Multiple Channel Patents (Class 381/80)
  • Patent number: 11852694
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to circuitry for detecting connection of a plug of an audio accessory device to a socket of an intermediate cable that is connected to a host device, wherein the plug of the accessory device is of a different type than the socket of the intermediate cable. The circuitry comprises a monitoring unit comprising a first terminal configured to be electrically connected to a first socket contact of the socket that is in electrical contact with a first plug contact of the plug when the plug is fully received in the socket; and a second terminal configured to be electrically connected to a second socket contact of the socket that is in electrical contact with a second plug contact of the plug when the plug is fully received in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Breslin, John B. Bowlerwell, Clive R. Graham
  • Patent number: 11848785
    Abstract: A communication protocol provides improved communication performance between a wireless stereo headset (12) and a host device (19). The communication protocol provides communication paths between the host device (19) and each ear piece (12a, 12b) of the wireless stereo headset (12), as well as a communication path between the two ear pieces (12a, 12b) of the wireless stereo headset (12). In addition to receiving audio information from the host device (19), each ear piece (12a, 12b) may request audio information from the other ear piece (12b, 12a), thus obtaining path diversity. Using special control messages on connection between the ear pieces (12a, 12b), the ear pieces (12a, 12b) inform each other which audio information has been received successfully from the host device (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Dopple IP B.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus Cornelis Haartsen, Tjapko Uildriks, Aalbert Stek
  • Patent number: 11831461
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically adjusting device volume based on learned volume preferences are disclosed herein. A first device receives a wireless signal from a second device. A signal strength of the wireless signal is determined, and a location of the second device is determined based on the signal strength of the wireless signal. Historical volume level data for the first device is retrieved from memory. A target volume level for the first device is determined based on the location of the second device and the historical volume level data. A volume setting of the first device is automatically adjusted to the target volume level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventor: Deepak Angadi
  • Patent number: 11734400
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a voice sensor for detecting voice information; a camera for capturing an image of a subject related to the voice information; and a control unit for controlling the camera such that the image of the subject related to the voice information is captured when the voice sensor detects the voice information, and determining, by using the captured image of the subject and the voice information, whether the subject related to the voice information is a counterfeit face, thereby determining whether to execute a control command corresponding to the voice information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Heejoo Yoon
  • Patent number: 11689852
    Abstract: An audio rendering device includes: at least one wireless communications interface configured to receive a first plurality of audio packets from a wireless communication device, the first plurality of audio packets including frames of audio data for a first audio channel from a set of one or more audio channels; and a processing unit; wherein the audio rendering device is configured to release, at respective first buffer release times, the frames of the audio data for the first audio channel from a first buffer for rendering by the processing unit; wherein the audio rendering device is configured to receive one or more messages from an other audio rendering device; and wherein the audio rendering device is configured to synchronize the first buffer release times with second buffer release times associated with the other audio rendering device based on the received one or more messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Thorkild Find Pedersen, Brian Dam Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11669297
    Abstract: A audio playback control method includes: triggering switching audio of media content played on a terminal to a first audio playback device for playback in response to a distance between the terminal and the first audio playback device reaching a communicable distance for near field communication during a process of playing the media content on the terminal; and switching the audio of the media content played on the first audio playback device to a second audio playback device for playback in response to the second audio playback device being triggered to play the media content during a process of playing the media content on the first audio playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tingting Dong, Zheng Li, Xuan Ma
  • Patent number: 11606656
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include detecting an acoustic stimulus via active beams associated with at least one microphone disposed in a defined space, detecting loudspeaker characteristic information of at least one loudspeaker providing the acoustic stimulus, transmitting acoustic stimulus information based on the acoustic stimulus to a central controller, and modifying, via a central controller, at least one control function associated with the at least one microphone and the at least one loudspeaker to minimize acoustic feedback produced by the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Iain Alexander McCowan, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jason Damori, Scott Wieser
  • Patent number: 11443769
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying that a first audio stream includes first, second, and third sources of audio. A computing system identifies that a second audio stream includes the first, second, and third sources of audio. The computing system determines that the first and second sources of audio are part of a first conversation. The computing system generates a third audio stream that combines the first source of audio from the first audio stream, the first source of audio from the second audio stream, the second source of audio from the first audio stream, and the second source of audio from the second audio stream, and diminishes the third source of audio from the first audio stream, and the third source of audio from the second audio stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Dimitri Kanevsky, Golan Pundak
  • Patent number: 11356778
    Abstract: A speaker controller includes a switch that is inserted on a speaker wiring for supplying a sound signal to a speaker. A switch control circuit can extract and hold an ON/OFF control signal for instructing ON/OFF of the switch from an alternating-current signal supplied via the speaker wiring. A switch control circuit controls ON/OFF of the switch based on the ON/OFF control signal. A power supply circuit can generate a power supply voltage for operating the switch control circuit from the alternating-current signal supplied via the speaker wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Noro
  • Patent number: 11350230
