Patent Publication Number: US-2009220104-A1

Title: Venue private network

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to audio monitoring systems and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing users with an enhanced listening experience in a variety of different settings. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People attend a variety of different types of events (e.g., rock concerts, symphonies, plays, etc.) in a variety of different settings, many of which provide less than optimal listening conditions. In some situations, the listening conditions are adversely affected by the size of the venue. This is often the case for concerts held at large stadiums, many of which are designed for other purposes (e.g., football, baseball, basketball, etc.) and therefore may not be designed to achieve optimal sound quality. Additionally, the sheer size of such venues often result in sub-optimal acoustic conditions as it is virtually impossible to optimize the acoustics both for listeners seated close to the performers and those seated at a great distance from the performers. In other situations, the setting itself may contribute to the poor sound quality experienced by the listener. For example, a concert held in a park is unlikely to offer the listener the same musical experience as a concert held in a symphony hall since the latter provides carefully controlled acoustics which cannot be achieved in an outdoor setting. 
     Event attendees who experience poor acoustics will often leave the event feeling disappointed, that feeling being directed at the event, the artist performing at the event, the venue, or with all three. For an artist, disappointing the attendees of even a single concert will often lead to bad publicity which, in turn, will often lead to lower music sales, decreased attendance at future concerts, and a shrinking fan base. For the venue, dissatisfied attendees and the bad publicity that accompanies such an event will often translate to lower ticket sales, both because of an inability to sell as many tickets for future events as well as the need to charge less per ticket in order to overcome the image of a venue offering inferior sound quality. 
     In addition to the desire to maintain their fan base, artists often look for ways to provide their fans with an improved or otherwise novel experience. For example, even very well known artists with huge fan bases will occasionally play concerts at small, intimate venues, often with little pre-concert publicity. Although such venues help the artist to connect with their fans, since it provides an intimate experience for very few fans the artist is often left searching for ways of achieving the same experience with more fans. The present invention provides such an experience while overcoming the problems associated with many venues. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method and apparatus for supplying participating attendees within a specific venue an improved acoustical experience. To implement the invention the venue is divided into multiple zones, each zone preferably including a plurality of attendee seats. Using a receiver configured to wirelessly receive audio programming from a transmitter coupled to a central processor and a sound system and then transmit zone specific audio programming through a set of audio monitors, each participating attendee is able to listen to an improved version of the live event. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a method of supplying audio programming via audio monitors to participating attendees of a live event is provided, the method comprising the steps of dividing the venue into multiple zones, assigning each participating attendee to a particular zone of the multiple zones, wirelessly transmitting the audio programming within the venue, providing each participating attendee with a receiver for wirelessly receiving the audio programming and transmitting zone specific audio programming to the attendee via audio monitors, and then retrieving the receiver from the attendee at the conclusion of the live event. In addition to primary program material, the audio programming can include secondary program material. The receiver can provide means for selecting the program material to be provided as the zone specific audio programming. In one configuration, the step of wirelessly transmitting the audio programming is further comprised of the step of wirelessly transmitting a plurality of zone specific audio programming within the venue, the receiver determining which zone specific audio programming corresponds to the particular zone assigned to the participating attendee. In another configuration, the step of wirelessly transmitting the audio programming is further comprised of the step of wirelessly transmitting a plurality of zone specific audio programming within the venue, the receiver providing means for selecting which zone specific audio programming corresponds to the particular zone assigned to the participating attendee. In another configuration, the receiver performs the step of modifying the audio program to generate the zone specific audio programming corresponding to the particular zone assigned to the participating attendee. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a method of supplying audio programming via audio monitors to participating attendees of a live event is provided, the method comprising the steps of dividing the venue into multiple zones, wirelessly transmitting the audio programming within the venue, providing each participating attendee with a receiver for determining a receiver location relative to a primary venue location using GPS and wirelessly receiving the audio programming and transmitting zone specific audio programming to the attendee via audio monitors, and then retrieving the receiver from the attendee at the conclusion of the live event. In addition to primary program material, the audio programming can include secondary program material. The receiver can provide means for selecting the program material to be provided as the zone specific audio programming. In one configuration, the step of wirelessly transmitting the audio programming is further comprised of the step of wirelessly transmitting a plurality of zone specific audio programming within the venue, the receiver determining which zone specific audio programming corresponds to the particular zone assigned to the receiver&#39;s location. In another configuration, the receiver performs the step of modifying the audio program to generate the zone specific audio programming corresponding to the particular zone assigned to the receiver&#39;s location. 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, a venue network system is provided comprised of a central processor that receives an audio mix of a live event within a specific venue, the venue divided into multiple zones, a central transmitter that wirelessly transmits an audio program comprised of at least a portion of the audio mix, and a plurality of receivers each of which is configured for a particular zone of the multiple zones and configured to receive the audio program, process the audio program to generate a zone specific audio program and transmit the zone specific audio program through a pair of audio monitors. In one configuration, each receiver is further comprised of a global positioning system, the receiver using receiver location information provided by the global positioning system to determine the particular zone for which the receiver is configured. In another configuration, each receiver is further comprised of a zone selector. The receiver can be configured to further comprise a volume controller, at least one sound controller and/or means for transmitting information back to the central processor. 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, a venue network system is provided comprised of a central processor that receives an audio mix of a live event within a specific venue, the venue divided into multiple zones, a central transmitter that wirelessly transmits a plurality of zone specific audio programs each of which is comprised of at least a portion of the audio mix, and a plurality of receivers each of which is configured for a particular zone of the multiple zones and configured to receive the zone specific audio program corresponding to the receiver&#39;s particular zone and transmit the zone specific audio program through a pair of audio monitors. The receiver can be configured to further comprise a volume controller, at least one sound controller and/or means for transmitting information back to the central processor. 
     A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a concert arena divided into zones; 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates one configuration of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates one configuration of a receiver for use with the invention; 
         FIG. 4  schematically illustrates an alternate configuration of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates one configuration of a transceiver; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an alternate configuration of a transceiver. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     The system of the present invention provides an enhanced acoustic experience for participating attendees at concerts and other events (e.g., plays, sporting events, etc.). As will be described in detail, the system is scalable to different size venues and can be configured to provide any of a variety of services. In its most basic configuration, the system transmits an audio program to participating attendees throughout the venue, the exact nature of the audio program depending, at least in part, on the location of the attendee in question. The transmitted audio program can be the same as, or different from, the audio program occurring live on stage at the event. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of a concert arena  100 . It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to arenas of this particular configuration, i.e., an arena in which the seats are positioned in a circular rows surrounding the stage and in which a back stage area is blocked off. Thus the invention is similarly applicable to venues in which the attendees are located on all sides of the performers or in which the seating is configured in non-circular rows. In this exemplary arena, the seats around stage  101  are divided into a plurality of zones; in this example zones A-D. Typically within each zone there are multiple rows of seats. The zones are defined by the distance from stage  101 , and thus the performers, each zone including a range of distances. 
     To utilize the invention, the attendees within each zone that choose to gain the benefits of the system are provided with a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver can be preconfigured for a specific zone or, as described further below, configurable for a specific zone using zone selection means (e.g., zone selector switch, GPS, etc.). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wireless receivers are rented to the attendees for the duration of the program, thus minimizing cost to the attendees while providing a new revenue stream for the participating venue. At the conclusion of the event (e.g., concert), the participating attendees simply return the receiver to the venue operator. 
