Audio system, audio device, and audio device setting method

An audio system, comprising:

• at least three audio devices capable of holding communication among one another;
• a stereo pair setting unit configured to set as a stereo pair a first audio device and a second audio device, which are included among the at least three audio devices;
• and
• a group forming unit configured to form a group from the first audio device, the second audio device, and a third audio device as a group that plays a two-channel audio signal synchronously,
• wherein the third audio device is configured to transmit a first-channel audio signal included in the two-channel audio signal to the first audio device, transmit a second-channel audio signal included in the two-channel audio signal to the second audio device, and play the two-channel audio signal with a delay by a parent device of the at least three audio devices,
• wherein the first audio device is configured to receive at least the first-channel audio signal from the third audio device to play the first-channel audio signal,
• wherein the second audio device is configured to receive at least the second-channel audio signal from the third audio device to play the second-channel audio signal, and
• wherein the parent device outputs the audio signal via a buffer, and a child device of the at least three audio devices outputs the audio signal without passing through a buffer, in synchronized play.

An audio device, which is connected to a plurality of other audio devices by a network, the audio device comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory that stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• receive input of pair settings, the pair settings including a setting about which one of the plurality of other audio devices is to be paired with the audio device so that the pair plays the same audio signal, and a setting about which of a first channel and a second channel is a played channel;
• hold data communication to and from the plurality of other audio devices;
• determine a parent-child relation with respect to the paired audio device, based on a given standard;
• store pair setting information, which is related to the pair settings including the parent-child relation;
• and
• play an audio signal of one of the first channel and the second channel,
• transmit, when the audio device is a parent device, at least the audio signal of the second channel to the paired audio device that serves as a child device,
• receive, when the audio device is the child device, at least the audio signal of the second channel from the paired audio device that serves as the parent device, and
• perform, when the audio device is the parent device, delayed play in which the audio signal of the first channel is played with a given length of delay,
• wherein the parent device outputs the audio signal via a buffer, and the child device outputs the audio signal without passing through a buffer, in synchronized play.

An audio device setting method for distributing a task of playing an audio signal of a first channel and a task of playing an audio signal of a second channel between two audio devices capable of holding communication to and from each other, the audio device setting method comprising:

• a first step of receiving first given operation and second given operation on the two audio devices;
• a second step of transmitting, by one of the two audio devices on which the first given operation has been performed, a pair setting request that informs that the one of the two audio devices is to handle the first channel;
• a third step of receiving the pair setting request by one of the two audio devices on which the second given operation has been performed, and transmitting a reply to the effect that the one of the two audio devices is to handle the second channel;
• a fourth step of transmitting the audio signals of the first channel and the second channel from one of the two audio devices to another of the two audio devices, and playing the audio signals of the first channel and the second channel separately on the two audio devices;
• and
• performing delayed play in which the audio signal of the first channel is played with a given length of delay by a parent device of the two audio devices,
• wherein the parent device outputs the audio signal via a buffer, and a child device of the two audio devices outputs the audio signal without passing through a buffer, in synchronized play.

A method of controlling an audio system, the audio system comprising:

• at least two audio devices capable of holding communication among one another;
• and
• a stereo pair setting unit configured to set a stereo pair in which one of two audio devices included among the at least two audio devices serves as a parent device, and another of the two audio devices serves as a child device,
• the method comprising:
• playing a first-channel audio signal, which is included in a first audio signal, on the parent device with a delay;
• transmitting a second audio signal from the parent device to the child device, the second audio signal including at least a second-channel audio signal, which is included in the first audio signal;
• receiving, by the child device, the second audio signal from the parent device;
• and
• playing the second-channel audio signal on the child device,
• wherein the parent device outputs the audio signal via a buffer, and the child device outputs the audio signal without passing through a buffer, in synchronized play.

A method of controlling an audio system,

• the audio system comprising:
• at least three audio devices capable of holding communication among one another;
• a stereo pair setting unit configured to set as a stereo pair a first audio device and a second audio device, which are included among the at least three audio devices;
• and
• a group forming unit configured to form a group from the first audio device, the second audio device, and a third audio device as a group that plays a two-channel audio signal synchronously,
• the method comprising:
• transmitting from the third audio device to the first audio device a first-channel audio signal, which is included in the two-channel audio signal;
• transmitting from the third audio device to the second audio device a second-channel audio signal, which is included in the two-channel audio signal;
• playing the two-channel audio signal on the third audio device with a delay, wherein the third audio device is a parent device of the at least three audio devices;
• receiving, by the first audio device, at least the first-channel audio signal from the third audio device;
• playing the first-channel audio signal on the first audio device;
• receiving, by the second audio device, at least the second-channel audio signal from the third audio device;
• and
• playing the second-channel audio signal on the second audio device,
• wherein the parent device outputs the two-channel audio signal via a buffer, and a child device outputs the first-channel audio signal or the second-channel audio signal without passing through a buffer, in synchronized play.

A method of controlling an audio device that is connected to a plurality of other audio devices by a network, the method comprising:

• receiving input of pair settings, the pair settings including a setting about which one of the plurality of other audio devices is to be paired with the audio device so that the pair plays the same audio signal, and a setting about which of a first channel and a second channel is a played channel;
• holding data communication to and from the plurality of other audio devices;
• determining a parent-child relation with respect to the paired audio device, based on a given standard;
• storing pair setting information, which is related to the pair settings including the parent-child relation;
• playing an audio signal of one of the first channel and the second channel;
• performing one of transmission and reception of the audio signal of the second channel, the transmission involving transmission of at least the audio signal of the second channel to the paired audio device, the reception involving reception of at least the audio signal of the second channel from the paired audio device;
• and
• performing delayed play in which the audio signal of the first channel is played with a given length of delay by a parent device of the plurality of audio devices,
• wherein the parent device outputs the audio signal via a buffer, and a child device of the plurality of audio devices outputs the audio signal without passing through a buffer, in synchronized play.