    Abstract: An apparatus for spatial audio signal decoding including at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code configured to cause the apparatus at least to: receive at least one associated audio signal, the at least one associated audio signal based on a spatial audio signal; spatial metadata associated with the at least one associated audio signal, the spatial metadata including at least one parameter representing an ambiance energy distribution of the spatial audio signal and at least one directional parameter representing directional information of the spatial audio signal; synthesize from the at least one associated audio signal at least one output audio signal based on the at least one directional parameter and the least one parameter, wherein the at least one parameter controls ambiance energy distribution of the at least one output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Antti Eronen, Mikko-Ville Laitinen, Juha Vilkamo, Lasse Laaksonen, Anssi Ramo
  • Patent number: 11336984
    Abstract: A headphone system including a headphone in wireless communication with a remote-controller to be used in combination for direct communication between a first-user and a second-user. The remote-controller remotely controls functions of the headphone to interrupt a current audio output of the headphone being delivered from an audio-delivering-device. The remote-controller includes an integrated microphone and receive an audio message. Audio from the microphone is effectively instantly delivered to at least one speaker of the headphones via a wireless channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventor: Chris Wilson
  • Patent number: 11303989
    Abstract: An earphone-switching method in a mobile terminal are disclosed. The mobile terminal is currently connected with a first earphone, and the method includes performing an earphone-switching operation in response to the mobile terminal being in a call state and an earphone-switching condition being met, the earphone-switching operation being configured for switching the first earphone to a second earphone; detecting whether at least one of a first voice data and a second voice data is obtained during the earphone-switching operation; and sending the at least one of the first voice data and the second voice data, in response to the at least one of the first voice data and the second voice data being obtained, wherein the first voice data is sent to the second earphone, and the second voice data is sent to the peer terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinhua Gong, Baoti Li
  • Patent number: 11294620
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for controlling audio output are provided. In some implementations, a method for controlling audio output is provided, the method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, audio content to be presented; determining that an output port of the computing device is connected to a corresponding connector; providing the audio content at the output port; recording a first portion of audio using a microphone; determining that the audio content is present in the first portion of audio; continuing to provide the audio content at the output port; recording a second portion of audio using the microphone; determining that the audio content is not present in the second portion of audio; and presenting the audio content using a speaker of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Nima Lotfizadeh
  • Patent number: 11202151
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for distributing audio. An audio system is provided that includes one or more audio interfaces, at least one of which is a wireless audio interface. An audio hub couples to the one or more audio interfaces and detects the presence of one or more headphones coupled to the wireless audio interfaces. The audio hub selectively establishes communication channel(s) to convey audio content between a plurality of devices coupled to the audio interfaces. The plurality of devices may include one or more headphones, an infotainment head unit, a microphone, and a speaker. Accordingly, headphone users may hold conversations with each other and/or other occupants of a vehicle, and various users may share audio content with headphone users and/or other occupants of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teoman Bal, Ryan Boyle, Mark E. Dukeshire, Daniel B. Pierson, Naganagouda B. Patil
  • Patent number: 11188186
    Abstract: Provided is a part display apparatus. The part display apparatus includes: a tab display unit configured to display a plurality of tabs respectively corresponding to a plurality of part groups; a digest information display unit configured to display, in each tab of the plurality of tabs, digest information of each part of the part group corresponding to that tab; a tab selection reception unit configured to receive selection of any one of the plurality of tabs; and a detailed information display unit configured to display a part detail screen including detailed information of the part group corresponding to the selected tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Sasaki, Taku Ohno, Akiko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11115765
    Abstract: One example may include a method that includes receiving, at a presentation server, an audio data signal from a mobile device located in a presentation space, identifying a mobile device identification characteristic of the mobile device based on the received audio data signal, determining a mobile device location via a location determination procedure, and playing the audio signal via a loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas William Metzar, Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jason E. Damori
  • Patent number: 11051139
    Abstract: A system that determines that devices are co-located in an acoustic region and selects a single device to which to send incoming notifications for the acoustic region. The system may group devices into separate acoustic regions based on selection data that selects between similar audio data received from multiple devices. The system may select the best device for each acoustic region based on a frequency that the device was selected previously, input/output capabilities of the device, a proximity to a user, or the like. The system may send a notification to a single device in each of the acoustic regions so that a user receives a single notification instead of multiple unsynchronized notifications. The system may also determine that acoustic regions are associated with different locations and select acoustic regions to which to send a notification based on location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christo Frank Devaraj, Vikram Kumar Gundeti, James Marvin Freeman, II, Benjamin Jones
  • Patent number: 11044559
    Abstract: A system for facilitating configuration of an audio system tests the existing audio system configuration by playing reference audio clips of various different genres of programming, the audio of which is received by a microphone of a remote control device or other handheld mobile device at various different listening points in the room. The system then compares the audio signal representing audio of the reference audio clip received at the microphone to a reference audio signal representing the reference audio clip and determines other audio characteristics. The system then determines, based on the comparison and other characteristics of the room (e.g., furniture layout, room construction materials, wall treatments and current speaker positioning) suggested changes to a configuration of the audio system to increase audio quality of the audio system for playing audio associated with the various different genres of programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: DISH NETWORK L.L.C.
    Inventor: Neil Marten
  • Patent number: 11037555
    Abstract: Coordinating signal processing among computing devices in a voice-driven computing environment is provided. A first and second digital assistant can detect an input audio signal, perform a signal quality check, and provide indications that the first and second digital assistants are operational to process the input audio signal. A system can select the first digital assistant for further processing. The system can receive, from the first digital assistant, data packets including a command. The system can generate, for a network connected device selected from a plurality of network connected devices, an action data structure based on the data packets, and transmit the action data structure to the selected network connected device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Anshul Kothari, Gaurav Bhaya, Tarun Jain
  • Patent number: 10943619
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying that a first audio stream includes first, second, and third sources of audio. A computing system identifies that a second audio stream includes the first, second, and third sources of audio. The computing system determines that the first and second sources of audio are part of a first conversation. The computing system generates a third audio stream that combines the first source of audio from the first audio stream, the first source of audio from the second audio stream, the second source of audio from the first audio stream, and the second source of audio from the second audio stream, and diminishes the third source of audio from the first audio stream, and the third source of audio from the second audio stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Dimitri Kanevsky, Golan Pundak
  • Patent number: 10928876
    Abstract: Certain examples described herein relate to a removable unit of an additive manufacturing system. The removable unit is connectable to a base unit. When connected and operational, the base unit supplies a first voltage to the removable unit via a first power coupling. The removable unit has a power supply unit that converts the first voltage to a second voltage. The second voltage may power a number of low voltage components. The removable unit also has a power multiplexer. When the first voltage is unavailable the removable unit switches the power multiplexer to use a second voltage that is supplied from the base unit via a second power coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Noel Liarte, Anna Torrent, Juan Manuel Zamorano
  • Patent number: 10917922
    Abstract: An audio communication system is disclosed. The audio communication system comprises a speaker device having at least one speaker, a first wireless communication unit and a first connector part; a dongle having control functionality, a second wireless communication unit, and a second connector part, the dangle being configured to operate in a first mode being an audio communication system pairing mode and in a second mode being an audio communication system operating mode. The second connector part is in the audio communication system pairing mode configured to interconnect with the first connector part to enable pairing of the dongle and the speaker device. The second connector part is the audio communication system operating mode configured to interconnect with an external device, providing wireless communication between the speaker device and the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GN Audio A/S
    Inventor: Morten Proschowsky
  • Patent number: 10877719
    Abstract: An audio device comprises a display unit which displays information, a screen information storage unit which stores screen information of a predetermined application, an acceptance unit which accepts a selection of an application, a selection information storage unit which stores selection information of the application accepted by the acceptance unit, an audio device communication unit which sends the application selection information to the portable terminal and receives information according to the application selection information, and a screen display control unit which, upon receiving information according to the application selection information from the audio device communication unit, displays on the display unit a screen using the screen information stored in the screen information storage unit based on the application selection information stored in the selection information storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsumi Sano
  • Patent number: 10869128
    Abstract: Described herein are modular speaker systems including a plurality of wireless speaker modules configured to output sound in a first arrangement and in a second arrangement, in which the first arrangement is different from the second arrangement. In the first arrangement, at least one speaker module can be in physical contact with at least one other speaker module. In the second arrangement, the at least one speaker module can be physically separated from the at least one other speaker module. The plurality of wireless speaker modules may be arranged in any orientation with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Pangissimo LLC
    Inventors: Juncheng Qian, Constantine Hartofilis, Parsa Shahidi, Esiri Madagwa
  • Patent number: 10820121
    Abstract: A hearing system comprises a hearing device, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Lunner, Martin Skoglund, Fredrik Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 10783929
    Abstract: In some implementations, a system can be configured to manage groups of playback devices. For example, playback devices can be dynamically grouped in a variety of ways. Each playback device can store attributes that define the group to which the playback device belongs. Each playback device can send its group attributes to remote control devices and the remote control devices can determine groups of playback devices based on the group attributes. The remote control devices can then configure and present graphical user interfaces that represent the various groups of playback devices. In some implementations, a group of playback devices can be configured as a persistent group. For example, a pair of playback devices (e.g., wireless speakers) can store and send attribute data indicating that the pair of playback devices is a persistent group so that remote control devices can present and control the persistent group as a single device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Elena Leyfman, Thomas Alsina, Edward T. Schmidt, Deepak Iyer, David P. Saracino, Astrid Yi, Adam A. Sonnanstine, Jonathan A. Bennett, Gregory R. Chapman, Aparna S. Akella, Shreyas Nandagudi Sreesha, Johannes P. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10776074
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and media for controlling audio output are provided. In some implementations, a method for controlling audio output is provided, the method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, audio content to be presented; determining that an output port of the computing device is connected to a corresponding connector; providing the audio content at the output port; recording a first portion of audio using a microphone; determining that the audio content is present in the first portion of audio; continuing to provide the audio content at the output port; recording a second portion of audio using the microphone; determining that the audio content is not present in the second portion of audio; and presenting the audio content using a speaker of the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Nima Lotfizadeh
  • Patent number: 10750277
    Abstract: A method of locating a microphone, a device of locating a microphone and a system of locating a microphone. The method includes: determining an initial position of the microphone located in front of a light outgoing surface of a display screen; determining a target position of the microphone; determining a first displacement of the microphone in a direction perpendicular to the light outgoing surface of the display screen based on the target position and the initial position; determining a second displacement of the microphone in a direction parallel with the light outgoing surface of the display screen based on the target position and the initial position; and controlling the microphone to move to the target position based on the first displacement and the second displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: HEFEI BOE VISION-ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qianqian Hu, Chendong Xie, Weihan Li, Ya Meng
  • Patent number: 10725732
    Abstract: A display device including a display; a first external device interface configured to receive an image signal and an audio signal output from a first external input device; a second external device interface configured to receive an image signal and an audio signal output from a second external input device; and a controller configured to display a graphic user interface including a first external input item describing at least one of the first external device interface and the first external input device connected to the display device via the first external device interface, a second external input item describing at least one of the second external device interface and the second external input device connected to the display device via the first external device interface, a first audio output menu for selecting at least one of a plurality of audio output devices for outputting audio included in the audio signal received from the first external input device, and a second audio output menu for selecting at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyojung Oh, Seunghun Lee
  • Patent number: 10586569
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying that a first audio stream includes first, second, and third sources of audio. A computing system identifies that a second audio stream includes the first, second, and third sources of audio. The computing system determines that the first and second sources of audio are part of a first conversation. The computing system generates a third audio stream that combines the first source of audio from the first audio stream, the first source of audio from the second audio stream, the second source of audio from the first audio stream, and the second source of audio from the second audio stream, and diminishes the third source of audio from the first audio stream, and the third source of audio from the second audio stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Dimitri Kanevsky, Golan Pundak
  • Patent number: 10555082
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett
  • Patent number: 10462570
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett
  • Patent number: 10448159
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett
  • Patent number: 10433060
    Abstract: There may be provided a system that may include a processor and an audio hub; wherein the audio hub may include first communication interfaces, a second communication interface, a processor, and a memory; wherein the first communication interfaces may be configured to exchange audio signals with a group of audio components of different types; wherein an aggregate number of first communication interface bits exceeds a number of second communication interface bits; wherein the audio signals may include input audio signals received from the group and output audio signals transmitted to the group; wherein the processor may be configured to generate an input multiplex of input audio signals; and wherein the second communication interface may be configured to transmit the input multiplex to the processor and to receive an output multiplex from the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: DSP Group Ltd
    Inventors: Eran Feld, Fredy Rabin, Gad Molkho
  • Patent number: 10405123
    Abstract: This specification describes a method comprising determining whether an estimated position of an audio capture device which captures audio data is within boundaries of a predetermined area, and in response to a determination that the estimated position is not within the boundaries of the predetermined area, associating the captured audio data with an adjusted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Francesco Cricri, Jukka Saarinen
  • Patent number: 10368162
