US 20100172512A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2010/0172512 A1 Braithwaite et al. (43) Pub. Date: Jul. 8, 2010 (54) INTERNET PROTOCOL STREAMING AUDIO US2003/014603, filed on May 8, 2003, Continuation SYSTEM of application No. 10/513,737, filed on Nov. 4, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,643,894. (75) Inventors: Michael Braithwaite, Austin, TX Publication Classification (US); Herman Cardenas, Georgetown, TX (US) (51) Int. Cl. H04B 3/00 (2006.01) Correspondence Address: (52) U.S. Cl. .......................................................... 381/77 Matthew J. Booth & Associates, PLLC (57) ABSTRACT c/o CPA Global P.O. Box 52050, 900 Second Avenue South, Suite This disclosure describes an internet protocol streaming 1560 audio system 20. This system 20 includes a TCP/IP LAN Minneapolis, MN 55402 (US) network 200 that streams the digital audio signal and a plu rality of network speaker nodes 100 coupled to the TCP/IP (73) Assignee: CLEARONE LAN network 200. An individual network speaker node 100 COMMUNICATIONS, INC., includes a network controller 120 that controls the processing SALT LAKE CITY, UT (US) of the digital audio signal to and from the LAN network where the network controller 120 further includes an embed (21) Appl. No.: 12/727,925 ded controller with memory. In addition, the network speaker node 100 includes a network interface 110 that couples the network controller 120 to the LAN network 200. Further, the (22) Filed: Mar. 19, 2010 network speaker node 100 includes an audio format converter 121 that couples to the network controller 120 and converts Related U.S. Application Data and formats the digital audio signal. Additionally, the net (63) Continuation of application No. 1 1/467,340, filed on work speaker node 100 includes a pre-amplifier 123 and an Aug. 25, 2006, Continuation of application No. PCT/ amplifier 125. //ired of vicies.S - 20 Niety/ork Eagktoie i. 1. - Network Speaker fiti N 3. Audio Source Devices it is Network Network - 310 Speaker #2 N“Y ferrei s COffroi Sever 100 N. Network 2. i.egacy Speaker #3 N Sources legacy if R or Seria: Corniaicis O Legacy Cof verted 6CO Cortifier Legacy iforia Cofiti viety, Ork Patent Application Publication Jul. 8, 2010 Sheet 1 of 9 US 2010/01725.12 A1 2 //ired Of //ieie SS 1. f\left/Ork Backtofie -200 X Atidio Sotiroe fevi - 31 O la N internet Y- 4 OO 100 - Network Speaker #3 MXXXYYXX XXXYYXX XXXYYXXX XXXYYXXX XXXYYXXX XXXYYXXXXYX- egacy ir if Cr Serial i. Corraids Legacy a - Converter/ 6O. Controller C - Legacy first Citri Network F.C. i Patent Application Publication Jul. 8, 2010 Sheet 2 of 9 US 2010/01725.12 A1 - i(OA Speaker Sensors Network vy Backbone Microphone 1 Drive; Speaker/ M Microphone input/Output Speaker7 Microphone - 2 Components F. 2 Patent Application Publication Jul. 8, 2010 Sheet 3 of 9 US 2010/01725.12 A1 - if Of k— L E. Network interface Backbone Speaker/ Microphone Driver Speakery M Microphone input/Output Speaker7 Microphone 1 Components F.C. 3 Patent Application Publication Jul. 8, 2010 Sheet 4 of 9 US 2010/01725.12 A1 Speaker7 A. Microphone s fiver Speaker/ Microphone input/Output Speaker7 ty Microphone 1 f Components ... 4 Patent Application Publication Jul. 8, 2010 Sheet 5 of 9 US 2010/01725.12 A1 200 - - it 14 - Speaker a i re. Wired Audio Ex Network Network Format wired interface ontrole 3.x.y. onverter Network Backbone Network iriteriaCe M i a RF w RF i\iety/Ork MXXX XXXYYXXX XXX XXXYYX a’ Network Access interface oro if Renote Speaker7 - 1: Computers Microphone 1 or devices Pover Speaker/ Microphone s input/Output Speaker7 27 Microphone / Cornponents F.C. is Patent Application Publication Jul. 8, 2010 Sheet 6 of 9 US 2010/01725.12 A1 speaker Sensors Wired Network Backlore Niety/Ork interface i i 2 - f Access interface. from ComputersReficie RF sensory - or devices Receiver Renote(s)E. - 75 l input/OutputMicrophone Speakery y Microphone 1 f Components F. 124 N S. (Bafile Microphone) kn - 160 Patent Application Publication Jul. 8, 2010 Sheet 7 of 9 US 2010/01725.12 A1 009~^Sºoog Patent Application Publication Jul. 8, 2010 Sheet 8 of 9 US 2010/01725.12 A1 '70s IR from Remotes) Wired X Network Format Wired Converter. Network & YMX Back fore Feiyyork interface fir i in Network ACCeSS fiOf Remote Computers Paves. Speaker7 6 Microphone 1 12-14 Awe Speaker Wirey K. or PoE aSIPPY Sardari - 800 Optional RF - 135 Battery Transceiver Speaker/ 175 Microphone RF Firr, input/Output Remote(s)and other Network Speaker7 Speaker Microphone 1 127 Transceivers F. Patent Application Publication Jul. 8, 2010 Sheet 9 of 9 US 2010/01725.12 A1 RF for 175 - Remotes(s) and Other Network iR for i VO Speaker Transceiver Renote(s) MYXXXX XXXX XXX XXXYYXXYYXXYFar - OOG - R; IR sensor 1' 24 Transceiver 3 Speaker IR Receiver 1 '' Sensors Audio - s s Fofia fety/Ork interiace FRF a Network i i Access RF froir ki: Network - 125 Remote Computers or devices Speaker7 - i. 26 rrrrrrrrrr