Abstract:
A pointing element enhanced speaker system addresses the need for consistent sound. Despite wide variations in the design and architecture of different venues, the system helps performers ensure that they deliver the desired sound for their audiences. Performers and their technicians, though faced with grueling schedules that impose severe time constraints on equipment setup and tuning as the performers move between venues, may turn to the system to provide the sound desired at each new venue.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/881,011, filed 17 Jan. 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This disclosure relates to speaker systems. In particular, this disclosure relates to a pointing element enhanced speaker system for providing consistent sound at any given venue. 
     2. Related Art 
     Performers expect consistently excellent and repeatable sound from their speaker systems. However, in the past, significant variations between venues often led to inconsistent sound, despite the best efforts of sound technicians who setup the speaker system. Additional complications arise due to the wide range of parameters that influence the sound output. As examples, tuning the sound quality at a new venue may include ensuring consistent volume levels, optimizing the dispersion pattern, detecting and eliminating any phasing inconsistencies, or configuring other sound signal characteristics throughout the venue. As one venue may differ significantly from the next, the system configuration that provided maximum dispersion at the previous venue, for example, may not be well-suited for the next venue. 
     An additional practical consideration is that sound technicians are under severe time constraints to set up and configure the speaker system at the new venue. In the case of a touring music group, for example, the group&#39;s speaker system often arrives at the venue just hours before the first performance. Thus, in addition to basic system setup tasks, the sound technicians must also manually adapt the speaker system as best they can in a very short time to the specific nuances of the new venue so that the speaker system produces the consistent sound that the group desires. 
     The modern speaker arrays that are part of some speaker systems complicate the already difficult configuration task. Speaker arrays provide multiple aligned speakers that the speaker system drives in an interrelated manner in an attempt to achieve specific audio reproduction characteristics, such as dispersion. However, the interrelation between speakers can increase the difficulty of adapting the speaker system to produce the desired sound output. 
     In the past, sound technicians followed an imprecise routine when attempting to tune a speaker system for each venue. The sound technicians typically visited a small number of locations in the venue and at their own discretion for monitoring sound quality. Even experienced sound technicians cannot always determine the best and consistent locations at which to listen. The sound technicians therefore could not always be efficient or sufficiently precise in determining or resolving sound output issues. 
     Alternatively, sound technicians employed a simplified procedure in which the sound technician would monitor and collect data at a single sound control station typically located near the center or rear portion of the venue. The sound technicians then optimized the sound output at that location. While optimizing sound output at a central location may be fast, the sound output at potentially many other locations throughout the venue was often poor. 
     Therefore, a need exists for an improved system for more effectively, consistently, and flexibly tuning a speaker system to deliver a desired sound. 
     SUMMARY 
     A pointing element enhanced speaker system addresses the need for consistent sound regardless of venue. Despite wide variations in the design and architecture of different venues, the pointing element enhanced speaker system ensures that performers are able to deliver the sound that they desire for their audiences as they move from one venue to the next. The pointing element enhanced speaker system directs a sound technician precisely to the locations where sound output tuning measurements are desired. 
     The pointing element enhanced speaker system identifies a measurement location in a venue using a pointing element associated with a speaker. The pointing element enhanced speaker system receives location characteristic information about the measurement location and determines an adjustment parameter from the location characteristic information. The pointing element enhanced speaker system may also adjust the speaker according to the adjustment parameter. The pointing element may be a mechanical pointer, an electronically controlled pointer such as a laser, or may be implemented with other pointing technologies or combinations of technologies. The pointing element enhanced speaker system may exercise automated control over electronic pointers to direct measurement technicians to the appropriate measurement locations. 
     Other systems, methods, features and advantages will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The pointing element enhanced speaker system may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
         FIG. 1  shows a pointing element enhanced speaker system. 
         FIG. 2  shows acts the pointing element enhanced speaker system may take to adjust a speaker system located in a venue to provide the sound desired for the venue. 
         FIG. 3  shows acts the pointing element enhanced speaker system may take to iteratively adjust a speaker system located in a venue. 
         FIG. 4  shows acts the pointing element enhanced speaker system may take to a speaker system in a venue. 
         FIG. 5  shows acts the pointing element enhanced speaker system may take to adjust a speaker system in a venue. 
         FIG. 6  shows a venue including identified measurement locations corresponding to multiple speakers. 