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed to recreate directional cues and in a conventional beamformed monophonic audio signal. In an example embodiment, the apparatus captures sound in an environment via the microphone array which includes a left reference and a right reference microphone. A monophonic audio signal is generated using conventional beamforming methods. A conventional monophonic beamformed signal lacks directional cues which may be useful for multiple output channels. By applying the phase offset data of the audio signals at the left and right reference microphones, directional cues may be created for audio signals for the left and right output channels respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Jordan Sanders
  • Patent number: 10354668
    Abstract: A codec operable to process audio data and related data. The codec further operable to receive at least one of an audio, audio auxiliary, program configuration, and data signals from a program source, the audio signals including at least one of single channel audio and multi-channel audio signals, audio auxiliary signals including spatial and motion data and environmental characteristics, the data signals including program related data. The codec further operable to generate a non-transitory encoded bitstream, wherein the bitstream includes at least one of synchronization command data and at least one of a program command data, audio channel data, audio auxiliary data, program content data, and an end of stream data, wherein the encoded bitstream includes an identifier for defining packet type for each data component. The synchronization command data includes a stream start flag defining an entry point for decoding the bitstream and further provides sample rate for the encoded bitstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: IMMERSION NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: James David Johnston, Stephen Daniel White, King Wei Hor, Barry M. Genova
  • Patent number: 10334358
    Abstract: A user device can be used to correct for a latency of a speaker. The user device can communicate an indication to the speaker to play a sound at a first time. The user device can record a second time at which a microphone on the user device detects the sound. The first and second times can be synchronized to a clock of a computer network. The user device can compare the first and second times to determine a latency of the speaker. The user device can communicate adjustment data corresponding to the determined latency to the speaker. The speaker can use the adjustment data to correct for the determined latency. In some examples, the user device can display instructions to position the user device a specified distance from the speaker, and can account for a time-of-flight of sound to propagate along the specified distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: DTS, Inc.
    Inventor: Dannie Lau
  • Patent number: 10318097
    Abstract: An audio system is disclosed that contains speakers that are configured to transmit unique parameters to an audio source. The system includes a hub that is configured to be connected with one or more audio sources. At least one speaker is included having one or more filter parameters stored internally that are specific to the speaker. The speaker is operable to transmit the one or more filter parameters to the hub. The hub is operable to use the one or more filter parameters to filter an audio channel associated with the speaker and an associated subwoofer channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Spitznagle, Christopher J. Perrins
  • Patent number: 10277977
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sound reproduction system configured to emit a first sound and a second sound from a loudspeaker at a time. The first sound is intended to reach ears of an object person's. The second sound is intended to reach ears of a non-object person's and compliant with a control characteristic. The control characteristic is defined such that the second sound includes a component which is emitted from the loudspeaker toward a first region occupied by the object person and has a sound pressure lower than a predetermined value, and another component which is emitted from the loudspeaker toward a second region occupied by the non-object person and has a sound pressure equal to the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Seki
  • Patent number: 10228898
    Abstract: An example method includes, based on an adjustment to a first displayed volume control, instructing the first playback device to adjust playback volume level; based on an adjustment to a second displayed volume control, instructing the second playback device to adjust playback volume level; after sending the commands, instructing the first and/or second playback device to process an audio stream into a first and/or second channel and to reproduce a respective one of the first and second channel, wherein the grouped first and second playback devices provide multi-channel sound; and based on an adjustment to a third displayed volume control, instructing the first and/or second playback device to adjust a group volume level for both the first and second playback devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne
  • Patent number: 10171868
    Abstract: A method for processing audio data includes: setting a first queue for managing at least one configured information control node of audio data to be played and a second queue for managing at least one configured information control node of played audio data, wherein each of the at least one configured information control node contains attribute information for the audio data to be played; unchaining a unit of the at least one configured information control node from the first queue; reading audio data to be played corresponding to the unit of the at least one configured information control node according to the attribute information for the audio data to be played in the unit of the at least one configured information control node; and chaining the unit of the at least one configured information control node to the second queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignees: Qingdao Hisense Electronics Co., Ltd., HISENSE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., HISENSE USA CORP.
