Patents by Inventor Robert Reimann
Robert Reimann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 10136218Abstract: Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. An example method includes receiving an audio signal containing a range of audio frequencies; amplifying, according to a gain parameter, the audio signal to be reproduced by at least one speaker. The example method includes automatically increasing the gain parameter to a higher gain parameter responsive to a determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker. The example method includes amplifying, according to the higher gain parameter, the audio signal containing no more than the subset of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett
-
Patent number: 10108393Abstract: An example playback device includes a first interface for receiving a first audio signal from a first audio source; a second interface for receiving a second audio signal from a second audio source; and a processor configured to: cause the playback device to playback the second audio signal; determine that the first audio signal is present at the first interface; in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the first interface, (i) cease playback of the second audio signal being played by the playback device and (ii) cause the playback device to playback the first audio signal; receive an instruction to stop the playback device from playing the first audio signal while the first audio signal is still present at the first interface; and arm the playback device such that a subsequent presence of the first audio signal at the first interface causes the playback device to play the first audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas A. J. Millington, Tom Cullen, Robert Reimann, Brent Lehman
-
Patent number: 10095469Abstract: At least one first user and at least one second user is identified. At least one audio track is selected based on (a) the identification of the at least one first user, (b) the identification of the at least one second user, and (c) a time of day. A playback device begins playback of the selected at least one audio track.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: SONOS, INC.Inventors: Robert Reimann, David Taylor, Abhishek Kumar
-
Patent number: 10051397Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for acoustic signatures in a playback system. In some embodiments, a playback device includes an audio processing component configured to receive an audio input signal, receive an acoustic signature signal, generate an audio output signal based on the audio input signal and the acoustic signature signal, and output the generated audio output signal. In some embodiments, the acoustic signature identifies at least one of the playback device or a group of playback devices. Some embodiments additionally include the playback device amplifying the generated audio output signal with one or more amplifiers, and playing the generated audio output signal via one or more speakers.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2014Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventor: Robert Reimann
-
Patent number: 10028056Abstract: Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. Particularly, the embodiments described herein enable two or more playback devices to be paired, such that multi-channel audio is achieved. Such embodiments may be used to produce stereo and multi-channel audio environments for television and movies.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett
-
Patent number: 9756424Abstract: Systems and methods for output of audio content are disclosed. An example first playback device includes a processor. The example processor is configured to at least process audio content to determine a portion of the audio content to be output by the first playback device based on a type of pairing of the first playback device and the audio content. The example processor is configured to at least determine, when the type of pairing pairs the first playback device with a second playback device to output the audio content, a time delay to facilitate sound synchronization with the second playback device. The example processor is configured to at least configure, based on the type of pairing and the time delay, the first playback device to output the portion of the audio content via an amplifier and a plurality of speaker drivers.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett
-
Publication number: 20170250664Abstract: Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. An example method includes receiving an audio signal containing a range of audio frequencies; amplifying, according to a gain parameter, the audio signal to be reproduced by at least one speaker. The example method includes automatically increasing the gain parameter to a higher gain parameter responsive to a determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker. The example method includes amplifying, according to the higher gain parameter, the audio signal containing no more than the subset of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2015Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett
-
Publication number: 20170235545Abstract: An example playback device includes a first interface for receiving a first audio signal from a first audio source; a second interface for receiving a second audio signal from a second audio source; and a processor configured to: cause the playback device to playback the second audio signal; determine that the first audio signal is present at the first interface; in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the first interface, (i) cease playback of the second audio signal being played by the playback device and (ii) cause the playback device to playback the first audio signal; receive an instruction to stop the playback device from playing the first audio signal while the first audio signal is still present at the first interface; and arm the playback device such that a subsequent presence of the first audio signal at the first interface causes the playback device to play the first audio signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Nicholas A.J. Millington, Tom Cullen, Robert Reimann, Brent Lehman
-
Publication number: 20170223458Abstract: Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. An example method includes receiving an audio signal containing a range of audio frequencies; amplifying, according to a gain parameter, the audio signal to be reproduced by at least one speaker. The example method includes automatically increasing the gain parameter to a higher gain parameter responsive to a determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker. The example method includes amplifying, according to the higher gain parameter, the audio signal containing no more than the subset of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett
-
Patent number: 9686606Abstract: An example playback device includes a first interface for receiving a first audio signal from a first audio source; a second interface for receiving a second audio signal from a second audio source; and a processor configured to: cause the playback device to playback the second audio signal; determine that the first audio signal is present at the first interface; in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the first interface, (i) cease playback of the second audio signal being played by the playback device and (ii) cause the playback device to playback the first audio signal; receive an instruction to stop the playback device from playing the first audio signal while the first audio signal is still present at the first interface; and arm the playback device such that a subsequent presence of the first audio signal at the first interface causes the playback device to play the first audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas A. J Millington, Tom Cullen, Robert Reimann, Brent Lehman
-
