# US 12,114,138 B2 · Multi-vehicle audio system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,114,138 B2 - Document ID: US12114138B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/505,831 - Filed: 2021-10-20 - Published: 2023-04-20 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-20 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Ian Salsbury; Jonathan Gregory; Parhum Purser; Benjamin Moffatt; Jose G. das Neves Alves - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114138B2 ## CPC - H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04S 7/302: {Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation (H04S7/301 takes precedence)} - B60W 10/30: including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps - B60W 60/0025: {specially adapted for specific operations} - H04R 5/02: Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers - 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) - H04W 4/024: Guidance services - H04W 4/025: {using location based information parameters} - H04W 4/46: for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V] - B60W 2556/65: Data transmitted between vehicles - B60W 2710/30: Auxiliary equipments - H04R 2499/13: Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Methods and systems for using audio output devices to output audio content are provided. The audio output devices are provided in autonomously controllable vehicles. The vehicles are instructed to move to respective locations based on an audio output mode. For example, the vehicles may be arranged in a first configuration for a stereo sound mode and instructed to play left-channel or right channel audio data according to their location. The vehicles may be autonomously controlled to move into a different configuration for outputting audio content in another audio mode, for example, a surround sound mode. Where the audio output device is provided in a vehicle interior, such as internal speakers in a car, the vehicle may be instructed to, while playing the audio content, open the door and/or window. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for presenting audio content in an audio output mode, comprising: determining respective desired locations for a plurality of audio output devices based on the audio output mode, wherein the plurality of audio output devices are located in respective vehicles; transmitting, to each of said vehicles, an instruction for moving the vehicle to the respective location; determining, based on the audio output mode, one or more audio settings for output of the audio content by respective ones of the plurality of audio output devices; and transmitting, to each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, an instruction to play audio content through the audio output device located in the respective vehicle based on the determined settings; wherein the instruction includes an instruction to move the respective vehicle into an orientation relative to a display screen and relative to a group of users, and wherein the audio output mode is determined based on a type of audio content. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, to at least one vehicle in the plurality of vehicles, an instruction to, when playing the audio content, open at least one of a door, window, or roof of the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction to play the audio content includes respective settings for multiple audio output devices in one of the vehicles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, to a display device, an instruction to display a video component of a multimedia asset; wherein the audio content is an audio component of the multimedia asset. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving location information from a first one of the vehicles, wherein the location information indicates the location of the first vehicle relative to a user and/or another vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; determining an updated location for the audio output device in the first vehicle based on the received location information; and transmitting, to the first vehicle, an instruction to move to the updated location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining updated locations for the plurality of audio output devices based on a different audio mode; and transmitting, to at least one of the vehicles, an instruction to move to the updated location. ### Claim 7 A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored computer-readable instructions comprising: an instruction to determine respective locations for a plurality of audio output devices based on the audio output mode, wherein the plurality of audio output devices are located in respective vehicles; an instruction to transmit, to each of said vehicles, an instruction for moving the vehicle to the respective location; an instruction to determine, based on the audio output mode, one or more audio settings for output of the audio content by respective ones of the plurality of audio output devices; and an instruction to transmit, to each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, an instruction to play audio content through the audio output device located in the respective vehicle based on the determined settings; wherein the instruction includes an instruction to move the respective vehicle into an orientation relative to a display screen and relative to a group of users, and wherein the audio output mode is determined based on a type of audio content. ### Claim 8 A device for presenting audio content in an audio output mode, comprising: control circuitry configured to: determine respective desired locations for a plurality of audio output devices based on the audio output mode, wherein the plurality of audio output devices are located in respective vehicles; transmit, to each of said vehicles, an instruction for moving the vehicle to the respective location; determine, based on the audio output mode, one or more audio settings for output of the audio content by respective ones of the plurality of audio output devices; and transmit, to each vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, an instruction to play audio content through the audio output device located in the respective vehicle based on the determined settings; wherein the instruction includes an instruction to move the respective vehicle into an orientation relative to a display screen and relative to a group of users, and wherein the audio output mode is determined based on a type of audio content. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to transmit, to at least one vehicle in the plurality of vehicles, an instruction to, when playing the audio content, open at least one of a door, window or roof of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to include, in the instruction to play the audio content, respective settings for multiple audio output devices in one of the vehicles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to transmit, to a display device, an instruction to display a video component of a multimedia asset, wherein the audio content is an audio component of the multimedia asset. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: receive location information from a first one of the vehicles, wherein the location information indicates the location of the first vehicle relative to a user and/or another vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; determine an updated location for the audio output device in the first vehicle based on the received location information; and transmit, to the first vehicle, an instruction to move to the updated location. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: determine updated locations for the plurality of audio output devices based on a different audio mode; and transmit, to at least one of the vehicles, an instruction to move to the updated location. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, in the form of a smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) A vehicle comprising the device of claim 8. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) A system comprising: the device of claim 8; and said plurality of vehicles. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of vehicles includes control circuitry configured to: receive the instruction to move the vehicle to the respective location; and move the vehicle to the respective location using a driver assistance system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry of each of the plurality of vehicles is further configured to: receive an instruction to open a door and/or a window while playing the audio content; and while playing the audio content, open said door and/or window.