Sonos, Inc.

Chris Davies

Klaus Hartung

Simon Jarvis

Tim Sheen

Paul MacLean

Hilmar Lehnert

Roberto Maria Dizon

Richard Jackson

Romi Kadri

Multichannel audio playback devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some examples, a first playback device is configured to receive a source stream of audio content comprising left, right and center input channels. In a first mode, the first playback device is configured to play back audio via a plurality of transducers based on the left, right, and center input channels. In a second mode, in which the first playback device is bonded to second and third playback devices, the first playback device is configured to (i) play back audio via the plurality of transducers based on at least the center input channel, (ii) cause audio to be played via the second playback device based on at least the right input channel, and (iii) cause audio to be played via the third playback device based on at least the left input channel.

Multichannel playback devices and associated systems and methods

An example computing device is configured to perform functions including receiving calibration data corresponding respectively to a plurality of playback devices, where each playback device in the plurality of playback devices is located in a respective playback environment other than a first playback environment. The functions also include receiving playback device characteristic data respectively indicating at least one playback device characteristic for each playback device of the plurality of playback devices. The functions also include, based on at least the calibration data and the playback device characteristic data, determining updated playback device configuration information and transmitting data indicating the updated playback device configuration information to a given playback device located in the first environment.

Updating playback device configuration information based on calibration data

Systems and methods for providing augmented arrays for audio playback are disclosed. An example playback device includes a first transducer configured to output audio along a first acoustic axis and a second transducer configured to output audio along a second acoustic axis. The playback device is configured to receive a source stream of audio content including at least a first input channel and a second input channel. The device plays back first audio output via the first transducer based on the first input channel and directed along the first acoustic axis, and plays back second audio output via the second transducer based on the second input channel and directed along the second acoustic axis, wherein the second audio output at least partially cancels the first audio output along a first spatial region offset from the first acoustic axis.

Array augmentation for audio playback devices

Systems and methods of distributing and playing back low-frequency audio content

A computing device may maintain a database of representative spectral characteristics. The computing device may also receive particular spectral data associated with a particular playback environment corresponding to the particular playback device. Based on the particular spectral data, the computing device may identify one of the representative spectral characteristics from the database that substantially matches the particular spectral data, and then identify, in the database, an audio processing algorithm based on a) the identified representative spectral characteristic and b) at least one characteristic of the particular playback device. The computing device may then transmit, to the particular playback device, data indicating the identified audio processing algorithm.

Playback device calibration based on representative spectral characteristics

An example computing device is configured to perform functions including receiving a plurality of spectral data associated with a respective plurality of playback environments corresponding to a respective plurality of playback devices. The functions also include, based on the plurality of spectral data, determining a plurality of representative spectral characteristics. The functions also include receiving particular spectral data associated with a particular playback environment corresponding to a particular playback device and identifying a given one of the representative spectral characteristics that is representative of the particular spectral data. The functions also include, based on the given one of the representative spectral characteristics, identifying calibration data for use by the particular playback device when playing back audio and transmitting, to the particular playback device, the calibration data.

A computing device may transmit playback device configuration information to a given playback device. The computing device may then receive calibration data corresponding to each playback device of a plurality of playback devices, and receive playback device characteristic data indicating at least one playback device characteristic for each playback device of the plurality of playback devices. Based on at least the received calibration data and the received playback device characteristic data, the computing device may determine updated playback device configuration information and transmit data indicating the updated playback device configuration information to the given playback device.

Method and apparatus for spatial mapping of two or more audio playback devices in a listening environment. Two or more playback devices may signal each other. Based on the signaling, a position of the two or more playback devices relative to each other is determined and a device map of the two or more playback devices in the listening environment is generated based on this position.

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Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Chris Davies