Patent ID: 12245009

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Now, one embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings.

FIG.1is a diagram of a schematic configuration a wireless audio system according to the one embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in the figure, the wireless audio system according to this embodiment includes a plurality of wireless speakers1-1to1-7(hereinafter simply referred to as “wireless speakers1”) and a controller2connected by wireless connection to the wireless speakers1via an access point3.

One or more wireless speakers1form a group or a subgroup. Here, the wireless speakers1-1to1-3form Group A, the wireless speakers1-4and1-5form Group B, and the wireless speakers1-6and1-7form Subgroup C.

The controller2is used to remotely perform various types of operation including grouping of the wireless speakers1, setting of masters, and issuing of an instruction to reproduce audio data to the masters, and is implemented by, for example, application software of a controller installed in a smartphone or a similar information terminal.

In the wireless audio system according to this embodiment, a master of Group A is selected from the wireless speakers1belonging to Group A and a master of Group B is selected from the wireless speakers1belonging to Group B. In each of Group A and Group B, the master downloads audio data from a media server5via the access point3and a network4, which is a WAN, a LAN, or the like, to reproduce and output the audio data and also to transmit the reproduced data to each of the wireless speakers1belonging to Group A or B. The wireless speakers1other than the master receive the reproduced data from the master belonging to one of Group A and Group B that is the same group as the group of the wireless speakers1, and output the reproduced data. Reproduction of audio data is thus executed for each of Group A and Group B separately. Here, the wireless speaker1-1is set as the master of Group A and the wireless speaker1-4is set as the master of Group B.

In the wireless audio system according to this embodiment, Subgroup C joins one of Group A and Group B in accordance with a user's instruction. With the joining, the wireless speakers1-6and1-7belonging to Subgroup C receive reproduced data from the master of the one of Group A and Group B that is a group joined by Subgroup C, and output the reproduced data.

FIG.2is a sequence diagram for illustrating an example of subgroup forming operation in the wireless audio system according to this embodiment.

Here, an example of operation to be executed when the wireless speakers1-6and1-7form Subgroup C is shown.

First, the wireless speaker1-6receives given subgroup forming operation, which is a long press (a press lasting, for example, 5 seconds or longer) of an operation button or the like, from the user (Step S100). With the reception of the subgroup forming operation, the wireless speaker1-6clears settings registered in itself about a subgroup (Step S101). The wireless speaker1-6then multicasts a subgroup forming request by Bluetooth (trademark) or other standards of near field communication (Step S102), and subsequently waits for reception of a subgroup forming notification from another wireless speaker1, or elapse of a given time T1(for example, 10 seconds) since the reception of the subgroup forming operation.

Here, the given time T1has elapsed since the reception of the subgroup forming operation, without the wireless speaker1-6receiving a subgroup forming notification from another wireless speaker1. The wireless speaker1-7multicasts a subgroup forming request in Step S112described next, within the given time T1before and after the reception of the subgroup forming operation by the wireless speaker1-6. The wireless speaker1-6receives the subgroup forming request from the wireless speaker1-7within the given time T1before and after the reception of the subgroup forming operation, forms Subgroup C including the wireless speaker1-6itself and the wireless speaker1-7in response to the request, and sets information about Subgroup C in the wireless speaker1-6itself (Step S103). The wireless speaker1-6then transmits a subgroup forming notification including the information about Subgroup C to the wireless speaker1-7(Step S104).

Meanwhile, the wireless speaker1-7receives the given subgroup forming operation from the user as in the wireless speaker1-6, at timing a little later than that of the wireless speaker1-6(however, within the given time T1) (Step S110). In response, the wireless speaker1-7clears settings of a subgroup registered in itself (Step S111). The wireless speaker1-7then multicasts a subgroup forming request by Bluetooth (trademark) or other standards of near field communication (Step S112), and subsequently waits for reception of a subgroup forming notification from another wireless speaker1, or elapse of the given time T1(for example, 10 seconds) since the reception of the subgroup forming operation.