    Inventors: Zhonghui Lu, Shurong Li, Qiang Wang
  • Patent number: 10111014
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for multi-source audio amplification and ear protection devices are provided herein. In certain configurations, an audio amplification and ear protection device includes at least one microphone that generates an ambient sound signal based on detecting ambient sound, at least one speaker, and an electrical system that controls sound outputted by the at least one speaker based on amplifying the ambient sound signal and a secondary sound source signal. The electrical system receives a first user-controlled volume signal that is operable to control an amount of amplification provided to the ambient sound signal, and a second user-controlled volume signal that is operable to control an amount of amplification provided to the secondary sound source signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Team IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy D. Schnell, Doug Mann
  • Patent number: 10063637
    Abstract: A method for acquiring media of the same event from multiple devices can include synchronizing, using at least one timecode module configured to receive timecode data over a wireless network, a personal device and a professional device, acquiring media data with the synchronized devices, associating the timecode data with the acquired media, and merging acquired media data from the personal device with the acquired media data from the professional device. The merging can be based, at least in part, on the timecode data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Timecode Systems Limited
    Inventor: Paul Scurrell
  • Patent number: 10051398
    Abstract: A multi-channel and multi-zone audio environment is provided. Various inventions are disclosed that allow playback devices on one or more networks to provide an effective multi-channel and a multi-zone audio environment using timing information. According to one example, timing information is used to coordinate playback devices connected over a low-latency network to provide audio along with a video display. In another example, timing information is used to coordinate playback devices connected over a mesh network to provide audio in one or more zones or zone groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Jarvis, Hilmar Lehnert, Aurelio Rafael Ramos, Luis Vega
  • Patent number: 9990934
    Abstract: Higher Order Ambisonics represents three-dimensional sound independent of a specific loudspeaker set-up. However, transmission of an HOA representation results in a very high bit rate. Therefore compression with a fixed number of channels is used, in which directional and ambient signal components are processed differently. For coding, portions of the original HOA representation are predicted from the directional signal components. This prediction provides side information which is required for a corresponding decoding. By using some additional specific purpose bits, a known side information coding processing is improved in that the required number of bits for coding that side information is reduced on average.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Krueger, Sven Kordon, Oliver Wuebbolt
  • Patent number: 9947364
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying that a first audio stream includes first, second, and third sources of audio. A computing system identifies that a second audio stream includes the first, second, and third sources of audio. The computing system determines that the first and second sources of audio are part of a first conversation. The computing system generates a third audio stream that combines the first source of audio from the first audio stream, the first source of audio from the second audio stream, the second source of audio from the first audio stream, and the second source of audio from the second audio stream, and diminishes the third source of audio from the first audio stream, and the third source of audio from the second audio stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Dimitri Kanevsky, Golan Pundak
  • Patent number: 9929824
    Abstract: Methods and systems for transmitting timecode and metadata to networked devices can include identifying one or more network devices capable of receiving timecode and sync information, generating a communication signal comprising timecode and sync information by a device having an internal clock, distributing the communication signal over a network to the identified network devices, and synchronizing the identified networked devices during an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: TIMECODE SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Scurrell, Paul Leslie Bannister
  • Patent number: 9775069
    Abstract: Described are techniques for configuring a group of audio devices in communication with one another to provide an audio output. Test data may be communicated between a selected audio device and each audio device in the group to determine data throughput values for each communication. A value indicative of the airtime that would be used to communicate data to each audio device, using the selected audio device, may be determined. This process may be repeated for each audio device within the group. The selected audio device associated with the lowest airtime value may be designated as a master audio device. A maximum airtime value associated with distribution of audio data from the master audio device to the other devices may be determined based on the data throughput values for each device. If the maximum airtime value is less than a threshold airtime value, the audio data may be distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Milos Jorgovanovic, Jin Guo
  • Patent number: 9729992
    Abstract: An audio receiver that receives left, right, and center audio channels for a piece of sound program content is described. A content processor in the audio receiver generates separate audio signals corresponding to each channel for driving corresponding transducers in left and right loudspeaker arrays. The content processor generates (1) first center audio signals for driving transducers in the left array to generate a first center pattern, (2) second center audio signals for driving transducers in the right array to generate a second center pattern, (3) left audio signals for driving transducers in the left array to generate a left pattern, and (4) right audio signals for driving transducers in the right array to generate a right pattern. The first and second center patterns collectively represent the center channel while the left and right patterns respectively represent the left and right channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Tomlinson M. Holman