IP Library Granted Patent US 10,652,678
Granted Patent B2
US 10,652,678 · App. 16/558,761 · Granted May 12, 2020

System and method for providing user location-based multi-zone media

Inventors: Bradley M. Starobin (Baltimore, MD); Matthew Lyons (York, PA); Stuart W. Lumsden (Ruxton, MD); Michael DiTullo (Encinitas, CA); Paul O'Connor (Portland, OR)
Assignee: Sound United, LLC
H04R27/00G06F3/041G06F3/0488G06F3/165G06F3/167H04R2227/003H04R2227/005H04R2430/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,652,678
App. No.
16/558,761
Granted
May 12, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for providing user location-based 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. 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 (27)

1. A system, comprising:

a first audio device operable to wirelessly receive and present audio content in a first audio zone; and

a second audio device operable to wirelessly receive and present the audio content in a second audio zone different from the first audio zone, wherein a first audio signal output from the first audio device is operably synchronized, via a wireless signal, to a second audio signal output from the second audio device, and wherein the first audio signal is delayed relative to the second audio signal if a monitored listener is closer to the first audio device than the second audio device, and wherein the second audio signal is delayed relative to the first audio signal if the monitored listener is closer to the second audio device than the first audio device, and wherein a first volume of the first audio signal and a second volume of the second signal are independently controlled by the wireless signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first volume of the first audio signal is determined by motion in the first audio zone, and wherein the second volume of the second audio signal is determined by motion in the second audio zone.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein when a listener moves from the first audio zone to the second audio zone, the system is operable to reduce the first volume of the first audio signal and increase the second volume of the second audio signal.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first volume of the first audio signal is determined by a presence of a listener in the first audio zone.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the listener's presence is monitored according to a signal from a personal electronic device carried by the listener.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein a predicted location of the listener is determined according a schedule of the listener.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the listener's presence is monitored according to a home control device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is activated by a voice command.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is operable to monitor a plurality of listeners.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein each listener of the plurality of listeners is associated with a priority.

11. A system, comprising:

a first audio device operable to wirelessly receive and present audio content in a first audio zone, wherein:

the first audio device is operable to wirelessly control a second audio device,

the second audio device is operable to wirelessly receive and present the audio content in a second audio zone different from the first audio zone,

a first audio signal output from the first audio device is operably synchronized to a second audio signal output from the second audio device, wherein the first audio signal is delayed relative to the second audio signal if a monitored listener is closer to the first audio device than the second audio device, and wherein the second audio signal is delayed relative to the first audio signal if the monitored listener is closer to the second audio device than the first audio device, and

a first volume of the first audio signal and a second volume of the second signal are independently controlled.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first volume of the first audio signal is determined by motion in the first audio zone, and wherein the second volume of the second audio signal is determined by motion in the second audio zone.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein when a listener moves from the first audio zone to the second audio zone, the system is operable to reduce the first volume of the first audio signal and increase the second volume of the second audio signal.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first volume of the first audio signal is determined by a presence of a listener in the first audio zone.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the listener's presence is monitored according to a signal from a personal electronic device carried by the listener.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein a predicted location of the listener is determined according a schedule of the listener.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the listener's presence is monitored according to a home control device.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is activated by a voice command.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is operable to monitor a plurality of listeners.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein each listener of the plurality of listeners is associated with a priority.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2024
From: STAROBIN, BRADLEY M.; LYONS, MATTHEW; LUMSDEN, STUART W.; DITULLO, MICHAEL; O'CONNOR, PAUL
To: SOUND UNITED, LLC
Reel/Frame 067876/0544 →
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 →