Patents Assigned to D & M Holdings Inc.
  • Publication number: 20240098415
    Abstract: [Problem] To improve operator convenience in controlling the ON/OFF states of a plurality of wireless speakers. [Solution] A wireless speaker 1, when instructed through a power button or by a controller 2 to transition to an ON state, causes said wireless speaker 1 itself to transition to an ON state and also transmits a command for ON state transition to each of other wireless speakers 1 belonging to the same group as said wireless speaker 1. When instructed to transition to an OFF state, said wireless speaker 1 transmits a command for OFF state transition to each of the other wireless speakers 1 belonging to the same group as said wireless speaker 1, and also transitions to the OFF state. If an ON state transition command has been received from another wireless speaker 1, then the wireless speaker 1 transitions to the ON state, and if an OFF state transition command has been received, then the wireless speaker 1 transitions to the OFF state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: D&M HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventor: ISHIDA YASUCHIKA
  • Publication number: 20240089655
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide technology for setting an audio playback environment compatible with adding speakers. [Solution] An audio device 1 corrects, for each connected speaker 2, an audio playback signal output from speakers 2-1 to 2-3, in accordance with filter information registered in association with that speaker 2. When a new speaker 2 is connected, identification information is acquired from that speaker 2, the identification information is used to query a management server 4, and acoustic properties of that speaker 2 are acquired from the management server 4. The acquired acoustic properties are then compared to target prescribed acoustic properties, filter information is generated for causing the audio playback signal output from the speaker 2 to approach the prescribed acoustic properties, and the generated filter information is registered in association with the speaker 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: D&M Holding Inc.
    Inventor: KENJI SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 11902616
    Abstract: Provided is a technology for supporting solution of a fault that has occurred in a system including an audio-visual device. A solution support program storage unit (7) is configured to store, for each potential fault, a solution support program for supporting a user's job for solving the each fault. At least one of the solution support programs for handling a fault having a plurality of possible causes includes processing for displaying a message for prompting the user to conduct a predetermined job, processing for displaying a question for the user, processing for receiving a user's answer to the question, and processing for displaying a message indicating a solution corresponding to the received answer. Then, a main control unit (9) determines a fault based on the information acquired through an audio-visual signal input interface unit (3) and an audio-visual signal output interface unit (4), and executes the solution support program for handling the determined fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: D&M HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Uno
  • Publication number: 20230333807
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an audio device with which remote operation is possible without using a remote controller, even during audio output. [Solution] A wireless speaker 1 is provided with a speech command recognizing unit 17 which subjects a speech signal input into a microphone 11 to speech recognition processing to recognize an utterance of a listener, and detects a speech commands of the listener from the recognition result, and is additionally provided with; a motion command recognizing unit 18 which subjects a video signal captured by a camera 12 to motion recognition processing to recognize a gesture of the listener, and detects a motion command of the listener from the recognition result; and a main control unit 20 which implements various types of control of the wireless speaker 1 on the basis of the speech command recognized by the speech command recognizing unit 17 and the motion command recognized by the motion command recognizing unit 18.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: D&M Holdings INC.