         FIG. 7  shows the venue shown in  FIG. 6  including speakers adjusted to improve sound quality within the venue. 
         FIG. 8  shows a venue including identified measurement locations relative to multiple speaker groups. 
         FIG. 9  shows the venue shown in  FIG. 8  including speaker groups adjusted to improve sound quality within the venue. 
         FIG. 10  shows the acts the pointing element enhanced speaker system may take to determine venue information. 
         FIG. 11  shows a pointing element enhanced speaker system. 
         FIG. 12  shows a speaker using multiple pointing elements to illuminate a surface. 
         FIG. 13  shows a speaker using multiple pointing elements to illuminate a surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a pointing element enhanced speaker system  100  (“system  100 ”). The system  100  uses pointing elements associated with one or more speakers or speaker arrays located in a venue to help provide a desired sound output from a speaker system.  FIG. 1  shows two pointing elements  186  and  188  associated with two of the speakers  182 . The desired sound output may be one that has a particular dispersion pattern, particular loudness, frequency content, or directionality at one or more selected venue locations, or that has any other sonic attributes that the speaker system should produce. The system  100  includes a system processor  102  and a system memory  104 . As will be discussed in more detail below, the system processor  102  may execute an adjustment control program  106  to identify a measurement location in the venue from which to obtain location characteristic information  108 , for example. The system  100  may determine adjustment parameters for speaker system components that take into consideration the location characteristic information  108  as well as venue information  110 , equipment information  112 , and other information in order to adapt a speaker system for delivering the desired sound output. 
     The location characteristic information  108 , venue information  110 , and equipment information  112  may additionally or alternatively be obtained from databases  114 , through operator input at an external input  116  (e.g., a keyboard, a speech recognition interface, or a mouse), through a communication interface  118  (e.g., through a network connection to a data warehouse, to equipment in the speaker system, such as an amplifier or mixer, or to other logic) or from other sources. As examples, the databases  114  may be local or remote databases that store venue information, equipment information, or location characteristic information or that store the results of previous venue, equipment, and location characteristic information gathering, analysis, or determinations. 
     The location characteristic information  108  may include distance information  120 , such as the distance between the measurement location and a speaker, group of speakers, or other reference point. The location characteristic information  108  may also include acoustic signal information such as amplitude  122 , phasing  124 , frequency  126 , reverberation  128 , or other information characteristic of an acoustic signal. Thus, the location characteristic information  108  may capture the signal characteristics that exist at any given measurement location (e.g., the amplitude or reverberation decay time of the audio signal at the measurement location) as well as the physical characteristics of the measurement location (e.g., the distance to the speaker). 
     The venue information  110  may include a full or partial layout of the venue or other architectural parameters (e.g., dimensions, materials, or construction information), or other physical data about the venue. One example of the venue information  110  is the physical volume of the venue  130 . Other examples of venue information  110  include the number and/or location of audio absorbing surfaces  132  and the number and/or location of audio reflective surfaces  133 . Additional examples of venue information  110  include the venue size  134 , venue shape  136 , venue seating capacity or arrangement  138 , the venue dimensions  140 , and stage information  142 . The stage information  142  may include the locations, sizes, orientations, or arrangements of one or more stages in the venue. The venue information may be expressed in objective or subjective terms. For example, the venue size  134  may be expressed in terms of measured dimensions, or expressed as ‘large’, ‘medium’, or ‘small’. The system  100  may also obtain setup information as part of the venue information  110 . The setup information may specify the position and/or orientation of the speakers after initial setup. The setup information may be manually input by a technician, automatically sensed by the speaker (e.g., using GPS sensors, roll, pitch, or yaw sensors, or other sensors) and transmitted to the system  100 , or may be obtained in other ways. 
     The equipment information  112  may specify equipment characteristics for equipment in the speaker system. As examples, the equipment information  112  may include speaker data  144 , amplifier data  146 , pre-amp data  148 , connection data  150 , or other equipment information. The speaker data  144 , amplifier data  146 , and pre-amp data  148  may specify the number of speakers, amplifiers, and pre-amplifiers, their connection topology, the speaker models, physical or electrical characteristics, including efficiency, power capability, frequency response, and dispersion pattern. The connection data  150  may specify the type, length, and electrical characteristics of system interconnections, such as speaker cables and amplifier/pre-amplifier audio cables. Other equipment information may be provided. 
