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(11) | EP 3 481 083 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | MOBILE DEVICE FOR CREATING A STEREOPHONIC AUDIO SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CREATION |
| (57) A first mobile device (102) connects with a second mobile device (104) via a wireless
connection (106). The first mobile device (102) associates the mobile device (102)
with a first audio channel and associates a second audio channel with the second mobile
device (104). The first mobile device (102) transmits the second audio channel to
the second mobile device (104) for output by the second mobile device (104). The first
mobile device (102) outputs the first audio channel. The first mobile device (102)
operates as a source device for the audio channels.
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Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a mobile device for creating a stereophonic audio system and method for creating a stereophonic audio system.
Background
[0002] A source device, acting as a source of audio content, can be connected to loudspeakers in order to play out the audio content. However, this requires a person to have loudspeakers in the first place. Moreover, if more than two audio channels are to be played back, then more than two loudspeakers are required.
Summary
[0003] According to a first aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a method of creating a stereophonic audio system, the method comprising: connecting a first mobile device and a second mobile device via a wireless connection; associating the first mobile device with a first audio channel; associating the second mobile device with a second, different audio channel; and outputting the first audio channel from the first mobile device and the second audio channel from the second mobile device so as to produce the stereophonic audio system; wherein one of the mobile devices operates as a source mobile device for the audio channels.
[0004] The mobile device that operates as the source of the audio channels plays back one of the audio channels itself and relays the or each other channel to one or more other connected mobile devices for playback by those one or more other connected mobile devices. The user can therefore enjoy stereophonic sound (i.e. with at least two channels, for stereo) without having to possess or use separate, dedicated loudspeakers.
[0005] The mobile device that operates as the source of the audio channels may have the audio content saved in non-volatile data storage of the mobile device. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile device may stream or download the audio content on-the-fly, for example by connecting to some server or other source of the audio content. Such a server may be a local server (e.g. a so-called NAS or network attached storage) or a remote server to which access is obtained via the Internet.
[0006] In an example, the method comprises: connecting a further mobile device to the source mobile device via a wireless connection; associating the further mobile device with a further audio channel; and outputting the further audio channel from the further mobile device so as to produce the stereophonic audio system.
[0007] In an example, the method comprises: connecting a further three mobile devices to the source mobile device; associating the further three mobile devices with a respective one of a further three audio channels; and outputting the further three audio channels from the respective mobile devices.
[0008] In an example, the method comprises outputting a monophonic audio channel from at least one of the connected mobile devices.
[0010] In an example, the wireless connection is at least one of: a Bluetooth connection and a Wi-Fi connection.
[0012] According to a second aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a mobile device for creating a stereophonic audio system, the mobile device being configured to: connect with a second mobile device via a wireless connection; associate the mobile device with a first audio channel; associate a second audio channel with a said second mobile device connected to the mobile device via a wireless connection; transmit a second audio channel to a said second mobile device connected to the mobile device via a wireless connection for output by a said second mobile device; and output the first channel from the mobile device; wherein the mobile device is configured to operate as a source device for the audio channels.
[0013] In an example, the mobile device is configured to: connect with a further mobile device; and transmit a further audio channel to the further mobile device.
[0014] In an example, the mobile device is configured to: connect with a further three mobile devices; and transmit a respective one of a further three audio channels to the further three mobile devices.
[0015] In an example, the mobile device is configured to: if an audio source to be played out by the mobile device is a monophonic source, transmit a monophonic audio channel to connected mobile devices; and output the monophonic audio channel from the mobile device.
[0016] In an example, the mobile device is configured to allow a user of the mobile device to set which of the audio channels is associated with the mobile device and any connected mobile device or devices.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0018] To assist understanding of the present disclosure and to show how embodiments may be put into effect, reference is made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows schematically an example of two mobile devices for creating a stereophonic audio system; and
Figure 2 shows schematically an example mobile device for creating a stereophonic audio system.
Detailed Description
[0019] A stereophonic (or more briefly "stereo") audio system enables a user to perceive audio signals played out from the system as originating from multiple directions such that the received sound has depth and so that different components of the audio are perceived as coming from different directions. For example, a "2.0" stereo system uses two loudspeakers to provide audio signals coming from two different directions. As another example, a "5.1" stereo system uses six speakers to enable playback of audio signals arriving from five different directions, typically centre front, left and right front, and left and right rear, with the sixth speaker typically being used for low-frequency sounds and effects. Variants on these are known, including 2.1, 4.0 ("quadraphonic"), 7.1, etc.
[0020] Traditionally, to create a stereo audio system, a user connects a source device, such as a CD player, a television set, a games console, a computer, etc., to a speaker system of two or more loudspeakers. Each speaker can then play out a different audio channel. To create a stereo audio system, currently the user therefore requires a source device and multiple speakers. The source device must be compatible with the multiple speakers. That is, the source device must be capable of connecting with the speakers and transmitting audio signals from the source device to the speakers.
