CN106688248B - Audio Processing Algorithms and Databases - Google Patents

Abstract

The examples described herein relate to determining an audio processing algorithm to be applied by a playback device when playing audio content in a playback area. Determining the audio processing algorithm may include causing the playback device to play the first audio signal in the playback area and receiving data indicative of the second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. Based on the characteristics of the second audio signal and the playback device, an audio processing algorithm may be determined. The audio processing algorithm may be calculated or identified in a database based on the acoustic properties of the playback area. The acoustic characteristics of the playback area may be determined based on the characteristics of the second audio signal and the playback device. The audio processing algorithm can then be applied by the playback device.

Description

Audio Processing Algorithms and Databases

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to US Application No. 14/481,505, filed September 9, 2014, and US Application No. 14/481,514, filed September 9, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference middle.

technical field

The present disclosure relates to consumer products, and in particular to methods, systems, products, features, services, and other elements related to media playback or an aspect thereof.

Background technique

Options for accessing and listening to digital audio at louder settings were limited until 2003, when SONOS filed its first patent application entitled "Method for Synchronizing Audio Playback between Multiple Networked Devices" One, and in 2005 began to publicly sell the media playback system. Sonos wireless HiFi systems enable people to experience music from multiple sources via one or more networked playback devices. Through a software-controlled application installed on a smartphone, tablet or computer, a person can play the music he or she wants in any room with networked playback devices. Additionally, using the controller, for example, a different song can be streamed to each room with playback devices, rooms can be grouped together for synchronized playback, or the same song can be listened to in all rooms in sync.

Given the growing interest in digital media, there is still a need to develop consumer-accessible technologies to further enhance the listening experience.

Description of drawings

The features, aspects, and advantages of the presently disclosed technology may be better understood with reference to the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, in which:

1 illustrates an example media playback system configuration in which certain embodiments may be implemented;

Figure 2 shows a functional block diagram of an example playback device;

Figure 3 shows a functional block diagram of an example control device;

Figure 4 shows an example controller interface;

Figure 5 shows an example flow diagram of a first method for maintaining a database of audio processing algorithms;

6A shows an exemplary portion of a first database of audio processing algorithms;

6B shows an exemplary portion of a second database of audio processing algorithms;

7 shows an example flow diagram of a second method for maintaining a database of audio processing algorithms;

8 illustrates an example playback area in which a playback device may be calibrated;

9 illustrates an example flow diagram of a first method for determining an audio processing algorithm based on one or more playback region characteristics;

10 illustrates an example flow diagram of a second method for determining an audio processing algorithm based on one or more playback region characteristics; and

11 shows an example flow diagram for identifying audio processing algorithms from a database of audio processing algorithms.

The drawings are for the purpose of illustrating example embodiments, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings.

Detailed ways

Ι. Overview

When a playback device plays audio content in a playback area, the quality of playback may depend on the acoustic properties of the playback area. In the discussion herein, a playback area may include one or more playback devices or groups of playback devices. The acoustic properties of the playback area may depend on other factors such as the size of the playback area, the type of furniture in the playback area, and the arrangement of furniture in the playback area. Therefore, different playback regions may have different acoustic properties. Since a given model of a playback device may be used in a variety of different playback regions with different acoustic properties, a single audio processing algorithm may not provide consistent quality of audio playback by the playback device in each of the different playback regions.

The examples discussed herein involve determining an audio processing algorithm to apply by a playback device based on the acoustic characteristics of the playback area in which the playback device is located. Application of the determined audio processing algorithm by the playback device when the audio content is played in the playback area may cause the audio content presented by the playback device in the playback area to exhibit predetermined audio characteristics at least to some extent. In one case, application of an audio processing algorithm may alter audio amplification at one or more audio frequencies of the audio content. Other examples are also possible.

In one example, a database of audio processing algorithms may be maintained, and audio processing algorithms may be identified in the database based on one or more characteristics of the playback region. The one or more properties of the playback area may include acoustic properties of the playback area and/or one or more of: the size of the playback area, the flooring and/or wall materials of the playback area, and the Quantity and/or type of furniture, etc.

Maintaining the database of audio processing algorithms may include: determining at least one audio processing algorithm corresponding to one or more characteristics of the playback region; and adding the determined audio processing algorithm to the database. In one example, the database may be stored on one or more devices that maintain the database or on one or more other devices. In the discussion herein, unless otherwise stated, the functions for maintaining the database may be performed by one or more computing devices (ie, servers), one or more playback devices, or one or more controllers equipment, etc. However, for the sake of brevity, one or more devices that perform the functions described above may be collectively referred to as computing devices.

In one example, determining such an audio processing algorithm may include the computing device determining acoustic characteristics of the playback region. In one instance, the playback area may be a model room for simulating a playback area in which a playback device may play audio content. In this case, one or more physical properties (ie, dimensions, and floor and wall materials, etc.) of the model room may be predetermined. In another case, the playback area may be a room in the home of the user of the playback device. In this case, the physical characteristics of the playback area may be provided by the user or may be unknown.

In one example, the computing device may cause playback devices in the playback area to play the audio signal. In one instance, the played audio signal may include audio content having frequencies that substantially cover the entire frequency range that the playback device is capable of presenting. The playback device may then use the playback device's microphone to detect the audio signal. The playback device's microphone may be the playback device's built-in microphone. In one case, the detected audio signal may include a portion corresponding to the played audio signal. For example, the detected audio signal may include a reflected component of the played audio signal within the playback region. The computing device may receive the detected audio signal from the playback device and determine an acoustic response of the playback region based on the detected audio signal.

The computing device may then determine the acoustic properties of the playback region by removing the playback device's acoustic properties from the playback region's acoustic response. The acoustic properties of the playback device may be acoustic properties corresponding to a model of the playback device. In one case, acoustic properties corresponding to a model of a playback device may be determined based on audio signals played and detected in an anechoic chamber by a representative playback device of the model.

The computing device may then determine a corresponding audio processing algorithm based on the determined acoustic characteristics of the playback region and the predetermined audio characteristics. The predetermined audio characteristics may include certain frequency equalizations that are considered pleasing. A corresponding audio processing algorithm may be determined such that when the playback device plays the audio content in the playback area, the playback device applies the corresponding audio processing algorithm to cause the audio content rendered by the playback device in the playback area to exhibit at least some predetermined audio characteristics . For example, if the acoustic properties of the playback area are such that certain audio frequencies are attenuated more than other frequencies, the corresponding audio processing algorithm may include increased amplification of certain audio frequencies. Other examples are also possible.

The determined association between the audio processing algorithm and the acoustic properties of the playback region can then be stored as an entry in the database. In some cases, the association between the audio processing algorithm and one or more other characteristics of the playback region may additionally or alternatively be stored in a database. For example, if the playback area is a specific size, the association between the audio processing algorithm and the specific room size can be stored in the database. Other examples are also possible.

In one example, the database can be accessed by the computing device to identify audio processing algorithms to be applied by the playback device in the playback area. In one example, the computing device that accesses the database and identifies the audio processing algorithm may be the same computing device that maintains the database as described above. In another example, the computing devices may be different computing devices.

In some cases, accessing the database to identify the audio processing algorithm to be applied by the playback device in the playback area may be part of the calibration of the playback device. Such calibration of the playback device may be initiated by the playback device itself, by a server in communication with the playback device, or by the controller device. In one case, the calibration may be initiated because the playback device is new and the calibration is part of the initial setup of the playback device. In another case, the playback device may have been repositioned, within the same playback area or repositioned from one playback area to another. In yet another case, calibration may be initiated by a user of the playback device, eg, via a controller device.

In one example, calibration of the playback device may include the computing device prompting a user of the playback device to indicate one or more characteristics of the playback area, such as the approximate size of the playback area, floor or wall materials, and the amount of furniture, and many more. The computing device may prompt the user via a user interface on the controller device. Based on the one or more characteristics of the playback area provided by the user, audio processing algorithms corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the playback area can be identified in the database, and thus, the playback device can play audio in the playback area when Applies the identified audio processing algorithm to the content.

In another example, calibration of the playback device may include determining acoustic properties of the playback region and identifying corresponding audio processing algorithms based on the acoustic properties of the playback region. The determination of the acoustic properties of the playback area may be similar to the determination of the acoustic properties of the playback area described above. For example, a playback device in a playback area for which the playback device is calibrated may play a first audio signal and then detect a second audio signal using the playback device's microphone. The acoustic characteristics of the playback area may then be determined based on the second audio signal. Corresponding audio processing algorithms may be identified in the database based on the determined acoustic characteristics, and accordingly, the playback device may apply the identified audio processing algorithms when playing the audio content in the playback area. As indicated above, application of corresponding audio processing algorithms by the playback device when playing audio content in the playback area may cause the audio content presented by the playback device in the playback area to exhibit predetermined audio characteristics at least to some extent.

Although the discussion of calibration of playback devices discussed above generally includes databases of audio processing algorithms, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a computing device may determine audio processing algorithms for playback regions without accessing the database. For example, instead of identifying the corresponding audio processing algorithm in a database, similar to that described above with respect to the maintenance and generation of audio processing algorithm entries for the database, the computing device may use the playback region-based acoustic properties (from detected audio signals) and The predetermined audio characteristic calculates the audio processing algorithm to determine the audio processing algorithm. Other examples are also possible.

In one case, the playback device to be calibrated may be one of a plurality of playback devices configured to play audio content synchronously in the playback area. In this case, determining the acoustic characteristics of the playback area may also include playing audio signals in the playback area by other playback devices. In one example, during the determination of the audio processing algorithm, each of the plurality of playback devices in the playback area may simultaneously play the audio signal such that the audio signal detected by the playback device's microphone may include the same The corresponding portion of the audio signal played by the device and the portion of the audio signal played by other playback devices in the playback area. The acoustic response of the playback area may be determined based on the detected audio signal, and the acoustic characteristics of the playback area including other playback devices may be determined by removing the acoustic characteristics of the playback device being calibrated from the acoustic response of the playback area. Audio processing algorithms can then be calculated based on the acoustic properties of the playback area or identified in a database and applied by the playback device.

In another case, two or more of the plurality of playback devices in the playback area may each have respective built-in microphones, and may each be individually calibrated according to the above description. In one example, the acoustic characteristics of the playback area may be determined based on a set of audio signals detected by the microphones of each of the two or more playback devices, and may be specific to the two or more playback devices Each playback device in identifies an audio processing algorithm that corresponds to an acoustic characteristic. Other examples are also possible.

As noted above, the present discussion includes determining audio processing algorithms to be applied by a playback device based on the acoustic characteristics of the particular playback area in which the playback device is located. In one aspect, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform functions. The functions include: causing a playback device to play a first audio signal in a playback area; and receiving data from the playback device indicative of a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. The second audio signal includes a portion corresponding to the first audio signal. The functions also include: determining an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal and acoustic characteristics of the playback device; and sending data indicative of the determined audio processing algorithm to the playback device.

In another aspect, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform functions. The functions include: causing a first playback device to play a first audio signal in a playback area, causing a second playback device to play a second audio signal in the playback area; and receiving instructions from the first playback device to a microphone of the first playback device The detected data of the third audio signal. The third audio signal includes: (i) a portion corresponding to the first audio signal; and (ii) a portion corresponding to the second audio signal played by the second playback device. The functions also include: determining an audio processing algorithm based on the third audio signal and the acoustic characteristics of the first playback device; and sending data indicative of the determined audio processing algorithm to the first playback device.

In another aspect, a playback device is provided. The playback device includes a processor, a microphone, and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the playback device to perform functions. The functions include: when in the playback area, playing the first audio signal; and detecting the second audio signal by the microphone. The second audio signal includes a portion corresponding to the first audio signal. The functions further include: determining an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal and acoustic characteristics of the playback device; and applying the determined audio processing algorithm to audio data corresponding to the media item when the media item is played in the playback area .

In another aspect, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform functions. The functions include: causing a playback device to play a first audio signal in a playback area; and receiving data indicative of a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. The second audio signal includes a portion corresponding to the first audio signal played by the playback device. The functions further include: determining an acoustic characteristic of the playback area based on the second audio signal and characteristics of the playback device; determining an audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristic of the playback area; and making a correlation between the audio processing algorithm and the acoustic characteristic of the playback area. Associations are stored in the database.

In another aspect, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform functions. The functions include: causing a playback device to play a first audio signal in a playback area; and receiving (i) data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area and (ii) indicative of a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device data of the audio signal. The second audio signal includes a portion corresponding to the audio signal played by the playback device. The functions also include: determining an audio processing algorithm based on characteristics of the second audio signal and the playback device; and associating the determined audio processing algorithm with at least one of the characteristics of one or more of the playback area stored in the database.

In another aspect, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the playback device to perform functions. The functions include maintaining a database of (i) a plurality of audio processing algorithms and (ii) a plurality of playback area properties. Each audio processing algorithm of the plurality of audio processing algorithms corresponds to at least one playback area characteristic of the plurality of playback area characteristics. The functions also include: receiving data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area; identifying an audio processing algorithm in a database based on the data; and transmitting data indicative of the identified audio processing algorithm.

While some of the examples described herein may refer to functions performed by particular actors, such as "users" and/or other entities, it should be understood that this is for illustration purposes only. No claim should be construed to require an action by any such example actor unless the language of the claim itself clearly requires it. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the present disclosure includes many other embodiments.

II. EXAMPLE WORK ENVIRONMENT

1 illustrates an example configuration of a media playback system 100 in which one or more embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or implemented. The illustrated media playback system 100 is associated with an example home environment having several rooms and spaces such as, for example, a master bedroom, office, dining room, and living room. As shown in the example of FIG. 1 , media playback system 100 includes playback devices 102 to 124 , control devices 126 and 128 , and wired or wireless network router 130 .

