Networked speaker system with follow me

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9699579-B2
Application number	US-201514974413-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2015
Priority date	Mar 6, 2014
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

In a multi-speaker audio system for, e.g., a home entertainment system or other entertainment system, each networked-speaker (wired or wireless) is activated or deactivated as appropriate such that audio play follows a user as the user moves around the home.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that comprises instructions executable by at least one processor for:
receiving, at least at a first locator device distanced from and outside of respective housings of at least first and second speakers located in a building, at least a first wireless signal from an electronic device;
comparing the first wireless signal received by the locator device to a signal strength threshold;
responsive to a determination that the first wireless signal satisfies the signal strength threshold, activating or maintaining activated at least one speaker closest to the locator device, and deactivating or maintaining deactivated at least one speaker further away from the locator device than the at least one speaker closest the locator unit; and
responsive to a determination that the first wireless signal does not satisfy the signal strength threshold, deactivating or maintaining deactivated at least one speaker closest to the locator device, and activating or maintaining activated at least one speaker further away from the locator device than the at least one speaker closest the locator unit.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locator device is established by at least first and second locator units disposed in respective first and second rooms in the building.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are executable for comparing signal strength of the first wireless signal received at the locator device against the signal strength threshold and responsive to signal strength at the locator device satisfying the signal strength threshold, activating a respective speaker in the room in which the locator device is disposed.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one locator device is established by one and only one locator unit.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless signal is established by one or more of radiofrequency identification signals, Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth signals, ultra wideband signals.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising the at least one processor executing the instructions.

7. Device comprising:
at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that comprises instructions executable by at least one processor for:
presenting on a display a user interface (UI) including:
a first selector selectable to enable logic to activate and deactivate speakers in a building,
a second selector selectable to disable the logic to activate and deactivate speakers;
a third selector selectable to direct the logic to activate speakers only within a room in which the user is located, maintaining all other speakers in the building deactivated; and
a fourth selector selectable to direct the logic to activate at least a first speaker within a threshold distance of a location regardless of whether the first speaker is in the same room as the location, and not to activate a second speaker not within the threshold distance of the location.

8. The device of claim 7 , comprising the at least one processor executing the instructions.

9. A device comprising:
at least one computer memory that is not a transitory signal and that comprises instructions executable by at least one processor for:
receiving, at least at a first locator outside of respective housings of at least first and second speakers, signals from an electronic device;
comparing at least one of the signals received by the locator to a signal strength threshold;
responsive to a determination that the at least one of the signals satisfies the signal strength threshold, activating or maintaining activated at least one speaker closest to the locator, and deactivating or maintaining deactivated at least one speaker further away from the locator than the at least one speaker closest the locator; and
responsive to a determination that the at least one of the signals does not satisfy the signal strength threshold, deactivating or maintaining deactivated at least one speaker closest to the locator, and activating or maintaining activated at least one speaker further away from the locator than the at least one speaker closest the locator.

10. The device of claim 9 , comprising the at least one processor executing the instructions.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one locator is established by at least first and second locator units disposed in respective first and second rooms in a building.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable for comparing signal strength of the signals received at each locator unit against the signal strength threshold and responsive to signal strength at a first locator unit satisfying the signal strength threshold, activating the respective speaker in the room in which the first locator unit is disposed.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one locator is established by one and only one locator unit.

14. The device of claim 9 , wherein the signals are established by one or more of radiofrequency identification signals, Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth signals, ultra wideband signals.

Assignees

• Sony Corp

Inventors

• Carlsson Gregory Peter
• Resch Keith
• Vega Oscar Manuel

Classifications

• H04N21/44227

  Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network (configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811) · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04S7/308

  Electronic adaptation dependent on speaker or headphone connection · CPC title

• H04S7/303

  Tracking of listener position or orientation · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

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