       FIG. 2  schematically illustrates one configuration of the invention suitable for use with the exemplary arena of  FIG. 1 . As shown, an output signal preferably representing all or some portion of the audio program presented by the performer (or other source) is transmitted from sound system  201  to a sound processor  202  and wireless transmitter  203  to which it is coupled. Typically sound system  201  is a mixing board that allows the system operator or controller to determine what audio program the attendees using the system will be provided. Sound processor  202  and wireless transmitter  203 , in turn, wirelessly transmits signals representing the desired audio program to a plurality of wireless receivers  205 - 208  that correspond to the zones of the arena. Accordingly, wireless receivers  205  correspond to zone A in  FIG. 1 ; wireless receivers  206  correspond to zone B; wireless receivers  207  correspond to zone C; and wireless receivers  208  correspond to zone D. It will be appreciated that the configurations shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are merely illustrative of the invention, and that both fewer and greater numbers of zones can be used in the invention and that both fewer and greater numbers of wireless receivers can be used within each zone, with the expectation that a large number of wireless receivers will be used within each zone. 
     Attached to each wireless receiver  205 - 208  is a pair of audio monitors  209 . As used herein, the term ‘audio monitors’ refers to any of a variety of well known monitors including, but not limited to, ear buds, in ear monitors, over-the-head headsets, over-the-ear headsets, clip-on headsets, and behind-the-neck headsets. Audio monitors  209  can be supplied with the wireless receiver, or supplied as an option. Additionally, audio monitors  209  can be hard-wired to the wireless receiver or be removable, for example using a stereo plug. If a stereo plug is used, a conventional plug can be used (e.g., 2.5 mm or 3.5 mm plug) thus allowing the user to substitute their own audio monitors. Alternately, a proprietary plug and jack arrangement can be used, thereby preventing the user from easily substituting audio monitors. 
     Without the use of the present invention, the further an attendee is from the stage, the greater the delay between the audio portion of a live performance and the visual portion of the same performance due to differences in the speed of light and the speed of sound. Clearly this impacts the quality of the performance experienced by the attendee, especially for those attendees in the further reaches of the arena. With the use of the invention, however, the audio portion of a performance can be properly synchronized with the visual portion of the same performance based on the attendee&#39;s location within the venue, i.e., based on the zone in which the attendee is sitting. 
     A major benefit of the present invention is that it can be used to provide a dramatic improvement in the quality of the audio performance experienced by those attendees utilizing the invention. In general, regardless of where someone sits at a concert, the sound quality is less than desirable for a variety of reasons. First, very few concert halls/arenas are acoustically optimized. Second, the volume of the performance varies greatly throughout the venue, the degree of variation depending primarily upon the size of the concert hall or arena. Typically the volume near the stage will be uncomfortably loud while the volume far from the stage may be too low, especially if there is much crowd noise. Third, the sound quality of a performance will be greatly affected by extraneous noise, for example crowd noise. Lastly, audio distortion often leads to unacceptably poor sound quality at a concert. In part, audio distortion is due to the volume of the performance, especially if the volume is very high because of the size of the arena and the need to adequately reach the furthest seats. Frequency-based differences in the speed of sound will also lead to audio distortion. Additionally, as the sound travels through the arena, from the stage to the attendees, it is attenuated. As the degree of attenuation varies depending upon the frequency, audio attenuation will also lead to audio distortion, the magnitude of the distortion typically increasing as the distance from the stage to the attendee in question is increased. 
     Accordingly, by utilizing high fidelity audio monitors, the present invention can provide attendees with better sound quality than is typically achievable with the unaided ear. In particular, audio monitors  209 , in conjunction with the wireless transmitter  203 , processor  202 , sound system  201 , and the zone appropriate wireless receiver  205 - 208 , can provide the user with low distortion, high quality sound regardless of where the attendee is within the arena, thereby providing a much better audio experience than is currently achievable. 