Additional discussion regarding the different components of the example media playback system 100 and how the different components may interact to provide a user with a media experience can be found in the following sections. Although the discussion herein may include the example media playback system 100 in general, the techniques described herein are not limited to application in the home environment shown in FIG. 1 in particular. For example, the techniques described herein may be useful in environments where multi-zone audio may be desired, such as, for example, commercial environments like restaurants, malls or airports, vehicles like sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses or cars, ships Or ship, plane, etc.

a. Example playback device

2 illustrates a functional block diagram of an example playback device 200 that may be configured as one or more of the playback devices 102-124 of the media playback system 100 of FIG. 1 . Playback device 200 may include processor 202 , software components 204 , memory 206 , audio processing components 208 , audio amplifier 210 , speakers 212 , microphone 220 , and network interface 214 including wireless interface 216 and wired interface 218 . In one case, playback device 200 may not include speaker 212, but may include a speaker interface for connecting playback device 200 to external speakers. In another case, the playback device 200 may include neither the speaker 212 nor the audio amplifier 210, but may only include an audio interface for connecting the playback device 200 with an external audio amplifier or AV receiver.

In one example, processor 202 may be a clocked computing component configured to process input data according to instructions stored in memory 206 . Memory 206 may be a tangible computer-readable medium configured to store instructions executable by processor 202 . For example, memory 206 may be a data store capable of loading one or more of software components 204 executable by processor 202 to implement certain functions. In one example, the functionality may include playback device 200 retrieving audio data from an audio source or another playback device. In another example, the functionality may include playback device 200 sending audio data to another device or playback device on the network. In yet another example, functionality may include pairing of playback device 200 with one or more playback devices to create a multi-channel audio environment.

Certain functions may include synchronized playback of audio content of playback device 200 with one or more other playback devices. During synchronized playback, the listener will preferably not perceive the difference in time delay between the playback of the audio content by playback device 200 and the playback of the audio content by one or more other playback devices. Some examples for audio playback synchronization between playback devices are provided in more detail in US Patent No. 8,234,395, entitled "System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices," which is hereby incorporated by reference. Incorporated into this article.

The memory 206 may also be configured to store data associated with the playback device 200 such as one or more regions and/or groups of regions of which the playback device 200 is a part, audio sources accessible by the playback device 200, or the playback device 200 ( or some other playback device) may have a playback queue associated with it. This data may be stored as one or more state variables that are periodically updated and used to describe the state of playback device 200 . The memory 206 may also include data associated with the state of other devices of the media system and sometimes shared between devices such that one or more of the devices has the most recent data associated with the system. Other implementations are also possible.

Audio processing components 208 may include one or more of the following: digital-to-analog converters (DACs), analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), audio preprocessing components, audio enhancement components, digital signal processors (DSPs), and the like. In one embodiment, one or more of the audio processing components 208 may be subcomponents of the processor 202 . In one example, audio processing component 208 may process and/or intentionally alter audio content to generate audio signals. The resulting audio signal may then be provided to an audio amplifier 210 for amplification and played back through speakers 212 . In particular, audio amplifier 210 may include a device configured to amplify an audio signal to a level for driving one or more of speakers 212 . Speakers 212 may include individual transducers (eg, "drivers") or a complete speaker system including an enclosure with one or more drivers. Particular drivers for speakers 212 may include, for example, subwoofers (eg, for low frequencies), mid-range drivers (eg, for mid frequencies), and/or tweeters (eg, for high frequencies). In some cases, each transducer in one or more speakers 212 may be driven by a separate corresponding audio amplifier of audio amplifiers 210 . In addition to generating analog signals for playback by playback device 200, audio processing component 208 may be configured to process audio content to be sent to one or more other playback devices for playback.

Audio content to be processed and/or played back by playback device 200 may be received from an external source, such as via an audio line-in connection (eg, auto-detection of a 3.5mm audio line-in connection) or network interface 214 .

Microphone 220 may include an audio sensor configured to convert detected sounds into electrical signals. The electrical signals may be processed by the audio processing component 208 and/or the processor 202 . Microphone 220 may be positioned in one or more orientations at one or more locations on playback device 200 . Microphone 220 may be configured to detect sounds in one or more frequency ranges. In one case, one or more of the microphones 220 may be configured to detect sounds within a frequency range of audio that the playback device 200 is capable of presenting. In another case, one or more of the microphones 220 may be configured to detect sounds in the frequency range audible to humans. Other examples are also possible.

Network interface 214 may be configured to facilitate data flow between playback device 200 and one or more other devices on the data network. Likewise, playback device 200 may be configured to receive audio content over a data network from one or more other playback devices in communication with the playback device 200, network devices within a local area network, or to receive audio content sources over a wide area network such as the Internet. In one example, audio content and other signals sent and received by playback device 200 may be transmitted in the form of digital packet data including an Internet Protocol (IP)-based source address and an IP-based destination address. In this case, the network interface 214 may be configured to parse the digital packet data so that the playback device 200 properly receives and processes the data destined for the playback device 200 .

As shown, the network interface 214 may include a wireless interface 216 and a wired interface 218 . The wireless interface 216 may provide network interface functionality for the playback device 200 to communicate with other devices in accordance with a communication protocol (eg, any wireless standard, including IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.15, 4G mobile communication standards, etc.) (eg, other playback devices, speakers, receivers, network devices, control devices associated with playback device 200 within the data network) communicate wirelessly. Wired interface 218 may provide playback device 200 with network interface functionality to communicate with other devices over a wired connection according to a communication protocol (eg, IEEE 802.3). Although the network interface 214 shown in FIG. 2 includes both the wireless interface 216 and the wired interface 218, in some implementations the network interface 214 may include only the wireless interface or only the wired interface.

In one example, playback device 200 may be paired with one other playback device to play two separate audio components of audio content. For example, playback device 200 may be configured to play the left channel audio component, while other playback devices may be configured to play the right channel audio component, thereby creating or enhancing the stereo effect of the audio content. Paired playback devices (also referred to as "bonded playback devices") can also play audio content in synchronization with other playback devices.

In another example, playback device 200 may be acoustically combined with one or more other playback devices to form a single combined playback device. Because a federated playback device may have additional speaker drivers through which audio content may be presented, a federated playback device may be configured to process and reproduce sound differently than a non-linked playback device or paired playback device. For example, if playback device 200 is a playback device designed to render low-band audio content (ie, a subwoofer), playback device 200 may be associated with a playback device designed to render full-band audio content. In this case, when combined with the low frequency playback device 200, the full range playback device may be configured to present only the mid frequency and high frequency components of the audio content, while the low frequency playback device 200 presents the low frequency components of the audio content. A federated playback device can also be paired with a single playback device or another federated playback device.

For example, SONOS Corporation currently offers (or has already publicly offered) certain playback devices including "PLAY: 1", "PLAY: 3", "PLAY: 5", "PLAYBAR", "CONNECT: AMP", "CONNECT", and "SUB". Additionally or alternatively, any other past, present and/or future playback devices may be used to implement playback devices of the example embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, it should be understood that the playback device is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 2 or the SONOS product offering. For example, playback devices may include wired or wireless headphones. In another example, a playback device may include or interact with a docking station for a personal mobile media playback device. In yet another example, the playback device may be necessary to form another device or component such as a television, lighting fixture, or some other device for indoor or outdoor use.

b. Example playback area configuration

Referring again to the media playback system 100 of FIG. 1, an environment may have one or more playback zones, each playback zone having one or more playback devices. The media playback system 100 may be created with one or more playback zones, after which one or more zones may be added or removed to achieve the example configuration shown in FIG. 1 . Each area can be named according to a different room or space such as office, bathroom, master bedroom, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, living room and/or balcony. In one case, a single playback area may include multiple rooms or spaces. In another case, a single room or space may include multiple playback areas.

As shown in Figure 1, the balcony, dining, kitchen, bathroom, office, and bedroom areas each have one playback device, while the living and master bedroom areas each have multiple playback devices. In the living room area, playback devices 104, 106, 108, and 110 may be configured: as individual playback devices, as one or more bundled playback devices, as one or more combined playback devices, or any of the foregoing combination to play audio content synchronously. Similarly, in the case of a master bedroom, playback devices 122 and 124 may be configured to play audio content synchronously as separate playback devices, as bundled playback devices, or as joint playback devices.

In one example, each of the one or more playback areas in the environment of FIG. 1 may be playing different audio content. For example, a user may be grilling in the balcony area and listening to hip hop music being played by playback device 102 , while another user may be preparing food in the kitchen area and listening to classical music being played by playback device 114 . In another example, a playback area may play the same audio content in synchronization with another playback area. For example, a user may be in an office area where playback device 118 is playing the same rock music that playback device 102 in the balcony area is playing. In this case, playback devices 102 and 118 may play rock music synchronously so that the user can seamlessly (or at least substantially seamlessly) enjoy the audio content being played loudly as the user moves between different playback areas. Synchronization between playback regions can be accomplished in a manner similar to synchronization between playback devices, as described in previously referenced US Patent No. 8,234,395.

As noted above, the regional configuration of the media playback system 100 can be dynamically modified, and in some embodiments, the media playback system 100 supports a number of configurations. For example, if a user physically moves one or more playback devices to or from an area, the media playback system 100 may be reconfigured to accommodate one or more changes. For example, if a user physically moved playback device 102 from a balcony area to an office area, the office area may now include both playback device 118 and playback device 102 . If desired, playback device 102 may be paired or grouped together with the office area and/or renamed via control devices such as control devices 126 and 128 . On the other hand, if one or more playback devices are moved to a particular area of the indoor environment that is not already a playback area, a new playback area may be created for that particular area.

Furthermore, different playback regions of the media playback system 100 may be dynamically combined into region groups or divided into separate playback regions. For example, the dining room area and the kitchen area 114 may be combined into a group of areas for a banquet, such that the playback devices 112 and 114 may simultaneously present audio content. On the other hand, if one user wants to listen to music in the living room space and another user wants to watch TV, the living room area may be divided into a TV area including playback device 104 and a listening area including playback devices 106 , 108 and 110 .

c. Example control device

FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of an example control device 300 that may be configured as one or both of the control devices 126 and 128 of the media playback system 100 . As shown, control device 300 may include processor 302 , memory 304 , network interface 306 , user interface 308 , and microphone 310 . In one example, the control device 300 may be a dedicated controller for the media playback system 100 . In another example, the control device 300 may be a network device capable of installing a media playback system controller application software, eg, an iPhone ^™ , iPad ^™ , or any other smartphone, tablet, or network device (eg, a networked computer such as a PC or ^MacTM ).

Processor 302 may be configured to perform functions related to facilitating user access, control, and configuration of media playback system 100 . Memory 304 may be configured to store instructions executable by processor 302 to perform those functions. Memory 304 may also be configured to store media playback system controller application software and other data associated with media playback system 100 and users.

Microphone 310 may include an audio sensor configured to convert detected sounds into electrical signals. The electrical signals may be processed by the processor 302 . In one case, if the control device 300 is a device that may also function as a means for voice communication or voice recording, one or more of the microphones 310 may be microphones for facilitating these functions. For example, one or more of the microphones 310 may be configured to detect sounds in a frequency range that a human can produce and/or a frequency range that a human can hear. Other examples are also possible.

In one example, the network interface 306 may be based on industry standards (eg, infrared standards, wireless standards, wired standards including IEEE 802.3, including IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.15, 4G mobile communication standards wireless standard, etc.). The network interface 306 may provide a method for the control device 300 to communicate with other devices in the media playback system 100 . In one example, data and information (eg, such as state variables) may be communicated between control device 300 and other devices via network interface 306 . For example, control device 300 may receive playback zone and zone group configurations in media playback system 100 from a playback device or another network device via network interface 306 or control device 300 may convert playback zones and zone groups in media playback system 100 via network interface 306 to The zone group configuration is sent to another playback device or to a network device. In some cases, the other network device may be another control device.

Playback device control commands such as volume controls and audio playback controls may also be communicated from the control device 300 to the playback device via the network interface 306 . As noted above, changes to the configuration of the media playback system 100 may also be performed by the user using the control device 300 . Configuration changes may include, among others: adding or removing one or more playback devices to or from a zone; adding or removing one or more zones to or from a zone group remove one or more regions; form a bound or federated player; detach one or more playback devices from a bound or federated player. Therefore, whether the control device 300 is a dedicated controller or a network device on which the media playback system controller application software is installed, the control device 300 may sometimes be referred to as a controller.

The user interface 308 of the control device 300 may be configured to facilitate user access and control of the media playback system 100 by providing a controller interface such as the controller interface 400 shown in FIG. 4 . The controller interface 400 includes a playback control area 410 , a playback area area 420 , a playback status area 430 , a playback queue area 440 and an audio content source area 450 . The user interface 400 shown is merely a user that may be arranged on a network device such as control device 300 of FIG. 3 (and/or control devices 126 and 128 of FIG. 1 ) and accessed by a user to control a media playback system such as media playback system 100 An example of an interface. Alternatively, other user interfaces of different formats, types, and sequences of interactions may be implemented on one or more network devices to provide comparable control access to the media playback system.

Playback control area 410 may include controls for playing or pausing playback devices in a selected playback zone or zone group, fast-forward, fast-rewind, skip to next track, skip to previous track, enter/exit random mode, enter /Exit repeat mode, enter/exit crossfading mode selectable (eg by touch or by using cursor) icons. Playback control area 410 may also include selectable icons for modifying equalization settings, playback volume, and the like.

Playback area area 420 may include a representation of the playback area in media playback system 100 . In some implementations, the graphical representation of the playback area may selectably bring up additional selectable icons for managing or configuring playback areas in a media playback system, eg, creation of bound areas, creation of area groups, detachment of area groups As well as renaming of zone groups, etc.

