US 11,082,770 B2Granted

Multi-channel pairing in a media system

AssigneeSonos, Inc.

InventorsChristopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett

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Abstract

Systems and methods for output of audio content are disclosed. An example first playback device includes a processor. The example processor is configured to at least process audio content to determine a portion of the audio content to be output by the first playback device based on a type of pairing of the first playback device and the audio content. The example processor is configured to at least determine, when the type of pairing pairs the first playback device with a second playback device to output the audio content, a time delay to facilitate sound synchronization with the second playback device. The example processor is configured to at least configure, based on the type of pairing and the time delay, the first playback device to output the portion of the audio content via an amplifier and a plurality of speaker drivers.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A playback device configured to output audio in a multi-channel listening environment, the playback device comprising:

a network interface configured to receive audio data over a network;
at least one speaker driver configured to output audio based on the audio data;
one or more processors;
and
tangible, non-transitory, computer readable memory comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions are executable by the one or more processors such that the playback device is configured to (i) process the audio data before the playback device outputs audio from the at least one speaker driver, (ii) determine whether a type of pairing of the playback device comprises one of at least a first type of pairing or a second type of pairing, wherein while configured in at least one of the first type of pairing or the second type of pairing, the playback device is configured to generate and transmit one or more messages to one or more additional playback devices to coordinate playback of audio data by the playback device and the one or more additional playback devices, (iii) configure the playback device to perform a first equalization of the audio data before outputting audio from the at least one speaker driver when the type of pairing is determined by the playback device to comprise the first type of pairing, wherein the audio output from the at least one speaker driver is based on the audio data, and (iv) configure the playback device to perform a second equalization of the audio data before outputting audio from the at least one speaker driver when the type of pairing is determined by the playback device to comprise the second type of pairing, wherein the audio output from the at least one speaker driver is based on the audio data.

2 more elements

A method for outputting audio in a multi-channel listening environment, wherein the method is performed by a playback device, the method comprising:

receiving audio data over a network;
processing the audio data before the playback device outputs audio from at least one speaker driver based on the audio data;
determining whether a type of pairing of the playback device comprises one of at least a first type of pairing or a second type of pairing;
when the playback device has determined it is configured for the first type of pairing, performing a first equalization of the audio data before outputting audio from the at least one speaker driver, wherein the audio output from the at least one speaker driver is based on the audio data;
when the playback device has determined it is configured for the second type of pairing, performing a second equalization of the audio data before outputting audio from the at least one speaker driver, wherein the audio output from the at least one speaker driver is based on the audio data;
and
wherein while configured in at least one of the first type of pairing or the second type of pairing, the playback device is configured to generate and transmit one or more messages to one or more additional playback devices to coordinate playback of audio data by the playback device and the one or more additional playback devices.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/405,931Filed 13 Jan 2017 · continuation
Priority: 12 Sep 2006
Published: US 2017/0134855 A111 May 2017
Granted: 3 Aug 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

H04R 3/12
Circuits for transducers: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers
G06F 3/165
Sound input; Sound output: management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
H03G 3/20
Gain control in amplifiers or frequency changers: automatic control
H03G 3/3005
In amplifiers having semiconductor devices: in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers

Family

Application60/825,407Us provisional application · filed 12 Sep 2006
Application11/853,790Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 11 Sep 2007
Application13/013,740Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Jan 2011
Application13/083,499Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Apr 2011
Application14/299,847Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Jun 2014
Application14/825,961Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Aug 2015
US 2017/0134855 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 May 2017
US 9,756,424 B2Parent of this continuation
US 9,219,959 B2Parent of this continuation
US 8,788,080 B1Parent of this continuation
US 9,202,509 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application13/083,499Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 8,483,853 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2013/0243199 A1Published application
US 2014/0286507 A1Published application
US 2015/0347085 A1Published application
US 9,143,859 B2Related patent
US 11,082,770 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.