Providing a Multi-Channel and a Multi-Zone Audio Environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020351602-A1
Application number	US-202016933861-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 20, 2020
Priority date	Oct 1, 2012
Publication date	Nov 5, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multi-channel and multi-zone audio environment is provided. Various inventions are disclosed that allow playback devices on one or more networks to provide an effective multi-channel and a multi-zone audio environment using timing information. According to one example, timing information is used to coordinate playback devices connected over a low-latency network to provide audio along with a video display. In another example, timing information is used to coordinate playback devices connected over a mesh network to provide audio in one or more zones or zone groups.

First claim

1 . A first networked device comprising:
one or more processors; and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first networked device to perform a method comprising:
receiving a first audio signal at the first networked device from an audio source, wherein the first audio signal comprises audio information;
assigning a first timestamp to the audio information, wherein the timestamp indicates a time at which the audio information is to be played by a first playback device of a group of playback devices;
assigning a second timestamp to the audio information, wherein the timestamp indicates a time at which the audio information is to be played by a second playback device of the group of playback devices; and
sending the first timestamp and the audio information to the first playback device and sending the second timestamp and the audio information to the second playback device of the group of playback devices.

2 . The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the audio information is multichannel audio information.

3 . The first networked device of claim 2 ,
wherein assigning the first timestamp to the audio information and assigning the second timestamp to the audio information comprises:
assigning the first timestamp to a first channel of the multichannel audio information; and
assigning the second timestamp to a second channel of the multichannel audio information, and
wherein sending the first timestamp and the audio information to the first playback device and sending the second timestamp and the audio information to second first playback device, comprises:
sending the first timestamp and the first channel of audio information to the first playback device; and
sending the second timestamp and the first channel of the audio information to the second playback device.

4 . The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the first networked device is a playback device.

5 . The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the first networked device is directly wired to an interface of a video device, wherein the first audio signal is communicated to the first network device via the interface.

6 . The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the first networked device is directly wired to an interface of a television, wherein the first audio signal is communicated to the first network device via the interface.

7 . The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the first playback device of the group of playback devices is a first type of playback device and the second playback device of the group of playback devices is a second type of playback device.

8 . The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the audio source is a video device.

9 . The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises determining whether the first networked device is in communication with the first playback device and the second playback device of the group of playback devices.

10 . The first networked device of claim 9 , wherein determining whether the first networked device is in communication with the first playback device and the second playback device of the group of playback devices further comprises determining whether the first playback device and the second playback device of the group of playback devices correspond to a particular type of playback device.

11 . The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a second audio signal comprising second audio information; assigning the first audio information to a first queue for audio processing;
assigning the second audio information to a second queue for processing, wherein the first queue has a higher priority than the first queue.

12 . The first networked device of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises identifying second audio information contained in the second audio signal.

13 . The first networked device of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
determining whether one or more playback devices of the group of playback devices is part of a zone group; and sending the second audio information to the one or more playback devices of the group of playback devices in the zone group.

14 . The first networked device of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises determining whether the first networked device is part of the zone group.

15 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a first networked device to perform a method comprising:
receiving a first audio signal at the first networked device from an audio source, wherein the first audio signal comprises audio information; assigning a first timestamp to the audio information, wherein the timestamp indicates a time at which the audio information is to be played by a first playback device of a group of playback devices; assigning a second timestamp to the audio information, wherein the timestamp indicates a time at which the audio information is to be played by a second playback device of the group of playback devices; and sending the first timestamp and the audio information to the first playback device and sending the second timestamp and the audio information to the second playback device of the group of playback devices.

16 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the audio information is multichannel audio information.

17 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 ,
wherein assigning the first timestamp to the audio information and assigning the second timestamp to the audio information comprises:
assigning the first timestamp to a first channel of the multichannel audio information; and
assigning the second timestamp to a second channel of the multichannel audio information, and
wherein sending the first timestamp and the audio information to the first playback device and sending the second timestamp and the audio information to second first playback device, comprises:
sending the first timestamp and the first channel of audio information to the first playback device; and
sending the second timestamp and the first channel of the audio information to the second playback device.

18 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the first networked device is a playback device.

19 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the first networked device is directly wired to an interface of a video device, wherein the first audio signal is communicated to the first network device via the interface.

20 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the first networked device is directly wired to an interface of a television, wherein the first audio signal is communicated to the first network device via the interface.

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Jarvis Simon
• Lehnert Hilmar
• Ramos Aurelio Rafael
• Vega Luis

Classifications

• H04R27/00 Primary

  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) · CPC title

• H04S3/008

  in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels (data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02) · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

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

• H04R2227/003

  Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet · CPC title