Configuration based on speaker orientation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9748646-B2
Application number	US-201514684927-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2015
Priority date	Jul 19, 2011
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus to shape sound based on a speaker orientation. An example playback device includes a network interface; a processor; and a memory including instructions stored therein. The instructions are executable by the processor to perform functions including: receiving, via the network interface from a network device, an indication that an orientation of the playback device is one of a first orientation or a second orientation; when the received indication is the first orientation, then configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting; and when the received indication is the second orientation, then configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a second equalization setting.

First claim

We claim:

1. A playback device comprising:
a network interface;
a processor; and
tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory including instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
receiving, via the network interface from a network device, a first indication that an orientation of the playback device is a first orientation;
in response to receiving the first indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting;
pairing the playback device with an additional playback device;
receiving, via the network interface from the network device, a second indication that an orientation of the playback device is a second orientation; and
in response to receiving the second indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to (i) a second equalization setting and (ii) the pairing with the additional playback device.

2. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises routing a first set of frequencies in an audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speakers, and wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the second equalization setting comprises routing a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speakers, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

3. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the first equalization setting, and wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the second equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the second equalization setting.

4. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the first equalization setting and a state of the playback device.

5. The playback device of claim 4 , wherein the state of the playback device is selected from a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (i) not paired, and (ii) a pairing state indicative of the pairing of the playback device with the additional playback device.

6. The playback device of claim 5 , the functions further comprising:
receiving, via the network interface from the network device, an indication that the state of the playback device is the pairing state.

7. The playback device of claim 5 , the functions further comprising:
receiving, via the network interface from the network device, an indication that the state of the playback device is not paired.

8. The playback device of claim 5 , wherein when the playback device is in the paired state, the playback device and additional playback device have different playback roles.

9. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein receiving the first indication that the orientation of the playback device is the first orientation comprises, receiving, via the network interface from the network device over a local area network (LAN), the first indication that the orientation of the playback device is the first orientation.

10. A method comprising:
receiving, via a network interface of a playback device from a network device, a first indication that an orientation of the playback device is a first orientation;
in response to receiving the first indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting;
pairing the playback device with an additional playback device;
receiving, via the network interface from the network device, a second indication that an orientation of the playback device is a second orientation; and
in response to receiving the second indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to (i) a second equalization setting and (ii) the pairing with the additional playback device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises routing a first set of frequencies in an audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speakers, and wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the second equalization setting comprises routing a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speakers, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the first equalization setting, and wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the second equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the second equalization setting.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to the first equalization setting comprises the playback device processing an audio data stream for playback according to the first equalization setting and a state of the playback device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the state of the playback device is selected from a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (i) not paired and (ii) a pairing state indicative of the pairing of the playback device with the additional playback device.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving, via the network interface of the playback device from the network device, an indication that the state of the playback device is the pairing state.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving, via the network interface from the network device, an indication that the state of the playback device is not paired.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein when the playback device is in the paired state, the playback device and additional playback device have different playback roles.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the first indication that the orientation of the playback device is the first orientation comprises, receiving, via the network interface from the network device over a local area network (LAN), the first indication that the orientation of the playback device is the first orientation.

19. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:
receiving, via a network interface of the playback device from a network device, a first indication that an orientation of the playback device is a first orientation
in response to receiving the first indication, configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting;
pairing the playback device with an additional playback device;
receiving, via the network interface from the network device, a second indication that an orientation of the playback device is a second orientation; and
in response to receiving the first indication, configuring the playbac

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Kallai Christopher
• Ericson Michael Darrell Andrew
• Lang Jonathan P
• Wisneski Craig
• Reilly Jonathon
• Daly Seamus
• Mansfield Todd

Classifications

• H04R3/00 Primary

  Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title

• H04B7/0817

  with multiple receivers and antenna path selection · CPC title

• H04R5/02

  Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers · CPC title

• H04R2227/003

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

• H04S5/02

  of the pseudo four-channel type, e.g. in which rear channel signals are derived from two-channel stereo signals · CPC title