Playback Queue Add-Ons for Source-Specific Audio Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing consumer technologies do not effectively enable seamless access and control of digital media playback across multiple devices in a home environment, limiting the flexibility and synchronization of audio playback.
Innovation Solution
A media playback system that allows software applications to be installed on playback devices as add-on components to audio-playback software, enabling advanced features like equalizer presets and allowing users to assign these applications to specific zones within the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If software applications are installed on playback devices as add-on components, then adaptability and versatility of the media playback system are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides functionality into separate software applications that can be independently installed and managed on playback devices. Each application provides specific functionality (e.g., equalizer presets, playback controls) that can be added or removed without affecting the core system, enabling adaptability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The playback devices are designed with universal software platforms that can host multiple different applications. This multi-functionality allows a single device to adapt to various user needs by installing different applications, improving versatility without requiring multiple specialized hardware devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple playback devices are networked together for synchronized audio playback, then adaptability and synchronization capabilities are improved, but device complexity and system configuration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller establishes bidirectional communication with playback devices through the network, receiving status information and sending control commands. This feedback mechanism enables automatic synchronization of audio playback across multiple devices, reducing the need for manual configuration and simplifying the user experience while maintaining complex synchronized operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary device that manages the networked playback system. It coordinates between multiple playback devices, handling synchronization logic and control operations centrally, which simplifies the complexity by providing a single point of control rather than requiring direct peer-to-peer coordination between all devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Example techniques described herein relate to a software application that is configured to operate as an add-on software component to audio-playback software on a playback device of a media playback system. An example implementation may involve adding the multiple audio tracks to the playback queue, and before playing back a first audio track, enabling a first add-on component to audio-playback software. The first add-on component corresponds to a first remote source and enabling this component causes a first modification to an equalization of the playback device. The example implementation may also involve before playing back a second audio track, enabling a second add-on component to the audio-playback software. The second add-on component corresponds to the second remote source and enabling this component causes a second modification to the equalization. Enabling the second add-on component disables the first add-on component if enabled.