Multi-Zone Immersive Audio Playback With Auxiliary Bass Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media playback systems lack the capability to provide a truly immersive audio experience by coordinating audio playback between spatially distributed zones, limiting the listener's ability to perceive spatially distant sounds.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for identifying a primary zone and coordinating auxiliary zones in a network media system to play back primary and auxiliary audio content, ensuring synchronized playback that mimics spatially distant sounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If audio playback is coordinated between spatially distributed zones, then immersive audio experience is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmersive audio experienceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the audio playback function into separate zones (primary zone and auxiliary zones) that can be independently configured and managed. Each zone operates as an independent playback unit while being coordinated through the system, allowing complex immersive audio functionality to be achieved through simpler, modular zone components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a coordinator component that acts as an intermediary between the primary zone and auxiliary zones. This coordinator manages the synchronization and coordination of audio playback across zones, centralizing the complexity of spatial audio management while keeping individual zone devices relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple zones are coordinated for synchronized playback, then spatial audio accuracy is improved, but synchronization difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial audio accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the coordinator monitors playback status across zones and adjusts timing accordingly. This feedback loop enables precise synchronization by continuously detecting playback state and making real-time adjustments to maintain spatial audio accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The coordinator pre-calculates and pre-configures synchronization parameters before playback begins, establishing timing relationships between zones in advance. This preliminary action simplifies the synchronization process during actual playback by having timing relationships predetermined.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260032163A1Immersive audio in a media playback system

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 SONOS INC

AI summary

Embodiments described herein involve an auxiliary zone contributing audio to a primary zone. In an example implementation, a network media system determines that a first zone in the network media system is playing back a first type of audio content and that a second zone in the network media system is not playing back audio content. While the first zone is playing back the first type of audio content and the second zone is not playing back audio content, the network media system forms a temporarily playback configuration. In the temporary playback configuration, the first zone plays back primary audio content including full frequency range audio content and the second playback device of the second zone plays back auxiliary audio content including low frequency range audio content.