Patent number: 9681223Abstract: Technology for smart line-in processing in an audio environment is disclosed. An example playback device includes a line-in connector for receiving a first audio signal, a network interface, and a processor. A computer readable storage medium has stored instructions executable by the processor to determine that the first audio signal is present at the line-in connector, and, in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the line-in connector, (i) cease playback of a second audio signal being played by the playback device, wherein the second audio signal is not present at the line-in connector, (ii) cause the playback device to play at least a first portion of the first audio signal, and (iii) cause the playback device to transmit, via the network interface, at least a second portion of the first audio signal to another playback device.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Nicholas A. J Millington, Tom Cullen, Robert Reimann, Brent Lehman
-
Patent number: 9665339Abstract: Embodiments including methods and apparatus to select an audio track are disclosed. An example method includes detecting first and second playback conditions. The example method also includes comparing an audio track property of an audio track to the first and second playback conditions to determine if the first audio track property matches the first and/or second playback condition. In addition, the example method includes comparing a second audio track property of the audio track to the first and second playback conditions to determine if the second audio track property matches the first and/or second playback condition. Also, the example method includes selecting the audio track for presentation to a user when the first playback condition matches the first and/or second audio track property and the second playback condition matches the first and/or second audio track property.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: SONOS, INC.Inventors: Robert Reimann, Abhishek Kumar, David Taylor
-
Publication number: 20170134855Abstract: Systems and methods for output of audio content are disclosed. An example first playback device includes a processor. The example processor is configured to at least process audio content to determine a portion of the audio content to be output by the first playback device based on a type of pairing of the first playback device and the audio content. The example processor is configured to at least determine, when the type of pairing pairs the first playback device with a second playback device to output the audio content, a time delay to facilitate sound synchronization with the second playback device. The example processor is configured to at least configure, based on the type of pairing and the time delay, the first playback device to output the portion of the audio content via an amplifier and a plurality of speaker drivers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2017Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett
-
Patent number: 9519454Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for acoustic signatures in a playback system. An example implementation involves receiving, from a microphone of the controller device, an audio signal played by a playback device, the audio signal indicating network information corresponding to the playback device. The example implementation further involves identifying the playback device based on the network information and responsively, modifying a user interface on the controller device based on the identification of the playback device.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventor: Robert Reimann
-
Publication number: 20160357512Abstract: At least one first user and at least one second user is identified. At least one audio track is selected based on (a) the identification of the at least one first user, (b) the identification of the at least one second user, and (c) a time of day. A playback device begins playback of the selected at least one audio track.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Robert Reimann, David Taylor, Abhishek Kumar
-
Publication number: 20160357511Abstract: A computing device detects a first playback condition indicating a presence of a user in a zone in a media playback system. The computing device determines a second playback condition that corresponds to the detected presence of the user in the zone. Characteristics of at least one audio track are compared to (i) the indication of the presence of the user in the zone and (ii) the second playback condition. Audio content is identified based on the comparison and the identified audio content is played in the zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Robert Reimann, David Taylor, Abhishek Kumar
-
Publication number: 20160085502Abstract: Embodiments are provided for using a user interface to transfer a playback queue from one playback zone to another within a network media system. An example implementation involves a mobile device displaying, in a playback zones interface, a first zone representation and a second zone representation. The first zone representation represents a first playback zone of first playback devices that is associated with one or more first media items and the second zone representation represents a second playback zone of one or more second playback devices. The mobile device may display a first playback identifier in a particular position relative to the first zone representation. The mobile device may receive an input indicating a movement of at least a portion of the first playback identifier to the second zone representation. Such an input may cause the second playback zone to be associated with the one or more first media item.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Mark Triplett, Robert Reimann
-
Patent number: 9247363Abstract: Embodiments are provided for using a user interface to transfer a playback queue from one playback zone to another within a network media system. The interface may provide a first zone representation of a playback zone, and a first queue representation of a first group of playable items in a particular relative position. The particular relative position of the first queue representation may indicate that the playback queue associated with the first playback zone includes the first group of playable items. The interface may receive an input indicating a movement of a second queue representation to the particular relative position. In response, the first queue representation may be removed from the particular relative position and the second queue representation may be provided in the particular relative position, indicating that the playback queue now comprises a second group of playable items represented by the second queue representation.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Triplett, Robert Reimann
-
Patent number: 9223490Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage zones of a multi-zone media playback system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a user interface; a controller to configure one or more zone groups each associated with one or more media playback devices; a detector to monitor the user interface for a drag of an icon representative of a first one of the zone groups on the user interface from a first position to a second position; and a configuration implementer to change a configuration of the one or more zone groups in response to a detected drag of the icon.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Robert Reimann, Joni Hoadley
-
Patent number: 9219959Abstract: Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. Particularly, the embodiments described herein enable two or more playback devices to be paired, such that multi-channel audio is achieved. Such embodiments may be used to produce stereo and multi-channel audio environments for television and movies.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett