IP Library Granted Patent US 10,284,991
Granted Patent B2
US 10,284,991 · App. 16/010,631 · Granted May 7, 2019

Methods for determining relative locations of wireless loudspeakers

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,284,991
App. No.
16/010,631
Granted
May 7, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for determining relative locations of wireless loudspeakers and performing channel mapping thereof. An audio processing component utilizes sounds produced by wireless loudspeakers during setup/installation procedures, which are received by a microphone at locations in an acoustic space, to determine an amount of time between when the audio signal is initially transmitted and when the microphone signal is received. The audio processing component also utilizes wireless timing signals provided by a wireless transceiver, at locations in the acoustic space, to wireless loudspeakers and then back to the wireless transceiver to determine an amount of time between transmission and reception by the wireless transceiver. The timing delays are used to determine the locations of the wireless loudspeakers in the acoustic space. Based on the determined locations, the audio processing component generates indications of correct or incorrect wireless loudspeaker placements, and performs audio channel mapping.

Claims (52)

1. A system comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to:

receive a responsive wireless timing transmission signal that includes timing information from each of a plurality of wireless loudspeakers arranged in an acoustic space;

a location determination component configured to:

determine a location in the acoustic space of one or more of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers based on the timing information; and

a location indication component configured to:

generate and provide a location indication, the location indication being indicative of whether a loudspeaker of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers is properly located based on the location,

wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to provide wireless audio transmission signals to the plurality of wireless loudspeakers for sound generation.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to:

provide wireless timing transmission signals to each of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers in the acoustic space, and receive the responsive wireless timing transmission signal from each of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers, at a plurality of positions in the acoustic space.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location indication comprises at least one of an audio indication or a visual indication, or

wherein the location indication comprises at least one of an audio indication or a visual indication that provides corrective location information for a wireless loudspeaker of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location determination component is configured to determine the location according to a 2-D loudspeaker configuration or according to a 3-D loudspeaker configuration.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit and receive wireless timing transmission signals according to IEEE 1588 or IEEE 802.1AS point-to-point protocol standards.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the plurality of wireless loudspeakers; and

wherein an additional wireless transceiver is included in one or more of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers, and is configured to:

provide additional wireless timing transmission signals to each other wireless loudspeaker of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers and to the wireless transceiver; and

receive additional responsive wireless timing transmission signals that includes additional timing information from each other wireless loudspeaker of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers and from the wireless transceiver.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the location determination component is configured to determine the location based on the additional timing information.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a channel mapping component configured to determine a channel mapping of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers based on the location.

9. A method comprising:

receiving a responsive wireless timing transmission signal that includes timing information from each of a plurality of wireless loudspeakers arranged in an acoustic space;

determining a location in the acoustic space of one or more of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers based on the timing information;

generating and providing a location indication, the location indication being indicative of whether a loudspeaker of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers is properly located based on the location; and

providing wireless audio transmission signals to the plurality of wireless loudspeakers.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the location indication comprises at least one of an audio indication or a visual indication.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the location indication comprises at least one of an audio indication or a visual indication that provides corrective location information for a wireless loudspeaker of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the location includes determining the location according to a 2-D loudspeaker configuration or according to a 3-D loudspeaker configuration.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the wireless timing transmission signals are configured according to IEEE 1588 or IEEE 802.1AS point-to-point protocol standards.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

providing wireless timing transmission signals to each of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers in the acoustic space, and receive the responsive wireless timing transmission signal from each of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers, at a plurality of positions in the acoustic space.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining a channel mapping of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers based on the location.

16. A system comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to:

provide wireless audio transmission signals to each of a plurality of wireless loudspeakers to generate corresponding sound from each of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers in an acoustic space;

provide wireless timing transmission signals to each of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers; and

receive a responsive wireless timing transmission signal that includes timing information from each of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers;

at least one microphone configured to:

receive the corresponding sound of each of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers at a plurality of microphone positions in the acoustic space; and

generate a corresponding microphone signal for each of the plurality of microphone positions for determining a corresponding wireless loudspeaker location;

a location determination component configured to:

determine a location in the acoustic space of one or more of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers based on one or more of the corresponding microphone signals at the plurality of microphone positions and the timing information; and

a location indication component configured to generate and provide a location indication, the location indication being indicative of whether a loudspeaker of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers is properly located based on the location.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

a channel mapping component configured to determine a channel mapping of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers based on the location.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one microphone and the channel mapping component are configured to setup or calibrate the plurality of wireless loudspeakers, at least in part, according to an active room correction scheme.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to:

provide the wireless timing transmission signals to each of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers and receive the responsive wireless timing transmission signal that includes timing information from each of the plurality of wireless loudspeakers, at a plurality of positions in the acoustic space.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to:

receive the responsive wireless timing transmission signals according to a 2-D loudspeaker configuration or according to a 3-D loudspeaker configuration.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE OF THE MERGER AND APPLICATION NOS. 13/237,550 AND 16/103,107 FROM THE MERGER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047231 FRAME 0369. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Mar 8, 2019
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048549/0113 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 4, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047231/0369 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2018
From: DOUGHERTY, JAMES F.; CHEN, JUIN-HWEY
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046137/0395 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2018
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 046137/0427 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,701,360