Patent Publication Number: US-2019200133-A1

Title: Speaker discovery and assignment

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/846,727, filed Sep. 4, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/045,954, filed Sep. 4, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/099,957, filed Jan. 5, 2015, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference for all that they teach and for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed toward wireless speaker discovery, configuration, connection, and the playback process. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When designing connection and pairing protocols, usability and security are top concerns. However, there tends to be a general lack of simplicity when it comes to setting up and configuring home theatre systems. In the ecosystem of home theatre systems for example, a more enjoyable experience will be had by the user when the amount of effort required by the user during a configuration process is minimal. In addition, installing, running, and configuring speaker wires for use in home theatre systems may present a challenge for the user and may be a primary reason most users do not have a home theatre system. However, designing a system that requires minimal effort on the part of the user, is highly secure and usable, and is easy to install and configure, is often difficult and costly. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is, therefore, one aspect of the present disclosure to provide a system and method used to connect wireless speakers to a host device and allow the user to discover, configure, and use the speakers. Such a system and method maintains a level of security while enhancing usability and overall user experience. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a device for assigning one or more discovered wireless speakers to a speaker location is provided. The device may include a processor and memory. The memory may contain processor executable instructions that when executed, cause the processor to: discover one or more wireless speakers, output to a display device, a speaker diagram illustrating a speaker configuration, wherein the speaker configuration includes a plurality of speaker locations, receive a selection of a speaker location from the plurality of speaker locations, output to the display device, a list of wireless speakers, wherein the list of wireless speakers corresponds to the discovered one or more wireless speakers, receive a selection of a wireless speaker from the list of wireless speakers, and associate the selected wireless speaker to the selected speaker location. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of assigning one or more discovered wireless speakers to a speaker location is provided. The method may comprise discovering one or more wireless speakers, displaying, at an output device, a speaker diagram illustrating a speaker configuration, wherein the speaker configuration includes a plurality of speaker locations, receiving a selection of a speaker location from the plurality of speaker locations, displaying, to the output device, a list of wireless speakers, wherein the list of wireless speakers corresponds to the discovered one or more wireless speakers, receiving a selection of a wireless speaker from the list of wireless speakers, and associating the selected wireless speaker to the selected speaker location. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon to discover and assign one or more wireless speakers is provided. The instructions, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to discover one or more wireless speakers, display a speaker diagram illustrating a speaker configuration, wherein the speaker configuration includes a plurality of speaker locations, receive a selection of a speaker location from the plurality of speaker locations, display, to an output device, a list of wireless speakers, wherein the list of wireless speakers corresponds to the discovered one or more wireless speakers, receive a selection of a wireless speaker from the list of wireless speakers, and assign the selected wireless speaker to the selected speaker location. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, an audio tone to be emitted from the selected wireless speaker. In accordance with at least one embodiment, at least one visual indicator located on the speaker may be turned on and/or off. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the speaker configuration is based on a number of discovered wireless speakers. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a selection of a second speaker location from the plurality of speaker locations may be received, the list of wireless speakers may be displayed to an output device, a selection of a second wireless speaker from the list of wireless speakers may be received, and the selected second wireless speaker may be assigned to the selected second speaker location. In accordance with at least one embodiment, multi-channel audio content may be received from an audio source, a first channel of the multi-channel audio content may be transmitted to the first wireless speaker, and the second channel of the multi-channel audio content may be transmitted to the second wireless speaker. In accordance with at least embodiment, the first and second wireless speakers may be associated to a first speaker group and the second wireless speaker may be associated to a second speaker group. 
     The Summary is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary, the attached drawings, and in the detailed description of the invention, and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in the Summary. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description, particularly when taken together with the drawings. 
     The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together. 
     The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” can be used interchangeably. 
     The term “automatic” and variations thereof, as used herein, refers to any process or operation done without material human input when the process or operation is performed. However, a process or operation can be automatic, even though performance of the process or operation uses material or immaterial human input, if the input is received before performance of the process or operation. Human input is deemed to be material if such input influences how the process or operation will be performed. Human input that consents to the performance of the process or operation is not deemed to be “material.” 
     The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any tangible storage that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, NVRAM or magnetic or optical disks. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, solid-state drive (SSD), magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, magneto-optical medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, a solid-state medium like a memory card, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read. When the computer-readable media is configured as a database, it is to be understood that the database may be any type of database, such as relational, hierarchical, object-oriented, and/or the like. Accordingly, the invention is considered to include a tangible storage medium and prior art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations of the present invention are stored. 
     The terms “determine,” “calculate,” and “compute,” and variations thereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any type of methodology, process, mathematical operation or technique. 
     The term “module” as used herein refers to any known or later-developed hardware, software, firmware, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, or combination of hardware and software that is capable of performing the functionality associated with that element. Also, while the invention is described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it should be appreciated that an individual aspect of the invention can be separately claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is described in conjunction with the appended figures: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a wireless audio/video distribution system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  depicts one or more speaker configurations in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram depicting details of a speaker in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram depicting details of an audio/video processor (AVP) in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a first configuration of a wireless audio/video distribution system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a second configuration of a wireless audio/video distribution system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a third configuration of a wireless audio/video distribution system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a fourth configuration of a wireless audio/video distribution system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a fifth configuration of a wireless audio/video distribution system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  depicts a sixth configuration of a wireless audio/video distribution system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  depicts a seventh configuration of a wireless audio/video distribution system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is a flow diagram depicting a first speaker assignment process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13  is a flow diagram depicting a second speaker assignment process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 14A-14L  depict an example speaker assignment process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 15  is a block diagram depicting a first data structure in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 16  is a flow diagram depicting details of a first audio dissemination process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 17  is a flow diagram depicting details of a second audio dissemination process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 18  is a flow diagram depicting details of a speaker group selection and audio playback process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 19  is a flow diagram depicting details of a method of discovering one or more speakers and configuring such speakers in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The ensuing description provides embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the embodiments. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , details of a wireless audio/video distribution system  100  are depicted in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The wireless audio/video distribution system  100  generally provides time-synchronized wireless audio to one or more zones, or groups, of wireless audio speakers. The wireless audio/video distribution system  100  may include one or more communication networks  104 , one or more speaker groups  108 A- 108 B having one or more speakers, one or more wireless audio/video processors  112 , one or more televisions  116 , one or more mobile devices  120 , and one or more remote controls  124  interacting with or otherwise configuring the audio/video processing unit  112 , the television  116 , and/or the one or more speaker groups  108 A- 108 B. 
     The one or more communication networks  104  may comprise any type of known communication medium or collection of communication media and may use any type of known protocols to transport messages between endpoints. The communication network  104  is generally a wireless communication network employing one or more wireless communication technologies; however, the communication network  104  may include one or more wired components and may implement one or more wired communication technologies. The Internet is an example of the communication network that constitutes an Internet Protocol (IP) network consisting of many computers, computing networks, and other communication devices located all over the world, which are connected through many networked systems and other means. Other examples of components that may be utilized within the communication network  104  include, without limitation, a standard Plain Old Telephone System (POTS), an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a cellular network, and any other type of packet-switched or circuit-switched network known in the art. In addition, it can be appreciated that the communication network need not be limited to any one network type, and instead may be comprised of a number of different networks and/or network types. The communication network  104  may further comprise, without limitation, one or more Bluetooth networks implementing one or more current or future Bluetooth standards, one or more device-to-device Bluetooth connections implementing one or more current or future Bluetooth standards, wireless local area networks implementing one or more 802.11 standards, such as and not limited to 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11c, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11as, and 802.11v standards, and/or one or more device-to-device Wi-Fi-direct connections. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the mobile device  120  may be associated with a user and may correspond to any type of known communication equipment or collection of communication equipment operatively associated with at least one communication module and antenna or transceiver. The mobile device  120  may be any device for carrying out functions, instructions, and/or may be utilized to communicate with the audio/video processing unit  112 , and/or directly with the one or more speakers and/or speaker groups  108 A- 108 B utilizing communication network  104  and/or a direct connection, via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, a propriety direct connection, or otherwise. Examples of a suitable mobile device  120  may include, but are not limited to, a personal computer, laptop, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), cellular phone, smart phone, tablet, mobile computing device, handheld radio, dedicated mobile device, and/or combinations thereof. In general, the mobile device  120  is capable of providing one or more audio streams to one or more speakers and/or one or more speaker groups  108 A- 108 B. The mobile device  120  may optionally have a user interface to allow a user to interact with the mobile device  120 . The user interface may optionally allow a user to make configuration changes to one or more speakers and/or one or more speaker groups  108 A- 108 B directly or indirectly. For example, the user may utilize the mobile device  120  to interact with and/or otherwise navigate a speaker setup process. As another example, the mobile device  120  may be utilized to interface with, and/or navigate, an onscreen display provided at least in part by the audio/video processing unit  112 . 