Microphone 12-14 Awe Speaker Pover //ie/ s Supply or PoE Standard r if RRRRRR speakery Microphone Speakery input/Output Microphone / 127 F. US 2010/01725 12 A1 Jul. 8, 2010 INTERNET PROTOCOL STREAMING AUDIO work bridging within range of the device. This can especially SYSTEM be a problem if the wireless device is a handheld mobile unit Such as a PDA, and due to a lack of access points, cannot CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED communicate from all rooms in the house. APPLICATIONS 0008. The current approach to controlling audio and doing home automation is often cumbersome. The sound system 0001. This application claims the benefits of the earlier remote that allows the room audio level to be adjusted does filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/379,313, filed not allow the room lights to be dimmed. Therefore, different 9 May 2002, which is incorporated by reference for all pur remote controllers for each function are needed. Nor do users poses into this specification. like the “wall clutter created by putting separate multiple 0002 Additionally, this application is a continuation of audio and other home network control units in the walls. International Patent Application PCT/US2003/14603, filed 8 Wireless solutions to this problem such as Radio Frequency, May 2003, which is incorporated by reference for all pur known as RF, or Infra-Red, called IR, have limitations. The poses into this specification. biggest limitation for RF is that in many large cites, the RF 0003. Additionally, this application is a continuation of noise background is very high, creating communication prob U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/513,737, filed 4 Nov. lems, and there may be health concerns with excessive RF. 2004, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes into The IR limitation is that IR is effective in “line of sight only, this specification. and the home automation devices to be controlled may be in 0004 Additionally, this application is a continuation of other rooms. These problems are compounded in retrofit situ U.S. patent application Ser. No. 1 1/467,340, filed 25 Aug. ations where die minimal changes that affect the current 2006, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes into building and existing systems are desired. this specification. 0009. It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a networked speaker, so that an audio distribution system can TECHNICAL FIELD be created that is integrated with the home automation system 0005. The present invention relates internet protocol into a home network that permits Vocal feedback, status, and streaming audio systems. More specifically, the present even control with the audio through the network speakers. invention relates to internet protocol streaming audio systems The network should let the user know what is happening, and that may include legacy sources. provide very intuitive instruction on how to use the system. This will enable the audio speakers to easily adjust to and BACKGROUND ART allow new audio Sources and to become wireless access 0006 Currently, most audio speakers are passive devices points in the home, or provide the wireless bridge to the that receive an analog or digital audio signal. A few advanced hard-wired network. models have limited self-diagnostics that can be communi SUMMARY OF INVENTION cated out over additional wire runs as well. These speakers are 0010. This disclosure describes an internet protocol usually wired to racks or source Switching pre-amps and streaming audio system 20. This system 20 includes a TCP/IP amplifiers. The problem with this approach is that these sys LAN network 200 that streams the digital audio signal and a tems are not very flexible. It is hard to expand the audio plurality of network speaker nodes 100 coupled to the TCP/IP Sources that can be heard through the speakers embedded in LAN network 200. An individual network speaker node 100 walls or other places after the system has been installed with includes a network controller 120 that controls the processing outbuying and installing additional costly components. Other of the digital audio signal to and from the LAN network audio sources include as home control system Voice commu where the network controller 120 further includes an embed nication, intercom audio, Soundtracks for CD-ROM games, ded controller with memory. In addition, the network speaker Solid-state Sound memories. Digital audio broadcasting sys node 100 includes a network interface 110 that couples the tems, and even Internet audio cannot easily be added and network controller 120 to the LAN network 200. Further, the routed through to the existing speakers at a future date if the network speaker node 100 includes an audio format converter existing system was not originally designed to input and 121 that couples to the network controller 120 and converts handle it.