IP Library Granted Patent US 10,567,893
Granted Patent B2
US 10,567,893 · App. 15/894,591 · Granted Feb 18, 2020

Multi-zone media system and method for providing multi-zone media

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,567,893
App. No.
15/894,591
Granted
Feb 18, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multi-zone media system and method for providing multi-zone media. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide a system and method that flexibly presents media content (e.g., audio content) to a user as the user moves throughout a premises.

Claims (36)

1. A system for presenting audio content, the system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least:

play audio content at a first loudspeaker;

receive a user input at a second loudspeaker; and

based, at least in part, on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, at least:

play the audio content at the second loudspeaker;

determine when to modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker based at least in part on a predetermined time period; and

modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one module is operable to determine when to modify the presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker based at least in part on the predetermined time period and on user interaction with the first loudspeaker.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one module is operable to modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to stop presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker after the predetermined time period has passed without the occurrence of a triggering event.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the triggering event comprises receiving a user input at the first loudspeaker.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the triggering event comprises a user input at a sensor separate from the first loudspeaker and associated with a first area that corresponds to the first loudspeaker.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one module is operable to modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker by, at least in part, operating to wait until the audio content is being presented at the second loudspeaker before modifying presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker.

7. A system for presenting audio content, the system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least:

play audio content at a first loudspeaker;

receive a user input at a second loudspeaker; and

based, at least in part, on the received user input at the second loudspeaker, at least:

identify an output sound characteristic associated with a particular user, wherein the identified output sound characteristic comprises a respective sound equalization for the particular user;

play the audio content having the identified output sound characteristic at the second loudspeaker; and

modify presentation of the audio content at the first loudspeaker.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one module is operable to identify the output sound characteristic by, at least in part, operating to identify the output sound characteristic associated with a user profile corresponding to the particular user.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one module is operable to identify the user profile based at least in part on the received user input.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one module is operable to identify the user profile based, at least in part, on recognition of a tactile input associated with the user profile.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one module is operable to select the user profile based, at least in part, on recognizing an audio input associated with the user profile.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one module is operable to select the user profile based, at least in part, on recognizing an electronic signature associated with the user profile.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the identified output sound characteristic comprises a respective magnitude response shape for the particular user.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the identified output sound characteristic comprises a respective volume for the particular user.

15. A system for presenting audio content, the system comprising:

at least one module operable to, at least:

play audio content at a first loudspeaker;

receive a user input at a sensor associated with a second loudspeaker, wherein the sensor is integrated with a device that does not present audio and that has a primary purpose that is unrelated to audio presentation; and

based, at least in part, on the received user input associated with the second loudspeaker, play the audio content at the second loudspeaker.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the device that does not present audio is a switch plate.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the device that does not present audio is a door assembly.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the sensor comprises a wall-mounted sensor independent of the second speaker.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (REEL/FRAME 056193/0207) Recorded Apr 12, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENEN ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA, LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUD SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
Reel/Frame 059988/0637 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL (REEL/FRAME 056193/0230) Recorded Apr 12, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENEN ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA, LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUD SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
Reel/Frame 060003/0212 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Feb 14, 2022
From: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS AGENT
To: POLK AUDIO, LLC; DIRECTED, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M EUROPE B.V.; B & W GROUP LTD; SOUND UNITED, LLC; B & W LOUDSPEAKERS LTD; D&M HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 059127/0278 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 10, 2021
From: BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENON ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUND SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056193/0230 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 10, 2021
From: BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; DEI SALES, INC.; DEI HOLDINGS, INC.; SOUND UNITED, LLC; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; THE SPEAKER COMPANY; DENON ELECTRONICS (USA), LLC; MARANTZ AMERICA LLC; D & M SALES & MARKETING AMERICAS LLC; D&M DIRECT, INC.; D&M PREMIUM SOUND SOLUTIONS, LLC; EQUITY INTERNATIONAL LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056193/0207 →
NOTICE OF SECURITY INTEREST - PATENTS Recorded Oct 9, 2020
From: DEI SALES, INC.; D&M HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; BOSTON ACOUSTICS, INC.; D&M EUROPE B.V.; POLK AUDIO, LLC; DEFINITIVE TECHNOLOGY, LLC; B & W GROUP LTD
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054300/0611 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2018
From: STAROBIN, BRADLEY . M; LYONS, MATTHEW; LUMSDEN, STUART W.; DITULLO, MICHAEL; O'CONNOR, PAUL
To: SOUND UNITED, LLC.
Reel/Frame 044904/0486 →