     As noted above, the location characteristic information  108 , venue information  110 , and equipment information  112  may be obtained from the databases  114 , through an external input  116 , through a communication interface  118  or from other sources. In addition, the system  100  may implement data entry user interfaces that facilitate obtaining the information  108 ,  110 , and  112 . For example, the data entry user interface may be a graphical or text input user interface provided on the display  172 . The display  172  may be one or more displays local to the system  100 , or may be displays integrated into or associated with any of the speaker system equipment (e.g., an LCD display on an amplifier). The external input  116  may be a system keyboard, mouse, or other input device, or additionally or alternatively may be keys, buttons, thumb wheels, or other interface devices provided by a component interface in the speaker system (e.g., an amplifier control interface). In one implementation, the system implements a “wizard” interface. The wizard interface may include one or more display prompts and input selectors that progressively lead the operator through each step of the information gathering process. The wizard interface may provide convenient drop down menu selections, radio button selections, text input interfaces, interactive graphical elements (e.g., manipulable lines, charts, widgets, or graphical elements) and other interface elements through which the operator provides the information  108 ,  110 , and/or  112 . 
     The adjustment parameters  152  may include physical adjustment parameters  154  and electrical parameters  156 . Any of the adjustment parameters  152  may be provided on a per-component basis, such as for each speaker or amplifier, or may be provided on a group basis, such as for two or more speakers in a speaker array. In other words, the granularity of the adjustment parameters  152  may be as coarse or as fine as desired. The physical adjustment parameters  154  may include x, y, and/or z-axis adjustment information  158 ,  160 , and/or  162  for one of more speakers. The x, y, and z-axis adjustment information  158 ,  160 , and  162  represents a location adjustment for the speaker in an x, y, and/or z direction relative to the speaker or other adjustment reference point. The physical adjustment parameters  154  may also include a yaw adjustment  164 , pitch adjustment  166 , roll adjustment  168  and/or other information related to adjusting physical speaker alignment. The adjustment parameters  152  may be given in other coordinate systems, however, such as a spherical or cylindrical coordinate system. 
     The electrical parameters  156  may specify amplitude, time alignment, phase, and frequency adjustment information  176 ,  178 , and  180 , or other adjustment information. The electrical parameters  156  may be expressed relative to other system components (e.g., a phase difference for speaker  1  relative to speaker  2 ), or relative to a fixed metric (e.g., a phase of 35 degrees behind a fixed reference signal). The electrical parameters  156  may account for interactions between system components, such as the interactions of multiple speakers in a speaker array. 
     The processor  102  executes the adjustment control program  106  (“program  106 ”). The program  106  may coordinate the processing performed by the pointing element enhanced speaker system  100 . For example, the program  106  may activate and/or position the pointing elements, gather the location characteristic information  108  and store it in the memory  104 , initiate execution of, or pass the information to, an analysis program, receive adjustment parameter results from the analysis program and store them in the memory  104 , and suggest, initiate, or carry out physical, electrical, or other speaker adjustments based on the adjustment parameters. 
     The system  100  may also include special purpose processors. For example, one or more Digital Signal Processors (DSPs)  164  may be provided. The DSPs  164  may digitally manipulate signal samples that determine the sound output from one or more speaker system speakers  182 , including applying signal processing algorithms, applying the electrical adjustment parameters  156 , or taking other processing steps. The DSPs  164  may interface with driver logic  166 , such as pre-amplifiers, amplifiers, signal conditioners, or any other logic that influences an audio signal delivered to the speakers  182 . 
     In addition, the system  100  may include physical positioning adjustment mechanisms  170  coupled to one or more of the speakers  182 . The physical positioning adjustment mechanisms  170  facilitate physical speaker adjustment using motors, gears, gimbals, or other positioning elements. While  FIG. 1  shows the processor  102  connected to the mechanisms  170 , the system  100  may provide additional or different control logic to drive the mechanisms  170 , such as special purpose motor controllers, amplifiers, and feedback mechanisms. 
     The system  100  may receive audio information on one or more audio inputs  184  or other sources (e.g., from music files stored in the database  114 ). The audio inputs  184  may be analog inputs, digital inputs, optical inputs, or other types of signal inputs. As examples, the audio inputs  184  may include an analog microphone, pre-amp, or CD player input, a Musical Instrument Digital Interface input, an optical Sony/Philips Digital Interface input, or other type of audio input. The system  100  may process the audio information for delivery to the speakers  182 . 