For example, as shown, a "group" icon may be arranged in each of the graphical representations of the playback area. A "group" icon provided in the graphical representation of a particular area may optionally bring up an option to select one or more other areas in the media playback system to be grouped with the particular area. Once grouped, playback devices in a region that have been grouped with a particular region will be configured to play the audio content in synchronization with one or more playback devices in the particular region. Similarly, a "group" icon may be provided in the graphical representation of the zone group. In this case, the "group" icon may optionally bring up the option to deselect one or more areas in the area group to be removed from the area group. Other interactions and implementations for grouping and ungrouping regions via a user interface such as user interface 400 are also possible. The representation of the playback regions in the playback region area 420 may be dynamically updated as the playback region or region group configuration is modified.

The playback status area 430 may include a graphical representation of the audio content currently being played, previously played, or scheduled to be played next in the selected playback region or group of regions. The selected playback region or group of regions may be visually distinguished on the user interface, such as in playback region area 420 and/or playback status area 430 . The graphical representation may include track name, artist name, album name, album year, track length, and other relevant information useful for the user to know when to control the media playback system via user interface 400 .

Playback queue area 440 may include a graphical representation of the audio content in the playback queue associated with the selected playback zone or zone group. In some implementations, each playback zone or zone group may be associated with a playback queue that includes information corresponding to zero or more audio items for playback by the playback zone or zone group. For example, each audio item in a playback queue may include a playback zone or a set of zones that playback devices in a zone group may use to find and/or retrieve from a local or networked source of audio content that may be used for playback of an audio item by the playback device. Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), Uniform Resource Locator (URL), or some other identifier.

In one example, a playlist may be added to the playback queue, in which case information corresponding to each audio item in the playlist may be added to the playback queue. In another example, audio items in the playback queue can be used as a playlist. In yet another example, the playback queue may be empty when a playback zone or group of zones is continuously playing streaming audio content such as an internet radio that can be played continuously until otherwise stopped, rather than playing discrete audio items with playback durations or is populated but "not in use". In an alternative embodiment, when the playback zone or zone group is playing Internet radio and/or other streaming audio content items, the playback queue may include those items and be "in use". Other examples are also possible.

When a playback zone or zone group is "grouped" or "ungrouped", the playback queue associated with the affected playback zone or zone group may be cleared or re-associated. For example, if a first playback region including a first playback queue is grouped with a second playback region including a second playback queue, the created region group may have an associated playback queue that was initially empty, the associated playback queue includes audio items from the first playback queue (e.g., if a second playback region is added to the first playback region), the associated playback queue includes audio items from the second playback queue ( For example, if a first playback area is added to a second playback area), or the associated playback queue includes a combination of audio items from both the first playback queue and the second playback queue. Subsequently, if the created zone group is ungrouped, the resulting first playback zone may be re-associated with the previous first playback queue, or may be associated with a new playback queue that is either empty or includes Audio items from the playback queue associated with the created zone group before the zone group was ungrouped. Similarly, the resulting second playback region may be re-associated with a previous second playback queue, or with a new playback queue that is either empty or includes data from regions that were created before the group was ungrouped The audio item of the playback queue associated with the created zone group. Other examples are also possible.

Referring again to the user interface 400 of FIG. 4, the graphical representation of the audio content in the playback queue area 440 may include the track name, artist name, track length, and other relevant information associated with the audio content in the playback queue. In one example, the graphical representation of the audio content may optionally bring up additional selectable icons for managing and/or manipulating the playback queue and/or audio content represented in the playback queue. For example, the represented audio content can be removed from the playback queue, the represented audio content can be moved to a different position in the playback queue, or the represented audio content can be selected to play immediately, or the represented audio content can be selected to be played at any currently playing The audio content is then played as represented by the audio content, etc. The playback queue associated with the playback zone or zone group may be stored in memory on one or more playback devices in the playback zone or zone group, or may be stored on playback devices that are not in the playback zone or zone group and/or may be stored in memory on some other designated device.

Audio content sources area 450 may include graphical representations of selectable audio content sources from which audio content may be retrieved and played by the selected playback region or group of regions. A discussion of audio content sources can be found in the following sections.

d. Sample audio content source

As previously discussed, one or more playback devices in a zone or zone group may be configured to retrieve audio content for playback from various available audio content sources (eg, according to a corresponding URI or URL of the audio content). In one example, the playback device may retrieve audio content directly from a corresponding audio content source (eg, a line-in connection). In another example, the audio content may be provided to a playback device over a network via one or more other playback devices or network devices.

Example audio content sources may include: a media playback system such as the memory of one or more playback devices in media playback system 100 of FIG. 1, one or more network devices (eg, such as a control device, an Internet-enabled personal computer, or A local music library on a network attached storage (NAS), streaming audio services that provide audio content via the Internet (e.g., cloud), or audio sources connected to a media playback system via a playback device or a line-in connection on a network device, etc. .

In some implementations, audio content sources may be periodically added to or removed from the media playback system such as media playback system 100 of FIG. 1 . In one example, indexing audio items may be performed whenever one or more audio content sources are added, removed, or updated. Indexing audio items may include: scanning for identifiable audio items in all folders/directories that are shared on the network accessible by playback devices in the media playback system; and generating or updating metadata including (among other things) , for example, title, artist, album, track length) and other associated information such as the URI or URL of each identifiable audio item found in the audio content database. Other examples for managing and maintaining audio content sources are also possible.

The above discussion of playback devices, controller devices, playback area configurations, and media content sources provides only a few examples of working environments in which the functions and methods described below may be implemented. Other operating environments and configurations of media playback systems, playback devices, and network devices not explicitly described herein are also applicable and suitable for implementation of the described functions and methods.

III. Maintaining a Database of Signal Processing Algorithms

As noted above, some of the examples discussed herein involve maintaining a database of audio processing algorithms. In some cases, maintenance of the database may also include generating and/or updating entries for audio processing algorithms of the database. Each audio processing algorithm in the database may correspond to one or more characteristics of the playback region. In one example, the one or more characteristics of the playback area may include acoustic characteristics of the playback area. Although the following discussion may generally relate to determining audio processing algorithms to be stored as entries in a database, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that similar functions may also be performed to update existing entries in a database. The database can be accessed to identify audio processing algorithms to be applied by the playback device when the playback device plays audio content in a particular playback area.

a. An example database of audio processing algorithms and corresponding playback area acoustic properties

FIG. 5 shows an example flow diagram of a method 500 for maintaining audio processing algorithms and a database of playback region acoustic properties. As discussed above, maintaining a database of audio processing algorithms may include determining audio processing algorithms to be stored in the database. The method 500 shown in FIG. 5 represents a method that can be implemented in a work environment including, for example, the media playback system 100 of FIG. 1 , one or more playback devices 200 of FIG. 2 , and one or more control devices 300 of FIG. 3 implementation. In one example, method 500 may be performed by a computing device in communication with a media playback system, such as media playback system 100 . In another example, some or all of the functionality of method 500 may alternatively be performed by one or more other computing devices, such as one or more servers, one or more playback devices, and/or one or more a controller device to execute.

Method 500 may include one or more operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks 502-510. Although the blocks are shown in a sequential order, the blocks may also be performed in parallel and/or in a different order than that described herein. Additionally, various blocks may be combined into fewer blocks, split into additional blocks, and/or removed based on the desired implementation. Additionally, for the method 500 and other processes and methods disclosed herein, a flowchart illustrates the functionality and operation of one possible implementation of the current embodiment. In this regard, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of program code, which includes one or more instructions executable by a processor for implementing the specified logical function or step in the process. The program code may be stored on any type of computer-readable medium, such as, for example, a storage device including a magnetic disk or a hard drive.

Computer readable media may include non-transitory computer readable media such as, for example, computer readable media such as register memory, processor cache memory, and random access memory (RAM) that store data for short periods of time. For example, computer-readable media may also include non-transitory media such as secondary storage or persistent long-term storage, such as read only memory (ROM), optical or magnetic disks, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM). The computer readable medium can also be any other volatile or nonvolatile storage system. For example, a computer-readable medium can be considered a computer-readable storage medium or a tangible storage device. Additionally, for the method 500 and other processes and methods disclosed herein, each block may represent circuitry that is wired to perform a particular logical function in the process.

As shown in FIG. 5, the method 500 includes: at block 502, the computing device causes the playback device to play a first audio signal in a playback area; at block 504, receiving an indication of a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device data; at block 506, determining acoustic characteristics of the playback area based on the second audio signal and characteristics of the playback device; at block 508, determining an audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics of the playback area; and at block 510, causing the audio The association between the processing algorithm and the acoustic properties of the playback area is stored in a database.

As previously discussed, the database can be accessed to identify audio processing algorithms to be applied by the playback device when the playback device plays audio content in the playback area. Thus, in one example, method 500 may be performed for various different playback regions to build a database of audio processing algorithms corresponding to various different playback environments.

At block 502, method 500 includes causing a playback device to play a first audio signal in a playback area. The playback device may be a playback device similar to playback device 200 shown in FIG. 2 . In one case, the computing device may cause the playback device to play the first audio signal by sending a command to play the first audio signal. In another case, the computing device may also provide the playback device with the first audio signal to be played.

In one example, the first audio signal may be used to determine the acoustic response of the playback area. Thus, the first audio signal may be a test signal or a measurement signal representing audio content that can be played by the playback device during normal use by the user. Thus, the first audio signal may comprise audio content having a frequency substantially covering the presentable frequency range of the playback device or the frequency range audible to humans.

In one example, the playback area may be a playback area representing one of a plurality of playback environments in which the playback device may play audio content during normal use by the user. Referring to FIG. 1 , playback zones may represent any of the different groups of rooms and zones in the media playback system 100 . For example, the playback area may represent a restaurant.

In one instance, the playback area may be a model playback area constructed to simulate a listening environment in which a playback device may play audio content. In one example, the playback area may be one of multiple playback areas constructed to simulate multiple playback environments. Multiple playback regions may be constructed for the purpose of populating the database of such audio processing algorithms. In this case, certain characteristics of the playback area may be predetermined and/or known. For example, the size of the playback area, the flooring or wall materials in the playback area (or other features that may affect the audio reflection characteristics of the playback area), the number of furniture in the playback area, or the size and type of furniture in the playback area, etc. Can be a characteristic of the playback area that can be predetermined and/or known.

In another case, the playback area may be a room in the home of the user of the playback device. For example, as part of building the database, users of playback devices (eg, clients and/or testers) may be invited to use their playback devices to perform the functions of method 500 to build the database. In some cases, certain characteristics of the user playback area may be unknown. In other cases, some or all of certain characteristics of the user playback area may be provided by the user. The database populated from performing the functions of method 500 may include entries based on simulated playback regions and/or user playback regions.

While block 502 includes the computing device causing the playback device to play the first audio signal, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that playback of the first audio signal by the playback device need not be caused or initiated by the computing device. For example, the controller device may send a command to the playback device to cause the playback device to play the first audio signal. In another example, the playback device may play the first audio signal without receiving a command from the computing device or controller. Other examples are also possible.

At block 504, the method 500 includes receiving data indicative of a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. As mentioned above, the playback device may be a playback device similar to playback device 200 shown in FIG. 2 . Thus, the microphone may be microphone 220 . In one example, a computing device may receive data from a playback device. In another example, the computing device may receive data via another playback device, a controller device, or another server.

While the playback device is playing the first audio signal, or shortly thereafter, the playback device's microphone may detect the second audio signal. The second audio signal may include a detectable audio signal present in the playback area. For example, the second audio signal may include a portion corresponding to the first audio signal played by the playback device.

In one example, the computing device may receive data indicative of the detected second audio signal from the playback device as a media stream while the microphone detects the second audio signal. In another example, once the detection of the first audio signal by the playback device's microphone is complete, the computing device may receive data indicative of the second audio signal from the playback device. In either case, the playback device may process the detected second audio signal (via an audio processing component, eg, audio processing component 208 of playback device 200) to generate data indicative of the second audio signal, and send the data to computing equipment. In one example, generating data indicative of the second audio signal may include converting the second audio signal from an analog signal to a digital signal. Other examples are also possible.

At block 506, the method 500 includes determining acoustic characteristics of the playback area based on the second audio signal and characteristics of the playback device. As described above, the second audio signal may include a portion corresponding to the first audio signal played by the playback device in the playback area.

The characteristics of the playback device may include one or more of the following: the acoustic characteristics of the playback device, the specifications of the playback device (ie, number of transducers, frequency range, amplifier wattage, etc.), and a model of the playback device. In some cases, the acoustic properties of the playback device and/or the specifications of the playback device may be associated with a model of the playback device. For example, specific models of playback devices may have substantially the same specifications and acoustic properties. In one example, a database of models of playback devices, acoustic properties of models of playback devices, and/or specifications of models of playback devices may be maintained on the computing device or another device in communication with the computing device.

In one example, the acoustic response from the playback device playing the first audio signal in the playback area may be represented by the relationship between the first audio signal and the second audio signal. Mathematically, if the first audio signal is f(t), the second audio signal is s(t), and the acoustic response of the playback device playing the first audio signal in the playback region is hr( _t ), then

表示数学上的卷积函数。因此，给定由回放设备的麦克风检测到的第二音频信号s(t)和由回放设备播放的第一信号f(t)，就可以计算h_r(t)。in,

Represents a mathematical convolution function. Hence, given the second audio signal s(t) detected by the microphone of the playback device and the first signal f(t) played by the playback device, hr( _t ) can be calculated.