     Speaker groups  108 A- 108 B may be a collection of one or more speakers capable of receiving, playing, and/or transmitting audio information. The audio information may comprise one or more digital audio streams or one or more multichannel digital audio streams that are received from a variety of connected devices, such as mobile device  120  and/or the audio/video processing unit  112 . The audio information may be encrypted, encoded, and/or provided as a protected content stream. In some embodiments, and in accordance with the present disclosure, the digital audio stream may be a Bluetooth Audio stream, which may be compressed utilizing one or more compression CODECs, such as, but not limited to, MPEG. The Bluetooth Audio stream may be sent to a processor or microcontroller within a speaker of the speaker group  108 A- 108 B, where the audio stream may be decoded and separated into a number of discrete individual channels. These channels may include, but are not limited to, Stereo, Stereo with Subwoofer, Dolby or DTS 5.1 Surround Sound, and/or any other multichannel or mono formats. That is, the speaker groups  108 A- 108 B may utilize a varying number of speakers and provide a varying number of configurations with a varying number of channels. 
     Once the individual channels are extracted and decoded, one of the channels may be played back on the local speaker. Other channels may be sent to any number of other speakers using a standard wireless protocol like WiFi. Each speaker may contain a Bluetooth radio and a WiFi radio for transmitting and receiving the digital audio streams such that each speaker may play back one or more channels of audio. Standard Internet Protocol may be used to assign IP addresses to each speaker for communication purposes and a universally unique identifier (UUID) assigned to each speaker, via the simple service discovery protocol (SSDP), may be used to identify and assign the audio channel each speaker is assigned to or is playing back. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , remote control device  124  may be operative to communicate a command to a peripheral device to elicit functionality of the peripheral device. The remote control device  124  is able to store, serve, compute, communicate, and/or display information to enable a user to control one or more peripheral devices, such as the television  116 , the audio/video processing unit  112 , and/or one or more speakers of the one or more speaker groups  108 A- 108 B. Although remote control device  124  is depicted as a standalone remote control device, such remote control functionality may be provided in and from a mobile device, such as mobile device  120 . The remote control device  124  may include one or more navigation buttons  125 , such as up, down, left, right, and select/enter buttons. 
     The wireless audio/video processing unit  112  provides coded and/or decoded audio data, such as, but not limited to, pulse code modulated integrated interchip sound (PCM/I2S) audio data, to one or more speakers of the speaker groups  108 A- 108 B utilizing one or more wireless protocols. That is, the wireless audio/video processing unit  112  does not use a physical connection to the one or more speakers of the speaker groups  108 A- 108 B as a medium for transmitting the wireless audio. As previously mentioned, the audio data may be provided in a PCM format; however, in some embodiments, the audio data may be provided in formats other than PCM. Alternatively, or in addition, the audio data may be provided in both PCM format and formats other than PCM. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one or more speaker configurations  200  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. That is, speaker groups  108 A- 108 B may utilize a configuration similar to or the same as that which is illustrated in speaker configuration  200 . The speaker configuration  200  generally represents a 7.1 surround sound configuration having a front left speaker  204 A, a front right speaker  204 B, a side left speaker  208 A, a side right speaker  208 B, a rear left speaker  212 A, a rear right speaker  212 B, a center speaker  216 , and a subwoofer  220 . Speaker configuration  200  generally represents an eight-channel surround audio system commonly used in home theatre configurations. Although illustrated as including eight speakers and eight channels, speaker configuration  200  may be of a different surround sound configuration and include more or less than eight speakers and eight channels. Alternatively, or in addition, more than one speaker may be assigned to the same channel. For example, in a 7.2 surround sound configuration, two subwoofers may be utilized to increase, or otherwise enhance, the bass. In some embodiments, one or more speakers and/or one or more channels may be utilized based on an exact location of the speaker. That is, in some circumstances, one or more speakers and one or more corresponding channels may be utilized to provide precise sounds from specific locations to simulate select sounds, such as a helicopter, rain, or other sounds that may or may not include a specific positional component. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates details of one or more speakers  300  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Speaker  300  may be the same as or similar to one or more speakers illustrated in speaker configuration  200 , one or more speakers in speaker groups  108 A- 108 B, and/or one or more speakers referred to throughout the present disclosure. In particular, speaker  300  may include, but is not limited to, speaker electronics  304 , which include a processor  308 , a memory  312 , a communication interface  320 , an antenna  324 , and an amplifier  336 . The speaker  300  may also include one or more mechanical speaker drivers  340  and a power source  344 . Processor  308  is provided to execute instructions contained within memory  312 . Accordingly, the processor  308  may be implemented as any suitable type of microprocessor or similar type of processing chip, such as any general-purpose programmable processor, digital signal processor (DSP), or controller for executing application programming contained within memory  312 . Alternatively, or in addition, the processor  308  and memory  312  may be replaced or augmented with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). 
     The memory  312  generally comprises software routines facilitating, in operation, pre-determined functionality of the speaker  300 . The memory  312  may be implemented using various types of electronic memory generally including at least one array of non-volatile memory cells (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM) cells or flash memory cells, etc.) The memory  312  may also include at least one array of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) cells. The content of the DRAM cells may be pre-programmed and write-protected thereafter, whereas other portions of the memory may selectively be modified or erased. The memory  312  may be used for either permanent data storage or temporary data storage. 
     The communication interface(s)  320  may be capable of supporting multichannel audio, multimedia, and/or data transfers over a wireless network. Alternatively, or in addition, the communications interface  320  may comprise a Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH™, WiMax, infrared, NFC, and/or other wireless communications links. The communication interface  320  may be associated with one or more shared or a dedicated antenna  324 . The type of medium used by the speaker  300  to communicate with other speakers  300 , mobile communication devices  120 , and/or the audio/video processing unit  112 , may depend upon the communication application&#39;s availability on the speaker  300  and/or the availability of the communication medium. 
     The communication interface  320  may also include one or more memories  328  and one or more processors  332 . The processor  332  may be the same as or similar to that of the processor  308  while memory  328  may be the same as or similar to that of the memory  312 . That is, the processor  332  is provided to execute instructions contained within the memory  328 . Accordingly, the processor  332  may be implemented as any suitable type of microprocessor or similar type of processing chip, such as any general-purpose programmable processor, digital signal processor (DSP) or controller for executing application programming contained within memory  328 . Alternatively, or in addition, the processor  332  and memory  328  may be replaced or augmented with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). 
     The memory  328  generally comprises software routines facilitating, in operation, pre-determined functionality of the communication interface  320 . The memory  328  may be implemented using various types of electronic memory generally including at least one array of non-volatile memory cells (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM) cells or flash memory cells, etc.). The memory  328  may also include at least one array of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) cells. The content of the DRAM cells may be pre-programmed and write-protected thereafter, whereas other portions of the memory may be selectively modified or erased. The memory  328  may be used for either permanent data storage or temporary data storage. The processor  308 , memory  312 , communication interface  320 , and amplifier  336  may communicate with one another over one or more communication buses or connection  316 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the speaker  300  may include one or more amplifiers  336  that may amplify a signal associated with audio data to be output via one or more speaker coils  340 . In some embodiments and consistent with the present disclosure, the speaker  300  may include one or more amplifiers  336 , speaker coils  340 , and/or speaker assemblies directed to one or more specific frequency ranges. For example, the speaker  300  may include an amplifier and/or speaker coil to output sounds of a low frequency range, an amplifier and/or speaker coil to output sounds of a medium frequency range, and/or an amplifier and/or speaker coil to output sounds of a high frequency range. 
     Speaker  300  may also include one or more power sources  344  for providing power to the speaker  300  and the components included in speaker  300 . The power source  344  may be one of many power sources. Though not illustrated, the speaker  300  may also include one or more locating or location systems. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the one or more locating systems may provide absolute location information to other components of the wireless audio/video distribution system  100 . In some embodiments, a location of the speaker  300  may be determined by the device&#39;s location-based features, a location signal, and/or combinations thereof. The location-based features may utilize data from one or more systems to provide speaker location information. For example, a speaker&#39;s location may be determined by an acoustical analysis of sound emanating from the speaker in reference to a known location. In some embodiments, sound emanating from the speaker may be received by a microphone. Accordingly, the acoustical analysis of the received sound, with reference to a known location, may allow one or more systems to determine a location of the speaker. The speaker  300  may additionally include an indicator  348  which may be utilized to visually identify the speaker  300  during a speaker assignment process. 
     In some embodiments, the speaker  300  may implement no management itself. Rather, the association of speakers to groups and their locations may be kept track of by a host device, such as speaker  300 , an audio/video processing unit  112 , a mobile device  120  and/or combinations thereof. That is, the speaker plays whatever is sent to it and it is up to the host to decide which channel to send to a specific speaker and when the speaker plays back the specific audio channel. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of one or more audio/video processing unit(s)  112  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The audio/video processing unit  112  may include a processor/controller  404 , memory  408 , storage  412 , user input  424 , user output  428 , a communication interface  432 , antenna  444 , a speaker discovery and assignment module  448 , and a system bus  452 . The processor  404  may be implemented as any suitable type of microprocessor or similar type of processing chip, such as any general-purpose programmable processor, digital signal processor (DSP) or controller for executing application programming contained within memory  408 . Alternatively, or in addition, the processor  404  and memory  408  may be replaced or augmented with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). 
     The memory  408  generally comprises software routines facilitating, in operation, pre-determined functionality of the audio/video processing unit  112 . The memory  408  may be implemented using various types of electronic memory generally including at least one array of non-volatile memory cells (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM) cells or flash memory cells, etc.). The memory  408  may also include at least one array of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) cells. The content of the DRAM cells may be pre-programmed and write-protected thereafter, whereas other portions of the memory may be selectively modified or erased. The memory  408  may be used for either permanent data storage or temporary data storage. 
     Alternatively, or in addition, data storage  412  may be provided. The data storage  412  may generally include storage for programs and data. For instance, with respect to the audio/video processing unit  112 , data storage  412  may provide storage for a database  420 . Data storage  412  associated with an audio/video processing unit  112  may also provide storage for operating system software, programs, and program data  416 . 
     Similar to the communication interface  320 , the communication interface(s)  432  may be capable of supporting multichannel audio, multimedia, and/or data transfers over a wireless network. The communication interface  432  may comprise a Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH™, WiMax, infrared, NFC, and/or other wireless communications links. The communication interface  432  may include a processor  440  and memory  436 ; alternatively, or in addition, the communication interface  432  may share the processor  404  and memory  408  of the audio/video processor  112 . The communication interface  432  may be associated with one or more shared or dedicated antennas  444 . The communication interface  432  may additionally include one or more multimedia interfaces for receiving multimedia content. As one example, the communication interface  432  may receive multimedia content utilizing one or more multimedia interfaces, such as a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), coaxial interface, and/or similar media interfaces. Alternatively, or in addition, the audio/video processing unit  112  may receive multimedia content from one or more devices utilizing the communication network  104 , such as, but not limited to, mobile device  120  and/or a multimedia content provider. 