       FIG. 2  shows acts  200  that the system  100  and program  106  may take to adjust a speaker system in a venue to provide a desired sound output from the speaker system. The system  100  may activate an electrically controlled pointing element associated with the speaker (Act  202 ). The pointing element may be an integral part of the speaker, secured to the speaker, arranged relative to the speaker, or otherwise associated with the speaker, such that the pointing element identifies a measurement location in the venue for the speaker. In other words, rather than have a technician wander ad hoc through the venue taking measurements, each pointing element guides the technician to the measurement location by using the pointing device associated with that speaker. The pointing device may, as examples, point in a line of sight along an axis through the bass, treble, tweeter, or other speaker cone, or along a line of sight along a side of the speaker enclosure. 
     The pointing device indicates (e.g., by illuminating in the visible or non-visible wavelengths) a measurement location in the venue at which the speaker contributes to the desired sound. A speaker may include multiple pointing elements associated with multiple speaker characteristics. For example, the speaker may include a pointing element for each speaker cone. Alternatively or additionally, the speaker may include a pointing element for one or more surfaces, edges, or corners of the speaker. In implementations in which each speaker cone (or other element or characteristic) is physically or electrically adjustable in addition to or as an alternative to the speaker as a whole, the system  100  may then adjust each element or characteristic based on the location characteristic information returned from each corresponding measurement location. As examples, the system  100  may activate adjustment mechanisms such as gears, motors, gimbals, tracks, carriages, or other physical positioning devices to adjust the x, y, and z location of the speaker or component of the speaker, or the roll, pitch, and yaw of the speak or a component of the speaker. The system  100  may also adjust the electrical characteristics of the speaker using amplifiers, phase delays, filters, or other circuitry that influences the phase, frequency, or amplitude of the audio signal fed to the speaker. For speaker arrays, the system  100  may provide individual adjustments to each speaker or to groups of speakers in the speaker array by adjusting the speaker signals fed to individual speakers or groups of speakers. 
     Using the pointing element, the system  100  identifies the measurement location for the speaker (Act  204 ). The pointing element may vary widely in implementation. For example, the pointing element may be a laser secured to the speaker that identifies the measurement location by pointing to a spot in the venue. As another example, the pointing element may alternatively comprise a lamp indicator pointing system. The lamp indicator pointing system may include a bulb, incandescent lamp, LED, or other light emitting device. As one example, the pointing device may be located at the back of the speaker, with an opening defined at the front of the speaker. By looking for the light, a technician may move through the venue and identify the measurement location as the location where the light emitting device is visible through the opening defined at the front of the speaker. As another example, the light emitting device may include a colored LED and a colored lens located at the front of the speaker such that the alignment of the LED and colored lens produces a specific color. For example, alignment of a red LED and blue lens may result in seeing a purple light. The location at which a technician sees a purple light may be indicated as the measurement location for the speaker. 
     More generally, the pointing element may transmit electromagnetic energy to the measurement location. The electromagnetic energy need not be in the visible wavelengths, but may instead be detectible by a receiver that the technician carries. The electromagnetic energy may embed, encode, or otherwise carry information. The information may be defined using modulation techniques and may be organized into communication frames or data packets, as examples. The information may include speaker, pointing element, or measurement location identification information, technician instructions, or any other information. 
     The pointing element may also be a mechanical device. For example, the pointing element may be a first shape (e.g., a circle) located at the back of the speaker and a second shape (e.g., a circle with a different diameter) located at the front of the speaker. The location within the venue where the shape at the front and back of the speaker are lined-up may be identified as the measurement location for that speaker. 
     The system  100  may receive location characteristic information  108  obtained from or based on the measurement location (Act  206 ). The location characteristic information  108  may be the distance  120  between the speaker and the measurement location. The location characteristic information  108  may also include information such as amplitude  122 , phasing  124 , frequency  126 , reverberation  128 , or other sound information measured at the measurement location. In that regard, the system  100  may instruct one or more speakers located in the venue to emit a test signal for measurement. After the measurements are taken, the system  100  receives the location characteristic information  108  related to the test signal as detected at the measurement location. Alternatively or additionally, the technician may activate one or more speakers or pointing elements manually or electronically, such as through a remote control. 