[0021] In examples described herein, a stereophonic audio system is created by connecting multiple mobile devices together via a wireless connection, with each mobile acting as a loudspeaker for a different audio channel and one of the mobile devices acting as the source of the audio content that is played back through the multiple mobile devices. The mobile devices can be placed in a desired position in, for example, a room, so that a user or group of users of the mobile devices can perceive the audio content as arriving from different positions. For example, the user(s) can create a 2.0 stereo sound or a so-called "surround sound" system using only mobile devices.
[0022] Figure 1 shows schematically an example stereophonic audio system 100 produced by an example first mobile device 102 and an example second mobile device 104 connected via a wireless connection 106. The (first and/or second) mobile device 102, 104 may be for example, a personal computing device such as a laptop or desktop or tablet computer, etc. In a specific example, the mobile device 102, 104 are both so-called "smart phones"). Here, a smart phone is a mobile (cellular) phone with an operating system and an integrated mobile broadband cellular network connection for voice and data communication. A smart phone typically enables the user to have Internet access and typically includes a Web browser and one or more of Wi-Fi connectivity and Bluetooth connectivity.
[0023] Each of the first and second mobile device 102, 104 has at least one loudspeaker for outputting an audio signal into an environment as sound. For example, the at least one speaker may be built-in to the mobile device.
[0024] Figure 2 shows schematically an example of a mobile device 200 for creating a stereophonic audio system. The mobile device 200 may be or correspond to at least the first mobile device 102 described above.
[0025] The mobile device 200 has a controller 202, such as a or processor, operatively coupled to a user interface 204 and at least one loudspeaker 206 of the mobile device 200. The user interface 204 may be for example a display in the form of a screen for receiving inputs from the user. For example, the user interface 204 may comprise a touch screen, or a point-and-click user interface 204 comprising a mouse, track pad, or tracker ball or the like. The user interface 204 is configured to receive inputs from a user of the mobile device.
[0026] The controller 202 is also operatively coupled to a wireless transceiver 208 for communicating via any suitable wireless medium, e.g. a radio transceiver for communicating via a radio channel (though other forms are not excluded, e.g. an infrared transceiver). The wireless transceiver 208 may comprise a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. interface for enabling the mobile device 200 to communicate wirelessly with other mobile devices. Additionally or alternatively, the wireless transceiver 208 may communicate with other mobile devices via a central bridge or a server (not shown), for example, over a local area network such as a WLAN or a wide area network such as the internet.
[0027] In examples, a first mobile device 102 and a second mobile device 104 are connected via a wireless connection. That is, the first and second mobile devices are able to communicate with each other via the wireless connection 106. For example, the first mobile device 102 may transmit data concerning source content, such as an audio file, wirelessly to the second mobile device 104.
[0028] The first mobile device 102 is associated with a first audio channel and the second mobile device 104 is associated with a second, different audio channel. For example, the first mobile device 102 may be associated with a left audio channel and the second mobile device 104 may be associated with a right audio channel.
[0029] The content for the two channels may be defined in the digital audio recording. That is, the audio recording may be a stereo audio recording made up of at least two channels. For example, a recording may be separated into multiple channels for the purpose of stereo playback. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile device may generate two or more separate audio channels from a monophonic audio recording or may generate additional audio channels from an audio recording that already has plural recorded audio channels.
[0030] The first audio channel is output from, i.e. played out, by the first mobile device 102 and the second audio channel is output from the second mobile device 104. That is, each mobile device 102, 104 plays back a different audio channel through its own loudspeaker to produce a stereophonic audio system. For example, the first and second mobile devices 102, 104 may produce a 2.0 stereo audio system.
[0031] In examples, the first or second mobile device 102, 104 operates as the source device for the audio channels. That is, the mobile device that operates as the source of the audio channels plays back one of the audio channels itself and relays the or each other channel to one or more other connected mobile devices for playback by those one or more other connected mobile devices.
[0032] The mobile device that operates as the source of the audio channels may have the audio content saved in non-volatile data storage of the mobile device. For example, a user may have saved on their mobile device a music recording, a television programme, a film (movie), etc. containing audio content capable of being played out by the mobile device. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile device may stream or download the audio content on-the-fly, for example by connecting to some server or other source of the audio content. Such a server may be a local server (e.g. a so-called NAS or network attached storage) or a remote server to which access is obtained via the Internet.