     In addition, the audio/video processing unit  112  may include one or more user input devices  424 , such as a keyboard, a pointing device, and/or a remote control  124 . Alternatively, or in addition, the audio/video processing unit  112  may include one or more output devices  428 , such as a television  116  and/or a speaker  300 . A user input  424  and user output  428  device can comprise a combined device, such as a touch screen display. Moreover, the user input  424  device may generate one or more graphical user interfaces for display on the television  112  or other device while the user output device  428  may receive input from the graphical user interface and/or a combination of the graphical user interface and another input device, such as the remote control  124 . 
       FIG. 5  provides details of one or more configurations that facilitate a speaker to be used in multiple wireless configurations and in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The ability to operate in many different configurations allows the user to purchase one speaker and use the speaker for many different purposes, saving money and the need to acquire many speakers for different uses. Speakers can also be configured on the fly so a speaker being used for one purpose can be changed to another use as required. The speakers may utilize one or both of Bluetooth™ and Wi-Fi for this purpose. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the speaker  504  uses its Bluetooth radio to receive streamed audio, like those available in MP3 format, from a variety of sources, including mobile devices, such as, but not limited to, mobile devices  120  and/or tablet  508 , which stream audio from their libraries or from the Internet, for example. The streamed audio is played back through the speaker&#39;s included amplifiers and loudspeakers, such as those described with respect to  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, or in addition, the mobile devices  120  and/or table  508  may communicate with the speaker  504  utilizing the previously described communication network  104  and/or a direct connection, such as Bluetooth™ and/or WiFi direct. 
       FIG. 6  provides details of one or more configurations that facilitate a speaker to be used in multiple wireless configurations in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Further,  FIG. 6  provides at least one example in which the speakers  504  and/or  604 A- 604 C can also be configured on the fly. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the same speaker  504  may be used to play back multichannel audio from a streamed source like those available in MP3 format, from a variety of sources, including mobile devices, such as mobile device  120  and/or tablet  508 , which stream audio from their libraries or from the Internet. A processor or microcontroller, such as processor  308 , is used to separate the received streamed audio file into multiple discrete channels, such as and not limited to Stereo, Stereo with Subwoofer, Dolby or DTS 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound. Each audio channel may be sent to a different speaker for playback at a specific time using the included Wi-Fi radio to achieve the desired spatial effect of stereo or surround sound. Therefore, by playing all channels simultaneously, the desired spatial effect of stereo or surround sound may be realized. 
     More specifically, and as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a mobile device, such as mobile device  120  and/or tablet  508 , may provide a multichannel audio stream for playback in surround mode. The multichannel audio stream  608 / 610 , includes multiple channels of audio, represented as  1 ,  2 , . . . n. Processor  308  of speaker  504  may then separate the received audio stream  608 / 610  into multiple discrete channels  612  and provide the discrete multiple channels  612 A- 612 C to their respective speakers  604 A- 604 C; the timing at which the discrete multiple channels  612 A- 612 C are played at each speaker  504  and  604 A- 604 C is critical. Although  FIG. 6  illustrates an example configuration in which speaker  504  receives the multi-channel audio stream  608 / 610  via Bluetooth™ and transmits the discrete audio channels  612 A- 612 C via Wi-Fi, the exact wireless communication technology, standard, or network may be different. That is, references to Bluetooth™ and WiFi are for illustrative purposes and illustrate at least one configuration; other forms of wireless communication are contemplated. Alternatively, or in addition, the mobile devices  120  and/or tablet  508  may communicate with speakers  504  and  604 A- 604 C, utilizing the previously described communication network  104  and/or a direct connection, such as Bluetooth™ and/or WiFi direct and the speaker  504  communicates with each of the speakers  604 A-C, utilizing the previously described communication network  104  and/or a direct connection, such as Bluetooth™ and/or WiFi direct. 
     Alternatively, or in addition,  FIG. 7  provides additional details of one or more configurations that facilitate a speaker to be used in multiple wireless configurations in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Further,  FIG. 7  provides at least one example in which the speakers  504  and/or  604 A- 604 C can also be configured on the fly. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the same speaker  504  may be used to play back multichannel audio from a streamed source like those available in MP3 format, from a variety of sources, including mobile devices, such as mobile device  120  and/or tablet  508 , which stream audio from their libraries or from the Internet. In such a configuration, instead of separating the received streamed audio file into multiple discrete channels, the speaker  504  simply forwards on the received audio stream. Accordingly, each speaker  604 A- 604 C receives the audio stream, and the processor  308  of each speaker  604 A- 604 C may separate, identify, and utilize a specific audio channel according to one or more channel and speaker assignments. By playing all channels simultaneously, with each channel playback time synchronized with the others, the desired spatial effect of stereo or surround sound may be realized. 
     More specifically, and as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a mobile device, such as mobile device  120  and/or tablet  508 , may provide a multichannel audio stream for playback in surround mode. The multichannel audio stream  608 / 610 , includes multiple channels of audio, represented as  1 ,  2 , . . . n. Speaker  504  may receive the multichannel audio stream  608 / 610 , identify one or more channels of audio that have been assigned to it, separate the assigned audio channel, and then play the assigned audio channel at a synchronized timing. Speaker  504  may forward or transmit the received multichannel audio stream  608 / 610  to speakers  604 A- 604 C as multichannel audio streams  712 A- 712 C. Processor  308  of each speaker  604 A- 604 C may then identify, separate, and play one or more channels of the multichannel audio stream that has been assigned to the respective speaker. Accordingly, by playing all channels simultaneously, with each channel playback time synchronized with the others, the desired spatial effect of stereo or surround sound may be realized. Although  FIG. 7  illustrates an example configuration in which speaker  504  receives the multi-channel audio stream  608 / 610  via Bluetooth™ and transmits the multichannel audio streams  712 A- 712 C via Wi-Fi, the exact wireless communication technology, standard, or network may be different. That is, references to Bluetooth™ and WiFi are for illustrative purposes and illustrate at least one configuration; other forms of wireless communication are contemplated. Alternatively, or in addition, the mobile devices  120  and/or tablet  508  may communicate with speakers  504 , utilizing the previously described communication network  104  and/or a direct connection, such as Bluetooth™ and/or WiFi direct and the speaker  504  communicates with each of the speakers  604 A-C, utilizing the previously described communication network  104  and/or a direct connection, such as Bluetooth™ and/or WiFi direct. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a configuration in which the digital audio stream is not separated into channels but is combined to become monaural. That is, the multichannel digital audio stream  608 / 610  is received from the connected device, such as the mobile device  120  and/or the tablet  508 , via Bluetooth™. A monaural stream  812  may then be transmitted via Wi-Fi to any number of speakers for simultaneous playback. That is, in such a configuration, the same speaker may be used in an array of speakers to play back monaural audio from a streamed source like those available in MP3 format, from a variety of sources, including mobile devices, which stream audio from their libraries or from the Internet. In this case, all speakers may play the same audio simultaneously to cover a large area like a whole house or outdoor party with sound. The audio file may be streamed from its source to a speaker using Bluetooth™ and the audio content is then sent to other speakers using a standard wireless protocol like Wi-Fi. Although  FIG. 8  illustrates an example configuration where speaker  504  receives the multi-channel audio stream  608 / 610  via Bluetooth™ and transmits a monaural audio stream  812  via Wi-Fi, the exact wireless communication technology, standard, or network may be different. That is, references to Bluetooth™ and WiFi are for illustrative purposes only and illustrate at least one configuration; other forms of wireless communication are contemplated. Alternatively, or in addition, the mobile devices  120  and/or tablet  508  may communicate with speakers  504 , utilizing the previously described communication network  104  and/or a direct connection, such as Bluetooth™ and/or WiFi direct and the speaker  504  communicates with each of the speakers  604 A-C, utilizing the previously described communication network  104  and/or a direct connection, such as Bluetooth™ and/or WiFi direct. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates another example configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. More specifically, the audio/video processing unit  112  may separate the audio received from one or more sources into discrete channels and provide the discrete channels to their respective speakers  904 A- 904 I. As one example, the audio/video processing unit  112  may receive or otherwise access an audio stream for a movie or other multimedia source. The audio stream may be provided from a television  116 , from a content provider such as Netflix® or Hulu®, from a multimedia source local in communication with the communication network  104 , from a multimedia instance resident on and/or directly accessible by the audio/video processing unit  112 , and/or the like. For example, within the storage  412 , multimedia content, such as, but not limited to, a multimedia file and/or a portion of a multimedia file, may be stored, accessed, and decoded by the audio/video processing unit  112 . An audio stream associated with the multimedia file may be separated into one or more audio channels for playback at the one or more speakers  904 A- 904 I in accordance with a specified and/or predetermined speaker configuration. For example, in accordance with a 7.1 surround sound configuration, such as the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the audio stream for the multimedia content may be separated into discrete channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, each of which may be received and played back at a specific time and at a respective speaker  904 A-I to achieve the desired spatial effect of stereo or surround sound. Therefore, by playing all channels simultaneously, the desired spatial effect of stereo or surround sound may be realized. The exact wireless communication technology, standard, or network may be different than that which is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . That is, references to Wi-Fi are for illustrative purposes only and illustrate at least one configuration; other forms of wireless communication are contemplated. 
     Further, and as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the audio/video processing unit  112  may provide the same audio stream to more than one speaker. For instance, speaker  904 H and  904 I may receive the same audio stream. In such an instance, a single location, for example a location associated with speakers  904 H and  904 I, may have multiple speakers assigned to it. In such a configuration, multiple speakers associated with a single location may increase the impact of a stereo system. For example, a user may utilize multiple subwoofers for the added effect of more bass. Such a configuration may also be associated with a predetermined or preselected speaker configuration, for example, but not limited to, a 7.2 speaker configuration as previously discussed. 
     In addition, mobile device  908 , which may be the same as or similar to the mobile device  120 , may be utilized as an additional speaker or endpoint. As one example, the mobile device  908  may be connected to a communication network  104  or otherwise accessible by the audio/video processing unit  112 . The mobile device  908  may then receive content from the audio/video processing unit  112  and the audio, including one or more audio channels, may be played out via a speaker of the mobile device  908  and/or through a headphone jack of the mobile device  908 . For instance, at night when a user is in bed and the user&#39;s significant other wants to go to sleep, the user may continue to watch multimedia content, such as a movie or other content displayed on the television  116 . In such an instance, the user may wear headphones and configure the audio/video processing system  112  to send the audio to the user&#39;s mobile device  908 . Accordingly, the user can watch the video on the TV screen and listen to the audio using headphones while not disturbing the user&#39;s sleeping partner. 
     Similar to the configuration of  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 10  illustrates a configuration in which the speakers  904 A-H may be configured such that all speakers  904 A-H play back monaural audio simultaneously, as described above, to cover a large area like a whole house or outdoor party with sound. As one example, the audio/video processing unit  112  may receive or otherwise access an audio stream for a song or other audio content. The audio stream may be provided from a television  116 , from a content provider such as Netflix® or Hulu®, from a multimedia source local in communication with the communication network  104 , from a multimedia instance resident on and/or directly accessible by the audio/video processing unit  112 , and/or the like. For example, within the storage  412 , a song, such as, but not limited to, an audio file and/or a portion of an audio file, may be stored, accessed, and decoded by the audio/video processing unit  112 . An audio stream associated with the audio file may be configured as a monaural audio stream for playback at the one or more speakers  904 A-H in accordance with a specified and/or predetermined speaker configuration. For example, the monaural audio stream may include a single channel for playback at a specific time and at a respective speaker  904 A-H, to achieve the desired spatial effect. For example, by playing the monaural audio simultaneously at all, or some, speakers, a desired “party mode” configuration and the sound associated therewith may be realized. The exact wireless communication technology, standard, or network may be different than that which is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . That is, references to Wi-Fi are for illustrative purposes only and illustrate at least one configuration; other forms of wireless communication are contemplated. 