     The system  100  may receive the location characteristic information  106  wirelessly, through a direct connection, through manual input, or through other communication methods. For example, the system  100  may receive location characteristic information  108  collected at the measurement location on a laptop, PDA, or other device that supports a wireless communication. The location characteristic information  108  may alternatively be stored on a portable electronic device and then connected to the system  100 , or a computer or other computing device in communication with or included within the system  100 . 
     The system  100  may also receive location characteristic information  106  reflected from the measurement location. For example, where the pointing element is optical in nature, such as a laser, a mirror or other reflecting device may reflect the optical signal to a sensor (e.g., attached to the speaker) to determine the distance  120  between the speaker and the measurement location. 
     Based on the received location characteristic information  108 , the system  100  determines adjustment parameters  152  (Act  208 ). The adjustment parameters  152  may include amounts by which the speaker or signal sent to the speaker may be adjusted to improve the sound quality produced by the speaker. For example, the adjustment parameters  152  may include yaw  164 , pitch  166 , and/or roll  168  adjustments (e.g., angular displacements) of the speaker. The adjustment parameters  152  may also include recommended adjustments (e.g., displacement distances) of the speaker in an x, y, and/or z directions. Furthermore, as noted above, the system  100  may adjust electrical characteristics of any of the system components by determining and applying the electrical adjustment parameters  156 . Any of the adjustments may apply to an individual speaker, whether or not part of a speaker array, or to groups or subsets of speakers, including multiple speakers in a speaker array. 
     Other implementations of the system  100  may include specifying any point in the venue as a supplemental measurement location (Act  205 ). The technician may obtain location characteristic information from the supplemental measurement locations in addition to or as an alternative to the pointing element identified measurement locations. As an example, the system  100  may communicate supplemental measurement locations to a communication device carried by the technician. The supplemental measurement locations may be identified using coordinates (e.g., CPS coordinates), using descriptive information (e.g., the first row—center seat; last row—center seat; each corner of the venue, the far left and far right isles on the floor, first row and last row; or in the balcony), or in other manners. As another example, the supplemental measurement location may be part of a pre-established set of known measurement locations from which to obtain location characteristic information for a venue. The system  100  may determine the adjustment parameters  152  from the pointing element identified measurement locations alone, the supplemental locations alone, or from both types of locations. 
     In determining the adjustment parameters  152 , the program  106  may initiate execution of one or more characteristic analysis program  174 . The analysis programs  174  may evaluate the location characteristic information  108  and determine or establish the adjustment parameters  152 . The analysis program may vary between implementations depending on the desired analysis. Alternatively, the system  100  may include multiple analysis programs, analysis programs specific to a particular venue, analysis programs specific to a particular adjustment parameter, or other analysis program configurations. 
     The system  100  may determine whether speaker system adjustments are recommended (Act  210 ). For example, the system  100  may determine whether the analysis program has returned non-zero linear or angular adjustment parameters or electrical adjustment parameters. The system  100  may alternatively compare the adjustment parameters  152  to one or more thresholds. The system  100  may include a threshold for each adjustment parameter, such as an x-axis threshold or yaw threshold. When at least one of the adjustment parameters  152  exceeds the corresponding threshold, the system  100  may determine that speaker system adjustment is recommended. 
     The system  100  may also compare an aggregate threshold to an aggregate adjustment value. The aggregate adjustment value may take into account an aggregate (e.g., a weighted sum) of the adjustment parameters  152  that is analyzed to determine whether adjustment is recommended. For example, the system  100  may consider the recommended adjustment for each individual adjustment parameter  152  as influenced by a weight (e.g., x, y, and z displacement parameters may be given more or less weight than roll, pitch, and yaw displacement parameters). When the aggregate adjustment value does not exceed the aggregate threshold, the system  100  may determine that no adjustment is recommended. 
