Configuration based on speaker orientation

• US 9,748,646 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kallai, Christopher, Ericson, Michael Darrell Andrew, Lang, Jonathan P., Wisneski, Craig, Reilly, Jonathon, Daly, Seamus, Mansfield, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Saunders, Jr., Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOONEY, JAMES K
• Application Number:
  US14/684,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20150220302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0834 based on external parameters, e.g. subscriber speed or location
• 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 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 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/302 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus to shape sound based on a speaker orientation. An example playback device includes a network interface; a processor; and a memory including instructions stored therein. The instructions are executable by the processor to perform functions including: receiving, via the network interface from a network device, an indication that an orientation of the playback device is one of a first orientation or a second orientation; when the received indication is the first orientation, then configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting; and when the received indication is the second orientation, then configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a second equalization setting.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory including instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

receiving, via the network interface from a network device, a first indication that an orientation of the playback device is a first orientation;

in response to receiving the first indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting;

pairing the playback device with an additional playback device;

receiving, via the network interface from the network device, a second indication that an orientation of the playback device is a second orientation; and

in response to receiving the second indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to (i) a second equalization setting and (ii) the pairing with the additional playback device.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises routing a first set of frequencies in an audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speakers, and wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the second equalization setting comprises routing a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speakers, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the first equalization setting, and wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the second equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the second equalization setting.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the first equalization setting and a state of the playback device.

5. The playback device of claim 4, wherein the state of the playback device is selected from a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (i) not paired, and (ii) a pairing state indicative of the pairing of the playback device with the additional playback device.

6. The playback device of claim 5, the functions further comprising:

receiving, via the network interface from the network device, an indication that the state of the playback device is the pairing state.

7. The playback device of claim 5, the functions further comprising:

receiving, via the network interface from the network device, an indication that the state of the playback device is not paired.

8. The playback device of claim 5, wherein when the playback device is in the paired state, the playback device and additional playback device have different playback roles.

9. The playback device of claim 1, wherein receiving the first indication that the orientation of the playback device is the first orientation comprises, receiving, via the network interface from the network device over a local area network (LAN), the first indication that the orientation of the playback device is the first orientation.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, via a network interface of a playback device from a network device, a first indication that an orientation of the playback device is a first orientation;

in response to receiving the first indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting;

pairing the playback device with an additional playback device;

receiving, via the network interface from the network device, a second indication that an orientation of the playback device is a second orientation; and

in response to receiving the second indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to (i) a second equalization setting and (ii) the pairing with the additional playback device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises routing a first set of frequencies in an audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speakers, and wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the second equalization setting comprises routing a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speakers, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the first equalization setting, and wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the second equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the second equalization setting.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the first equalization setting and a state of the playback device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the state of the playback device is selected from a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (i) not paired and (ii) a pairing state indicative of the pairing of the playback device with the additional playback device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, via the network interface of the playback device from the network device, an indication that the state of the playback device is the pairing state.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, via the network interface from the network device, an indication that the state of the playback device is not paired.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein when the playback device is in the paired state, the playback device and additional playback device have different playback roles.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the first indication that the orientation of the playback device is the first orientation comprises, receiving, via the network interface from the network device over a local area network (LAN), the first indication that the orientation of the playback device is the first orientation.

19. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via a network interface of the playback device from a network device, a first indication that an orientation of the playback device is a first orientation

in response to receiving the first indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting;

pairing the playback device with an additional playback device;

receiving, via the network interface from the network device, a second indication that an orientation of the playback device is a second orientation; and

in response to receiving the first indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to (i) a second equalization setting and (ii) the pairing with the additional playback device.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 19, wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises routing a first set of frequencies in an audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speakers, and wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the second equalization setting comprises routing a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speakers, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

21. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 19, wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the first equalization setting, and wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the second equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the second equalization setting.

22. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 19, wherein the functions further comprise, in response to receiving the first indication configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting and a state of the playback device.

23. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 22, wherein the state of the playback device is selected from a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (i) not paired and (ii) a paired state indicative of a pairing of the playback device with an additional playback device, and wherein when the playback device is in the paired state, the playback device and additional playback device have different playback roles.