       FIG. 11  provides an example configuration whereby the speakers may be reconfigured on the fly and used in multi-room zones, also referred to as groups. For example, speakers used for rear surround sound in a 7.1 configuration may be rapidly reconfigured to play back stereo sound in another room leaving the original speakers in a 5.1 configuration. Speakers used for 7.1 and/or those used in a stereo application may be rapidly reconfigured to all play in party mode, all playing monaural audio simultaneously. For example, and as illustrated in at least  FIG. 11 , speakers  1104 A- 1104 H may be utilized in a typical eight channel eight speaker 7.1 stereo audio configuration and may be designated as a first group (or zone), or group (zone)  1   1102 . The grouping of speakers  1104 A- 1104 H may correspond to a grouping of speakers in a first room or for a first purpose. In another configuration, group (zone)  2   1106  may include speakers  1108 A- 1108 F, but lack an eighth speaker for a full 7.1 stereo audio configuration. Accordingly, speaker  1104 H may be reconfigured on the fly, and added to the group (zone)  2 , if needed, such that group (zone)  2 , including speakers  1108 A- 1108 F and  1104 H, may be utilized as a typical eight channel eight speaker 7.1 stereo audio configuration. As another example, a group (zone)  3   1110  may include a sub-grouping of speakers from both groups (zone)  1   1102  and group (zone)  2   1106 . That is, in another configuration, speakers  1108 F,  1108 G,  1104 E- 1104 F may be utilized as a typical six channel six speaker 5.1 stereo audio configuration. Such groupings may be utilized with mobile device  120  and/or audio/video processing unit  112 , for example. 
     Alternatively, or in addition, mobile device  120  may be utilized as an additional speaker or endpoint as previously discussed. For example, a single group (zone) such as group (zone)  4  may include the mobile device  120 . Accordingly, the mobile device  120  may then receive content from the audio/video processing unit  112  and the audio, including one or more audio channels, may be played out via a speaker of the mobile device  120  and/or through a headphone jack of the mobile device  120 . In such an instance, the user may wear headphones and configure the audio/video processing system  112  to send the audio to the separate speaker group (zone) that includes the mobile device  120 . Accordingly, the user can watch the video on the TV screen and listen to the audio using headphones connected to the mobile device  120 . 
     In wired home theatre and sound systems, speaker assignment was generally effected by connecting a speaker of known location to a labeled output port on the back of a receiver or other device capable of driving such speaker. With the advent of wireless sound systems and wireless theatre systems capable of playing multi-channel audio, because there is no physical connection from the speaker to a device, such as a wireless audio/video processing unit  112 , there becomes a need to assign each wireless speaker to a location/function associated with one or more speaker configuration groups, such as 7.1, 5.1, and 2.1. That is, once one or more speakers have been paired to the audio/video processing unit  112 , each of the speakers may be assigned to a speaker location/function within a speaker group, or zone, configuration. For example, an explicit assignment for a side left speaker  208 A needs to be made in order for the audio/video processing unit  112  to be able to send or otherwise direct an audio stream to the side left speaker  208  for playback. Accordingly,  FIGS. 12-14K  provide additional details with respect to one or more processes for assigning speaker locations. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , a flow diagram depicting a first speaker assignment process, also referred to as method  1200 , in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, is provided. Method  1200  is in embodiments, performed by one or more devices, such as an audio/video processing unit  112 , a television  116  or other display device, a speaker device  300 , and/or combinations thereof. More specifically, one or more hardware and software components may be involved in performing method  1200 . In one embodiment, one or more of the previously described units, or devices, perform one or more of the steps of method  1200 . The method  1200  may be executed as a set of computer-executable instructions executed by at least one of the audio/video processing units  112  and encoded or stored on a computer-readable medium. Hereinafter, the method  1200  shall be explained with reference to systems, components, units, software, etc. described with respect to  FIGS. 1-11 . 
     Method  1200  may continuously flow in a loop, flow according to a timed event, or flow according to a change in an operating or status parameter. Method  1200  may be initiated at step S 1204  where a user may wish to perform an initial setup of a speaker group, also referred to as a speaker zone, edit an existing speaker group or speaker zone, and/or perform an out of the box configuration of a speaker, for example to add a speaker to an existing speaker group or zone. At step S 1208 , a speaker group, or zone, may be named and/or identified. For example, in embodiments where a speaker group is being created, a name uniquely identifying the speaker group may be utilized. The name may be entered by the user, for example utilizing a remote control  124  and/or a mobile device  120  to select and then enter a group or zone name. Alternatively, or in addition, in embodiments where a speaker group is being edited, a user may select a previously created name uniquely identifying a previously created speaker group or zone. Method  1200  may then move to step S 1212  wherein a listing of available speakers may be obtained. The listing of available speakers may be provided as an output and displayed on a television  116  and/or other display device, such as a display of the mobile device  120 . The speakers contained in the listing of available speakers may include only those speakers currently not assigned to a group. Alternatively, or in addition, the listing of available speakers may include all speakers currently paired and/or discoverable by the audio/video processing unit  112 . For example, a speaker discovery and pairing process may have been previously completed in order to pair one or more speakers to the audio/video processing unit  112 , or otherwise make the speakers available for use by the audio/video processing unit  112 . Accordingly, the audio/video processing unit  112  may maintain a list of speakers currently and/or previously paired with the audio/video processing unit  112 . As previously discussed, such a list may be presented to the user, or otherwise rendered to a display, such as a television  116  and/or a display of a mobile device  120 . The audio/video processing unit  112  may directly render the output or cause another device to render the output relying on information provided by the audio/video processing unit  112 . 
     Method  1200  may then proceed to step S 1216  where a speaker configuration may be obtained. Non-limiting examples of speaker configurations include 7.1, 5.1, and 2.1. In some embodiments, a “custom” speaker configuration may be utilized. For example, a user may wish to utilize a “party mode” speaker configuration where each speaker utilized plays the same monaural audio stream. At step S 1216 , the audio/video processing unit  112  may automatically select a predetermined speaker configuration based on a number and/or type of available speakers. For example, if eight speakers are discovered and/or provided in an available speaker list, the audio/video processing unit  112  may select a 7.1 speaker configuration. Alternatively, or in addition, if eight speakers are discovered and/or provided in an available speaker list, the audio/video processing unit  112  may automatically provide a 7.1 speaker configuration, a 5.1 speaker configuration, and/or a 2.1 speaker configuration for selection by a user. As another example, the speaker configuration may base a speaker configuration on the number and type of speakers provided in an available speaker list. For example, if two speakers are previously identified as front speakers (left/right), two speakers are identified as side speakers (left/right), two speakers are identified as rear speakers (left/right), one speaker is identified as a center speaker, and one speaker is identified as a subwoofer, the audio/video processing unit  112  may automatically select a 7.1 speaker configuration. Similarly, the audio/video processor  112  may provide all speaker configurations that are capable of being utilized given the number and type of speakers. Alternatively, or in addition, at step S 1216 , a user may be presented with one or more selectable speaker configurations. Such selectable speaker configurations may be presented on the television  116  and/or other display, such as a mobile device  120 . 
     At step S 1220 , a speaker group configuration, similar to  FIG. 2 , may be displayed to a user. The audio/video processor  112  may render the display of the speaker group configuration and provide the rendering to a television  116  and/or other display device, such as mobile device  120 . Alternatively, or in addition, the audio/video processing unit  112  may cause the display of the speaker group configuration to be rendered and displayed at the television  116  and/or other display, such as a display of the mobile device  120 . At step S 1224 , and based on the display of the speaker group configuration, the audio/video processing unit  112  may receive a speaker location from the user. For example, and as will be discussed with respect to  FIGS. 14A-K , the speaker group configuration displayed at step S 1220  may allow a user to select one of a plurality of speaker locations. The selection of the speaker location will allow a user the ability to assign a speaker to the selected location, using for example, the remote control  124  and/or a mobile device  120 . After receiving a speaker location selection from a user, a list of available speakers may be displayed to the user for assignment to the previously selected speaker location at step S 1228 . In some embodiments, as the user navigates through the list of available speakers, a tone may be played at the corresponding wireless speaker. Alternatively, or in addition, as the user navigates through the list of available speakers, an indicator, such as indicator  348 , turns on, blinks, or otherwise provides an indication that the corresponding wireless speaker has been selected. At step S 1232 , a user may confirm the speaker assignment by selecting one or more available speakers from the list of available speaker, using for example, the remote control  124  and/or the mobile device  120 . Upon selecting the one or more speakers, the one list of available speakers is updated with a corresponding location description related to the previously received speaker location selection of step S 1224 . 
     Method  1200  then proceeds to step S 1236  where it is determined if there are additional locations in the previously selected speaker group configuration that need an assignment to a speaker; alternatively, or in addition, at step S 1236  it is determined whether or not there are additional speakers in the available speaker list that need an assignment to a speaker location. If all speaker locations in a speaker configuration group or zone include an assigned speaker and/or if all speakers in the available speaker list have been assigned to a location in the speaker configuration group or zone, then the method  1200  ends at step S 1240 . Otherwise method  1200  may return to step S 1220  where the speaker group configuration may be displayed once again to the user and steps S 1220  to steps S 1232  may be repeated. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 13 , a flow diagram depicting a second speaker assignment process, also referred to as method, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, is provided. Method  1300  is in embodiments, performed by one or more devices, such as an audio/video processing unit  112 , a television  116  or other display device, a speaker device  300 , and/or combinations thereof. More specifically, one or more hardware and software components may be involved in performing method  1300 . In one embodiment, one or more of the previously described units, or devices, perform one or more of the steps of method  1300 . The method  1300  may be executed as a set of computer-executable instructions executed by at least one of the audio/video processing units  112  and encoded or stored on a computer-readable medium. Hereinafter, the method  1300  shall be explained with reference to systems, components, units, software, etc. described with respect to  FIGS. 1-12 . 
     Method  1300  may continuously flow in a loop, flow according to a timed event, or flow according to a change in an operating or status parameter. Method  1300  differs from method  1200  in that instead of choosing a location and assigning an available speaker to the chosen location, a speaker is chosen and a chosen location is assigned to the selected speaker. Accordingly, method  1300  may be initiated at step S 1304  where a user may wish to perform an initial setup of a speaker group, also referred to as a speaker zone, edit an existing speaker group or speaker zone, and/or perform an out of the box configuration of a speaker, for example to add a speaker to an existing speaker group or zone. At step S 1308 , a speaker group, or zone, may be named and/or identified. For example, in embodiments where a speaker group is being created, a name uniquely identifying the speaker group may be utilized. The name may be entered by the user, for example utilizing a remote control  124  and/or a mobile device  120  to select and then enter a group or zone name. Alternatively, or in addition, in embodiments where a speaker group is being edited, a user may select a previously created name uniquely identifying a previously created speaker group or zone. Method  1300  may then move to step S 1312  wherein a listing of available speakers may be obtained. The listing of available speakers may be provided as an output and displayed on a television  116  and/or other display device, such as a display of the mobile device  120 . The speakers contained in the listing of available speakers may include only those speakers currently not assigned to a group. Alternatively, or in addition, the listing of available speakers may include all speakers currently paired and/or discoverable by the audio/video processing unit  112 . For example, a speaker discovery and pairing process may have been previously completed in order to pair one or more speakers to the audio/video processing unit  112 , or otherwise make the speakers available for use by the audio/video processing unit  112 . Accordingly, the audio/video processing unit  112  may maintain a list of speakers currently and/or previously paired with the audio/video processing unit  112 . As previously discussed, such a list may be presented to the user, or otherwise rendered to a display, such as a television  116  and/or a display of a mobile device  120 . The audio/video processing unit  112  may directly render the output or cause another device to render the output relying on information provided by the audio/video processing unit  112 . 
