Microphone calibration

• US 9,910,634 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Sheen, Timothy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMID, AMMAR T
• Application Number:
  US14/481,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20160073210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 381 59, 381122, 381 56, 700 94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/00 Speech or voice signal processing techniques to produce another audible or non-audible signal, e.g. visual or tactile, in order to modify its quality or its intelligibility G10L19/00 takes precedence
• 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 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 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/004 for microphones H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Examples described herein involve calibration of a microphone of a network device based on a first signal detected by the microphone of the network device and a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. While the network device is positioned within a predetermined physical range of a microphone of a playback device, a microphone of the network device may detect a first audio signal. The network device may also receive data indicating a second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device. Based on data indicating the first audio signal and the data indicating the second audio signal, the network device may identify a microphone calibration algorithm, and apply the microphone calibration algorithm when performing a calibration function associated with the playback device. Similar functions may also be performed by a computing device, such as a server to coordinate calibration of the microphone of the network device.

Claims

1. A network device comprising:

a microphone;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the network device to perform functions comprising;

while the network device is positioned within a predetermined physical range of a microphone of a playback device, detecting by the microphone of the network device, a first audio signal;

receiving data indicating a second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device;

based on (i) data indicating the first audio signal, (ii) the data indicating the second audio signal, and (iii) an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the playback device, determining an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device;

generating a microphone calibration algorithm based on the determined acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device; and

applying the microphone calibration algorithm when performing an acoustic calibration of the playback device.

2. The network device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing for storage in a database, an association between the generated microphone calibration algorithm and one or more characteristics of the microphone of the network device.

3. The network device of claim 1, wherein the second audio signal was detected by the microphone of the playback device while the first audio signal was detected by the microphone of the network device.

4. The network device of claim 1, further comprising:

while detecting the first audio signal, causing one or more playback devices to play a third audio signal, wherein the first audio signal and the second audio signal each comprise a portion corresponding to the third audio signal.

5. The network device of claim 4, wherein the one or more playback devices comprise the playback device.

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

prior to detecting the first audio signal, receiving an input to calibrate the microphone of the network device.

7. The network device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to detecting the first audio signal, providing on a graphical interface, a graphical representation indicating that the network device is to be positioned within the predetermined physical range of the microphone of the playback device.

8. The network device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to detecting the first audio signal, determining that the network device is positioned within the predetermined physical range of the microphone of the playback device.

9. The network device of claim 1, wherein generating the microphone calibration algorithm comprises:

transmitting to a computing device, data indicating the first audio signal; and

receiving from the computing device, the microphone calibration algorithm.

10. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a tangible non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising;

receiving from a network device, data indicating a first audio signal detected by a microphone of the network device while the network device was positioned within a predetermined physical range of a microphone of a playback device;

receiving data indicating a second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device based on (i) the data indicating the first audio signal, (ii) the data indicating the second audio signal, and (iii) an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the playback device, determining an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device;

generating a microphone calibration algorithm based on the determined acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the network device; and

applying the microphone calibration algorithm when performing an acoustic calibration of the playback device in association with the network device.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting to the network device, data indicating the microphone calibration algorithm.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing for storage in a database, an association between the generated microphone calibration algorithm and one or more characteristics of the microphone of the network device.

13. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the network device is a first network device, wherein the microphone calibration algorithm is a first microphone calibration algorithm, and wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving from a second network device, data indicating a third audio signal detected by a microphone of the second network device while the second network device is positioned within the predetermined physical range of the microphone of the playback device;

based on the data indicating the third audio signal and the data indicating the second audio signal, generating a second microphone calibration algorithm; and

causing for storage in a database, an association between the generated second microphone calibration algorithm and one or more characteristics of the microphone of the second network device.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting to the second network device, data indicating the second microphone calibration algorithm.

15. The computing device of claim 13, further comprising:

determining that the microphone of the first network device and the microphone of the second network device are substantially the same;

responsively generating a third microphone calibration algorithm based on the first microphone calibration algorithm and the second microphone calibration algorithm; and

causing for storage in the database, an association between the generated third microphone calibration algorithm and one or more characteristics of the microphone of the first network device.

16. Tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving from a first network device, data indicating a first audio signal detected by a microphone of the first network device while the first network device was positioned within a predetermined physical range of a microphone of a playback device;

receiving data indicating a second audio signal detected by the microphone of the first playback device;

based on (i) data indicating the first audio signal, (ii) the data indicating the second audio signal, and (iii) an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the first playback device, determining an acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the first network device;

generating a microphone calibration algorithm based on the determined acoustic characteristic of the microphone of the first network device;

causing for storage in a database, an association between the microphone calibration algorithm and one or more characteristics of the microphone of the first network device;

after storing the association, receiving from a second network device, data indicating (i) a third audio signal detected by a microphone of the second network device and (ii) one or more characteristics of the microphone of the second network device, and (iii) an indication of a second playback device to be acoustically calibrated;

identifying in the database, the microphone calibration algorithm based on a match between the one or more characteristics of the microphone of the second network device and the one or more characteristics of the microphone of the first network device;

generating an acoustic calibration algorithm based on the received third audio signal and the identified microphone calibration algorithm; and

causing the generated acoustic calibration algorithm to be applied when the second network device performs a calibration of the second playback device, wherein causing the generated acoustic algorithm to be applied when the second network device performs the calibration of the second playback device comprises transmitting to the second playback device, the generated acoustic calibration algorithm.

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

transmitting to the first network device, data indicating the generated microphone calibration algorithm.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein receiving the data indicating the second audio signal detected by the microphone of the first playback device comprises:

receiving from the first playback device, the data indicating the second audio signal detected by the microphone of the first playback device.

19. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein receiving the data indicating the second audio signal detected by the microphone of the first playback device comprises:

receiving from the first network device, the data indicating the second audio signal detected by the microphone of the first playback device.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

prior to receiving the data indicating the first audio signal, causing one or more playback devices to play a third audio signal, wherein the first audio signal comprises a portion corresponding to the third audio signal.