    Inventor: Yuji OTA
  • Publication number: 20220303683
    Abstract: A system and method for wireless audio data system configuration is disclosed and described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: D&M HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventor: Yasuchika Ishida
  • Patent number: 11381958
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and devices for configuring a wireless device using audio data that is transmitted from a mobile device to the wireless device via a wired connection. For example, wireless configuration data may be sent from an audio port of the mobile device to an audio port of the wireless device while the mobile device and the wireless device are temporarily connected via an audio cable. According to an example method, a mobile device may determine wireless configuration data associated with a wireless local area network. The mobile device may then send the wireless configuration data to a wireless device via an audio port of the mobile device, such that the wireless device may be configured to access the wireless local area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Commons, Peter Thoeming
  • Patent number: 11315561
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an audio device having a voice operation receiving function with which the state of a voice recognition process can be notified in detail without affecting an audio playback environment, and which is inexpensive and has an excellent degree of freedom in design. [Solution] A wireless speaker 1 has a voice operation receiving function that receives an operation by a voice input into a microphone 11. The wireless speaker comprises: an LED 12; an LED control unit 18 that subjects the LED 12 to PWM control; and a lighting pattern storage unit 17 that stores a lighting pattern in which the brightness is changed on a time axis for each state of a voice recognition process. The LED control unit 18 subjects the LED 12 to PWM control in accordance with the lighting pattern stored in the lighting pattern storage unit 17 corresponding to the state of the voice recognition process performed on the voice input into the microphone 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11234045
    Abstract: Provided is a technology for supporting solution of a fault that has occurred in a system including an audio-visual device. A solution support program storage unit (7) is configured to store, for each potential fault, a solution support program for supporting a user's job for solving the each fault. At least one of the solution support programs for handling a fault having a plurality of possible causes includes processing for displaying a message for prompting the user to conduct a predetermined job, processing for displaying a question for the user, processing for receiving a user's answer to the question, and processing for displaying a message indicating a solution corresponding to the received answer. Then, a main control unit (9) determines a fault based on the information acquired through an audio-visual signal input interface unit (3) and an audio-visual signal output interface unit (4), and executes the solution support program for handling the determined fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Uno
  • Patent number: 11218334
    Abstract: A system provides limited controller access to a mesh network of media rendering devices in a primary communication network via an access point providing network connectivity to a local area network (LAN). A first media rendering device in communication with the LAN includes a secondary network transceiver providing a secondary network distinct from the LAN. A second media rendering device is in communication with the first media rendering device via the secondary network. A controller is configured to communicate with the first media rendering device via the LAN and/or the secondary network. The first media rendering device is configured to convey a command from the controller to the second media rendering device via the secondary network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Stuart-Muirk, Nicholas Murrells, Brendon Stead
  • Patent number: 11209972
    Abstract: A media rendering system includes a media rendering device and a controller device in communication via a network. The controller has a touch screen, presenting a portrait display mode when oriented in a first position, and a landscape display mode when oriented in a second position. The portrait mode displays either a first full screen presenting a first menu, or a second full screen presenting a second menu. The landscape mode displays a landscape full screen with two side-by-side tiles including a first tile presenting the first menu and a second tile presenting the second menu. Landscape mode provides drag-and-drop functionality for menu objects among the first and second, generating configuration commands to the media rendering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Murrells, Martin Richard Wachter, Brendon Stead
  • Patent number: 11113022
    Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of media rendering devices in a data network with a controller device in communication with the network is disclosed. A network enabled subwoofer is added to the data network such that the subwoofer is visible on the network to a controller. The controller user interface displays a subwoofer graphical object and a group graphical object representing a group of one or more rendering devices. A user selects the group graphical object via the controller user interface, and the subwoofer is joined with the selected group. An audio channel associated with the group is assigned to the subwoofer. The controller user interface hides the subwoofer graphical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Richard Wachter, Ryouichi Yamanouchi, Samuel Baxter, Nicholas Murrells, Brendon Stead
  • Patent number: 10820183
    Abstract: A first network enabled device is in a wireless local area network (WLAN). The first network enabled device determines whether a second network enabled device is present in the WLAN. The first network enabled device executes a rule having a condition based on whether the second network enabled device is present in the WLAN and a resulting action to be performed by the first network enabled device. If the condition is met, the first network enabled device performs the resulting action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Meek, Nicholas Murrells
  • Patent number: 10778674
