US 12,143,785 B2
Systems and methods of distributing and playing back low-frequency audio content
Paul MacLean, Quincy, MA (US); Chris Davies, Santa Barbara, CA (US); and Roberto Maria Dizon, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to Sonos, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Filed by Sonos, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/649,141.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/199,839, filed on Jan. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0240012 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. H04R 3/12 (2006.01); H04R 5/02 (2006.01); H04R 5/04 (2006.01); H04S 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 3/12 (2013.01) [H04R 5/02 (2013.01); H04R 5/04 (2013.01); H04S 3/008 (2013.01); H04R 2420/07 (2013.01); H04S 2400/01 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A first playback device, comprising:
a plurality of transducers;
a network interface;
one or more processors; and
a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first playback device to perform operations comprising:
receiving, at the first playback device, a source stream of multichannel audio content comprising one or more first channels, a second channel, and a third channel;
determining one or more characteristics of a second device and a third playback device with which the first playback device is grouped for synchronous playback;
based on the characteristic(s) of the second playback device and the third playback device, automatically operating the first playback device in a first operating mode or a second operating mode;
while in the first operating mode:
playing back audio via the plurality of transducers based on at least the first channel(s);
causing, via the network interface, audio to be played back via the second playback device based on the second channel; and
causing, via the network interface, audio to be played back via the third playback device based on the third channel; and
while in the second operating mode:
playing back audio via the plurality of transducers based on a high-frequency portion of the first channel(s);
causing, via the network interface, audio to be played back via the second playback device that is based on both the second channel and at least a low-frequency portion of the first channel(s); and
causing, via the network interface, audio to be played back via the third playback device that is based on both the third channel and at least a low-frequency portion of the first channel(s).