In one case, since the first audio signal f(t) is played by the playback device, the acoustic response hr( _t ) may include: (i) the acoustic properties of the playback device; and (ii) the acoustic properties of the playback region , which is independent of the playback device. Mathematically, this relationship can be expressed as

h _r (t)=h _p (t)+h _room (t) (2)

where h _p (t) is the acoustic property of the playback device, and h _room (t) is the acoustic property of the playback area, independent of the playback device. Accordingly, the acoustic properties of the playback device-independent playback region may be determined by removing the playback device's acoustic properties from the playback region's acoustic response to the first audio signal played by the playback device. In other words,

h _room( t)=h _r (t)–h _p (t) (3)

In one example, the acoustic properties h _p (t) of a playback device can be determined by placing the playback device or a representative playback device of the same model in an anechoic chamber, allowing the playback device to play measurements in the anechoic chamber signal, and the response signal is detected by the microphone of the playback device. The measurement signal played by the playback device in the anechoic chamber may be similar to the first audio signal f(t) discussed above. For example, the measurement signal may have audio content with frequencies substantially covering the presentable frequency range of the playback device or the frequency range audible to humans.

The acoustic properties h _p (t) of the playback device may represent the relationship between the played measurement signal and the detected response signal. For example, if the measurement signal has a first signal amplitude at a certain frequency, and the detected response signal has a second signal amplitude at a certain frequency that is different from the first signal amplitude, then the acoustic characteristic h _p (t) of the playback device can be Indicates signal amplification or attenuation at a specific frequency.

Mathematically, if the measured signal is x(t), the detected response signal is y(t), and the acoustic properties of the playback device in the anechoic chamber are h _p (t), then

Hence, h _p (t) can be calculated based on the measurement signal x(t) and the detected response signal y(t). As mentioned above, h _p (t) may be a representative acoustic characteristic for a playback device of the same model as that used in an anechoic chamber.

In one example, as described above, the reference acoustic properties h _p (t) may be stored in association with a model of the playback device and/or a specification of the playback device. In one example, h _p (t) may be stored on a computing device. In another example, h _p (t) may be stored on the playback device and other playback devices of the same model. In another case, the inverse of _hp (t) (denoted as _hp ^-1 (t)) may be stored instead of _hp (t).

Referring again to block 506, accordingly, the acoustic property h _room (t) of the playback area may be determined based on the first audio signal f(t), the second audio signal s(t) and the acoustic property h _p (t) of the playback device . In one example, the inverse _hp ^-1 (t) of the acoustic properties of the playback device may be applied to equation (2). In other words,

where I(t) is the pulse signal. Then the acoustic property h _room (t) of the playback area can be simplified as:

At block 506, the method 500 includes determining an audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics of the playback region and the predetermined audio signal. In one example, the audio processing algorithm may be determined such that, when the playback device plays the first audio signal in the playback region, the playback device applying the determined audio processing algorithm may produce audio characteristics that are substantially the same as or at least the same as the predetermined audio characteristics A third audio signal that exhibits a predetermined audio characteristic to some extent.

In one example, the predetermined audio characteristic may be an audio frequency balance that is considered pleasant. In one instance, the predetermined audio characteristics may include equalization that is substantially uniform over the presentable frequency range of the playback device. In another case, the predetermined audio characteristics may include an equalization that is considered pleasing to a typical listener. In yet another case, the predetermined audio characteristics may include frequency responses deemed suitable for a particular genre of music.

In either case, the computing device may determine the audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics and the predetermined audio characteristics. In one example, if the acoustic characteristics of the playback area are acoustic characteristics in which certain audio frequencies are attenuated more than other frequencies, and the predetermined audio characteristics include equalization in which certain audio frequencies are minimally attenuated, the corresponding audio processing algorithm may include Increased amplification at specific audio frequencies.

If the predetermined audio characteristic is represented by the predetermined audio signal z(t), and the audio processing algorithm is represented by p(t), then the distance between the predetermined audio signal z(t), the audio processing algorithm and the acoustic characteristic h _room (t) of the playback area The relationship can be mathematically described as:

Therefore, the audio processing algorithm p(t) can be mathematically described as:

In some cases, determining the audio processing algorithm may include determining one or more parameters of the audio processing algorithm (ie, coefficients of p(t)). For example, the audio processing algorithm may include certain signal amplification gains at certain corresponding frequencies of the audio signal. Thus, parameters indicative of certain signal amplifications and/or certain corresponding frequencies of the audio signal can be identified to determine the audio processing algorithm p(t).

At block 510, the method 500 includes storing the association between the audio processing algorithm and the acoustic properties of the playback region in a database. Accordingly, an entry may be added to the database including the acoustic characteristic h _room (t) of the playback area as determined at blocks 504 and 506 and the corresponding audio processing algorithm p(t) determined. In one example, the database may be stored on local storage of the computing device. In another example, if the database is stored on another device, the computing device may send the audio processing algorithm and the acoustic characteristics of the playback region to the other device for storage in the database. Other examples are also possible.

As mentioned above, the playback area for which the audio processing algorithm is determined may be a model playback area for simulating a listening environment in which the playback device may play audio content, or a room of a user of the playback device. In some cases, the database may include entries generated based on audio signals played and detected in the model playback area and entries generated based on audio signals played and detected in a room of a user of the playback device.

Figure 6A shows an example portion of a database 600 of audio processing algorithms in which the audio processing algorithms p(t) determined in the discussion above may be stored. As shown, the portion of database 600 may include a plurality of entries 602-608. Entry 602 may include playback area acoustic characteristics h _room ^-1 (t)-1. As described above, the acoustic property h _room ^-1 (t)-1 may be a mathematical representation of the acoustic property of the playback area calculated based on the audio signal detected by the playback device and the properties of the playback device. Also as described above, in entry 602 corresponding to the acoustic characteristic h _room ^-1 (t)-1 may be the coefficients w of the audio processing algorithm determined based on the acoustic characteristic h _room ^-1 (t)-1 and the predetermined audio characteristic ₁ , x ₁ , y ₁ and z ₁ .

As further shown, entry 604 of database 600 may include playback area acoustic properties h _{room -} ¹ (t) _-2 and processing algorithm coefficients w2, _x2 , y2, and _z2 , and entry 606 of database 600 may include playback the region acoustic properties h _room ^-1 (t)-3 and the processing algorithm coefficients w ₃ , x ₃ , y ₃ and z ₃ , and the entry 608 of the database 600 may include the playback region acoustic properties h _room ^-1 (t)-4 and Processing algorithm coefficients w ₄ , x ₄ , y ₄ and z ₄ .

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that database 600 is only one example of a database that may be populated and maintained by performing the functions of method 500 . In one example, the playback region acoustic properties may be stored in different formats or mathematical states (ie, inverse and non-inverse functions). In another example, audio processing algorithms may be stored as functions and/or equalization functions. Other examples are also possible.

In one example, some of the functions described above may be performed multiple times for the same playback device in the same playback area to determine the acoustic properties h _room (t) of the playback area and the corresponding processing algorithm p(t). For example, blocks 502-506 may be performed multiple times to determine multiple acoustic properties of the playback area. A combined (ie, averaged) acoustic property of the playback region may be determined from a plurality of acoustic properties, and a corresponding processing algorithm p(t) may be determined based on the combined acoustic property of the playback region. The association between the corresponding processing algorithm p(t) and the acoustic properties h _room (t) or h _room ^-1 (t) of the playback area can then be stored in the database. In some cases, the first audio signal played by the playback device in the playback area may be substantially the same audio signal during each iteration of the function. In other cases, the first audio signal played by the playback device in the playback area may be a different audio signal for some iterations or each iteration of the function. Other examples are also possible.

Method 500 (or some variations of method 500) as described above may also be performed to generate other entries in the database. For example, assuming the playback device is the first playback device, the playback region is the first playback region, and the audio processing algorithm is the first audio processing algorithm, then additionally or alternatively, the second playback in the second playback region may be used device to perform method 500 . In one example, the second playback device may play the fourth audio signal in the second playback area, and a microphone of the second playback device may detect the fifth audio that includes a portion of the fourth audio signal played by the second playback device Signal. The computing device may then receive data indicative of the fifth audio signal and determine acoustic characteristics of the second playback region based on the fifth audio signal and characteristics of the second playback device.

Based on the acoustic characteristics of the second playback region, the computing device may determine a second audio processing algorithm such that, when the second playback device plays the fourth audio signal in the playback region, the second playback device applies the determined second audio processing algorithm A sixth audio signal is generated having an audio characteristic substantially the same as the predetermined audio characteristic represented by the predetermined audio signal z(t) shown in equations (7) and (8). The computing device may then cause the association between the second audio processing algorithm and the acoustic properties of the second playback region to be stored in the database.

While many playback zones may be similar in size, construction material, and/or furniture type and arrangement, it is unlikely that two playback zones will have exactly the same playback zone acoustic properties. Thus, rather than storing separate entries for each unique playback region acoustic characteristics and their respective audio processing algorithms, which may require an impractical amount of storage, it is possible to store separate entries for similar or substantially the same playback regions The entries for the acoustic properties are combined.

In one instance, when the two playback zones are substantially similar rooms, the acoustic properties of the two playback zones may be similar. In another case, as set forth above, a computing device may perform method 500 multiple times on the same playback device in the same playback area. In yet another case, the computing device may perform method 500 on different playback devices in the same playback area. In yet another case, the computing device may perform method 500 on playback devices in the same playback area but at different locations in the playback area. Other examples are also possible.

In either case, during the process of generating the entries for the playback region acoustic properties and the corresponding audio processing algorithm, the computing device may determine that the two playback regions have substantially the same playback region acoustic properties. The computing device may then determine a third audio processing algorithm based on the first audio processing algorithm and the second audio processing algorithm in response. For example, the computing device may determine the third audio processing algorithm by averaging the parameters of the first audio processing algorithm and the second audio processing algorithm.

The computing device may then store the association between the third audio processing algorithm and the substantially identical acoustic characteristic in the database. In one example, the database entry for the third audio processing algorithm may have a corresponding acoustic characteristic determined based on an average of two substantially identical acoustic characteristics. In some cases, as proposed above, in order to save storage, the database may have only one entry for substantially the same acoustic characteristic. Thus, the entries for the acoustic properties of the first playback area and the second playback area may be discarded in favor of the entries for the third audio processing algorithm. Other examples are also possible.

Although the above discussion refers to method 500 as being performed by a computing device, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, as discussed above, the functions of method 500 may alternatively be performed by one or more other devices, such as one or more a server, one or more playback devices, and/or one or more controller devices. In other words, one or more of blocks 502-510 may be performed by a computing device, while one or more other blocks of blocks 502-510 may be performed by one or more other computing devices.

In one example, playback of the first audio signal by the playback device at block 502 may be performed by the playback device without any external commands, as described above. Alternatively, the playback device may play the first audio signal in response to a command from the controller device and/or another playback device. In another example, blocks 502-506 may be performed by one or more playback devices or one or more controller devices, and a computing device may perform blocks 508 and 510. In yet another example, blocks 502 to 508 may be performed by one or more playback devices or one or more controller devices, and the computing device may only perform the function of storing audio processing algorithms at block 510 . Other examples are also possible.

b. An example database of one or more properties of audio processing algorithms and corresponding playback regions

As previously mentioned, a playback area may have one or more playback area properties. As described above, the one or more playback area characteristics may include acoustic characteristics of the playback area. The one or more characteristics of the playback area may also include one or more of: (a) the size of the playback area, (b) the audio reflection characteristics of the playback area, (c) the intended use of the playback area, (d) ) the number of furniture in the playback area, (e) the size of the furniture in the playback area, and (f) the type of furniture in the playback area. In one instance, the audio reflectivity characteristics of the playback area may be related to the flooring and/or wall materials of the playback area.

In some examples, the determined association between the audio processing algorithm (eg, p(t) above) and one or more additional characteristics of the playback region may be stored in a database. 7 illustrates an example flow diagram of a method 700 for maintaining a database of audio processing algorithms and one or more characteristics of a playback region. The method 700 shown in FIG. 7 illustrates what can be implemented in a work environment including, for example, the media playback system 100 of FIG. 1 , one or more playback devices 200 of FIG. 2 , and one or more control devices 300 of FIG. 3 Implementation of the method. In one example, method 700 may be performed by a computing device in communication with a media playback system, such as media playback system 100 . In another example, some or all of the functionality of method 700 may alternatively be performed by one or more other computing devices such as one or more servers, one or more playback devices, and/or one or more controller device to execute.

Method 700 may include one or more operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks 702-708. Although the blocks are shown in a sequential order, the blocks may also be performed in parallel and/or in a different order than that described herein. Additionally, various blocks may be combined into fewer blocks, split into additional blocks, and/or removed based on the desired implementation.

As shown in FIG. 7, method 700 includes: at block 702, causing a playback device to play a first audio signal in a playback area; at block 704, receiving (i) data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area and (ii) data indicative of the second audio signal detected by the microphone of the playback device; at block 706, determine an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal and characteristics of the playback device; and at block 708, make the determined The association between the audio processing algorithm and at least one of the one or more properties of the playback region is stored in a database.

At block 702, the method 700 includes the computing device causing the playback device to play the first audio signal in the playback area. In one example, block 702 may include the same or substantially the same functionality as block 502 described in connection with FIG. 5 . For example, the first audio signal may comprise audio content having a frequency substantially covering a presentable frequency range of the playback device or a frequency range audible to a human. Accordingly, any discussion above regarding block 502 also applies to block 702 .

At block 704, the method 700 includes receiving (i) data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area and (ii) data indicative of a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. In one example, block 704 may include the same or substantially the same functionality as block 504 described in connection with FIG. 5 . For example, the second audio signal may include a portion corresponding to the first audio signal played by the playback device. Accordingly, any discussion above regarding block 504 also applies to block 704 .

