IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,812,907
Granted Patent B2
US 10,812,907 · App. 16/243,222 · Granted Oct 20, 2020

Expandable speaker system and method for broadcast

Inventors: Marc Liniado (Brooklyn, NY); Andrew Kohlsmith (Ontario, CA)
Assignee: DGL Group Ltd.
H04R5/02H04R1/025H04R5/04H04R2420/07H04R2430/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,812,907
App. No.
16/243,222
Granted
Oct 20, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An expandable wireless speaker system and method is disclosed. The speaker system comprises a center module and at least two or more speakers. The center module has a unique identification number and has mechanical connections on at least one side. The center module is configured to receive an external device, wirelessly or directly connected and has a transceiver configured to scan for an unused channel and transmit audio. The speakers each have a mechanical connection on either side to connect to the center module or the other speakers. The two or more speakers are configured to scan the communication spectrum for the center module's unique identification and when the two or more speakers locate the center module's unique identification, the two or more speakers pair with the center module to receive audio. The communication spectrum can be a wireless channel such as 5.8 GHz or the FM radio spectrum.

Claims (42)

1. An expandable speaker system, comprising:

a center module with a unique identification number,

wherein the center module is configured to communicate with an external audio device,

wherein the center module has a first connector on a first side and a second connector on a second side; and

at least two speakers in signal communication with the center module, the at least two speakers including a first speaker and a second speaker,

wherein each of the at least two speakers has a volume control,

wherein the first speaker includes a third connector configured to mechanically connect to the first connector,

wherein the second speaker includes a fourth connector configured to mechanically connect to the second connector,

wherein when the third connector is mechanically connected to the first connector and the fourth connector is mechanically connected to the second connector, the center module transmits a left stereo sound component to the first speaker and a right stereo sound component to the second speaker,

wherein when the third connector is disconnected from the first connector and the fourth connector is disconnected from the second connector, the center module transmits an audio signal including the left stereo sound component and the right stereo sound component to the first speaker and the audio signal including the left stereo sound component and the right stereo sound component to the second speaker.

2. The expandable speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the third connector is connected to the first connector by one of a magnetic connection, a snap-together connection, and a sliding interlock connection, and wherein the fourth connector is connected to the second connector by one of a magnetic connection, a snap-together connection, and a sliding interlock connection.

3. The expandable speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the center module is configured to communicate with the external device through one of a line in connection and a wireless connection.

4. The expandable speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the at least two speakers are configured to scan a communication band for the center module's unique identification, and wherein the at least two speakers are further configured to save the center module's unique identification and pair with the center module to receive audio.

5. The expandable speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the center module and the at least two speakers are in two-way communication over a wireless band.

6. The expandable speaker system of claim 5 , wherein the wireless band is a 5.8 GHz wireless channel.

7. The expandable speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the center module transceiver further comprises an FM transmitter configured to scan the FM radio spectrum for an unused FM radio channel and transmit audio.

8. The expandable speaker system of claim 6 , wherein a radio data system (RDS) of the unused FM radio channel broadcasts the unique identification number of the center module to be received by the two or more speakers.

9. A method for broadcasting audio through a speaker system, comprising:

receiving signal communication from an external audio device at a center module; and

transmitting audio from the center module to at least two speakers,

wherein when the at least two speakers are connected to the center module via a mechanical connection, each of the at least two or more speakers transmits a portion of audio dependent upon the location of the at least two or more speakers to the center module, and

wherein when the at least two speakers are disconnected from the center module, each of the at least two speakers produce audio including a left stereo sound component and a right stereo sound component.

10. The method for broadcasting audio through a speaker system of claim 9 , wherein the first connector and second connector are one of a magnetic connection or a snap-together connection or a sliding interlock connection.

11. The method for broadcasting audio through a speaker system of claim 9 , further including:

scanning for a clear and unused channel using a transceiver of the center module;

transmitting a unique identifier of the center module on the clear and unused channel;

scanning for the unique identifier of the center module using a receiver of the at least two or more speakers, wherein when the unique identifier is located, saving the center module's unique identifier to the at least two or more speakers and pairing the center module and the least two or more speakers.

12. The method for broadcasting audio through a speaker system of claim 11 , wherein the transceiver of the center module further comprises an FM transmitter configured to scan the FM radio spectrum for an unused FM radio channel and transmit audio.

13. The method for broadcasting audio through a speaker system of claim 12 , wherein a radio data system (RDS) of the unused FM radio channel broadcasts the unique identification number of the center module to be received by the two or more speakers.

14. The method for broadcasting audio through a speaker system of claim 9 , further comprising pairing the center module and the at least two speakers over a wireless band.

15. The method for broadcasting audio through a speaker system of claim 14 , wherein the wireless band is a 5.8 GHz wireless band.

16. An expandable speaker system, comprising:

a center module with a unique identification number,

wherein the center module is configured to communicate with an external audio device,

wherein the center module has a first connector on a first side and a second connector on a second side; and

at least two speakers in signal communication with the center module, the at least two speakers including a first speaker and a second speaker,

wherein each of the at least two speakers has a volume control,

wherein the first speaker includes a third connector configured to mechanically connect to the first connector,

wherein the second speaker includes a fourth connector configured to mechanically connect to the second connector,

wherein when the third connector is mechanically connected to the first connector and the fourth connector is mechanically connected to the second connector, the center module transmits a left stereo sound component to the first speaker and a right stereo sound component to the second speaker,

wherein the center module transceiver further comprises an FM transmitter configured to scan the FM radio spectrum for an unused FM radio channel and transmit audio.

17. The expandable speaker system of claim 16 , wherein a radio data system (RDS) of the unused FM radio channel broadcasts the unique identification number of the center module to be received by the two or more speakers.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2024
From: WEBSTER BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: DGL GROUP LTD.
Reel/Frame 067631/0666 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2024
From: DGL GROUP LTD.; HYPE WIRELESS LPD LTD.
To: WHITE OAK COMMERCIAL FINANCE, LLC
Reel/Frame 067613/0518 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2021
From: DGL GROUP LTD.
To: STERLING NATIONAL BANK
Reel/Frame 055667/0722 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 048806 FRAME 0918. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 15, 2020
From: LINIADO, MARC; KOHLSMITH, ANDREW
To: DGL GROUP LTD.
Reel/Frame 054809/0066 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2019
From: LINIADO, MARC; KOHLSMITH, ANDREW
To: DGL GROUP USA
Reel/Frame 048806/0918 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62615038 · Jan 9, 2018
Related Publication 20190222934A1 · Jul 18, 2019