Dual-Interface Speaker Pairing for Multichannel Audio Systems

The Wi-Fi speaker is designed with dual connectivity capabilities (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interfaces) that enable it to function as both a standalone speaker and as part of a multichannel audio system with external Bluetooth speakers. This multi-functionality allows the speaker to adapt to different usage scenarios, making the investment in the Wi-Fi speaker worthwhile even for users who already own Bluetooth speakers, as the Wi-Fi speaker can serve as the main speaker while external Bluetooth speakers provide surround sound capabilities.

The patent merges the Wi-Fi speaker and Bluetooth speaker into a single integrated audio playback system where the Wi-Fi speaker acts as the main speaker and external Bluetooth speakers provide surround sound channels. This eliminates the need for separate Bluetooth transmitters and decoder boxes, as the Wi-Fi speaker directly receives audio signals via Wi-Fi interface and distributes them to paired Bluetooth speakers through its integrated Bluetooth interface, thereby reducing system complexity and the number of additional equipment required.

The Wi-Fi speaker implements a feedback mechanism that detects and communicates latency information to the decoder box. The speaker monitors the audio signal transmission path and provides latency compensation data back to the decoder box, enabling the decoder box to adjust its timing settings accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that the decoder box is aware of the latency introduced by the Bluetooth transmission path and can compensate for it, maintaining synchronized audio playback across all speakers.