In addition to what was previously described with respect to block 504, block 704 also includes receiving data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area. As described above, the playback area may be a model playback area for simulating a listening environment in which a playback device may play audio content. In this case, some of the one or more playback region properties of the playback region may be known. For example, the dimensions, floor plan, building materials and furniture of the playback area may be known. In one instance, a model playback area may be constructed for the purpose of determining the audio processing algorithm of the database, in which case some of the one or more playback area characteristics may be predetermined. In another case, the playback area may be the room of the user of the playback device. As mentioned above, such characteristics of the playback area may have an impact on the acoustic characteristics of the playback area.

In one example, the computing device may receive data indicative of one or more playback area characteristics via a controller interface of the controller device used by a user or acoustic engineer. In another example, the computing device may receive data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area from a playback device in the playback area. For example, data indicative of one or more characteristics may be received along with data indicative of the second audio signal. Data indicative of one or more playback area characteristics may be received before, during, or after playback of the first audio signal by the playback device at block 702 . Other examples are also possible.

At block 706, the method 700 includes determining an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal and characteristics of the playback device. In one example, block 706 may include the same or similar functionality as described above in blocks 506 and 508 of FIG. 5 . For example, determining the audio processing algorithm may include determining the acoustic characteristics of the playback area based on the characteristics of the second audio signal and the playback device, and then determining the audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics of the playback area. As mentioned above, the characteristics of the playback device may include one or more of the following: the acoustic characteristics of the playback device, the specifications of the playback device, and the model of the playback device.

As previously mentioned, the playback device applying the determined audio processing algorithm when playing the first audio signal in the playback area can generate a third audio having audio characteristics substantially the same as or at least to some extent embodying the predetermined audio characteristics Signal. In one case, the predetermined audio characteristic may be the same or substantially the same as the predetermined audio characteristic indicated above as the predetermined audio signal p(t). Other examples are also possible.

At block 708, the method 800 includes storing in a database an association between the determined audio processing algorithm and at least one of the one or more characteristics of the playback region. In one example, block 708 may include the same or similar functionality as described above in block 510 . In such a case, however, the computing device may interface the audio processing algorithm with at least one of the one or more characteristics of the playback area in addition to or instead of the acoustic characteristics of the playback area. The associations are stored in the database.

As mentioned above, the playback area for which the audio processing algorithm is determined may be a model playback area for simulating a listening environment in which the playback device may play audio content, or a room of a user of the playback device. In some cases, the database may include entries generated based on audio signals played and detected in the model playback area and entries generated based on audio signals played and detected in a room of a user of the playback device.

Figure 6B shows an example portion of a database 650 of audio processing algorithms in which the audio processing algorithms determined in the discussion above and the associations between the audio processing algorithms and the playback region acoustic properties may be stored. As shown, similar to entries 602-608 of database 600, this portion of database 650 may include a plurality of entries 652-658. For example, entry 652 and entry 602 may have the same playback area acoustic characteristics and the same audio processing algorithm coefficients, entry 654 and entry 604 may have the same playback area acoustic characteristics and the same audio processing algorithm coefficients, and entry 656 and entry 606 may have the same playback area acoustics and the same audio processing algorithm coefficients, and entry 658 and entry 608 may have the same playback area acoustics and the same audio processing algorithm coefficients.

In addition to the playback area acoustic characteristics, the database 650 may also include area size information indicating the size of the playback area having the corresponding playback area acoustic characteristics and the audio processing algorithm determined based on the corresponding playback area acoustic characteristics. For example, as shown, entry 652 may have region size a ₁ ×b ₁ ×c ₁ , entry 654 may have region size a ₂ ×b ₂ ×c ₂ , entry 656 may have region size a ₃ ×b ₃ ×c ₃ , and entry 654 may have area size a ₄ ×b ₄ ×c ₄ . Thus, in this example, the one or more characteristics stored in association with the determined audio processing algorithm include the acoustic characteristics of the playback area and the size of the playback area. Other examples are also possible.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that database 650 is only one example of a database that may be populated and maintained by performing the functions of method 700 . In one example, the playback region acoustic properties may be stored in different formats or mathematical states (ie, inverse and non-inverse functions). In another example, audio processing algorithms may be stored as functions and/or equalization functions. In yet another example, the database 650 may include only the region dimensions and corresponding audio processing algorithms, but not the corresponding playback region acoustic characteristics. Other examples are also possible.

Similar to method 500, method 700 (or some variations of method 700) may also be performed as described above to generate other entries in the database. For example, assuming the playback device is the first playback device, the playback region is the first playback region, and the audio processing algorithm is the first audio processing algorithm, then additionally or alternatively, the second playback in the second playback region may be used device to perform method 600 . In one example, the second playback device may play the fourth audio signal in the second playback area, and the microphone of the second playback device may detect the fifth audio signal that includes a portion of the fourth audio signal played by the second playback device . The computing device may then receive (i) data indicative of one or more characteristics of the second playback area and (ii) data indicative of a fifth audio signal detected by a microphone of the second playback device in the second playback area.

The computing device may then determine the acoustic characteristics of the second playback region based on the fifth audio signal and the characteristics of the second playback device. The computing device may determine the second audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics of the second playback region such that when the second playback device plays the fourth audio signal in the playback region, the second playback device applies the determined second audio processing algorithm A sixth audio signal is generated having an audio characteristic substantially the same as the predetermined audio characteristic represented by the predetermined audio signal z(t) shown in equations (7) and (8). The computing device may then cause the association between the second audio processing algorithm and at least one of the one or more characteristics of the second playback region to be stored in the database.

Similar to that discussed above in connection with method 500, during the process of generating an entry for the database, the computing device may determine two playback regions that have similar or substantially the same acoustic properties of the playback regions. Thus, as described above, the computing device may combine (ie, by averaging) the playback area acoustic characteristics and the determined audio processing algorithm corresponding to the playback area acoustic characteristics, and combine the combined playback area acoustic characteristics and the combined audio The processing algorithm is stored in the database as a single entry. Other examples are also possible.

Similar to the case of method 500, although the above discussion refers to method 700 as being performed collectively by a computing device, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the functions of method 700 may alternatively be performed by one or more other computing devices such as One or more servers, one or more playback devices, and/or one or more controller devices. In other words, one or more of blocks 702-708 may be performed by a computing device, while one or more other blocks of blocks 702-708 may be performed by one or more other computing devices. Other computing devices may include one or more playback devices, one or more controller devices, and/or one or more servers.

In one example, playback of the first audio signal by the playback device at block 702 may be performed by the playback device without any external commands, as described above. Alternatively, the playback device may play the first audio signal in response to a command from the controller device and/or another playback device. In another example, blocks 702-706 may be performed by one or more playback devices or one or more controller devices, and a computing device may perform block 708. Other examples are also possible.

IV. Calibrate playback device based on playback area characteristics

As noted above, some examples described herein include calibrating the playback device for the playback region. In some cases, calibration of the playback device may include determining an audio processing algorithm to be applied by the playback device when playing audio content in the playback area.

FIG. 8 shows an example playback environment 800 in which playback devices may be calibrated. As shown, playback environment 800 includes computing device 802 , playback device 804 and playback device 806 , controller device 808 , and playback area 810 . Playback device 804 and playback device 806 may be similar to playback device 200 shown in FIG. 2 . Thus, playback device 804 and playback device 806 may each have a microphone, eg, microphone 220 . In some cases, only one of playback device 804 and playback device 806 may have a microphone.

In one example, playback device 804 and playback device 806 may be part of a media playback system, such as shown and discussed above with respect to media playback system 100 of FIG. 1 , and may be configured to play audio content synchronously. In one case, playback device 804 and playback device 806 may be grouped together to play audio content in playback area 810 synchronously. Referring again to FIG. 1 , playback zone 810 may be any one or more of the different groups of rooms and zones in media playback system 100 . For example, playback area 810 may be the master bedroom. In this case, playback device 804 and playback device 806 may correspond to playback devices 122 and 124, respectively.

In one example, controller device 808 may be a device that can be used to control a media playback system. In one instance, the controller device 808 may be similar to the control device 300 of FIG. 3 . Although the controller device 808 of FIG. 8 is shown inside the playback area 810, the controller device 808 may be outside the playback area 810, or may be in communication with the playback device 804, playback device 806, and/or any other in the media playback system The devices move into or out of the playback area 810 while communicating.

In one example, computing device 802 may be a server in communication with a media playback system. Computing device 802 may be configured to maintain a database of information associated with the media playback system (eg, registration numbers associated with playback device 804 and playback device 806). As described in the previous section, computing device 802 may also be configured to maintain a database of audio processing algorithms. Other examples are also possible.

Method 900 , method 1000 , and method 1100 , as will be discussed below, provide functionality that may be performed to calibrate playback devices in a playback area, such as playback device 804 and playback device 806 in playback area 810 .

a. A first example method for determining an audio processing algorithm based on a detected audio signal

9 illustrates an example flow diagram of a method 900 for determining an audio processing algorithm based on one or more playback region characteristics. The method 900 shown in FIG. 9 is representative of a method that can be implemented in a media playback system 100 including, for example, the media playback system 100 of FIG. 1 , one or more playback devices 200 of FIG. 2 , one or more control devices 300 of FIG. Implementation of the method implemented in the working environment. In one example, method 900 may be performed by a computing device in communication with a media playback system. In another example, some or all of the functionality of method 900 may alternatively be performed by one or more other computing devices associated with the media playback system, such as one or more servers, one or more playback devices, and and/or one or more controller devices to perform.

Method 900 may include one or more operations, functions, or actions as represented by one or more of blocks 902-908. Although the blocks are shown in a sequential order, the blocks may also be performed in parallel and/or in a different order than that described herein. Additionally, various blocks may be combined into fewer blocks, split into additional blocks, and/or removed based on the desired implementation.

As shown in FIG. 9, method 900 includes: at block 902, causing a playback device to play a first audio signal in a playback area; at block 904, receiving a second audio signal from the playback device indicating detection by a microphone of the playback device At block 906, an audio processing algorithm is determined based on the second audio signal and the acoustic characteristics of the playback device; and at block 908, data indicative of the determined audio processing algorithm is sent to the playback device.

At block 902, the method 900 includes causing the playback device to play the first audio signal in the playback area. Referring to FIG. 8 , the playback device may be playback device 804 , and the playback area may be playback area 810 . Thus, the playback device may be a playback device similar to playback device 200 shown in FIG. 2 .

In one example, computing device 802 may determine that playback device 804 is to be calibrated for playback region 810 and responsively cause playback device 804 to play the first audio signal in playback region 810 . In one case, the computing device 802 may determine that the playback device 804 is to be calibrated based on input received from a user indicating that the playback device 804 is to be calibrated. In one example, input may be received from a user via controller device 808 . In another instance, computing device 802 may determine that playback device 804 is to be calibrated because playback device 804 is a new playback device or was recently moved to playback area 810 . In yet another case, calibration of playback device 804 (or any other playback device in a media playback system) may be performed periodically. Accordingly, the computing device 802 may determine that the playback device 804 is to be calibrated based on the calibration schedule of the playback device 804 . Other examples are also possible. In response to determining that playback device 804 is to be calibrated, computing device 802 may then cause playback device 804 to play the first audio signal.

Although block 902 includes computing device 802 causing playback device 804 to play the first audio signal, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that playback of the first audio signal by playback device 804 need not be caused or initiated by computing device 802 . For example, the controller device 808 may send a command to the playback device 804 to cause the playback device 804 to play the first audio signal. In another example, playback device 806 may cause playback device 804 to play the first audio signal. In yet another example, playback device 804 may play the first audio signal without receiving a command from computing device 802 , playback device 806 , or controller device 808 . In one example, playback device 804 may determine to perform calibration based on movement of playback device 804 or a change in the playback area of playback device 804 and responsively play the first audio signal. Other examples are also possible.

As proposed, the first audio signal may be a test signal or a measurement signal used to calibrate playback device 804 for playback area 810 . Thus, the first audio signal may represent audio content that may be played by the playback device during normal use by the user. Thus, the first audio signal may comprise audio content having a frequency substantially covering the presentable frequency range of the playback device or the frequency range audible to humans. In another example, the first audio signal may be a favorite or frequently played audio track of the user of the playback device.

At block 904, the method 900 includes receiving, from the playback device, a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device. Continuing with the above example, assuming that playback device 804 is similar to playback device 200 of FIG. 2 , the microphone of playback device 804 may be similar to microphone 220 of playback device 200 . In one example, computing device 802 may receive data from playback device 804 . In another example, computing device 804 may receive data via another playback device (eg, playback device 806 ), a controller device (eg, controller device 808 ), or another computing device such as another server.

While the playback device 804 is playing the first audio signal, or shortly thereafter, the microphone of the playback device 804 may detect the second audio signal. The second audio signal may include sound present in the playback area. For example, the second audio signal may include a portion corresponding to the first audio signal played by playback device 804 .

In one example, computing device 802 may receive data indicative of the first audio signal from playback device 804 as a media stream while the microphone detects the second audio signal. In another example, computing device 802 may receive data from playback device 804 indicative of the second audio signal once detection of the second audio signal by the microphone of playback device 804 is complete. In either case, playback device 804 may process the detected second audio signal (via audio processing components, eg, audio processing component 208 of playback device 200) to generate data indicative of the second audio signal, and transmit the data to computing device 802 . In one example, generating data indicative of the second audio signal may include converting the second audio signal from an analog signal to a digital signal. Other examples are also possible.

At block 906, the method 900 includes determining an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal and the acoustic characteristics of the playback device. In one example, the acoustic characteristic of the playback device may be h _p (t) as discussed above with respect to block 506 of the method 500 shown in FIG. 5 . For example, as described above, the acoustic properties of a playback device may be determined by having a reference playback device play a measurement signal in an anechoic chamber, receiving data from the reference playback device indicative of the audio signal detected by the reference playback device's microphone , and based on the comparison between the detected audio signal and the measurement signal, the acoustic characteristics of the playback device are determined.