     Method  1300  may then proceed to step S 1316  where a speaker configuration may be obtained. Non-limiting examples of speaker configurations include 7.1, 5.1, and 2.1. In some embodiments, a “custom” speaker configuration may be utilized. For example, a user may wish to utilize a “party mode” speaker configuration where each speaker utilized plays the same monaural audio stream. At step S 1316 , the audio/video processing unit  112  may automatically select a predetermined speaker configuration based on a number and/or type of available speakers. For example, if eight speakers are discovered and/or provided in an available speaker list, the audio/video processing unit  112  may select a 7.1 speaker configuration. Alternatively, or in addition, if eight speakers are discovered and/or provided in an available speaker list, the audio/video processing unit  112  may automatically provide a 7.1 speaker configuration, a 5.1 speaker configuration, and/or a 2.1 speaker configuration for selection by a user. As another example, the speaker configuration may base a speaker configuration on the number and type of speakers provided in an available speaker list. For example, if two speakers are previously identified as front speakers (left/right), two speakers are identified as side speakers (left/right), two speakers are identified as rear speakers (left/right), one speaker is identified as a center speaker and one speaker is identified as a subwoofer, the audio/video processing unit  112  may automatically select a 7.1 speaker configuration. Similarly, the audio/video processor  112  may provide all speaker configurations that are capable of being utilized given the number and type of speakers. Alternatively, or in addition, at step S 1316 , a user may be presented with one or more selectable speaker configurations. Such selectable speaker configurations may be presented on the television  116  and/or other display, such as a mobile device  120 . 
     At step S 1320 , the list of available speakers may be provided to the user and the user may select a speaker. In some embodiments, as the user navigates through the list of available speakers, a tone may be played at the corresponding speaker. Alternatively, or in addition, as the user navigates through the list of available speakers, an indicator, such as indicator  348 , turns on, blinks, or otherwise provides an indication that the corresponding wireless speaker has been selected. The list of speakers may contain all speakers currently paired with the audio/video processing unit  112 . The audio/video processor  112  may render the list of available speakers and provide the rendering to a television  116  and/or other display device, such as mobile device  120 . Alternatively, or in addition, the audio/video processing unit  112  may cause the list of available speakers to be rendered and displayed at the television  116  and/or other display, such as a display of the mobile device  120 . At step S 1324 , a user may confirm the speaker assignment by selecting one or more available speakers from the list of available speakers, using for example, the remote control  124  and/or the mobile device  120 . The method  1300  may then proceed to step S 1328  where the speaker group configuration may be displayed to the user. The speaker group configuration may be similar to  FIG. 2 , for example, in a 7.1 speaker configuration. The audio/video processor  112  may render the display of the speaker group configuration and provide the rendering to a television  116  and/or other display device, such as mobile device  120 . Alternatively, or in addition, the audio/video processing unit  112  may cause the display of the speaker group configuration to be rendered and displayed at the television  116  and/or other display, such as a display of the mobile device  120 . At step S 1332 , and based on the display of the speaker group configuration, the audio/video processing unit  112  may receive a speaker location from the user, wherein the received speaker location is then assigned to previously selected speaker. For example, and as will be discussed with respect to  FIGS. 14A-K , the speaker group configuration displayed a step S 1328  may allow a user to select one of a plurality of speaker locations. The selection of the speaker location will provide a user the ability to assign the previously selected speaker to the selected location, using for example, the remote control  124  and/or a mobile device  120 . After receiving a speaker location selection from a user, method  1300  then proceeds to step S 1336  where it is determined if there are additional non-assigned speakers in the list of available speakers. For example, if there are eight speakers in the available speaker list and only three speakers have been assigned, the method  1300  may proceed to step S 1320  to assign the remaining speakers in the available speakers list to locations in the speaker configuration. If all speakers in the available speaker list have been assigned to a location in the speaker configuration group or zone and/or all locations in a speaker configuration group or zone include an assigned speaker, then the method  1300  ends at step S 1340 . Accordingly, in embodiments of the present disclosure, methods  1200  and  1300  may be utilized to assign speakers to speaker locations and/or speaker locations to speakers. 
       FIGS. 14A-14L  generally depict an example speaker assignment process together with graphical user interfaces in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. Each of the graphical user interfaces  1402 A-L depicted in  FIGS. 14A-14L  may be rendered at the audio/video processing unit  112  and output to a television  116  and/or another display device, such as a mobile device  120 . Alternatively, or in addition, the television  116  and/or other display device may render each of the graphical user interfaces  1402 A-L depicted in  FIGS. 14A-14L  based on information and/or data provided by the audio/video processing unit  112 . 
       FIG. 14A  depicts a graphical user interface  1402 A that may be utilized in a speaker setup process. The graphical user interface  1402 A generally includes an identifier  1404  indicating a current state and/or process. For example, the identifier  1404  displays “wireless speaker setup” indicating that a user may have entered or otherwise is performing the wireless speaker setup process. Within the graphical user interface  1402 A, one or more options  1408  may be presented to a user. To illustrate, the graphical user interface  1402 A may allow a user to select an option to add a new group of speakers via “Add New Group,” for example, by using a remote  124  and/or mobile device  120  to move a focus  1414  Other options, such as, but not limited to, editing an existing group, removing an existing group, and/or an option to skip the wireless speaker setup process are also presented to the user via the graphical user interface  1402 A. In addition, the graphical user interface  1402 A may similarly allow a user to select the “Back” option to return to a previous graphical user interface. 
       FIG. 14B  generally depicts a graphical user interface  1402 B that may be displayed in response to a user selecting the “Add New Group” option and/or the “Edit Existing Group” option. The graphical user interface  1402 B generally provides a user the ability to create and/or edit configuration parameters associated with a speaker group and/or zone. That is, a user names the new speaker group, which is then used to identify and/or define the new speaker group in the audio/video processing unit  112 . For example, the graphical user interface  1402 B may allow a user to create a group name and/or edit an existing group name. A user may navigate an onscreen keyboard  1420  by moving the focus  1424  utilizing the remote control  124  and/or a mobile device  120 . Once the user has entered one or more text characters into the name text field  1416  selected from the onscreen keyboard  1420 , the user may move the focus  1424  to the “Save” option to save the name. By selecting the “Save” option, the wireless speaker setup process may move to the next graphical user interface  1402 C illustrated in  FIG. 14C . Alternatively, or in addition, the group name may be selected from a predefined list of group names. 
     The graphical user interface  1402 C may generally present a user with one or more speaker group configuration options. For example, the graphical user interface  1402 C may prompt a user to select a speaker group configuration with a prompt  1428 . The user may then, using the remote control  124  and/or mobile device  120  for example, move the focus  1424  to a desired speaker group configuration. As previously discussed, the audio/video processing unit  112  may automatically select a predetermined speaker configuration based on a number and/or type of available speakers and/or automatically display a number of speaker group configuration options based on a number and/or type of available speakers. For example, if eight speakers are discovered and/or provided in an available speaker list, the audio/video processing unit  112  may select a 7.1 speaker configuration or otherwise present the graphical user interface  1402 C with a default or predetermined selected speaker group configuration option, such as a 7.1 speaker group configuration. Alternatively, or in addition, if eight speakers are discovered and/or provided in an available speaker list, the audio/video processing unit  112  may automatically provide a 7.1 speaker configuration, a 5.1 speaker configuration, and/or a 2.1 speaker configuration for selection by a user. As another example, the speaker configurations may base a speaker configuration on the number and type of speakers provided in an available speaker list. For example, if two speakers are previously identified as front speakers (left/right), two speakers are identified as side speakers (left/right), two speakers are identified as rear speakers (left/right), one speaker is identified as a center speaker, and one speaker is identified as a subwoofer, the audio/video processing unit  112  may automatically select and/or present a 7.1 speaker configuration as a default selection. Similarly, the audio/video processor  112  may cause all speaker configurations that are capable of being utilized, given the number and type of speakers, to be presented. Once a user confirms the speaker group configuration, for example by selecting an enter button on the remote control  124 , the wireless speaker setup process may move to the next graphical user interface  1402 D illustrated in  FIG. 14D . 
     The graphical user interface  1402 D may generally present a user with a speaker diagram  1432  consistent with the selected speaker group configuration selected in the graphical user interface  1402 C. That is, the speaker diagram  1432  may present one or more graphically selectable options  1434 A-H representing speakers associated with speaker locations consistent with a selected speaker group configuration. The one or more graphically selectable options  1434 A-H may include, but is not limited to selectable text and/or one or more selectable images. Additionally presented is a representation of a television  1428 . The user may navigate through the one or more graphically selectable options  1434 A-H, moving the focus  1436  with one or more navigating arrows  125  on the remote control  124  for example, until the focus is at a desired representative speaker location. The user may then confirm the selection, for example by selecting an enter button on the remote control  124 , and the wireless speaker setup process may move to the next graphical user interface  1402 E where the speaker may then assign one or more speakers to the selected location, as illustrated in  FIG. 14E . 
     The graphical user interface  1402 E may generally present a user with a speaker list  1444  that includes a list of one or more previously discovered speakers  1452 A-H that may be available to be assigned to the previously selected speaker location. For example, if in the fourth graphical user interface  1404 D, a user selected a front speaker location  1434 A, the one or more speakers presented in the speaker list  1444  may include all available speakers capable of being assigned to a front speaker location  1434 A in a previously selected speaker group configuration. Alternatively, or in addition, if in the graphical user interface  1404 D, a user selected a front speaker location  1434 A, the one or more speakers presented in the speaker list  1444  may include all speakers paired or otherwise available to the audio/video processing unit  112 . Although depicted as listing speakers  1452 A-H, it is understood that the speaker list  1444  may include more or less speakers. A user may then move the focus  1448  in order to place the focus on a desired speaker  1452 A-H. 
     When the user moves the focus  1448  to a particular speaker  1452 A-H, the audio/video processing unit  112  may cause the physical speaker (one of  204 A-B,  208 A-B,  212 A-B,  216 , or  220 , for example) identified in the speaker list  1444  to provide one or more indications that the user has selected the physical speaker or otherwise identify the selected physical speaker. For example, each of the speakers  1452 A-H may include a default name, “Speaker,” followed by a number. Such a default name may be consistent with a first implementation of a speaker setup process where the available speakers contain discovered speakers and/or speakers paired to the audio/video processing unit  112 . Accordingly, the default name by itself does not provide a user any information as to where the speaker is physically located. Thus, the indication provided by the physical speaker itself, when selected in the list  1444 , may provide information that aids a user in the speaker setup process. As another example, if the user were to move the focus to Speaker  2   1452 B, the audio/video processing unit  112  may cause a front right speaker  204 B to output a tone or cause a light or LED, such as the indicator  348 , on the speaker  204 B to blink. As another example, if the user were to move the focus to Speaker  5   1452 E, the audio/video processing unit  112  may cause a rear right speaker  212 B to output a tone or cause a light on the speaker  212 B to blink. As yet another example, if the user were to move the focus to Speaker  1   1452 A, the audio/video processing unit  112  may cause a front left speaker  204 A to output a tone or cause a light on the speaker  204 A to blink. When the tone is played through a speaker, a light or LED is also displayed on the speaker at the desired location, or some other indication is provided at the speaker in the desired location. The user may confirm the selection using, for example, the remote control  124  and/or mobile device  120 , to assign the selected speaker to the previously chosen location. For example, as depicted in graphical user interface  1402 F of  FIG. 14F , the focus  1448  has been moved to Speaker  3   1452 C. 