Here, a subgroup forming notification has been received from the wireless speaker1-6before the elapse of the given time T1since the reception of the subgroup forming operation. In this case, the wireless speaker1-7sets information of Subgroup C which is included in the subgroup forming notification received from the wireless speaker1-6to itself (Step S113).

In this manner, Subgroup C including the wireless speakers1-6and1-7is formed and, in each of the wireless speakers1-6and1-7, information of Subgroup C to which the own wireless speaker1belongs is set.

FIG.3andFIG.4are sequence diagrams for illustrating an example of group joining operation in the wireless audio system according to this embodiment.

The wireless speaker1-1, which is the master of Group A, reproduces and outputs audio data, and also transmits the reproduced data to the other wireless speakers of the same Group A, namely, the wireless speakers1-2and1-3, by near field communication to output the reproduced data from the wireless speakers1-2and1-3(Step S120). The wireless speaker1-4, which is the master of Group B, reproduces and outputs audio data, and also transmits the reproduced data to the other wireless speaker of the same Group B, namely, the wireless speaker1-5, by near field communication to output the reproduced data from the wireless speaker1-5(Step S121).

The wireless speaker1-6of Subgroup C now receives given group joining operation, which is a short press (a press lasting, for example, less than 1 second) of an operation button or the like, from the user (Step S122). In response, the wireless speaker1-6confirms its own state of not belonging to any group, that is, absence of settings of a group registered in itself, and multicasts a master inquiry by near field communication (Step S123). The wireless speaker1-6then waits for a given length of time (for example, 5 seconds), for master notifications transmitted from the master of Group A and the master of Group B.

Next, the wireless speaker1-4, which is the master of Group B, receives the master inquiry from the wireless speaker1-6and transmits a master notification including information of Group B to the wireless speaker1-6by near field communication (Step S124). Similarly, the wireless speaker1-1, which is the master of Group A, receives the master inquiry from the wireless speaker1-6and transmits a master notification including information of Group A to the wireless speaker1-6by near field communication (Step S125).

Next, the wireless speaker1-6receives the master notifications from the wireless speakers1-1and1-4, and selects a master of a group to join from the wireless speakers1-1and1-4in a given order (for example, an order of reception of the master notifications). Here, the wireless speaker1-4, which is the source of transmission of the master notification received first, is selected as the master of the group to join. The wireless speaker1-6then confirms its own state of belonging to Subgroup C, that is, presence of settings of Subgroup C registered in itself, and transmits a group joining request including information of Subgroup C (address information or the like of the wireless speakers1-6and1-7belonging to Subgroup C) to the selected wireless speaker1-4by near field communication (Step S126).

The wireless speaker1-4, which is the master of Group B, receives the group joining request from the wireless speaker1-6, and adds the wireless speakers1-6and1-7of Subgroup C which are identified from the information included in the group joining request to group members of its own group B (Step S127).

The wireless speaker1-4then transmits a group joining notification including information of Group B to each of the wireless speakers1-6and1-7of Subgroup C (Step S128). The wireless speaker1-4adds the wireless speakers1-6and1-7to transmission destinations of reproduced data of audio data, and transmits the reproduced data of the audio data to the wireless speakers1-5to1-7by near field communication (Step S129). In this manner, the wireless speakers1-6and1-7of Subgroup C joins Group B and outputs audio data being reproduced in Group B.

Next, the wireless speaker1-6again receives the given group joining operation from the user (Step S130). In response, the wireless speaker1-6confirms its own state of having joined Group B, that is, presence of settings of Group B registered in itself, and also confirms its own state of belonging to Subgroup C, that is, presence of settings of Subgroup C registered in itself. The wireless speaker1-6then transmits, by near field communication, a group leaving request including information of Subgroup C to the wireless speaker1-4, which is the master of Group B (Step S131).

The wireless speaker1-4, which is the master of Group B, receives the group leaving request from the wireless speaker1-6, and removes the wireless speakers1-6and1-7of Subgroup C which are identified from information included in the group leaving request from the members of Group B (Step S132).

