate speakers;

a third selector selectable to direct the logic to activate speakers only within a room in which the user is located, maintaining all other speakers in the building deactivated; and

a fourth selector selectable to direct the logic to activate at least a first speaker within a threshold distance of a location regardless of whether the first speaker is in the same room as the location, and not to activate a second speaker not within the threshold distance of the location.

8. The device of claim 7, comprising the at least one processor executing the instructions.

9. A device comprising:

at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that comprises instructions executable by at least one processor for;

receiving, at least at a first locator outside of respective housings of at least first and second speakers, signals from an electronic device;

comparing at least one of the signals received by the locator to a signal strength threshold;

responsive to a determination that the at least one of the signals satisfies the signal strength threshold, activating or maintaining activated at least one speaker closest to the locator, and deactivating or maintaining deactivated at least one speaker further away from the locator than the at least one speaker closest the locator; and

responsive to a determination that the at least one of the signals does not satisfy the signal strength threshold, deactivating or maintaining deactivated at least one speaker closest to the locator, and activating or maintaining activated at least one speaker further away from the locator than the at least one speaker closest the locator.

10. The device of claim 9, comprising the at least one processor executing the instructions.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least one locator is established by at least first and second locator units disposed in respective first and second rooms in a building.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable for comparing signal strength of the signals received at each locator unit against the signal strength threshold and responsive to signal strength at a first locator unit satisfying the signal strength threshold, activating the respective speaker in the room in which the first locator unit is disposed.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the at least one locator is established by one and only one locator unit.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the signals are established by one or more of radiofrequency identification signals, Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth signals, ultra wideband signals.