Method and apparatus for automatically enabling subwoofer channel audio based on detection of subwoofer device

A method for processing input signals in accordance with an output configuration, the method comprising:

• comparing a number of sound channels in a sound signal of an input audio source selected from a controller to a number of sound channels in the output configuration, wherein the sound signal is represented in a sequence of data packets, each of the data packets including an IP address and received via a network interface in accordance with an Internet protocol, wherein the network interface reassembles the data packets received from the data network into the input audio source, the apparatus is coupled to at least another device over the network, the network interface is capable of assembling an audio source into smaller packets to be transmitted over the data network to the another device, the controller communicates with the apparatus via the network interface;
• determining whether a sound in the input audio source is reproducible properly through speakers of the output configuration;
• producing synthetically a sound effect from the audio source if the number of sound channels in the input audio source is greater than the number of sound channels in the output configuration, or
• reducing synthetically a sound effect from the audio source if the number of sound channels in the input audio source is less than the number of sound channels in the output configuration.

A system for processing input signals in accordance with an output configuration, the system comprising:

• a first player receiving a sound signal from an audio source represented in data packets via a network interface therein;
• a second player operated to play the audio source from the first player, a module in the second player configured to perform operations of:
• comparing a number of sound effects presented in the audio source to a number of sound channels in an output configuration thereof;
• determining whether a sound in the input audio source can be reproduced properly through speakers of the output configuration;
• and
• sending a message to the first player when the number of sound configured in the audio source does not equal to the number of sound channels, and
• wherein the first player produces synthetically a sound effect if the number of sound channels is greater than the number of sound effects, or reduces synthetically a sound effect if the number of sound channels in the audio source is less than the number of sound channels in the output configuration,
• wherein the first player and the second player are two separate devices and coupled to each other over a data network.