The wireless speaker1-4then transmits a group leaving notification including information of Group B to each of the wireless speakers1-6and1-7of Subgroup C (Step S133). In response, the wireless speakers1-6and1-7of Subgroup C each clear the registered settings of Group B. The wireless speaker1-4then removes the wireless speakers1-6and1-7from the transmission destinations of the reproduced data of the audio data, and transmits the reproduced data of the audio data to the wireless speaker1-5alone (Step S134). In this manner, the wireless speakers1-6and1-7of Subgroup C leave Group B and stop outputting the audio data being reproduced in Group B.

Next, the wireless speaker1-6selects a master of a group to join out of the wireless speakers1-1and1-4from which the master notifications have been received in the given order (for example, the order of reception of the master notifications). Here, the wireless speaker1-1, which is the sender of the master notification received second, is selected. The wireless speaker1-6then confirms its own state of belonging to Subgroup C, that is, presence of settings of Subgroup C registered in itself, and transmits a group joining request including information of Subgroup C (address information or the like of the wireless speakers1-6and1-7belonging to Subgroup C) to the selected wireless speaker1-1by near field communication (Step S135).

The wireless speaker1-1, which is the master of Group A, receives the group joining request from the wireless speaker1-6, and adds the wireless speakers1-6and1-7of Subgroup C which are identified from the information included in the group joining request to group members of its own group A (Step S136).

The wireless speaker1-1then transmits a group joining notification including information of Group A to each of the wireless speakers1-6and1-7of Subgroup C (Step S137). The wireless speaker1-1then adds the wireless speakers1-6and1-7to transmission destinations of reproduced data of audio data, and transmits the reproduced data of the audio data to the wireless speakers1-2,1-3,1-6, and1-7by near field communication (Step S138). In this manner, the wireless speakers1-6and1-7of Subgroup C joins Group A and outputs audio data being reproduced in Group A.

Details of the wireless speakers1are described next.

FIG.5is a diagram of a schematic function configuration of the wireless speakers1.

The function configuration of the wireless speakers1illustrated inFIG.5is implemented on a computer including, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, an auxiliary storage device which is a flash memory, a hard disk drive, or the like, a communication device which is a network interface card (NIC), a wireless LAN adapter, a Bluetooth (trademark) adapter, or the like, and an input/output device which is a speaker, and operation button, and the like, by the CPU loading a given program from the auxiliary storage device onto the memory and executing the program.

As illustrated in the figure, the wireless speakers1each include a wireless LAN interface unit100, a near field communication interface unit101, an operation button102, an audio reproduction unit103, a speaker unit104, a master search unit105, a group information storage unit106, a group joining request unit107, a subgroup forming request unit108, a group addition/removal processing unit109, an audio transmission/reception control unit110, and a main control unit111.

The wireless LAN interface unit100is an interface for communication to and from the media server5via the access point3and the network4.

The near field communication interface unit101is an interface for communication to and from other wireless speakers1and the controller2by Bluetooth (trademark) or other standards of near field communication.

The operation button102is a push button for receiving the group joining operation and the subgroup forming operation from the user. For example, the group joining operation is received from the user with a short press (a press lasting, for example, less than 1 second) of the button, and the subgroup forming operation is received from the user with a long press (a press lasting, for example, 5 seconds or longer) of the button.

The audio reproduction unit103follows, when its own wireless speaker1is set as a master, an instruction of the main control unit111to download audio data of a tune from the media server5via the wireless LAN interface unit100, and reproduce the audio data.

The speaker unit104outputs, in the form of audio, reproduced data of the audio data reproduced by the audio reproduction unit103.

The master search unit105searches for masters among other wireless speakers1to and from which communication can be held via the near field communication interface unit101, by multicasting a master inquiry from the near field communication interface unit101and receiving master notifications.

The group information storage unit106stores information of a group and a subgroup that are joined by its own wireless speaker1.

FIG.6is a diagram for schematically illustrating an example of contents registered in the group information storage unit106.

