Audio Generation in a Media Playback System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023098584-A1
Application number	US-202217938815-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 7, 2022
Priority date	Dec 1, 2014
Publication date	Mar 30, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Example techniques relate to audio generation in a media playback system. Based on one or more first functions and first characteristics of an area, the system may generate first audio that includes a first audio signal and a second audio signal. The system provides the first audio signal to at least one first audio driver and the second audio signal to at least one second audio driver, thereby causing a first playback device and a second playback device to play back the first audio synchronously. The system receives second characteristics of the area and based on one or more second functions and the second characteristics, generates second audio comprising a third audio signal and a fourth audio signal. The system provides the third audio signal to the at least one first audio driver and the fourth audio signal to the at least one second audio driver.

First claim

1 . A media playback system comprising:
a first playback device comprising a first audio amplifier configured to drive at least one first audio driver; a second playback device comprising a second audio amplifier configured to drive at least one second audio driver; a network interface; at least one processor; and data storage comprising instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:
receive, via the network interface from at least one sensor, first sensor data representing one or more characteristics of an environment at a first time;
based on the one or more characteristics of the environment at the first time, generate first audio comprising one or more first audio signals configured to produce a first sound radiation pattern when the one or more first audio signals are played back in the environment via the first playback device and the second playback device;
provide the one or more first audio signals to the at least one first audio driver and the at least one second audio driver such that the first playback device and the second playback device play back the generated first audio in synchrony;
receive, via the network interface from the at least one sensor, second sensor data representing the one or more characteristics of the environment at a second time;
based on the one or more characteristics of the environment at the second time, generate second audio comprising one or more second audio signals configured to produce a second sound radiation pattern when the one or more second audio signals are played back in the environment via the first playback device and the second playback device; and
provide the one or more second audio signals to the at least one first audio driver and the at least one second audio driver such that the first playback device and the second playback device play back the generated second audio in synchrony.

2 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to generate the first audio comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:
determine at least one first filter and at least one second filter based on the one or more characteristics of the environment at the first time; generate at least one audio signal of the one or more first audio signals via the first filter for playback by the first playback device; and generate at least one additional audio signal of the one or more first audio signals via the second filter for playback by the second playback device.

3 . The media playback system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to determine the at least one first filter and the at least one second filter based on the one or more characteristics of the environment at the first time comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:
based on the one or more characteristics of the environment at the first time, generate at least one first transfer function representing the at least one first filter and at least one second transfer function representing the at least one second filter.

4 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to generate the first audio comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:
generate at least one particular first audio signal configured to produce a particular first sound radiation pattern that envelops the environment when the at least one first audio signal is played back by the first playback device and the second playback device in the environment, wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to generate the second audio comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:
generate at least one particular second audio signal configured to produce a particular second sound radiation pattern that directs the second audio at one or more subsets of the environment.

5 . The media playback system of claim 4 , wherein the data storage further comprises instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:
determine that the second sensor data indicates a change in the environment at the one or more subsets.

6 . The media playback system of claim 4 , wherein the data storage further comprises instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:
determine that the second sensor data indicates listener positions at the one or more subsets of the environment.

7 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics of the environment at the first time comprise first conditions in the environment, wherein the one or more characteristics of the environment at the second time comprise second conditions in the environment, and wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to generate the first audio comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:
generate particular second audio corresponding to the second conditions in the environment.

8 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics of the environment at the first time comprise first positions of one or more objects in the environment, wherein the one or more characteristics of the environment at the second time comprise second positions of the one or more objects in the environment, and wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to generate the second audio comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:
generate the one or more second audio signals based on the second positions of the one or more objects in the environment.

9 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a microphone, and wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to generate the second audio based on the one or more characteristics of the environment at the second time comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:
generate the one or more second audio signals based on a change in microphone reflections detected between the first time and the second time detected via the microphone.

10 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a thermostat sensor configured to measure weather data comprising at least one of (i) temperature, (b) humidity, or (c) barometric pressure, and wherein the instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to generate the second audio based on the one or more characteristics of the environment at the second time comprise instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Chamness Mike
• Ramos Aurelio Rafael
• Sheen Timothy
• Lehnert Hilmar

Classifications

• H04R3/12

  for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} · CPC title

• H04S7/305

  Electronic adaptation of stereophonic audio signals to reverberation of the listening space (H04S7/301 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04S7/30 Primary

  Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field · CPC title

• H04R2203/12

  Beamforming aspects for stereophonic sound reproduction with loudspeaker arrays · CPC title

• H04R1/403

  loud-speakers · CPC title