As noted above, the reference playback device may have the same model as playback device 804 calibrated for playback area 810 . Again, similarly as discussed above with respect to block 506, the computing device may thereby determine characteristics of the playback area based on the acoustic characteristics of the playback device and the second audio signal.

In one example, the computing device 802 may determine an audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics of the playback region, similar to that discussed above with respect to block 508 . Accordingly, computing device 802 may determine an audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics of the playback area and predetermined audio characteristics such that, when playback device 804 plays the first audio signal in playback area 810, playback device 804 applies the determined audio processing algorithm A third audio signal may be generated having audio characteristics that are substantially the same as, or at least to some extent, exhibit the predetermined audio characteristics.

In another example, computing device 802 may select an audio processing algorithm from a plurality of audio processing algorithms that corresponds to the acoustic characteristics of playback area 810 . For example, the computing device may access databases (eg, database 600 of FIG. 6A and database 650 of FIG. 6B ) and identify audio processing algorithms based on the acoustic properties of playback area 810 . For example, referring to database 600 of FIG. 6A, if the acoustic characteristic of playback region 810 is determined to be h _r oo _m - ¹ (t)-3, then a database of coefficients w ₃ , x ₃ , y ₃ and z ₃ may be identified Audio Processing Algorithm of Item 606.

In some cases, an exact match of the acoustic properties of the determined playback area 810 may not be found in the database. In this case, the audio processing algorithm corresponding to the acoustic characteristic in the database that is most similar to the acoustic characteristic of the playback area 810 may be identified. Other examples are also possible.

At block 908, the method 900 includes sending data indicative of the determined audio processing algorithm to a playback device. Continuing with the above example, computing device 802 (or one or more other devices) may send data indicative of the determined audio processing algorithm to playback device 804 . The data indicative of the determined audio processing algorithm may also include commands to cause playback device 804 to apply the determined audio processing algorithm when playing audio content in playback area 810 . In one example, applying an audio processing algorithm to the audio content can modify the frequency equalization of the audio content. In another example, applying an audio processing algorithm to the audio content can modify the volume range of the audio content. Other examples are also possible.

In some cases, the playback area may include multiple playback devices configured to play audio content synchronously. For example, playback device 804 and playback device 806 may be configured to play audio content in playback area 810 synchronously, as described above. In this case, the calibration of one of the playback devices may include the other playback devices.

In one example, a playback area (eg, playback area 810 ) may include a first playback device (eg, playback device 804 ) and a second playback device (eg, playback device 806 ) configured to play audio content synchronously. Calibration of playback device 804, as coordinated and performed by computing device 802, may include causing playback device 804 to play a first audio signal and playback device 806 to play a second audio signal.

In one case, computing device 802 may cause playback device 806 to play the second audio signal in synchronization with playback device 804 playing back the first audio signal. In one case, the second audio signal may be orthogonal to the first audio signal such that the components of the synchronously played audio content played by either playback device 804 and playback device 806 are discernible. In another instance, the computing device may cause playback device 806 to play the second audio signal after playback of the first audio signal by playback device 804 is complete. Other examples are also possible.

Similar to that discussed with respect to block 904 , computing device 802 may then receive from playback device 804 a third audio signal detected by the microphone of playback device 804 . In this case, however, the third audio signal may include a portion corresponding to the first audio signal played by playback device 804 and a portion corresponding to the second audio signal played by playback device 806 .

Similar to that described above with respect to blocks 906 and 908, the computing device 802 may then determine an audio processing algorithm based on the third audio signal and the acoustic characteristics of the playback device 804, and send data indicative of the determined audio processing algorithm to playback The device 804 is used for playback. The device 804 applies when playing audio content in the playback area 810 .

In one case, playback device 806 may also have a microphone, as described above, and may also be calibrated similarly to that described above. As shown, the first audio signal played by playback device 804 and the second audio signal played by playback device 806 may be orthogonal or otherwise distinguishable. For example, as also described above, playback device 806 may play the second audio signal after playback of the first audio signal by playback device 804 is complete. In another case, the second audio signal may have a phase that is quadrature with the phase of the first audio signal. In yet another case, the second audio signal may have a different and/or varying frequency range than the first audio signal. Other examples are also possible.

In either case, the distinguishable first and second audio signals may enable computing device 802 to parse playback device 804's contribution to and playback of the detected third audio signal from the third audio signal detected by playback device 804 Contribution of device 806 to the detected third audio signal. Corresponding audio processing algorithms can then be determined for playback device 804 and playback device 806 .

Similar to that discussed above with respect to block 508, a corresponding audio processing algorithm may be determined. In one case, a first acoustic characteristic of the playback area may be determined based on a third audio signal detected by playback device 604 and a first acoustic characteristic of the playback area may be determined based on a fourth audio signal detected by playback device 806 Two acoustic properties. Similar to the third audio signal, the fourth audio signal may also include a portion corresponding to the first audio signal played by playback device 804 and a portion corresponding to the second audio signal played by playback device 806 .

Corresponding audio processing algorithms for playback device 804 and playback device 806 may then be determined based on the first acoustic characteristic of the playback area and the second acoustic characteristic of the playback area, alone or in combination. In some cases, the combination of the first acoustic characteristic of the playback area and the second acoustic characteristic of the playback area may represent a more comprehensive playback area than the first acoustic characteristic or the second acoustic characteristic of the playback area alone. acoustic properties. The corresponding audio processing algorithms are then sent to playback device 804 and playback device 806 for playback device 804 and playback device 806 to apply when the audio content is played in playback area 810 . Other examples are also possible.

Although the above discussion refers to method 900 as being performed by computing device 802 of FIG. 8, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, as discussed above, the functions of method 900 may alternatively be performed by one or more other computing devices Devices such as one or more servers, one or more playback devices, and/or one or more controller devices execute. For example, the functionality of method 900 for calibrating playback device 804 for playback region 810 may be provided by playback device 804 , playback device 806 , controller device 808 , or another device not shown in FIG. 8 in communication with playback device 804 . device to perform.

Additionally, in some cases, one or more of blocks 902-908 may be performed by computing device 802, while one or more other blocks of blocks 902-908 may be performed by one or more other devices . For example, blocks 902 and 904 may be performed by one or more of playback device 804 , playback device 806 , and playback device 808 . In other words, coordinating devices other than computing device 802 may coordinate to calibrate playback device 804 for playback area 810 .

In some cases, at block 906, the coordinating device may send the second audio signal to the computing device 802 so that the computing device 802 may determine an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal and the acoustic characteristics of the playback device. The acoustic properties of the playback device may be provided to computing device 802 by the coordinating device, or provided from another device that stores the properties of the playback device. In one case, computing device 802 may perform the calculations of block 906 because computing device 802 has more processing power than the coordinating device.

In one example, when an audio processing algorithm is determined, computing device 802 may send the determined audio processing algorithm directly to playback device 804 for playback device 804 to apply when playing audio content in playback area 810 . In another example, when the audio processing algorithm is determined, the computing device 802 may send the determined audio processing algorithm to the coordinating device, and the coordinating device may perform block 908 and send the determined processing algorithm to the playback device 804 ( if the coordinating device is not the playback device 804). Other examples are also possible.

b. Second Example Method for Determining Audio Processing Algorithms Based on Detected Audio Signals

In some cases, as described above, calibration of playback devices in the playback area may be coordinated and performed by a computing device (eg, a server) or a controller device. In other cases, as also described above, the calibration of the playback device may be coordinated and/or performed by the playback device being calibrated.

FIG. 10 shows an example flow diagram of a method 1000 for determining an audio processing algorithm based on one or more playback region characteristics, as performed by a playback device being calibrated. The method 1000 shown in FIG. 10 is representative of a method that can be used in a system including, for example, the media playback system 100 of FIG. 1 , one or more playback devices 200 of FIG. 2 , one or more control devices 300 of FIG. Implementation of the method implemented in the working environment. As shown, method 800 may be performed by a playback device to be calibrated for a playback region. In some cases, some functions of method 1000 may alternatively be performed by one or more other computing devices, such as one or more servers, one or more other playback devices, and/or one or more controllers device to perform.

Method 1000 may include one or more operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks 1002-1008. Although the blocks are shown in a sequential order, the blocks may also be performed in parallel and/or in a different order than that described herein. Additionally, various blocks may be combined into fewer blocks, split into additional blocks, and/or removed based on the desired implementation.

As shown in FIG. 10, the method 1000 includes: at block 1002, playing a first audio signal while in the playback area; at block 1004, detecting a second audio signal by a microphone; at block 1006, based on the second audio signal and acoustic characteristics of the playback device to determine an audio processing algorithm; and at block 1008, apply the determined audio processing algorithm to audio data corresponding to the media item when the media item is played.

At block 1002, the method 1000 includes playing the first audio signal while in the playback area. Referring to FIG. 8 , the playback device performing the method 1000 may be the playback device 804 , and the playback device 804 is in the playback area 810 . In one example, block 1002 may be similar to block 902 , but performed by the playback device 804 being calibrated instead of the computing device 802 . However, any discussion above with respect to block 902 also applies to block 1002, with some variations sometimes being made.

At block 1004, method 1000 includes detecting, by a microphone, a second audio signal. The second audio signal may include a portion corresponding to the first audio signal played by the playback device. In one example, block 1004 may be similar to block 904 , but performed by the playback device 804 being calibrated instead of the computing device 802 . However, any discussion above with respect to block 904 also applies to block 1004, with some variations sometimes being made.

At block 1006, the method 1000 includes determining an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal and the acoustic characteristics of the playback device. In one example, block 1006 may be similar to block 906, but performed by the playback device 804 being calibrated instead of the computing device 802. However, any discussion above regarding block 906 also applies to block 1006, with some variations sometimes being made.

In one case, as discussed with respect to block 906 , the functions for determining the audio processing algorithm may be performed entirely by the playback device 804 being calibrated for the playback area 810 . Accordingly, playback device 804 may determine the acoustic properties of playback area 610 based on the second audio signal and the acoustic properties of playback device 804 . In one case, the playback device 804 may have stored the acoustic characteristics of the playback device 804 locally. In another instance, playback device 804 may receive the acoustic characteristics of playback device 804 from another device.

In one example, playback device 804 may then select an audio processing algorithm from a plurality of audio processing algorithms that corresponds to the acoustic characteristics of playback region 610 . For example, playback device 804 may access a database (eg, databases 600 and 650 shown in and described in connection with FIGS. 6A and 6B above, respectively) and identify in the database the acoustics associated with playback area 610 The audio processing algorithm corresponding to the acoustic characteristics with basically similar characteristics.

In another example, similar to the functionality described above with respect to block 906 of method 900 and/or block 508 of method 500, playback device 804 may calculate an audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics and predetermined audio characteristics of playback area 610 such that : when the playback device 804 plays the first audio signal in the playback area 810, the playback device 804 applying the determined audio processing algorithm may generate a first audio signal having audio characteristics substantially the same as or at least exhibiting the predetermined audio characteristics to some extent Three audio signals.

In yet another example, another device other than playback device 804 may perform some or all of the functions of block 1006, as discussed in the previous section. For example, playback device 804 may send data indicative of the detected second audio signal to a computing device (eg, computing device 802), another playback device (eg, playback device 806), a controller device (eg, controller device) 808) and/or some other device in communication with playback device 804 and request an audio processing algorithm. In another example, the playback device 804 may determine the acoustic characteristics of the playback area 810 based on the detected audio signal, and based on the determined acoustic characteristics of the playback area 810 will indicate the determined playback area if an audio processing algorithm is requested Data of the acoustic properties of the area 810 is sent to other devices.

In other words, in one aspect, playback device 804 may determine an audio processing algorithm by requesting an audio processing algorithm from another device based on a detected second audio signal and/or acoustic properties of playback area 810 provided by playback device 804 to the other device.

In the event that playback device 804 provides data indicative of the detected second audio signal but not data of the acoustic characteristics of playback area 810, playback device 804 may also combine the acoustic characteristics of playback device 804 along with the data indicative of the detected second audio The data of the signal is sent together so that another device can determine the acoustic properties of the playback area 810 . In another case, the device receiving the data indicative of the detected second audio signal may determine a model of the playback device 804 that sent the data based on the data, and based on the model of the playback device 804 (ie, the playback device acoustic characteristics database) to determine the acoustic properties of the playback device 804. Other examples are also possible.

The playback device 804 may then receive the determined audio processing algorithm. In one instance, playback device 804 may send the second audio signal to another device because the other device has more processing power than playback device 804 . In another case, playback device 804 and one or more other devices may perform computations and functions in parallel to efficiently utilize processing power. Other examples are also possible.

At block 1008, the method 800 includes applying the determined audio processing algorithm to audio data corresponding to the media item when the media item is played. In one example, when the playback device 804 plays the media item in the playback area 810, applying an audio processing algorithm to the audio data of the media item may modify the frequency equalization of the media item. In another example, when the playback device 804 plays the media item in the playback area 810, applying an audio processing algorithm to the audio data of the media item may modify the volume range of the media item. In one example, playback device 804 may store the determined audio processing algorithm in local storage and apply the audio processing algorithm when audio content is played in playback area 810 .

In one example, playback device 804 may be calibrated for different configurations of playback device 804 . For example, playback device 804 may be calibrated for a first configuration that includes playback alone in playback area 810 and a second configuration that includes playback in playback area 810 that is synchronized with playback device 806 . In this case, a first audio processing algorithm is determined, stored and applied to a first playback configuration of the playback device, and a second audio processing algorithm is determined, stored and applied to a second playback configuration of the playback device.