     In some embodiments, the speakers may be pre-named at the factory for bundled sets that have the speaker locations pre-assigned for ease of installation. For example, the default name for Speaker  1 , assuming Speaker  1  is a front left speaker, could be “Front Left.” 
     After the speaker location assignment has been completed, the focus then shifts to the next speaker location in the selected speaker configuration. For example, as depicted in the graphical user interface  1402 G of  FIG. 14G , the focus  1436  has shifted to the center speaker. The focus may automatically shift to the next speaker location in the selected speaker configuration. Alternatively, or in addition, the user may choose the next speaker location in the selected configuration. The user may then confirm the selection, for example by selecting an enter button on the remote control  124 , and the wireless speaker setup process may move to the next graphical user interface  1402 H, illustrated in  FIG. 14H , where the speaker may then assign one or more speakers to the selected location. 
     As depicted in the graphical user interface  1402 H, a speaker list  1444 , including the speakers available to the audio/video processing unit  112 , is displayed. The graphical user interface  1402 H is the same as or similar to the graphical user interface  1402 E except that the speaker list  1444  has been updated with the previously made Front Left speaker assignment  1452 A. That is, the name of previous Speaker  1  has been changed to that of the location. Alternatively, or in addition, the name of the newly-assigned speaker may be changed at the direction of the user. For example, the user may be able to invoke an onscreen keyboard to change the name of the speakers. In some embodiments, the speakers  1452 A-H in the speaker list  1444  may be arranged, or ordered, according to whether or not a speaker has been assigned to a previously selected location. Accordingly, similar to the graphical user interface  1402 E, the user may navigate through the speaker list  1444  such that a tone is played through a desired speaker, a light or LED is displayed on the speaker at the desired location, or some other indication is provided at the selected speaker. Accordingly, the user may confirm the selection of the speaker using, for example, the remote control  124  and/or mobile device  120 , to assign the selected speaker to the previously chosen location. For example, as depicted in graphical user interface  1402 F, the focus  1448  has been moved to Speaker  3   1452 C. 
     After the speaker location assignment has been completed, the focus then shifts to the next speaker location in the selected speaker configuration. For example, as depicted in the graphical user interface  1402 I, illustrated in  FIG. 14I , the focus  1436  has shifted to the rear left speaker. The focus may automatically shift to the next speaker location in the selected speaker configuration. Alternatively, or in addition, the user may choose the next speaker location in the selected configuration. The user may then confirm the selection, for example by selecting an enter button on the remote control  124 , and the wireless speaker setup process may move to the next graphical user interface  1402 J where the speaker may then assign one or more speakers to the selected location. 
     As depicted in the graphical user interface  1402 J, illustrated in  FIG. 14J , a speaker list  1444 , including the speakers available to the audio/video processing unit  112 , is displayed. The graphical user interface  1402 J is the same as or similar to the graphical user interfaces  1402 E and  1404 H except that the speaker list  1444  has been updated with the previously made Front Left speaker assignment  1452 A, the previously made Center speaker assignment  1452 B, a previously made Side Right speaker assignment  1452 D, and a previously made Rear Right speaker assignment  1452 E. Accordingly, similar to the graphical user interface  1402 E and  1402 H, the user may navigate through the speaker list  1444  such that a tone is played through a desired speaker, a light or LED is displayed on the speaker at the desired location, or some other indication is provided at the selected speaker. Accordingly, the user may confirm the selection of the speaker using, for example, the remote control  124  and/or mobile device  120 , to assign the selected speaker to the previously chosen location. 
     The graphical user interface  1402 K, illustrated in  FIG. 14K , may then be displayed when one or more speakers have been assigned to one or more speaker locations. That is, once all, or less than all, speaker assignments have been made, a graphical user interface, such as graphical user interface  1402 K, may be displayed. The graphical user interface  1402 K may include a save option  1464  allowing the user to save the speaker assignments made to the speaker locations made in graphical user interfaces  1402 D-J, for example. Once saved, the speaker assignment process has been completed and another graphical user interface may be displayed to the user. 
     Alternatively, or in addition, the speaker assignment process may utilize other or additional pairing methods. For example, after a user selects a corresponding speaker location, such as has been discussed with respect to  FIG. 14D , a process utilizing near frequency communication (NFC) and/or radio frequency identification may be used. For example, the communication interface  320  may support NFC and RFID communication protocols such that a mobile device  120 , in communication with speaker  504  and/or audio/video processing unit  112 , may utilize NFC and RFID communication in the speaker assignment process. That is, a graphical user interface  1402 E of  FIG. 14L  may prompt a user to tap their NFC-enabled device, such as mobile device  120 , on the front left speaker to associate the physical speaker to the front left location (e.g.,  1434 A). For example, the prompt  1468  may direct a user to tap their mobile device  120  on the speaker of interest; of course, as the selected speaker location changes, the prompt changes as well. Other speaker assignment mechanisms may be utilized. For example, a graphical user interface may prompt a user to press a button on the speaker of interest; of course, as the selected speaker location changes, the prompt would change as well. 
       FIG. 15  is a block diagram depicting one or more data structures in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. A first data structure  1504  generally relates to information and one or more parameters associated with one or more speaker groups or zones. The first data structure  1504  may be stored within the storage  412  of the audio/video processing unit  112  and/or the speaker  504  and may include a group name field  1512  that includes or is otherwise associated with the name entered in the graphical user interface  1402 B and/or received at steps S 1208  and/or S 1308 . The first data structure  1504  may additionally include the speaker assignments made with method  1200  and/or method  1300 ; such speaker assignments may be stored in the speaker assignment field  1516 . For example, the speaker assignment field  1516  may include a globally unique speaker identifier, such as GUID-A, and the associated location, such as LOC-1 as depicted in  1516 A. Alternatively, or in addition, the speaker assignment field  1516  may include two or more globally unique speaker identifiers, such as GUID-B and GUID-C (e.g. two speakers), and the associated location LOC-2, as depicted in  1516 B. That is, as previously discussed, and in some embodiments more than one speaker may be assigned to a location and/or channel. Alternatively, or in addition, the speaker assignment field  1516  may include two or more globally unique speaker identifiers, such as GUID-B and GUID-C (e.g. two speakers), and the associated location LOC-3, as depicted in  1516 C. That is, as previously discussed, and in some embodiments more than one speaker may be assigned to a location and/or channel and a speaker may be assigned to one or more locations. 
     The first data structure  1504  may also include a group configuration attributes field  1520 ; the group configuration attributes field may include the selected speaker group configuration, such as 7.1, 5.1, and/or 2.1. Alternatively, or in addition, the group configuration attributes field  1520  may also include one or more speaker group configurations capable of being selected based on a number and/or type of speakers within the group. 
     The first data structure may also include an access control/user control attributes field  1524 . The access control/user control attributes field  1524  may generally include a list of users authorized that are able to use the speaker group identified by the speaker group name  1512 . For example, the User 1 and User 2 may be authorized users of a speaker group. The access control/user control attributes field  1524  may also include additional parameters related to each of the users. For example, the access control/user control attributes field  1524  may indicate whether each user is enabled or disabled, that is whether each user, though assigned as an authorize speaker group user, is currently authorized and/or enabled to use the speaker group. Alternatively, or in addition, access control/user control attributes field  1524  may include a user level attribute  1524 C. The user level attribute  1524 C may be the same as or similar to a privilege level. For example, the user level attribute  1524 C may hierarchically categorize users such that a user with a higher or greater level trumps a user with a lower level. Accordingly, if two users are attempting to stream audio content the speaker group, the speaker group will cause the speakers within the group to play or otherwise output the audio content form the user with the higher user level. 
     The access control/user control attributes field  1524  may also include a parental control field  1524  D which may be enabled and/or disabled on a per user and/or per speaker group basis. For example, the parental control field  1524 D may allow other users, or parents, the ability to control certain features associated with the speaker group. For instance, the parental control field  1524 D, if enabled, may further control a maximum volume at which the speaker group may be played, include or otherwise identify the hours of the day in which the parental control features are active, and may additionally place restrictions on the type of audio content that may be played through the speakers associated with the speaker group. As another example, the parental control options may work in conjunction with a content rating system and may be set such that audio content from a user, or users, is not played or otherwise output from the speakers assigned to a speaker group if the rating of the audio content exceeds a predetermined threshold, such as an “explicit” rating. However, a user may be able to play explicit content using another speaker group or zone. For example, a first speaker group may not allow the playing of explicit content in a first location, but a second speaker group may allow explicit content. 
     The access control/user control attributes field  1524  may also allow for or otherwise provide for a “guest mode” of operation. For example, a guest mode provides the ability for a user to “take over” the speakers in a group from another user to play different content. For instance, if you are listening to music with the content streaming from a mobile device  120 , and someone else wants to change the song to a song or other audio content originating from their phone, the audio/video processing unit  112  and/or the speaker  504  may allow the guest user to take over the group based on user control settings in the access control/user control attributes field  1524 . As another example, the “guest mode” would allow a friend who comes over to a user&#39;s home to take over a speaker group to play content, without having to be on the home network. For example, WiFi direct may allow this functionality. 
     The first data structure  1504  may additionally include a reconfigurable attributes field  1528 . The reconfigurable attributes field  1528  may include information that controls whether or not the speaker group, and/or the speakers within the group, may be reconfigured. For example, in instances where a first speaker group includes 8 speakers, the reconfigurable attributes field  1528  may specify whether or not any or all of the speakers may be included in another group. As previously discussed with respect to  FIG. 11 , a speaker group may share speakers; in some instances, it may not be ideal for speakers to be shared. Alternatively, or in addition, the reconfigurable attributes field may include a privilege level associated with a hierarchically importance of the speaker group. For example, in instances where a speaker group may share speakers with another speaker group, the speaker group having or otherwise assigned the higher privilege level will be provided access to the shared speakers before a speaker group with a lower privilege level. The first data structure  1504  may also include an other attributes field which may include other configurable and non-configurable attributes for the speaker group. 
     A second data structure  1508  may also be included. Such a data structure may be stored at each of the speakers, at the speaker  504 , and/or at the audio/video processor  112 . The data structure  1508  generally includes a speaker GUID field  1536  identifying the speaker, an availability field  1540  indicating whether or not the speaker is assignable to a group and/or whether a group is assignable to the speaker, and a group field  1544 , indicating which groups the speaker currently belongs to. The data structure  1508  may be consulted when determining whether or not a speaker is available in methods  1200  and  1300 . 
     A third data structure  1548  may also be included. The third data structure  1548  generally provides a mapping from a speaker configuration to one or more audio channels. For instance, a first location, such as front left, may be mapped to an audio channel 1 and a second location, such as center may be mapped to channel 0. 
     A fourth data structure  1556  may also be included. The fourth data structure  1556  generally provides a mapping of a speaker group  1560  (e.g. by a speaker group GUID) to the users/devices  1560 A-B currently assigned to and/or streaming content to the speaker group. In addition, the fourth data structure  1556  associated with a speaker group may include a field  1560 C indication whether or not the speaker is group is available for use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 16 , a method  1600  illustrating an example audio dissemination process in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is provided. Method  1600  is in embodiments, performed by one or more devices, such as a speaker  504 , an audio/video processing unit  112 , and/or a mobile device  120 . More specifically, one or more hardware and software components may be involved in performing method  1600 . In one embodiment, one or more of the previously described units, or devices, perform one or more of the steps of method  1600 . The method  1600  may be executed as a set of computer-executable instructions executed by at least one of the speaker  504 , the audio/video processing unit  112 , and/or the mobile device  120  and encoded or stored on a computer-readable medium. Hereinafter, the method  1600  shall be explained with reference to systems, components, units, software, etc. described with respect to  FIGS. 1-15 . 