     When the system  100  determines that speaker system adjustment is recommended, the system  100  may adjust the speaker system according to the adjustment parameters  152  (Act  212 ). To that end, the system  100  may control motors, gimbals, gears, translational slides, rotational couplings, or other physical positioning adjustment mechanisms  170  coupled to one or more speakers  182  to facilitate physical speaker adjustment for any of the speakers connected to the speaker system, including speakers in speaker arrays as well as stand alone speakers. For example, the system  100  may issue motor control commands or assert motor control signals that cause a motor to adjust the speaker  144  in the x, y, or z direction, or rotate the speakers along a roll, pitch, or yaw axis. As another example, the system  100  may adjust phase delay, amplitude adjustment, or filtering logic to adjust the electrical characteristics of the audio signals delivered to any speaker or multiple speakers, including speakers in a speaker array or stand alone speakers. Additionally or alternatively, the system  100  may display the adjustment parameters  152  on the display  172 . A technician may then adjust the speaker system according to the displayed adjustment parameters  152 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an extension of  FIG. 2 . In particular,  FIG. 3  illustrates acts  300  the system  100  may take to iteratively adjust a speaker system located in a venue. The system  100  obtains location characteristic information and adjusts the speaker as noted above with regard to  FIG. 2 . After the speaker system is adjusted, the system  100  may determine whether to obtain additional location characteristic information (Act  214 ). The system  100  may continue receiving location characteristic information and making speaker system adjustments as long as desired. For example, the system  100  may repeat the adjustment process until the system  100  no longer recommends speaker system adjustments. As another example, the system  100  may repeat the measurement and adjustment steps for a pre-determined number of iterations. 
       FIG. 4  shows acts  400  the adjustment control program  106  may take to adjust the speaker system in response to location characteristic information obtained from locations specified by pointing elements associated with multiple speakers in a venue. The system  100  identifies the speakers located in the venue for which associated pointing elements will specify measurement locations (Act  402 ). The system  100  may consider all of the speakers in the venue or a subset of the speakers in the venue, such as the speakers directed to a specific section of the venue. As one example, a technician may manually identify the speakers that the system  100  should adjust. However, the system  100  may also automatically determine the speakers to adjust, based on, for example, speaker specification data or other equipment information  112  in the memory  104 . 
     From among the identified speakers, the system  100  selects the next speaker (Act  404 ). With respect to the selected speaker, the system  100  activates the pointing element associated with that speaker to identify the measurement location, activates one or more speakers (e.g., to generate sound, such as emitting a test signal), and receives location characteristic information (Acts  202 - 206 ). The system  100  also determines speaker system adjustment parameters (e.g., by initiating execution of an analysis program and receiving the speaker adjustment parameters), determines whether adjustment is recommended, and if so adjusts the speaker system (Acts  208 - 212 ). The system  100  continues by determining whether additional speakers in the venue should be considered (Act  406 ). If so, the system  100  selects the next speaker and proceeds as noted above. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example in which the system  100  obtains location characteristic information from multiple measurement locations for determining adjustment parameters. The system  100  determines measurement locations for consideration (Act  502 ). A pointing element associated with one or more speakers may be used to identify the measurement location from which to obtain location characteristic information. The system  100  selects the pointing element (Act  504 ). In addition, the system  100  activates one or more speakers to generate sound, such as a test signal (Act  506 ). The sound may change or may stay the same between measurement locations. 
     The system  100  activates the pointing element (Act  202 ) that identifies a desired measurement location in the venue (Act  204 ). The system  100  receives location characteristic information  108  from the measurement location (Act  206 ), including, as examples, audio characteristics of the sound generated by the speakers at the measurement location, physical information (e.g., distance), and other location characteristic information. The system  100  determines whether there are more measurement locations to be considered (Act  508 ). Where there are more measurement locations to be considered, the system  100  selects the next pointing element that will identify the next measurement location and continues to obtain additional location characteristic information. Accordingly, for example, when the speaker is part of a speaker array, the system  100  may consider the location characteristic information  108  obtained from multiple measurement locations identified by pointing elements associated with speakers in the speaker array to determine the adjustment parameters  152  for a speaker or for multiple speakers in the array. 
     Once the system  100  has obtained location characteristic information from each of the measurement locations, the system  100  determines adjustment parameters  152  for the speaker system (Act  510 ), such as physical or electrical adjustment parameters for one or more speakers. The system  100  determines whether adjustment is recommended (Act  512 ). If so, the system  100  adjusts the speaker system according to the adjustment parameters  152  (Act  514 ). To that end, the system  100  may make or initiate physical adjustments to one or more speakers, make or initiate electrical adjustments to one or more speaker signals that feed a speaker or speaker array, or take other actions. 