Playback device 804 may then determine which audio processing algorithm to apply when playing audio content in playback area 810 based on the playback configuration of playback device 804 at a given time. For example, if playback device 804 plays audio content in playback area 810 without playback device 806, playback device 804 may apply the first audio processing algorithm. On the other hand, if playback device 804 is playing audio content in playback area 810 in synchronization with playback device 806, playback device 804 may apply the second audio processing algorithm. Other examples are also possible.

c. Example methods for determining audio processing algorithms based on playback region characteristics

In the discussion above, the determination of the audio processing algorithm may generally be based on the determination of the acoustic properties of the playback region, such as based on audio signals detected by playback devices in the playback region. In some cases, audio processing algorithms may also be identified based on other characteristics of the playback area, in addition to or instead of the acoustic characteristics of the playback area.

11 illustrates an example flow diagram for providing audio processing algorithms from a database of audio processing algorithms based on one or more characteristics of the playback region. The method 1100 shown in FIG. 11 is representative of a method that can be used in a system including, for example, the media playback system 100 of FIG. 1 , one or more playback devices 200 of FIG. 2 , one or more control devices 300 of FIG. Implementation of the method implemented in the working environment. In one example, method 1100 may be performed by one or more playback devices, one or more controller devices, one or more servers, or one or more of the playback devices in communication with the playback device to be calibrated for the playback region The computing devices execute individually or collectively.

Method 1100 may include one or more operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by one or more of blocks 1102-1108. Although the blocks are shown in a sequential order, the blocks may also be performed in parallel and/or in a different order than that described herein. Additionally, various blocks may be combined into fewer blocks, split into additional blocks, and/or removed based on the desired implementation.

As shown in FIG. 11, the method 1100 includes: at block 1102, maintaining a database of (i) a plurality of audio processing algorithms and (ii) a plurality of playback region characteristics; at block 1104, receiving one or more indications of playback regions At block 1106, an audio processing algorithm is identified in a database based on the data; and at block 1108, data indicative of the identified audio processing algorithm is transmitted.

At block 1102, the method 1100 includes maintaining a database of (i) a plurality of audio processing algorithms and (ii) a plurality of playback region characteristics. In one example, the database may be similar to the databases 600 and 650 above, shown in and described in connection with Figures 6A and 6B, respectively. Thus, each audio processing algorithm of the plurality of audio processing algorithms may correspond to one or more playback area characteristics of the plurality of playback area characteristics. The database may be maintained as described above with respect to method 500 of FIG. 5 and 700 of FIG. 7, respectively. As mentioned above, the database may or may not be stored locally on the device that maintains the database.

At block 1104, the method 1100 includes receiving data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area. In one example, the one or more characteristics of the playback area may include acoustic characteristics of the playback area. In another example, the one or more characteristics of the playback area may include the size of the playback area, the flooring material of the playback area, the wall material of the playback area, the intended use of the playback area, the amount of furniture in the playback area, The size of the furniture in the playback area and the type of furniture in the playback area, etc.

In one example, referring again to FIG. 8 , playback device 804 may be calibrated for playback region 810 . As described above, method 1100 may be performed individually or collectively by playback device 804 , playback device 806 , controller device 808 , computing device 802 , or another device in communication with playback device 804 that is being calibrated.

In one instance, the one or more properties may include acoustic properties of playback area 810 . In this case, the playback device 804 in the playback area 810 may play the first audio signal, and the second audio signal including the portion corresponding to the first audio signal is detected by the microphone of the playback device 804 . In one example, the data indicative of the one or more characteristics may be data indicative of the detected second audio signal. In another example, based on the detected second audio signal and the acoustic properties of the playback device 804, the acoustic properties of the playback area 810 may be determined, similar to that discussed previously. The data indicative of one or more characteristics may then be indicative of acoustic characteristics of the playback area. In either case, data indicative of the one or more characteristics may then be received by at least one of the one or more devices performing the method 1100 .

In another instance, the one or more characteristics may include the size of the playback area, the flooring material of the playback area, the wall material of the playback area, and the like. In this case, the user may be prompted for input or selection of one or more characteristics of playback area 810 via a controller interface provided by a controller device (eg, controller device 808). For example, the controller interface may provide a list of playback area sizes from which the user has selected and/or a list of furniture arrangements, and the like. Data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area 810 as provided by the user may then be received by at least one of the one or more devices performing the method 1100 .

At block 1106, the method 1100 includes identifying an audio processing algorithm in a database based on the data. An audio processing algorithm may be identified in the database based on the acoustic characteristics of the playback area 810 with reference to the fact that the one or more characteristics include the acoustic characteristics of the playback area 810 . For example, with reference to the database 600 of FIG. 6A, if the received data indicates that the acoustic characteristics of the playback area 810 are h _room ^-1 (t)-3 or substantially the same as h _room ^-1 (t)-3, it can be identified that Audio processing algorithm for database entry 606 with coefficients _w3 , _x3 , _y3 , and _z3 . Where the data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area includes only data indicative of the detected second audio signal, the acoustic characteristics of the playback area may be further determined as previously described prior to identifying the audio processing algorithm. Other examples are also possible.

The audio processing algorithm may be identified in the database based on the size of the playback area with reference to one or more characteristics including other characteristics such as the size of the playback area. For example, referring to database 650 of Figure 6B, if the received data indicates that playback area ₈₁₀ is of size _a4xb4xc4 , or _{substantially} the same as _a4xb4xc4 , the _coefficient can be identified as w Audio processing algorithm for database entry 658 of ₄ , _x4 , y4 and _{z4 .} Other examples are also possible.

In some cases, more than one audio processing algorithm may be identified based on one or more characteristics of the playback region indicated in the received data. For example, the acoustic characteristics of the playback area 810 may be determined as h _room ^-1 (t)-3, which corresponds to the audio processing algorithm parameters w ₃ , x ₃ , y ₃ and z provided in entry 656 of the database 650 of FIG. 6 ₃ , and the size of the user-provided playback area 810 may be a ₄ ×b ₄ ×c ₄ , which corresponds to the audio processing algorithm parameters w ₄ , x ₄ , y ₄ , and z ₄ as provided in item 658 .

In one example, audio processing algorithms corresponding to matching or substantially matching acoustic characteristics may be prioritized. In another example, the average of the audio processing algorithms (ie, the average of the parameters) may be calculated, and the average audio processing algorithm may be the identified audio processing algorithm. Other examples are also possible.

At block 1108, the method 1100 includes sending data indicative of the identified audio processing algorithm. Continuing with the above example, data indicative of the identified audio processing algorithm may be sent to the playback device 804 being calibrated for the playback area 810 . In one case, data indicative of the identified audio processing algorithm may be sent directly to playback device 804 . In another case, for example, if the calibration of the playback device 804 is coordinated by the controller device 808 , and if the audio processing algorithm is identified by the computing device 802 , data indicative of the identified audio processing algorithm may be retrieved from the controller device 808 via the controller device 808 . Computing device 802 sends to playback device 804 . Other examples are also possible.

As described above, the functions of method 1100 may be performed by one or more of: one or more servers, one or more playback devices, and/or one or more controller devices. In one example, maintaining the database at block 1102 may be performed by computing device 802, and receiving data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area at block 1104 may be performed by controller device 808 (the data may be passed through the playback area) The calibrated playback device 804 in 810 is provided to the controller device 808). Block 1106 may be performed by controller device 808 in communication with computing device 802 to access a database maintained by computing device 802 to identify audio signal processing, and block 1108 may include computing device 802 directly sending data indicative of the identified audio processing algorithm to playback device 804 or via controller device 808 to playback device 804 .

In another example, the functions of method 1100 may be performed entirely or substantially entirely by one device. For example, as discussed with respect to block 1102, computing device 802 may maintain a database.

Computing device 802 may then coordinate the calibration of playback device 804 . For example, computing device 802 may cause playback device 804 to play a first audio signal and detect a second audio signal, receive data from playback device 804 indicative of the detected second audio signal, and determine a playback area based on the data from playback device 804 810's acoustic properties. In another instance, computing device 802 may cause controller device 808 to prompt the user to provide one or more characteristics of playback area 810 (ie, dimensions, etc., as described above) and receive characteristics indicative of the user-provided playback area 810 The data.

The computing device may then identify an audio processing algorithm based on the received data at block 1106 and send data indicative of the identified audio processing algorithm to the playback device 804 at block 1108 . Computing device 802 may also send a command to playback device 804 to apply the identified audio processing algorithm when playing audio content in playback area 810 . Other examples are also possible.

IV. Summary

The above description discloses, among other things, various example systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture including components such as firmware and/or software executed on hardware. It should be understood that these examples are illustrative only and should not be considered limiting. For example, it is contemplated that any or all of these firmware, hardware and/or software aspects or components may be implemented exclusively in hardware, exclusively in software, exclusively in firmware, or exclusively in hardware, software and/or firmware implemented in any combination. Accordingly, the examples provided are not the only way to implement such systems, methods, apparatus and/or articles of manufacture.

Additionally, reference herein to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one example embodiment of the present invention. The appearances of the phrase in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Therefore, those skilled in the art should understand, both explicitly and implicitly, that the embodiments described herein may be combined with other embodiments.

The following examples illustrate further or alternative aspects of the present disclosure. A device in any of the following examples may be a component of any device described herein or any configuration of a device described herein.

(Feature 1) A computing device, comprising:

processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform functions including:

causing the playback device to play the first audio signal in the playback area;

receiving, from the playback device, data indicative of a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device, the second audio signal including a portion corresponding to the first audio signal;

determining an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal and acoustic characteristics of the playback device; and

Data indicative of the determined audio processing algorithm is sent to the playback device.

(Feature 2) The computing device of any one of the preceding features, wherein the playback device applies the determined audio processing algorithm when the playback device plays the first audio signal in the playback region A third audio signal is generated having an audio characteristic substantially the same as the predetermined audio characteristic.

(Feature 3) The computing device according to any one of the preceding features, wherein determining the audio processing algorithm further comprises:

determining acoustic characteristics of the playback region based on the second audio signal and acoustic characteristics of the playback device; and

An audio processing algorithm corresponding to the determined acoustic characteristics of the playback region is selected from a plurality of audio processing algorithms.

(Feature 4) The computing device according to any one of the preceding features, wherein determining the audio processing algorithm further comprises:

determining acoustic characteristics of the playback region based on the second audio signal and acoustic characteristics of the playback device; and

The audio processing algorithm is calculated based on the acoustic characteristics of the playback area and the predetermined audio characteristics.

(Feature 5) The computing device according to any one of the preceding features, wherein determining an audio processing algorithm comprises:

One or more parameters of the audio processing algorithm are determined.

(Feature 6) The computing device according to any one of the preceding features, wherein the function further includes:

Make the reference playback device play the measurement signal in the anechoic chamber;

Data indicative of an audio signal detected by a microphone of the reference playback device is received from the reference playback device, wherein the detected audio signal includes a measurement signal corresponding to the measurement signal played in the anechoic chamber part of; and

An acoustic characteristic of the playback device is determined based on the comparison between the detected audio signal and the measurement signal.

(Feature 7) A computing device, comprising:

processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform functions including:

causing the first playback device to play the first audio signal in the playback area;

causing a second playback device to play a second audio signal in the playback area;

Receive data from the first playback device indicative of a third audio signal detected by a microphone of the first playback device, the third audio signal comprising: (i) a portion corresponding to the first audio signal , and (ii) a portion corresponding to the second audio signal played by the second playback device;

determining an audio processing algorithm based on the third audio signal and the acoustic characteristics of the first playback device; and

Data indicative of the determined audio processing algorithm is sent to the first playback device.

(Feature 8) The computing device according to feature 7, wherein when the first playback device plays the first audio signal in the playback area, the first playback device applies the determined audio processing algorithm A fourth audio signal is generated having an audio characteristic substantially the same as the predetermined audio characteristic.

(Feature 9) The computing device according to any one of features 7 to 8, wherein determining the audio processing algorithm further comprises:

determining acoustic characteristics of the playback region based on the third audio signal and acoustic characteristics of the first playback device; and

An audio processing algorithm corresponding to the acoustic characteristics of the playback area is selected from a plurality of audio processing algorithms.

(Feature 10) The computing device of any one of features 7 to 9, wherein causing the second playback device to play the second audio signal comprises causing the second playback device to communicate with the first playback device to the first playback device. Playback of an audio signal plays the second audio signal synchronously.

(Feature 11) The computing device according to any one of features 7 to 10, wherein causing the second playback device to play the second audio signal comprises causing the second playback device to respond to the first playback device to the first playback device The second audio signal is played after the playback of an audio signal is completed.

(Feature 12) The computing device according to any one of features 7 to 11, wherein the first audio signal is orthogonal to the second audio signal.

(Feature 13) The computing device of any one of features 7 to 12, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device are in a zone group of playback devices configured to play audio content synchronously .

(Feature 14) A playback device comprising:

processor;

microphone; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the playback device to perform functions including:

when in the playback area, playing the first audio signal;

detecting a second audio signal by the microphone, the second audio signal including a portion corresponding to the first audio signal;

determining an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal and acoustic characteristics of the playback device; and

The determined audio processing algorithm is applied to audio data corresponding to the media item when the media item is played in the playback area.

(Feature 15) The computing device of feature 14, wherein when the first audio signal is played in the playback area, applying the determined audio processing algorithm produces a first audio signal having an audio characteristic substantially the same as a predetermined audio characteristic Three audio signals.

(Feature 16) The computing device according to any one of features 14 to 15, wherein determining the audio processing algorithm further comprises:

determining one or more characteristics of the playback area based on the second audio signal and acoustic characteristics of the playback device; and

An audio processing algorithm corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the playback region is selected from a plurality of audio processing algorithms.