     Method  1600  may continuously flow in a loop, flow according to a timed event, or flow according to a change in an operating or status parameter. Method  1600  may be initiated at step S 1604  where a multichannel audio stream is provided from one or more sources of multichannel audio. At step S 1608 , the multichannel audio stream may be received and if it is determined, at step S 1612 , that the multichannel audio stream is encrypted, the multichannel audio stream may be decrypted at step S 1620 . Once the multichannel audio stream has been decrypted, or if the multichannel audio stream is not encrypted, the method  1600  proceeds to step S 1616  where the speakers in the speaker group are identified and/or located. If, at step S 1624 , it is determined that there is more than one speaker in the speaker group, all channels of the multichannel audio stream, a single channel of the multichannel audio stream, and/or a single channel of the multichannel audio stream assigned to a specific speaker, may be sent to the specific or respective speakers in the configuration group at step S 1632 . Each channel may be time synchronized with the other channels before or after it is sent to the specific or respective speakers in the speaker group at step S 1632 . Accordingly, at step S 1628 , an audio channel assigned to the local or specific speaker may be determined based on speaker assignment information obtained either from the speaker  504 , the audio/video processing unit  112 , the mobile device  120 , and/or from speaker configuration information located on the speaker itself. For example, the data structures  1504 ,  1508 , and  1512  may be consulted to determine which speakers are assigned to which group and which speakers in the group correspond to which audio channel. Accordingly, at step S 1636 , the audio for the assigned channel may be separated from the multichannel audio stream. Thereafter, the single channel of audio that was separated from the multichannel audio may be subjected to a time-synchronization process at step S 1640  and the audio may then be played at step S 1644 . Method  1600  may then end at step S 1648 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 17 , a method  1700  illustrating an example audio dissemination process in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is provided. Method  1700  is in embodiments, performed by one or more devices, such as a speaker  504 , an audio/video processing unit  112 , and/or a mobile device  120 . More specifically, one or more hardware and software components may be involved in performing method  1700 . In one embodiment, one or more of the previously described units perform one or more of the steps of method  1700 . The method  1700  may be executed as a set of computer-executable instructions executed by at least one of the speaker  504 , the audio/video processing unit  112 , and/or the mobile device  120  and encoded or stored on a computer-readable medium. Hereinafter, the method  1700  shall be explained with reference to systems, components, units, software, etc. described with respect to  FIGS. 1-16 . 
     Method  1700  may continuously flow in a loop, flow according to a timed event, or flow according to a change in an operating or status parameter. Method  1700  may be initiated at step S 1704  where a multichannel audio stream is provided from one or more sources of multichannel audio. At step S 1708 , the multichannel audio stream may be received and if it is determined, at step S 1712 , that the multichannel audio stream is encrypted, the multichannel audio stream may be decrypted at step S 1720 . Once the multichannel audio stream has been decrypted, or if the multichannel audio stream is not encrypted, the method  1700  proceeds to step S 1716  where the multichannel audio stream is separated into one or more channels of audio data. Based on group configuration information, speaker assignment information, and channel assignment information, for each channel of audio, the speaker assigned to that channel is identified at step S 1720 . For example, the data structures  1504 ,  1508 , and  1512  may be consulted to determine which speakers are assigned to which group and which speakers in the group correspond to which audio channel. Thereafter, the method S 1700  may determine whether a specific audio channel is assigned to the local speaker, such as speaker  504 . If so, the method S 1700  may proceed to step S 1736  where a time-synchronization process is performed. Alternatively, or in addition, for each channel of audio, the destination speaker and destination address may be determined. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, each channel is then sent to the assigned speaker. Each speaker then performs a time synchronization process to synchronize the audio throughout the configuration group. At step S 1740 , the audio is played at each speaker within the group and the method  1700  then ends at step S 1752 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 18 , a method  1800  is displayed illustrating details of a speaker group selection and audio playback process in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. Method  1800  is in embodiments, performed by one or more devices, such as a speaker  504 , an audio/video processing unit  112 , and/or a mobile device  120 . More specifically, one or more hardware and software components may be involved in performing method  1800 . In one embodiment, one or more of the previously described units perform one or more of the steps of method  1800 . The method  1800  may be executed as a set of computer-executable instructions executed by at least one of the speaker  504 , the audio/video processing unit  112 , and/or the mobile device  120  and encoded or stored on a computer-readable medium. Hereinafter, the method  1800  shall be explained with reference to systems, components, units, software, etc. described with respect to  FIGS. 1-17 . 
     Method  1800  may continuously flow in a loop, flow according to a timed event, or flow according to a change in an operating or status parameter. Method  1800  may be initiated at step  1804  where a user wishes to play multimedia content, specifically audio content, to one or more speaker groups. More particularly, a device the user is using, such as an audio/video processing unit  112  and/or a mobile device  120 , may be used to request a list of available speaker groups. At step S 1808 , the speaker  504  and/or the audio/video processing unit  112  may present the list of available speaker groups to the user. For example, the speaker  504  and/or the audio/video processing unit  112  may cause the list to be displayed on a television  116  and/or a display of the mobile device  120 . Accordingly, at step S 1812 , a selection of a speaker group from the user may be received. The selection may be received at the speaker  504  and/or the audio/video processing unit  112 . 
     Once the selected group is received, the speaker  504  and/or the audio/video processing unit  112  may determine whether or not the group is currently in-use and/or already assigned to a user. For example, the speaker  504  and/or the audio/video processing unit  112  may determine which user or device, if any, is currently using the speaker group utilizing the data structure  1556 . Accordingly, if the speaker group is not in use, the speaker  504  and/or the audio/video processing unit  112  may assign the user and/or device to the group and proceed to receive an audio stream from the device in step S 1820 . At step S 1824 , the audio may be played by the selected speaker group and the method ends at step S 1828 . 
     Alternatively, or in addition, if the speaker group is in use, the speaker  504  and/or the audio/video processing unit  112  may send a prompt to the user and/or the device currently providing the audio stream to the selected group at step S 1832 . For example, the speaker  504  and/or the audio/video processing unit  112  may determine which device is currently streaming audio using the data structure  1556 , and send a prompt to that device. At step S 1836 , if a takeover is authorized, according to the access control/user control attributes  1524  and/or in response to receiving an indication from the user/device currently streaming audio, the method  1800  may proceed to steps S 1820  where an audio stream is received from the device for playback. Alternatively, or in addition, if the takeover is not authorized, the audio stream already being received from the user/device will continue to be received at steps S 1840 . Method  1800  may also be implemented using a guest device in a manner consistent with that which has been described. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 19 , a method  1900  of discovering one or more speakers  1901 , such as speakers  108 A- 108 B, and configuring such speakers in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is provided. Method  1900  is in embodiments, performed by one or more devices, such as a host device  1902  and a speaker device  1901 . More specifically, one or more hardware and software components may be involved in performing method  1900 . In one embodiment, one or more of the previously described units, or devices, perform one or more of the steps of method  1900 . For example, the host device  1902  may refer to a mobile device  120  as previously described. Alternatively, or in addition, the host device  1902  may refer to the wireless audio video processor  112 . The host device  1902  and the speaker  1901  may perform all of or at least some of the steps of method  1900 . The method  1900  may be executed as a set of computer-executable instructions executed by at least one of the speaker  1901  and the host  1902  and encoded or stored on a computer-readable medium. Hereinafter, the method  1900  shall be explained with reference to systems, components, units, software, etc. described with  FIGS. 1-18 . 
     Method  1900  may continuously flow in a loop, flow according to a timed event, or flow according to a change in an operating or status parameter. Method  1900  may be imitated at step  1904 , where an out of the box configuration of the speaker  1901  is initiated. That is, a speaker, such as speaker  1901 , will create its own open or secured wireless access point in step  1908 . Such access point may be referred to as a SoftAP and have a standardized service set identifier (SSID), or network name, of the form “NAMExxxx” where xxxx is a random character alphanumeric string of a fixed or variable length appended to an alphanumeric string of a known value and NAME is a known alphanumeric string of a fixed or variable length. The speaker  1901  may scan for existing SSIDs which match the random SSID it generated before hosting the SoftAP to confirm it is unique and will generate a new random string if it finds it. The process may repeat until the SSID is unique. 
     Next, at step  1912 , a speaker configuration application running on host  1902  may continuously scan in the background looking for new SSIDs, and if the speaker configuration application finds a new SSID of the form “NAMExxxx”, the speaker configuration application may inform the user of the new speakers found and ask if they want to set them up. Accordingly, if the user wants to set up the new speakers, the speaker configuration application will connect to the speaker having the “NAMExxxx” SSID. Alternatively, or in addition, a speaker configuration application running on host  1902  may continuously scan in the background looking for new SSIDs, and if the speaker configuration application finds a new SSID of the form “NAMExxxx”, the speaker configuration application may obtain an address by giving itself a Link Local Address or using DHCP to obtain an IP address. At step  1920 , the host  1302  may obtain speaker information, such as a GUID, by utilizing the Simple Service Discover Protocol (SSDP). Although the use of Link Local Address, DHCP, and SSDP has been described, other mechanisms for assigning addresses and/or other broadcast/multicast mechanisms may be utilized and are contemplated. 
     At step  1924 , the host  1902  may create a secure connection to the speaker  1901 . Such secure connection may include a cryptographic protocol designed to provide communication security over the network  104 ; such protocol may include but is not limited to a TLS connection. At step  1928 , the host  1902  may utilize a physical mechanism, such as indicator  348 , to have a user physically identify the speaker. Such physical mechanism may include a blinking LED, an audio tone, a playback of a number sequence or the like which allows the speaker to be verified. At step  1932 , the host may then send network information, such as the home network SSID and the key, or passphrase, to the speaker  1901 . Such information may be sent over the secure communication channel. The speaker  1901  may then scan, identify, and connect to the home network at step  1936 . Accordingly, the host  1902  may maintain the GUID of the speaker in an availability list, such as a data structure  1508 , to provide a list of available speakers during a speaker assignment process. Method  1900  may then end at step  1940 . 
     In some instances, there might not be a home network to connect to. In this event, the host  1902  may create an access point to act as a configuration network and may use Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS) with a button press on the speaker to connect to it. Such a configuration process may be a fallback advanced mode for use cases when there is not a home network (such as outside at a park). Note that this is not necessary to use a preexisting group without the home network, this is only needed in the unlikely case that the group needs to be reconfigured “on the fly” when outside your home network. 
     In accordance the present disclosure, embodiments of the present disclosure may be configured as follows: 
     (1) A device comprising: a processor, and memory, wherein the memory contains processor executable instructions that when executed, cause the processor to discover one or more wireless speakers, output to a display device, a speaker diagram illustrating a speaker configuration, wherein the speaker configuration includes a plurality of speaker locations, receive a selection of a speaker location from the plurality of speaker locations, output to the display device, a list of wireless speakers, wherein the list of wireless speakers corresponds to the discovered one or more wireless speakers, receive a selection of a wireless speaker from the list of wireless speakers, and associate the selected wireless speaker to the selected speaker location.
 