     Another benefit of the present invention is that it can be used to minimize, if not altogether eliminate, hearing damage that can occur at a concert. In general, if an attendee is seated too close to a speaker, they may incur hearing damage due to excessive sound pressure levels. For large concert arenas where the volume levels must be maintained at very high levels in order to reach all attendees, the region of potentially dangerous volume levels surrounding the speakers is even greater. In addition to trying to sit far away from the speakers, cautious concert attendees can also wear ear plugs. Unfortunately as solid earplugs (e.g., foam or silicon ear plugs) preferentially attenuate higher frequencies, most music fans are unwilling to wear them since they do not want to compromise the sound quality of the concert that they are attending. Through the use of the invention, however, the volume can be maintained at a safe level without compromising sound quality since the volume experienced by the user is given by the gain of the wireless receiver rather than the volume of the ambient environment. To this end, the inventor has found that in-ear monitors or closed headphones are particularly beneficial as they effectively attenuate the ambient environment. 
     In at least one embodiment of the invention and as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the wireless receiver  301  includes a volume controller  303  which allows the user to regulate the volume of the received audio program. Controller  303  can be an electro-mechanical switch (e.g., slide switch, rotating switch, etc.), an electro-optical switch (capacitive switch, resistive switch, etc.) or other switch type since the invention is not limited to a specific type of volume controller. It will be appreciated that a single venue may simultaneously offer wireless receivers with and without volume controllers; presumably those that include a volume controller would rent for a higher fee. 
     In at least one embodiment of the invention, the wireless receiver includes one or more controls which allow the end user to regulate, to a degree, the sound mix that they receive through audio monitors  209 . In an exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the user is able to control the bass, the mid-range and the treble using controllers  305 - 307 , respectively. It will be appreciated that a lesser or a greater amount of sound control is envisioned (i.e., a fewer or a greater number of frequency bands); that controllers  305 - 307  can utilize electro-mechanical, electro-optical or other switch types; that sound control and volume control are independent of one another and therefore a wireless receiver may include one, both, or neither type of audio control; and that a single venue may simultaneously offer wireless receivers with and without sound controllers. Presumably the wireless receivers that include sound control (i.e., an equalizer) would rent for a higher fee. 
     In at least one embodiment of the invention, the wireless receiver includes a controller  309  that allows the user to select a particular program or mix from several different programs/mixes supplied by sound processor/transmitter  203 . Selection controller  309  can be an electro-mechanical switch (e.g., slide switch, rotating switch, etc.), an electro-optical switch (capacitive switch, resistive switch, etc.) or other switch type. Exemplary programs or mixes include, but are not limited to, mixes which highlight a particular instrument or artist (e.g., lead singer, drums, base, etc.) and mixes which allow the user to hear not only the musicians (i.e., primary program material) but secondary program material as well (e.g., musician comments to back-stage personnel; narration; voice overlays; etc.). It will be appreciated that a single venue may simultaneously offer wireless receivers with and without a program/mix selection controller; presumably those that include a program/mix selection controller would rent for a higher fee. Additionally, it should be understood that a program/mix selection controller is independent of volume and/or sound mix controllers. 
     It will be appreciated that the wireless receivers of the present invention can utilize any of a wide variety of designs, depending at least in part on the optional features included such as volume control, sound quality control, and program/mix control. For example, in at least one configuration the wireless receiver is designed to be worn by the attendee, e.g., as a belt pack or arm-band pack. In at least one other configuration, the wireless receiver is designed to be worn around the neck of the user, e.g., on a neck loop. In at least one other configuration, the wireless receiver is worn in a behind-the-ear configuration. In at least one other configuration, the wireless receiver is worn using an ear clip. It will be appreciated that these are but a few of the possible configurations that the wireless receiver can utilize. 
     The zone selection aspects of the present invention can be implemented in several different ways. In one embodiment, the sound processor within component  203  generates several different outputs with varying degrees of audio delay, each of which corresponds to the desired delay for a particular zone of the concert hall/arena. As a variety of techniques are well known by those of skill in the art that can be used to distinguish these signals, thereby allowing each wireless receiver to select one of these signals, further discussion of this aspect of the device is not included herein. Note that if desired and as described above, for each zone the sound processor can also generate multiple programs and/or mixes, each of which is also selectable as previously noted. 