(Feature 17) The computing device according to any one of features 14 to 16, wherein determining the audio processing algorithm comprises:

sending a transmission to a computing device indicating (i) the second audio signal and (ii) characteristics of the playback device; and

Data indicative of the audio processing algorithm is received from the computing device.

(Feature 18) The computing device of any one of features 14 to 17, wherein the function further comprises storing the determined audio processing algorithm in the memory.

(Feature 19) The computing device of any one of features 14 to 18, wherein applying the audio processing algorithm to the audio data comprises modifying frequency equalization of the media item.

(Feature 20) The computing device of any one of features 14 to 19, wherein applying the audio processing algorithm to the audio data comprises modifying a volume range of the media item.

(Feature 21) A computing device, comprising:

processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform functions including:

causing the playback device to play the first audio signal in the playback area;

receiving data indicative of a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device, wherein the second audio signal includes a portion corresponding to the first audio signal played by the playback device;

determining acoustic characteristics of the playback area based on the second audio signal and characteristics of the playback device;

determining an audio processing algorithm based on acoustic characteristics of the playback region; and

The association between the audio processing algorithm and the acoustic properties of the playback region is stored in a database.

(Feature 22) The computing device of any preceding feature, wherein the playback device applies the determined audio processing algorithm when the playback device plays the first audio signal in the playback region A third audio signal is generated having an audio characteristic substantially the same as the predetermined audio characteristic.

(Feature 23) The computing device of any one of the preceding features, wherein the playback device is a first playback device, the playback region is a first playback region, and the audio processing algorithm is a first audio processing algorithm , and wherein the function further includes:

causing the second playback device to play the fourth audio signal in the second playback area;

receiving data indicative of a fifth audio signal detected by a microphone of the second playback device, wherein the fifth audio signal includes a portion corresponding to the fourth audio signal played by the second playback device ;

determining acoustic characteristics of the second playback area based on the fifth audio signal and characteristics of the second playback device;

determining a second audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics of the second playback region; and

The association between the second audio processing algorithm and the acoustic properties of the second playback region is caused to be stored in the database.

(Feature 24) The computing device according to feature 3, wherein when the first playback device plays the first audio signal in the first playback area, the first playback device applies the determined first audio signal. An audio processing algorithm generates a third audio signal having substantially the same audio characteristics as the predetermined audio characteristics, and wherein when the second playback device plays the fourth audio signal in the second playback area, the The second playback device applies the determined second audio processing algorithm to generate a sixth audio signal having an audio characteristic substantially the same as the predetermined audio characteristic.

(Feature 25) The computing device according to feature 3, wherein the function further includes:

determining that the acoustic characteristics of the second playback area are substantially the same as the acoustic characteristics of the first playback area;

responsively, determining a third audio processing algorithm based on the first audio processing algorithm and the second audio processing algorithm; and

causing the association between the third audio processing algorithm and the acoustic properties of the first playback region to be stored in the database.

(Feature 26) The computing device according to any one of Features 21 to 25, wherein determining the audio processing algorithm comprises:

One or more parameters of the audio processing algorithm are determined.

(Feature 27) The computing device according to any one of features 21 to 26, wherein the function further includes:

receiving data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area; and

An association between the one or more characteristics of the playback region and the second audio processing algorithm is stored in the database.

(Feature 28) The computing device of feature 27, wherein the one or more characteristics of the playback area include one or more of: (a) a size of the playback area, (b) ) the audio reflection characteristics of the playback area, (c) the intended use of the playback area, (d) the number of furniture in the playback area, (e) the size of the furniture in the playback area, and (f) ) the type of furniture in the playback area.

(Feature 29) A computing device, comprising:

processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform functions including:

causing the playback device to play the first audio signal in the playback area;

receiving (i) data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area and (ii) data indicative of a second audio signal detected by a microphone of the playback device, wherein the second audio signal includes a a portion corresponding to the audio signal played by the playback device;

determining an audio processing algorithm based on characteristics of the second audio signal and the playback device; and

An association between the determined audio processing algorithm and at least one of the one or more characteristics of the playback region is caused to be stored in a database.

(Feature 30) The computing device according to feature 29, wherein determining the audio processing algorithm further comprises:

determining acoustic characteristics of the playback area based on the second audio signal and characteristics of the playback device; and

An audio processing algorithm is determined based on the acoustic characteristics of the playback area, such that when the playback device plays the second audio signal in the playback area, the playback device applies the determined audio processing algorithm to generate the audio characteristics A third audio signal having substantially the same predetermined audio characteristics.

(Feature 31) The computing device according to any one of features 29 to 30, wherein the playback device is a first playback device, the playback area is a first playback area, and the audio processing algorithm is a first audio processing algorithms, and wherein the functions further include:

causing the second playback device to play the third audio signal in the second playback area;

receiving (i) data indicative of one or more characteristics of the second playback area and (ii) data indicative of a fourth audio signal detected by a microphone of a second playback device in the second playback area, wherein the fourth audio signal includes a portion corresponding to the third audio signal played by the playback device;

determining an audio processing algorithm based on characteristics of the fourth audio signal and the second playback device; and

An association between the second audio processing algorithm and at least one of the one or more characteristics of the second playback region is caused to be stored in the database.

(Feature 32) The computing device according to feature 29, wherein determining the second audio processing algorithm further comprises:

determining acoustic characteristics of the playback area based on the fourth audio signal and characteristics of the playback device; and

An audio processing algorithm is determined based on the acoustic properties of the playback region such that, when the second playback device plays the third audio signal in the playback region, the second playback device applies the determined audio processing The algorithm generates a fifth audio signal having substantially the same audio characteristics as said predetermined audio characteristics.

(Feature 33) The computing device according to feature 32, wherein the function further comprises:

determining that the acoustic characteristics of the second playback area are substantially the same as the acoustic characteristics of the first playback area;

responsively, determining a third audio processing algorithm based on the first audio processing algorithm and the second audio processing algorithm; and

causing an association between the third audio processing algorithm and at least one of the one or more characteristics of the first playback region to be stored in the database.

(Feature 34) The computing device of any one of features 29 to 33, wherein the one or more characteristics of the playback area include one or more of: (a) the playback the size of the area, (b) the audio reflection characteristics of the playback area, (c) the intended use of the playback area, (d) the number of furniture in the playback area, (e) the furniture in the playback area size, (f) the type of furniture in the playback area, and (g) the acoustic properties of the playback area.

(Feature 35) A computing device comprising:

processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the playback device to perform functions including:

maintaining a database of (i) a plurality of audio processing algorithms and (ii) a plurality of playback area characteristics, wherein each audio processing algorithm of the plurality of audio processing algorithms is played back with at least one of the plurality of playback area characteristics Corresponding to regional characteristics;

receive data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area;

identifying an audio processing algorithm in a database based on the data; and

Send data indicating the identified audio processing algorithm.

(Feature 36) The computing device of feature 35, wherein the data further indicates an audio signal detected by a microphone of a playback device in the playback area.

(Feature 37) The computing device of feature 36, wherein identifying the audio processing algorithm in the database further comprises:

determining acoustic characteristics of the playback area based on the detected audio signal and characteristics of the playback device; and

An audio processing algorithm is identified in the database based on the determined acoustic properties of the playback region.

(Feature 38) The computing device of feature 35, wherein the plurality of playback area characteristics include one or more of: (a) a size of the playback area, (b) a size of the playback area Audio reflection characteristics, (c) intended use of said playback area, (d) number of furniture in said playback area, (e) size of furniture in said playback area, (f) The type of furniture, and (g) the acoustic properties of the playback area.

(Feature 39) The computing device of feature 35, wherein the data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area is received from a controller device.

(Feature 40) The computing device of feature 35, wherein the data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback region is received from a playback device in the playback region.

This specification is presented primarily in terms of exemplary environments, systems, processes, steps, logical blocks, processes, and other symbolic representations that directly or indirectly resemble the operation of a data processing device coupled to a network. These process descriptions and representations are commonly used by those skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without the specific, specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is to be defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description of the embodiments.

When any of the appended claims is understood to cover a pure software and/or firmware implementation, at least one element in at least one example is expressly defined herein to include a tangible non-transitory storage software and/or firmware Media such as memory, DVD, CD, Blu-ray, etc.

Claims (14)

1. A method of calibrating a playback device (200, 804, 806) using a computing device (802, 808), the method comprising: causing (502, 902) the playback device (200, 804, 806) located in the playback area (810) to play the first audio signal f(t); Data indicative of the second audio signal s(t) detected by the microphone (220) is received (504, 904) by the computing device such that:

where hr( _t ) is the acoustic response of the playback device located in the playback region; and determining (508, 906) an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal s(t); It is characterized by: the microphone (220) in the playback device; and The method also includes removing a predetermined acoustic characteristic h _p (t) of the playback device from an acoustic response of the playback region using the relationship h _room( t)=hr ( _t ) - h _p (t) determining (506) an acoustic characteristic h _room (t) of the playback area independent of the playback device; wherein the determining audio processing algorithm is based on acoustic characteristics h _room (t) of the playback area and a predetermined audio signal; and The method also includes sending (908), by the computing device, data indicative of the determined audio processing algorithm to the playback device (200). 2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the playback device (200, 804, 806) plays the first audio signal in the playback area, the playback device (200, 804, 806) ) applies the determined audio processing algorithm to generate a third audio signal with predetermined audio frequency equalization. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein determining the audio processing algorithm further comprises: causing (510) an association between the audio processing algorithm and the acoustic characteristic h _room (t) of the playback region to be stored in a database. 4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein determining an audio processing algorithm based on the determined acoustic characteristic h _room (t) of the playback area comprises one of the following: selecting from a plurality of audio processing algorithms an audio processing algorithm corresponding to the determined acoustic characteristic h _room (t) of the playback region; and The audio processing algorithm is calculated based on the acoustic characteristic h _room (t) of the playback area and a predetermined audio frequency equalization. 5. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: Make the reference playback device play the measurement signal x(t) in the anechoic chamber; Data indicative of an audio signal y(t) detected by a microphone in the reference playback device is received from the reference playback device, wherein the detected audio signal includes the corresponding part of the measurement signal, so that

as well as A predetermined acoustic characteristic h _p (t) of the playback device is determined based on a comparison between the detected audio signal y(t) and the measurement signal x(t). 6. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the playback device is a first playback device, the method further comprising: causing a second playback device to play a fourth audio signal in the playback region in one of the following ways before receiving data indicative of the second audio signal: playing the fourth audio signal in synchronization with the playback of the first audio signal by the first playback device (200, 804, 806); and playing the fourth audio signal after the playback of the first audio signal by the first playback device (200, 804, 806) is completed, Wherein, the second audio signal further includes a portion corresponding to the fourth audio signal played by the second playback device. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein: causing the second playback device to play the fourth audio signal in the playback region comprises causing the second playback device to play an audio signal that is orthogonal to the first audio signal; and/or The first playback device (200, 804, 806) and the second playback device are in a zone group of playback devices (200, 804, 806) configured to play audio content synchronously. 8. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein determining the audio processing algorithm further comprises: receiving (704) data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area; and storing (708) an association between the one or more characteristics of the playback region and the audio processing algorithm in a database, wherein the one or more properties of the playback region received include one or more of: (a) a size of the playback region, (b) audio reflection properties of the playback region, (c) the intended use of the playback area, (d) the number of furniture in the playback area, (e) the size of the furniture in the playback area, and (f) the type of furniture in the playback area . 9. The method of claim 8, wherein data indicative of one or more characteristics of the playback area is received by the computing device from one of a controller device and a playback device in the playback area . 10. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the playback device is a first playback device, wherein the playback area is a first playback area, and wherein the audio processing algorithm is a first audio processing algorithm , and wherein the computing device is further configured to: causing the second playback device to play the fourth audio signal in the second playback area; Data indicative of a fifth audio signal detected by a microphone in the second playback device is received by the computing device, wherein the fifth audio signal includes a The corresponding part of the audio signal; determining an acoustic characteristic of the second playback region based on the fifth audio signal and predetermined acoustic characteristics of the second playback device; determining a second audio processing algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics of the second playback region; and The association between the second audio processing algorithm and the acoustic properties of the second playback region is stored in a database. 11. The method of claim 10, further configured to: determining that the acoustic characteristics of the second playback area are the same as the acoustic characteristics of the first playback area; responsively, determining a third audio processing algorithm based on the first audio processing algorithm and the second audio processing algorithm; and causing the association between the third audio processing algorithm and the acoustic properties of the first playback region to be stored in the database. 12. A system for calibrating a playback device (200), comprising: the playback device (200) including a built-in microphone (220), a speaker (212) and a network interface (214); and A controller (300) comprising a network interface (306) and a processor configured to perform the method of any of claims 1-11. 13. A playback device (200, 804, 806) configured to be located in a playback area, comprising: speaker(212); a microphone (220); and A processor (202) configured to calibrate the playback device by: play the first audio signal f(t); The second audio signal s(t) is detected by the microphone (220) such that:

where hr( _t ) is the acoustic response of the playback device located in the playback region; determining an audio processing algorithm based on the second audio signal s(t); and applying the determined audio processing algorithm to audio data corresponding to the media item when the playback device plays the media item in the playback area, It is characterized by: the microphone (220) is built into the playback device; and The processor is configured to: Determine ( 506 ) the difference from the playback device's predetermined acoustic characteristic h _p (t) from the playback region's acoustic response using the relationship h _room (t) = h _r (t) - h _p (t). the acoustic properties of the playback area h _room (t) independent of the playback device; and The determining audio processing algorithm is based on the acoustic characteristics h _room (t) of the playback area and a predetermined audio signal. 14. The playback device of claim 13, wherein determining an audio processing algorithm further comprises: An audio processing algorithm corresponding to the determined acoustic characteristic h _room (t) of the playback area is selected from a plurality of audio processing algorithms.

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