H04R2227/003

Providing a multi-channel and a multi-zone audio environment

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.

Orientation-based playback device microphone selection
11516610 · 2022-11-29 · ·

Aspects of a multi-orientation playback device including at least one microphone array are discussed. A method may include determining an orientation of the playback device which includes at least one microphone array and determining at least one microphone training response for the playback device from a plurality of microphone training responses based on the orientation of the playback device. The at least one microphone array can detect a sound input, and the location information of a source of the sound input can be determined based on the at least one microphone training response and the detected sound input. Based on the location information of the source, the directional focus of the at least one microphone array can be adjusted, and the sound input can be captured based on the adjusted directional focus.

Audio response playback
11513763 · 2022-11-29 · ·

A computing device is configured to perform functions comprising: receiving via a network microphone device of a media playback system, a voice command detected by at least one microphone of the network microphone device, wherein the media playback system comprises a plurality of zones, and the network microphone device may be a member of a default playback zone. The computing device may be further configured to perform functions comprising: dynamically selecting an audio response zone from the plurality of zones to play an audio response to the voice input and foregoing selection of the default playback zone. The selected zone may comprise a playback device, and the dynamically selecting may comprise determining that the network microphone device is paired with the playback device. The computing device may cause the playback device of the selected zone to play the audio response.

Voice control of a media playback system

An example system is configured to cause a first playback device in a first playback zone to operate in a given playback state including play back of media items identified in a playback queue associated with the first playback zone. The system is also configured to, while the first playback device is operating in the given playback state, (i) receive data corresponding to a detected voice input including an indication of (a) a command word and (b) one or more zone variable instances and (ii) determine, based on the command word and the one or more zone variable instances, an intent to transfer the given playback state to a second playback zone. The system is also configured to transfer the given playback state to the second playback zone, thereby causing a second playback device in the second playback zone to play back the media items identified in the playback queue.

User interface for audio message
11513667 · 2022-11-29 · ·

The present disclosure generally relates to managing audio messages. In some examples, user interfaces for recording and sending an audio message are described.

Multiple Groupings in a Playback System
20230054877 · 2023-02-23 ·

A control device is configured to (i) define configuration data corresponding to a zone scene of a media playback system, the configuration data including an identification of at least a first zone player and a second zone player, (ii) cause a remote computing device to (a) receive the configuration data via a wide area network and (b) store the configuration data, (iii) while the first zone player and a third zone player are playing back first audio content in synchrony, display a selectable indication that, when selected, causes the zone scene to be invoked, and (iv) in response to receiving an input indicative of a selection of the selectable indication, cause the remote computing device to invoke the zone scene at the media playback system such that the first zone player and the second zone player play back second audio content in synchrony without the third zone player.

Voice Control of a Media Playback System

Multiple aspects of systems and methods for voice control and related features and functionality for various embodiments of media playback devices, networked microphone devices, microphone-equipped media playback devices, and speaker-equipped networked microphone devices are disclosed and described herein, including but not limited to designating and managing default networked devices, audio response playback, room-corrected voice detection, content mixing, music service selection, metadata exchange between networked playback systems and networked microphone systems, handling loss of pairing between networked devices, actions based on user identification, and other voice control of networked devices.

USER INTERFACES FOR MANAGING ACCESSORIES
20220365667 · 2022-11-17 ·

A computer system displays a status indicator corresponding to at least two accessories of a first type, and in response to receiving first and second user inputs, causes the at least two accessories of the first type to transition from a first state to a second state.

Voice controlled system

A distributed voice controlled system has a primary assistant and at least one secondary assistant. The primary assistant has a housing to hold one or more microphones, one or more speakers, and various computing components. The secondary assistant is similar in structure, but is void of speakers. The voice controlled assistants perform transactions and other functions primarily based on verbal interactions with a user. The assistants within the system are coordinated and synchronized to perform acoustic echo cancellation, selection of a best audio input from among the assistants, and distributed processing.

MULTI-DEVICE AUDIO ADJUSTMENT COORDINATION
20230048256 · 2023-02-16 ·

This relates to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to the intelligent coordination of audio signal output adjustments among multiple electronic devices. An example method includes, generating a local audio intent object associated with a software application stored on a first electronic device, the local audio intent object including one or more local audio parameters; determining that a second electronic device that is outputting an audio signal is proximate to the first electronic device; generating a proximate audio intent object corresponding to the second electronic device based on the one or more local audio adjustment parameters and a round-trip time (RTT) of a communication connection between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and transmitting the proximate audio intent object to the second electronic device via the communication connection, wherein the proximate audio intent object causes the second electronic device to adjust the output of the audio signal.