[0033] In examples, a further mobile device is connected to the source device (either the first mobile device 102 or the second mobile device 104) via a wireless connection. The wireless connection may be the same wireless connection by which the first and second mobile devices 102, 104 are connected. For example, the three mobile devices may be connected via a Bluetooth connection. Alternatively, the wireless connection may be a different wireless connection. For example, the first and second mobile devices 102, 104 may be connected via a Bluetooth connection whilst the further mobile device is connected to the source mobile device via a Wi-Fi connection.
[0034] In examples, the further mobile device is associated with a further audio channel and the further audio channel is outputted from the further mobile device. For example, the three mobile devices may form a 2.1 or 3.0 stereo audio system. That is, two of the three mobile devices may output the left and right channels respectively, whilst the further mobile device outputs a central (front or back) channel or an effects channel.
[0035] In examples, further mobile devices may be connected to the source mobile device via a wireless connection (either the same wireless connection or a different wireless connection). The further mobile devices may be associated with further audio channels, the further audio channels then being output from the further mobile devices. For example, three mobile device may be connected to the source device to form a 4.0 stereo system (e.g. front right, front left, back right, back left). Additionally, four mobile devices may be connected to the source device to form a 5.0 stereo system (e.g. front right, front left, back right, back left, centre).
[0036] In examples, a further three mobile devices may be connected to the source mobile device so that there are a total of six mobile device, five of which are connected to the source mobile device. The further three mobile devise may be associated with a respective one of a further three audio channels. The further three audio channels may then be output from the respective mobile devices, such that six mobile devices are outputting six different audio channels. That is, a 5.1 stereo audio system may be produced.
[0037] In examples, the stereo audio system can be extended by connecting additional mobile devices, associating the additional connected mobile devices with additional respective audio channels and outputting the additional audio channels from the respective mobile devices. For example, the stereo audio system can be extended to, for example, 6.1, 7.1, 9.2 stereo audio systems.
[0038] In some examples, a monophonic (mono) audio channel is output from at least one of the connected mobile devices. For example, the source device may output the mono audio channel. In another example, both the first and second mobile devices may output the mono audio channel. That is, the source content may include three audio channels, two of which are stereo channels (e.g. left and right channels) and one of which is a mono channel. In this example, the first mobile device 102 may output the left and mono channels and the second mobile device 104 may output the right and mono channels.
[0039] In other examples, if there are more connected mobile devices than there are channels in the audio content, some of the connected mobile devices may play back the same channel. Also, one or more of the connected mobile devices may play back more than one channel. As a specific example to illustrate this, the audio content may have two left and right stereo channels and there are a total of five connected mobile devices: the source device (the first mobile device 102) and four other devices (second mobile devices 104) connected to the source device. In this example, the devices may be arranged such that the source device operates as a front centre speaker and the four other connected devices are arranged as front left, front right, rear left and rear right. In this case, the audio channels may be arranged such that the front left and front right connected mobile devices both play back the left audio channel, the rear left and rear right connected mobile devices both play back the right audio channel, and the centre (source) device plays back both the left and right audio channels.
[0040] In some examples, the wireless connection is a radio connection, such as Bluetooth connection or a Wi-Fi connection. In examples, the source device may act as a Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing nearby mobile devices to connect to the Wi-Fi network via the source device. In examples, the second and further mobile devices may be required to enter a password or PIN or the like to connect to the source mobile device via the wireless connection.
[0041] In examples, a user of the source mobile device (e.g. the first mobile device 102) may set which of the audio channels is associated with the source mobile device and which of the audio channels is or are associated with any connected mobile device or devices. For example, the user may set the front left audio channel to be associated with the source mobile device and the front right audio channel to be associated with the second mobile device 104. In another example, the user may set the front left audio channel to be associated with the source mobile device, the front right audio channel to be associated with the second mobile device 104, the back left audio channel to be associated with a third connected mobile device and back right audio channel to be associated with a fourth connected mobile device. The user may select which audio channel is played back by which mobile device based on for example the quality of sound played back by the respective mobile devices. The user may for example select the mobile devices that have the best quality sound for audio playback for the front left and right audio channels and other mobile devices for other audio channels.
[0042] To enable this, the source mobile device may be provided with software (an "application") that provides the functionality to allow the user to select which audio channel is played back by which audio device. For this, the software on the source mobile device may note which mobile device or devices have been wirelessly connected to the source mobile device (via the wireless connection 106) and may provide the user with an option to allocate the different audio channels to the different mobile devices. This may be presented graphically on a screen of the source mobile device. Additionally, each mobile device connected to the source mobile device may also be provided with the same software/application. Each mobile device may use the software to stream the audio content from the source mobile device via the wireless connection 106. Alternatively, the source mobile device may only transmit a select audio channel to each mobile device via the wireless connection 106.