(2) A method, comprising: discovering one or more wireless speakers, displaying, to an output device, a speaker diagram illustrating a speaker configuration, wherein the speaker configuration includes a plurality of speaker locations, receiving a selection of a speaker location from the plurality of speaker locations, displaying, to the output device, a list of wireless speakers, wherein the list of wireless speakers corresponds to the discovered one or more wireless speakers, receiving a selection of a wireless speaker from the list of wireless speakers, and associating the selected wireless speaker to the selected speaker location.
 
(3) A tangible computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon to discover and assign one or more wireless speakers, wherein the instructions, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of (2).
 
(4) The embodiment of any one of (1) to (3) above, further comprising causing an audio tone to be emitted from the selected wireless speaker.
 
(5) The embodiment of any one of (1) to (4) above, further comprising turning on and off at least one visual indicator located on the selected wireless speaker.
 
(6) The embodiment of any one of (1) to (5) above, wherein the speaker configuration is based on a number of discovered wireless speakers.
 
(7) The embodiment of any one of (1) to (6) above further comprising receiving a selection of a second speaker location from the plurality of speaker locations, displaying, to the output device, the list of wireless speakers, receiving a selection of a second wireless speaker from the list of wireless speakers, and assigning the selected second wireless speaker to the selected second speaker location.
 
(8) The embodiment of any one of (1) to (7) above further comprising receiving multi-channel audio content from an audio source, transmitting a first channel of the multi-channel audio content to the first wireless speaker, and transmitting the second channel of the multi-channel audio content to the second wireless speaker.
 
(9) The embodiment of (8) above further comprising associating the first and second wireless speakers to a first speaker group, and associating the second wireless speaker to a second speaker group.
 
(10) The embodiment of any one of (1) to (9) above, wherein the device is a speaker.
 
(11) The embodiment of any one of (1) to (10) above, wherein multi-channel audio content is received at a speaker.
 
(12) The embodiment of (11) above, where the multi-channel audio content is received using a Bluetooth connection.
 
(13) The embodiment of anyone of (11) to (12) above, wherein the multi-channel audio content is distributed to one or more other speakers via a different wireless medium.
 
(14) The embodiment of (13) above, wherein the different wireless medium is WiFi.
 
(15) The embodiment of any one of (1) to (14) above, wherein at least one speaker is a mobile device.
 
(16) A method of reconfiguring a wireless speaker assigned to a first group of speakers, the method comprising receiving a request to use a second group of speakers, wherein the wireless speaker is common to the first group of speakers and the second group of speakers, determining if the wireless speaker is available, and based on the determining, assigning the wireless speaker to the second group of speakers.
 
(17) A multichannel audio system comprising a first plurality of speakers, a second plurality of speakers, wherein at least one speaker of the first plurality of speakers is common to the second plurality of speakers, and a speaker assignment module, wherein the speaker assignment module is operable to: determine if the speaker in common with the first and second plurality of speakers is available, and assign the speaker in common with the first and second plurality of speakers to the second plurality of speakers, wherein a first channel of a multichannel audio stream is assigned to the speaker in common with the first and second plurality of speakers.
 
(18) A method comprising discovering one or more wireless speakers, outputting to a display device, a prompt identifying at least one speaker location, output to the display device, a list of wireless speakers, wherein the list of wireless speakers corresponds to the discovered one or more wireless speakers, receiving a selection of a wireless speaker from the list of wireless speakers, and associating the selected wireless speaker to the at least one speaker location.
 
(19) A method comprising discovering one or more wireless speakers, outputting to a display device, a prompt identifying at least one speaker location, receiving a selection of a wireless speaker, and associating the selected wireless speaker to the at least one speaker location, wherein the selection of the wireless speaker is (i) received from a mobile device using a near filed communication protocol, or (ii) identified based on receiving an indication directly from the wireless speaker, wherein the indication results from a button on the wireless speaker being pressed.
 
(20) The method of any one of (18) to (19) above, further comprising outputting to a display device a speaker diagram illustrating a speaker configuration, wherein the speaker configuration includes a plurality of speaker locations.
 
(21) The method of (20) above, further comprising receiving a selection of a speaker location from the plurality of speaker locations, wherein the at least one speaker location is the selected speaker location.
 
(22) The method of (21) above, further comprising receiving a selection of a second speaker location from the plurality of speaker locations, outputting, to the display device, the list of wireless speakers, receiving a selection of a second wireless speaker from the list of wireless speakers, and assigning the selected second wireless speaker to the selected second speaker location.
 
(23) The method of (22) above, further comprising receiving multi-channel audio content from an audio source, transmitting a first channel of the multi-channel audio content to the first wireless speaker, and transmitting the second channel of the multi-channel audio content to the second wireless speaker.
 
(24) The method of (23) above, further comprising associating the first and second wireless speakers to a first speaker group, and associating the second wireless speaker to a second speaker group.
 
(25) The method of any one of (20) to (24) above, wherein the speaker configuration is based on a number of discovered wireless speakers.
 
(26) The method of any one of (18) to (25) above, further comprising causing an audio tone to be emitted from the selected wireless speaker.
 
(27) The method of any one of (18) to (26) above, further comprising turning on and off at least one visual indicator located on the selected wireless speaker.
 
(28) The method of any one of (18) to (27) above, wherein multi-channel audio content is received at a wireless speaker.
 
(29) The method of (28) above, where the multi-channel audio content is received using a Bluetooth connection.
 
(30) The method of anyone of (28) to (29) above, wherein the multi-channel audio content is distributed to one or more other speakers via a different wireless medium.
 
(31) The embodiment of (30) above, wherein the different wireless medium is WiFi.
 
(32) The embodiment of any one of (18) to (31) above, wherein at least one wireless speaker is a mobile device.
 
(33) A method discovering one or more wireless speakers, causing at least one of (i) an audio tone to be emitted from at least one wireless speaker of the one or more wireless speakers and/or (ii) at least one visual indicator to turn on and off for at least one wireless speaker of the one or more wireless speakers, outputting to a display device, at least one of (i) a speaker diagram illustrating a speaker configuration and/or (ii) a list of wireless speakers, receiving a selection of a speaker location from the at least one of (i) the speaker diagram and/or (ii) the list of wireless speakers, and associating the selected speaker location to the at least one wireless speaker.
 
(34) A tangible computer-readable medium storing instructions thereon to discover and assign one or more wireless speakers, wherein the instructions, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of any one of (18) to (33) above.
 
(35) A device comprising one or more processors and memory, wherein the memory contains one or more processor executable instructions that when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform the method according to any one of (18) to (33) above.
 
(36) The device of (35) above, wherein the device is a speaker.
 
     In the foregoing description, for the purposes of illustration, methods were described in a particular order. It should be appreciated that in alternate embodiments, the methods may be performed in a different order than that described. It should also be appreciated that the methods described above may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in sequences of machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a machine, such as a general-purpose or special-purpose processor or logic circuits programmed with the instructions to perform the methods. These machine-executable instructions may be stored on one or more machine readable mediums, such as CD-ROMs or other type of optical disks, floppy diskettes, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or other types of machine-readable mediums suitable for storing electronic instructions. Alternatively, the methods may be performed by a combination of hardware and software. 
     Specific details were given in the description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits may be shown in block diagrams in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments. 
     Also, it is noted that the embodiments were described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed, but could have additional steps not included in the figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function. 
     Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a machine readable medium such as storage medium. A processor(s) may perform the necessary tasks. A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc. 
     While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed, and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations, except as limited by the prior art.