       FIG. 6  shows a venue  600 . Several measurement locations  602 - 608  are identified in the venue and correspond to pointing elements associated with the individual speakers  614 - 620 , respectively. The measurement locations  602 - 608  may be identified, for example, by illuminating rays  622 ,  624 ,  626 , and  628  generated by a lamp, LED, laser, or other illumination source attached to the speakers  614 - 620 . A technician may visit each measurement location  602 - 608  and measure location characteristic information. The location characteristic information is returned to the system  100  for consideration and potential speaker adjustments. 
       FIG. 7  shows the venue  600  with the speakers  610 - 620  adjusted to improve the sound. In other words, based on the location characteristic information obtained form the measurement locations  602 - 608 , the system  100  obtained adjustment parameters and adjusted the speakers  610 - 620  physically or electrically. As noted above, the system  100  may iteratively adjust the speakers using location characteristic information obtained from the new measurement locations  702 - 710 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of a venue  800  including identified measurement locations  802 - 812  relative to two speaker arrays  814  and  816 . A pointing element associated with each speaker in each speaker array  814  and  816  mechanically or electronically illuminates a particular measurement location  802 - 812  associated with a particular speaker. The system  100  receives location characteristic information  106  obtained at the measurement locations  802 - 812  and obtains the adjustment parameters  110 . When adjustment is recommended, the system  100  responsively recommends adjustment or performs adjustment of the speaker system, which may include adjustment of the arrays  814  and  816  according to the adjustment parameters  152 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the venue  800  shown in  FIG. 8  including speaker arrays  814  and  816  adjusted to improve the sound. The system  100  received the location characteristic information measured at the measurement locations  602 - 608 , obtained adjustment parameters, and electrically or physically adjusted the speakers in the speaker arrays  814  and  816 . The system  100  may iteratively adjust the speakers in the speaker arrays  814  and  816 , or make other speaker system adjustments, using location characteristic information obtained from the new measurement locations  902 - 912 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the acts  1000  the system  100  may take to determine venue information  108 . The system  100  identifies a measurement location using a pointing element (Act  1002 ) and may instruct one or more speakers to emit a test signal (Act  1004 ). The system  100  receives location characteristic information  106  measured at the measurement location (Act  1006 ). The location characteristic information may provide the amplitude  122 , phasing  124 , frequency  126 , reverberation  128  or any other acoustic signal features of the test signal. The system  100  may analyze the location characteristic information  108  to determine the venue information  110  (Act  1008 ). For example, the system  100  may initiate execution of a venue analysis program that determines the venue information  110  from the location characteristic information. Alternatively or additionally, the system  100  may accept operator input that specifies the venue information  110  or request venue information  110  from local or remote databases  114 . 
       FIG. 11  shows the system  100  coupled to a stand alone speaker  1102  and a speaker array  1104 . One or more of the speakers includes a pointing element (e.g., the pointing element  1106 ) that indicates a measurement location to a technician. One or more of the speakers may also be coupled to a physical adjustment mechanism (e.g., the physical adjustment mechanism  1108 ). The adjustment mechanisms may be controlled by the system  100  or, additionally or alternatively, manually adjusted by a technician. In addition, the system  100  is connected to electrical adjustment logic  1116 , such as filters, amplifiers, phase delays, time delays, or other electrical parameter adjustment logic configured to provide electrically adjusted speaker signals. The electrical adjustment logic  1116  may be provided for any one or more stand alone speakers, or any one or more speakers alone or grouped together in one or more speaker arrays. 
     A measurement device  1110  communicates location characteristic information obtained from the measurement locations to the system  100 . The measurement device  1110  may interface with the communication interface  1114 . The communication interface  1114  may be a wireless interface (e.g., a WiFi, ZigBee, or WiMax interface), a wired network interface (e.g., an Ethernet network interface), a serial, parallel, USB, or firewire port, or other communication interface. 
     The adjustment control program  106  may also include instructions for displaying the adjustment parameters  152  on a user interface  1112 . A technician may use the displayed adjustment parameters  152  to manually adjust the speaker  1102  or speaker array  1104 . In implementations in which the system  100  includes automatic adjustment logic, the user interface  1112  may accept input from the technician to validate, accept, reject, or modify the recommended adjustments before the system  100  performs the adjustments. The user interface  1112  may be displayed on the display  172  (e.g., local to the system  100 ), on the measurement device  1110 , or may be communicated through the communication interface  1114  to any of the speaker system equipment for local display, thereby allowing the technician to make adjustments while moving in the venue, gathering additional location characteristic information or performing other tasks. 