[0043] The controller and its components as shown in Figure 2 are represented as a schematic block diagram for the purposes of explaining the functionality of the controller only. Hence, it is understood that each component of the controller is a functional block for performing the functionality ascribed to it herein. Each component may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. Additionally, although described as separate components of the controller, some or all of the functionality may be performed by a single piece of hardware, software, or firmware.
[0044] It will be understood that the processor or processing system or circuitry referred to herein may in practice be provided by a single chip or integrated circuit or plural chips or integrated circuits, optionally provided as a chipset, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), digital signal processor (DSP), graphics processing units (GPUs), etc. The chip or chips may comprise circuitry (as well as possibly firmware) for embodying at least one or more of a data processor or processors, a digital signal processor or processors, baseband circuitry and radio frequency circuitry, which are configurable so as to operate in accordance with the exemplary embodiments. In this regard, the exemplary embodiments may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored in (non-transitory) memory and executable by the processor, or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware).
[0045] Reference is made herein to data storage for storing data. This may be provided by a single device or by plural devices. Suitable devices include for example a hard disk and non-volatile semiconductor memory.
[0046] Although at least some aspects of the embodiments described herein with reference to the drawings comprise computer processes performed in processing systems or processors, the invention also extends to computer programs, particularly computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted for putting the invention into practice. The program may be in the form of non-transitory source code, object code, a code intermediate source and object code such as in partially compiled form, or in any other non-transitory form suitable for use in the implementation of processes according to the invention. The carrier may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. For example, the carrier may comprise a storage medium, such as a solid-state drive (SSD) or other semiconductor-based RAM; a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a semiconductor ROM; a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disk or hard disk; optical memory devices in general; etc.
[0047] The examples described herein are to be understood as illustrative examples of embodiments of the invention. Further embodiments and examples are envisaged. Any feature described in relation to any one example or embodiment may be used alone or in combination with other features. In addition, any feature described in relation to any one example or embodiment may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the examples or embodiments, or any combination of any other of the examples or embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described herein may also be employed within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims.
1. A method of creating a stereophonic audio system (100), the method comprising:
connecting a first mobile device (102) and a second mobile device (104) via a wireless connection (106);
associating the first mobile device (102) with a first audio channel;
associating the second mobile device (104) with a second, different audio channel; and
outputting the first audio channel from the first mobile device (102) and the second audio channel from the second mobile device (104) so as to produce the stereophonic audio system (100);
wherein one of the mobile devices operates as a source mobile device for the audio channels.
2. A method according to claim 1, comprising:
connecting a further mobile device to the source mobile device via a wireless connection (106);
associating the further mobile device with a further audio channel; and
outputting the further audio channel from the further mobile device so as to produce the stereophonic audio system.
3. A method according to claim 2, comprising:
connecting a further three mobile devices to the source mobile device;
associating the further three mobile devices with a respective one of a further three audio channels; and
outputting the further three audio channels from the respective mobile devices.
4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, comprising outputting a monophonic audio
channel from at least one of the connected mobile devices.
5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the wireless connection (106)
is a radio connection.
6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the wireless connection (106)
is at least one of:
- a Bluetooth connection, and
- a Wi-Fi connection.
7. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein each mobile device is a mobile
cellular phone.
8. A mobile device (102) for creating a stereophonic audio system, the mobile device
being configured to:
connect with a second mobile device (104) via a wireless connection (106);
associate the mobile device (102) with a first audio channel;
associate a second audio channel with a said second mobile device (104) connected to the mobile device (102) via a wireless connection (106);
transmit a second audio channel to a said second mobile device (104) connected to the mobile device (102) via a wireless connection (106) for output by a said second mobile device (104); and
output the first channel from the mobile device (102);
wherein the mobile device (102) is configured to operate as a source device for the audio channels.
9. A mobile device (102) according to claim 8, the mobile device (102) being configured
to:
connect with a further mobile device; and
transmit a further audio channel to the further mobile device.
10. A mobile device (102) according to claim 9, the mobile device (102) being configured
to:
connect with a further three mobile devices; and
transmit a respective one of a further three audio channels to the further three mobile devices.
11. A mobile device (102) according to any of claims 8 to 10, the mobile device (102)
being configured to:
if an audio source to be played out by the mobile device (102) is a monophonic source, transmit a monophonic audio channel to connected mobile devices; and
output the monophonic audio channel from the mobile device (102).
12. A mobile device (102) according to any of claims 8 to 11, the mobile device (102)
being configured to allow a user of the mobile device (102) to set which of the audio
channels is associated with the mobile device (102) and any connected mobile device
or devices.
13. A mobile device (102) according to any of claims 8 to 12, the mobile device (102)
being configured to connect to the second (104) and/or further mobile devices via
a radio connection.
14. A mobile device (102) according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein the mobile device
(102) is a mobile cellular phone.