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring a media rendering device of a media rendering system in a WLAN is disclosed. A second device is activated, and detected by a first device. The first and second devices establish a communication channel. The first device accesses biometric user data of a first user of the media rendering system, and records an audio voice phrase of a user of the second device. The system analyzes the audio voice phrase of the user of the second device to compare the audio voice phrase of the user of the second device to the biometric user data of the first user of the media rendering system. The system authenticates the audio voice phrase with respect to the biometric user data and configures the second device to render media according to a first user profile of the first user of the media rendering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Murrells, Robert M. Kilgore
  • Patent number: 10779083
    Abstract: A sound bar is provided which includes a generally elongate rectangular structure, with one angled output face having a plurality of speakers disposed therein, to thereby provide enhanced audio output. The sound bar is beneficially provided with a single mounting surface configured and arranged such that the sound bar can be mounted on both a table/shelf (horizontal orientation) and a wall (vertical orientation) via the single mounting surface by rotating the sound bar 180°, wherein the audio output in both mounting orientations is a multi-directional 3D audio output that travels to and bounces off both the walls and the ceiling of a room in which the sound bar is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brendon Stead, Achim Schulz
  • Patent number: 10587968
    Abstract: [Problem] In the case where an audio signal of the same source is output from a plurality of speakers, the speakers are adjusted so that the audio signals become optimal at a listening position. [Solution] Processing in which an audio signal output from a wireless speaker 1 is collected by a microphone of a controller 2 carried by a listener and a delay time is measured that is the difference between an output time of the audio signal from the wireless speaker 1 and an input time of the audio signal to the microphone of the controller 2 is performed on a plurality of the wireless speakers 1 that output an audio signal of the same source, and the delay times of the audio signals from these respective wireless speakers 1 are measured. Output timings of these respective wireless speakers 1 are adjusted on the basis of these delay times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Koji Maeda
  • Patent number: 10547323
    Abstract: A bitstream converter for converting a 1-bit pulse density modulated (PDM) bitstream signal into an analog audio signal, the bitstream converter comprising: a processor configured to process the 1-bit PDM bitstream signal using a return to zero clock having a frequency higher than a sampling frequency of the 1-bit PDM bitstream signal to output a corresponding 1-bit return to zero signal, wherein the processor is configured to process the 1-bit PDM signal to ensure a portion of each bit of the 1-bit PDM bitstream signal is zero for a duration which is based on the frequency of the return to zero clock; and signal processing means configured to extract the analog audio signal from the 1-bit return to zero signal by filtering the 1-bit return to zero signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Finck, Shozo Kawahara
  • Patent number: 10310806
    Abstract: To provide a technology capable of changing an output characteristic of music data more efficiently with a simpler operation irrespective of whether or not the music data is being played back, an audio controller (2) identifies a usage environment of a wireless speaker (1) from picked-up image data on an installation room of the wireless speaker (1). Then, an output characteristic suitable for the identified usage environment is selected, and the selected output characteristic is set as an output characteristic of music data to be output from the wireless speaker (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Sho Kodama
  • Publication number: 20190149165
    Abstract: A bitstream converter for converting a 1-bit pulse density modulated (PDM) bitstream signal into an analog audio signal, the bitstream converter comprising: a processor configured to process the 1-bit PDM bitstream signal using a return to zero clock having a frequency higher than a sampling frequency of the 1-bit PDM bitstream signal to output a corresponding 1-bit return to zero signal, wherein the processor is configured to process the 1-bit PDM signal to ensure a portion of each bit of the 1-bit PDM bitstream signal is zero for a duration which is based on the frequency of the return to zero clock; and signal processing means configured to extract the analog audio signal from the 1-bit return to zero signal by filtering the 1-bit return to zero signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Finck, Shozo Kawahara
  • Patent number: RE47400
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for providing dual control functionality in a networked digital media device. In overview, a networked digital media device advertises a standard digital media device, which is discoverable and controllable by a standard control device in accordance with a standard media control protocol (also referred to as a Device Control Protocol, or DCP). The networked digital media device also advertises a non-standard digital media playback device, the non-standard device being discoverable and controllable by a non-standard control device in accordance with a non-standard media control protocol. These two devices are manifested in the same device hardware, essentially allowing the device to implement dual-control such that it is able to be controlled both as a standard device and a non-standard device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: D&M HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventor: Max Gordon Ramsay
  • Patent number: RE48946
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for providing media playback in a networked environment. In one embodiment, a networked media playback device is configured to provide a web server for delivering data indicative of a browser-renderable control interface for the networked media playback device, or for a related networked media playback system. In overview, the user of a networked device, such as a wireless web enabled device, is able to render the control interface in a web browser, and in this manner control playback of digital media via the networked media playback device or networked media playback system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: D&M Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Max Ramsay, David Boyd