     In one preferred embodiment, each wireless receiver includes a zone selection switch  311 . Zone selection switch  311  can be an electro-mechanical switch (e.g., slide switch, rotating switch, etc.), an electro-optical switch (capacitive switch, resistive switch, etc.) or other switch type. Zone selection switch  311  can be designed to allow the end user, i.e., the concert attendee, to select the appropriate signal based on the zone in which the attendee is seated. Clearly the venue would insure that attendees are aware of the different zones within the hall/arena so that the end user can make the right selection. Alternately, zone selection switch  311  can be located so that it is not accessible by the user, for example by locating the switch in the battery compartment or some other ‘hidden’ location. In this configuration the venue operator would set the receiver to the appropriate zone before renting the receiver to a particular attendee. 
     Regardless of whether the zone selection switch  311  is intended for use by the attendee or the venue operator, there are two different techniques for utilizing the zone information by receivers  205 - 208 . In the first technique, multiple programs/mixes are transmitted by wireless transmitter  203  and the zone selection switch is used to determine which program/mix is appropriate based on a particular receiver&#39;s zone. In the second technique, the program/mix transmitted by transmitter  203  is not delayed and each individual receiver delays the program/mix by an appropriate amount based on that receiver&#39;s zone which is given by zone selection switch  311 . 
     In an alternate preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , coupled to sound system  201  is a sound processor  202  and wireless transceiver  401 . The system further comprises wireless transceivers  403  which are used by the participating concert attendees to receive the sound programs and mixes as previously described. However, as this system uses transceivers rather that a central transmitter and wireless receivers, the system illustrated in  FIG. 4  is more versatile than the previously described embodiment. 
     In one configuration of the system shown in  FIG. 4 , means are provided which allow attendees to communicate directly with the performers or back-stage personnel. The means may be a small keyboard  501  which, for example, can be mounted to the wireless transceiver as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Note that keyboard  501  can be comprised of any set of keys, for example, two keys can be used which represent ‘yes’ and ‘no’, or three keys can be used which can represent three different possible choices, etc. Alternately, the attendee communication means may be a small microphone  601  which, for example, can be mounted to the wireless receiver as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Note that the microphone can also be located in other locations, for example on the cable that connects audio monitors  209  to transceiver  603 . It should be understood that although illustrated wireless transceivers  503  and  603  include a volume controller  303 , sound controllers  305 - 307 , program/mix selection controller  309  and zone selection switch  311 , each of these features is optional and as such, may or may not be included with transceivers  503  and  603 . 
     Although transceivers  403  can utilize zone selection means as previously described, in a preferred configuration of the system shown in  FIG. 4 , transceivers  403  each include a global positioning system (GPS). The inclusion of GPS in each transceiver  403  allows their position, relative to a primary location within the venue such as the stage, to be determined. Primary venue position (e.g., stage location) information can be programmed into each transceiver  403 , transmitted to each transceiver  403  by central transceiver  401 , or other means. By knowing its position relative to the primary venue position, transceiver  403  can automatically determine the zone in which it is located based on the distance between the primary position and the transceiver. The transceiver can then select the appropriate program/mix for its zone from the programs/mixes being transmitted by transceiver  401 . Alternately, transceiver  401  can transmit a non-delayed program/mix which each transceiver  403 , based on its location as determined using the GPS, can delay an appropriate amount. It will be appreciated that regardless of whether a GPS-enabled transceiver  403  selects the program/mix for its zone or calculates/implements the proper delay based on its location, the inclusion of GPS can be used to allow the transceiver to automatically change the program/mix (or delay) as the attendee using the transceiver moves about the concert hall/arena. Accordingly this implementation of the invention offers the advantage of allowing free movement of attendees while still maintaining optimal sound quality, an especially useful feature in venues with non-assigned seating. 
     As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention which is set forth in the following claims.