Acoustic Playback Identification for Faster Multi-Zone Audio Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media playback systems face challenges in reducing the time it takes for users to access and play music across multiple zones without navigating complex menus or configuring multiple devices, leading to inefficiencies in selecting and synchronizing audio content.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an acoustic signature system that allows playback devices to emit unique identifiers, detectable by controllers, enabling automatic recognition and modification of the user interface to streamline the selection and synchronization of audio across zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If users manually navigate menus and configure multiple devices to access and synchronize audio content across zones, then device control and synchronization can be achieved, but the time required to access music increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic device recognition and zone identification through acoustic signatures. Controllers automatically detect playback devices and determine optimal zones without requiring manual user configuration or menu navigation, allowing the system to serve itself in the device discovery and setup process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical interaction (menu navigation, device pairing steps) with acoustic field-based identification. Controllers use microphones to detect acoustic signatures emitted by playback devices, substituting the mechanical configuration process with an automated acoustic detection and recognition system.
2Ease of operation
If the system provides detailed menu options and configuration steps for device selection and zone setup, then user control and precision are improved, but the operational complexity and time required increase
Solution Approach 1:
Playback devices continuously emit acoustic signatures that encode device identification and zone information before any user interaction occurs. This preliminary preparation of identification signals allows controllers to immediately recognize and connect to devices without requiring users to navigate through configuration menus or perform setup steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic signature acts as an intermediary carrier that conveys device identification and zone information from playback devices to controllers. This intermediate acoustic signal eliminates the need for direct user-to-device configuration interaction, enabling automatic recognition and connection through the acoustic medium.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein provide for acoustic signatures in a playback system. An example implementation involves receiving, from a microphone of the controller device, an audio signal played by a playback device, the audio signal indicating network information corresponding to the playback device. The example implementation further involves identifying the playback device based on the network information and responsively, modifying a user interface on the controller device based on the identification of the playback device.