Speaker system with customized audio experiences

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11012780-B2
Application number	US-201916411266-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2019
Priority date	May 14, 2019
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

Various aspects include approaches for providing customized audio experiences in a speaker system. In some implementations, computer-implemented methods of controlling a plurality of customized audio experiences for a speaker system are disclosed. In other implementations, an at-home speaker system is configured for customized audio experiences.

First claim

I claim:

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling a plurality of customized audio experiences for an at-home speaker system, the method comprising:
providing a user interface configured to accept user input for defining the customized audio experiences according to a set of at least two audio experience settings and at least one triggering mechanism, wherein the at least one triggering mechanism comprises a time of day, a day of the week or a period of time;
receiving the user input defining the customized audio experiences according to the set of at least two audio experience settings and the at least one triggering mechanism; and
initiating audio playback from the speaker system according to one of the customized audio experiences in response to detecting the at least one triggering mechanism,
wherein one of the customized audio experiences comprises a party experience, wherein the set of at least two audio experience settings comprises at least one of: microphone settings on the speaker system or virtual personal assistant (VPA) settings, wherein in the party experience:
the VPA settings pre-direct the microphones to enhance pickup from a location where a user is known to commonly make VPA commands.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the set of at least two audio experience settings comprise two or more of: volume level settings of the speaker system, control feature settings on the speaker system, equalization settings of the audio playback at the speaker system, tone control settings of the audio playback at the speaker system, microphone settings on the speaker system, speaker grouping settings, input selection settings, content selection, content settings, rendering mode settings, virtual personal assistant settings or account settings, and
wherein the at least one triggering mechanism further comprises one or more of: an identity of a user, detected motion proximate the speaker system, a detected ambient noise sound pressure level, an acoustic signature of detected ambient noise, an acoustic signature of the audio playback, a genre of the audio playback or a voice command from a user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the set of at least two audio experience settings are configured to vary based on the time of day, the day of the week, or the period of time.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one triggering mechanism further comprises user actuation at an interface located on the speaker system or on a connected device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface permits a user to assign the set of at least two audio experience settings and the at least one triggering mechanism to each of a plurality of customized audio experiences, wherein the user interface further permits the user to name the plurality of customized audio experiences for subsequent triggering.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating distinct audio playback at speakers in distinct zones in the speaker system, wherein the distinct audio playback is determined by at least one of: content of the audio playback or detected presence of a user in one of the distinct zones; and a characteristic of each of the distinct zones.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the speaker system comprises a plurality of speakers, and wherein one of the plurality of speakers comprises a master speaker and a remainder of the plurality of speakers comprise worker speakers.

8. An at-home speaker comprising:
an acoustic transducer;
at least one microphone;
a communications module; and
a control system coupled with the acoustic transducer, the at least one microphone and the communications module, the control system configured to:
provide a user interface configured to accept user input for defining a plurality of customized audio experiences according to a set of at least two audio experience settings and at least one triggering mechanism, wherein the at least one triggering mechanism comprises a time of day, a day of the week or a period of time;
receive the user input defining the customized audio experiences according to the set of at least two audio experience settings and the at least one triggering mechanism; and
initiate audio playback at the transducer according to one of the customized audio experiences in response to detecting the at least one triggering mechanism,
wherein the at least one triggering mechanism comprises a plurality of triggering mechanisms, wherein one of the customized audio experiences comprises a dinnertime music audio experience, wherein a first triggering mechanism comprises a time of day and a second triggering mechanism comprises detecting motion proximate the speaker in a kitchen or dining area, and wherein in response to detecting that all of the triggering mechanisms are satisfied, audio playback of dinnertime music is initiated at the speaker system at a background volume level, and
wherein the set of at least two audio experience settings comprises virtual personal assistant (VPA) settings, wherein in the dinnertime music audio experience:
the VPA settings pre-direct the microphones to enhance pickup from a location where a user is known to commonly make VPA commands.

9. The at-home speaker of claim 8 , wherein the user interface is located on the at-home speaker, and wherein the at least one triggering mechanism comprises user actuation at the user interface, wherein the user interface comprises actuatable preset buttons assignable to the customized audio experiences.

10. The at-home speaker of claim 8 , wherein the user interface permits a user to assign the set of at least two audio experience settings and the at least one triggering mechanism to each of a plurality of customized audio experiences in the set, wherein the user interface permits the user to name the plurality of customized audio experiences for subsequent triggering.

11. The at-home speaker of claim 8 , wherein the communications module is configured to communicate with a plurality of additional speakers in a speaker system,
wherein the control system is further configured to initiate distinct audio playback at the at-home speaker and one of the plurality of additional speakers based upon distinct zones in the at-home speaker system, wherein the distinct audio playback is determined by at least one of: content of the audio playback or detected presence of a user in one of the distinct zones; and a characteristic of each of the distinct zones.

12. The at-home speaker of claim 11 , wherein the at-home speaker comprises a master speaker and the plurality of additional speakers comprise worker speakers.

13. The at-home speaker system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one triggering mechanism further comprises detected motion proximate the speaker, and wherein the audio playback is initiated at the transducer according to one of the customized audio experiences only in response to detecting that all of the triggering mechanisms are satisfied.

14. A computer-implemented method of controlling a plurality of customized audio experiences for a speaker system, the method comprising:
providing a user interface configured to accept user input for defining the customized audio experiences according to a set of at least two audio experience settings and at least one triggering mechanism, wherein the at least one triggering mechanism comprises a time of day, a day of the week or a period of time;
receiving the user input defining the customized audio experiences according to the set of at least two audio experience s

Assignees

• Bose Corp

Inventors

• Freeman Eric John

Classifications

• G06F3/017

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• H04R29/008

  Visual indication of individual signal levels (visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40) · CPC title

• H04R5/04 Primary

  Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

  Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use · CPC title

• G06F3/165

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title