Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method may include receiving, at an embedded computing device of a multi-zone audio amplifier system, audio inputs from audio sources. The method may further include mapping the audio inputs to an zone for the audio inputs to be available for the zone, in which the zone represents a location having a speaker configured for playback of sound. A particular audio input may be selected from the audio inputs for transmission to the zone, where such selection may be based on a priority policy. The embedded computing device may transmit the particular audio input to the zone using an amplifier associated with the zone. The method may further include causing the speaker to play the particular audio input.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, thermal management system for an audio amplifier system may include a heatsink and an active thermal management system. The heatsink may be coupled to an enclosure housing the audio amplifier system and an amplifier of the audio amplifier system. The heatsink may be configured to passively dissipate heat generated in the amplifier to the enclosure and provide structural support for the enclosure. The active thermal management system may include a temperature sensor configured to generate temperature data, a fan configured to provide air to the audio amplifier system to lower temperature measured using the temperature sensor and an embedded computing device configured to obtain the temperature data from the temperature sensor and control the fan based on the temperature data.

Abstract: A system may include an embedded computing device and amplifiers coupled to the embedded computing device. The embedded computing device may cause a user interface to be displayed on a mobile device via a mobile application. The user interface may show a list of zones and a list of audio inputs. The embedded computing device may obtain a user input via the user interface. The user input may indicate relationships between the audio inputs and the zones. The zones may represent physical locations. Each of the physical locations may include an audio output device configured to play sound. The embedded computing device may map the relationships between the audio inputs and the zones based on the user input. The amplifiers may obtain a portion of the audio inputs based on the relationships. The amplifiers may also provide the portion of the audio inputs to the audio output device.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a multi-zone audio amplifier may include an audio manager, a data bus, and multiple amplifiers coupled to the data bus. The audio manager may obtain audio inputs representative of sound to be played at an audio output device, from an audio source via a network. The multiple amplifiers may provide audio outputs representative of the sound to multiple zones, each zone corresponding to one or more different audio output device for playback of the sound. The multiple amplifiers may receive the audio inputs from the audio manager via the data bus.

Abstract: An embedded computing device which receives and buffers one or more digital audio streams provided by wired or wireless devices such as computers, tablets and smart phones via a network. The streams are buffered to allow for delays and irregularities in the rate at which these streams are delivered. The streams are then distributed to a series of digital amplifiers while allowing each amplifier to play a chosen source at a volume level that is selected by a user. This embodiment reduces the number of required electronic components, delivers high quality audio because the system is entirely digital from source through amplification, and is energy efficient thereby minimizing the generation of waste heat. In addition, the invention allows for features such as limiting the volume for certain users, or for certain zones during specified periods of time, as well as features to diagnose and/or compensate for installation errors or problems.

Abstract: An embedded computing device which receives and buffers one or more digital audio streams provided by wired or wireless devices such as computers, tablets and smart phones via a network. The streams are buffered to allow for delays and irregularities in the rate at which these streams are delivered. The streams are then distributed to a series of digital amplifiers while allowing each amplifier to play a chosen source at a volume level that is selected by a user. This embodiment reduces the number of required electronic components, delivers high quality audio because the system is entirely digital from source through amplification, and is energy efficient thereby minimizing the generation of waste heat. In addition, the invention allows for features such as limiting the volume for certain users, or for certain zones during specified periods of time, as well as features to diagnose and/or compensate for installation errors or problems.

Abstract: An embedded computing device which receives and buffers one or more digital audio streams provided by wired or wireless devices such as computers, tablets and smart phones via a network. The streams are buffered to allow for delays and irregularities in the rate at which these streams are delivered. The streams are then distributed to a series of digital amplifiers while allowing each amplifier to play a chosen source at a volume level that is selected by a user. This embodiment reduces the number of required electronic components, delivers high quality audio because the system is entirely digital from source through amplification, and is energy efficient thereby minimizing the generation of waste heat. In addition, the invention allows for features such as limiting the volume for certain users, or for certain zones during specified periods of time, as well as features to diagnose and/or compensate for installation errors or problems.