       FIG. 12  shows a portion of a venue  1200  in which the system  100  uses the speaker  1202  to determine characteristics of the venue  1200 . The speaker  1202  includes a first pointing element  1204  and a second pointing element  1206 . Additional or fewer pointing elements may be used. The system  100  activates the pointing elements  1204  and  1206  in any order or combination to illuminate measurement locations  1210  and  1212  on the physical venue feature  1208 . In  FIG. 12 , the physical venue feature  1208  is an angled wall, however any other venue feature may be illuminated with one or more pointing elements. 
     The measurement device  1110  collects location characteristic information at each of the measurement locations  1210  and  1212 . For example, the measurement device  1110  may collect distance information from each measurement location  1210  and  1212  to the pointing element that illuminates the respective measurement location  1210  and  1212 . As a result, the technician, measurement device  1110 , system  100 , or other entity may analyze the location characteristic information to determine venue information. In the example shown in  FIG. 12 , the different distances to the different pointing elements may be analyzed to determine the angle of the wall at which the speaker  1202  points. The system  100  may take any such venue information into consideration in determining the adjustment parameters  152 . Thus, the arrangement shown in  FIG. 12  provides a two dimensional analysis of the feature  1208 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a second example of determining characteristics of a venue. In  FIG. 13 , the system  100  uses the speaker  1302  to determine characteristics of the venue wall  1304 . The speaker  1302  includes three pointing elements: a first pointing element  1306 , a second pointing element  1308 , and a third pointing element  1310 . Additional or fewer pointing elements may be used. In the example shown in  FIG. 13 , the pointing elements  1306 ,  1308 , and  1310  are located on the front planar surface of the speaker  1302  and provide illumination normal to the surface, but may instead be located or associated with the speaker  1302  in other locations, arrangements, or angles. 
     The system  100  activates the pointing elements  1306 ,  1308 , and  1310  in any order or combination to illuminate the measurement locations  1312 ,  1314 , and  1316  on the venue wall  1304 . In  FIG. 13 , the venue wall  1304  forms a plane that is not parallel with the front surface of the speaker. As a result, the measurement locations  1312 ,  1314 , and  1316  identify vertices of a triangle  1318  that differ in distance from their respective pointing elements  1306 ,  1308 , and  1310 . The measurement device  1110  may determine such location characteristic information and communicate the location characteristic information back to the system  100 . The system  100  may then determine that the venue wall  1034  forms a plane that is not parallel to the front surface of the speaker  1302  by analyzing the distance measurements. The system  100  may derive a wide variety of venue information for consideration in making speaker adjustments from the location characteristic information, such as location of the venue wall  1304 , the relative angles formed by the venue wall  1304  with respect to a basis measurement, such as the front of the speaker, or any other venue information. 
     The pointing elements may fill other roles in the system  100 . For example, the system  100  may activate the pointing elements to provide a light show, as error, warning, or status indicators, or to communicate other information. In one implementation, the system  100  activates and deactivates the pointing elements (e.g., during a performance) in synchronism with audio signals, according to a pre-programmed pattern and timing sequence stored in the memory  104 , in response to manual input through the user interface  1112 , in response to input received at the communication interface  1114 , randomly, or in other manners. 
     Although selected aspects, features, or components of the implementations are depicted as being stored in memories, all or part of the systems, including methods and/or instructions for performing methods, consistent with the pointing element enhanced speaker system may be stored on, distributed across, or read from other machine-readable media. The machine-readable media may include, for example, secondary storage devices such as hard disks, floppy disks, and CD-ROMs; a signal received from a network; or other forms of ROM or RAM either currently known or later developed. 
     Specific components of a pointing element enhanced speaker system may include additional or different components. A processor may be implemented as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a DSP, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete logic, or a combination of other types of circuits or logic. Similarly, memories may be DRAM, SRAM, Flash or any other type of memory. The processing capability of the system  100  may be distributed among multiple system components, such as among processors embedded in amplifiers, mixers, or speakers. The system components may be networked together to exchange venue, equipment, and location characteristic information  108 ,  110 , and  112 , or to exchange adjustment parameters  152 . Parameters, databases, and other data structures may be separately stored and managed, may be incorporated into a single memory or database, or may be logically and physically organized in many different ways. Programs and instruction sets may be parts of a single program, separate programs, or distributed across several memories and processors. 
     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.