As illustrated in the figure, the group information storage unit106includes a group information table1061for registering, when there is a group joined by its own wireless speaker1, information of the joined group and a subgroup information table1062for registering, when there is a subgroup joined by its own wireless speaker1, information of the joined subgroup.

In the group information table1061, a record10610of group member information is stored for each group member of the group joined by its own wireless speaker1, in association with a group name10614of the group. The record10610of the group member information includes a field10611for registering a speaker ID by which the wireless speaker1is identified, a field10612for registering address information of the wireless speaker1, and a field10613for registering, when the wireless speaker1is a master, a master flag indicating that fact.

In the subgroup information table1062, a record10620of subgroup member information is stored for each member of a subgroup joined by its own wireless speaker1. The record10620of the subgroup member information includes a field10621for registering a speaker ID by which the wireless speaker1is identified, and a field10622for registering address information of the wireless speaker1.

The group joining request unit107causes, when its own wireless speaker1is not set as a master, its own wireless speaker1(a subgroup when there is a subgroup joined by its own wireless speaker1) to join a group of one of masters found through a search by the master search unit105, by following an instruction of the main control unit111.

The subgroup forming request unit108forms, when its own wireless speaker1is not set as a master, a subgroup with other wireless speakers1by following an instruction of the main control unit111.

The group addition/removal processing unit109executes, when its own wireless speaker1is set as a master, processing of adding another wireless speaker1to a group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs, and processing of removing another wireless speaker1from the group.

The audio transmission/reception control unit110transmits, when its own wireless speaker1is set as a master, reproduced data of audio data reproduced by the audio reproduction unit103to other wireless speakers1of the group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs via the near field communication interface unit101, by referring to the group information table1061of the group information storage unit106. When its own wireless speaker1is not set as a master, the audio transmission/reception control unit110receives, via the near field communication interface unit101, reproduced data of audio data from a master of a group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs, and outputs the reproduced data from the speaker unit104.

The main control unit111performs overall control on the units100to110of the wireless speaker1. The main control unit111follows instructions received from the controller2via the near field communication interface unit101to register information of a group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs in the group information table1061of the group information storage unit106, and to set its own wireless speaker1as a master. When its own wireless speaker1is set as a master, the main control unit111follows an instruction received from the controller2via the near field communication interface unit101to download audio data of a tune from the media server5via the wireless LAN interface unit101, and reproduce the audio data with the audio reproduction unit103. When its own wireless speaker1is not set as a master, the main control unit111follows instructions received from the user via the operation button102to cause its own wireless speaker1(a subgroup when there is a subgroup joined by its own wireless speaker1) to join a group in cooperation with the group joining request unit107, and to form a subgroup including its own wireless speaker1in cooperation with the subgroup forming request unit108.

FIG.7is a flow chart for illustrating subgroup forming processing of the wireless speakers1. This flow is executed when the own wireless speaker1is not set as a master.

First, the subgroup forming request unit108receives a subgroup forming request via the near field communication interface unit101(“YES” in Step S200), and manages the wireless speaker1that is the sender of the subgroup forming request in association with a reception time at which the subgroup forming request has been received (Step S201).

Next, the main control unit111receives the given subgroup forming operation, which is a long press (a press lasting, for example, 5 seconds or longer) of the operation button102or the like, from the user (“YES” in Step S202), clears settings of a subgroup by deleting every record10620of subgroup member information from the subgroup information table1062of the group information storage unit106(Step S203), and instructs the subgroup forming request unit108to form a subgroup. In response, the subgroup forming request unit108multicasts a subgroup forming request from the near field communication interface unit101(Step S204). The subgroup forming request unit108subsequently waits for reception of a subgroup forming notification via the near field communication interface unit101(Step S207), or elapse of the given time T1(for example, 10 seconds) since the reception of the subgroup forming operation (Step S208).

Here, the subgroup forming request unit108has not received a subgroup forming notification (“NO” in Step S207) and the given time T1has not elapsed since the reception of the subgroup forming operation (“NO” in Step S208). Under this state, the subgroup forming request unit108receives a subgroup forming request via the near field communication interface unit101(“YES” in Step S205), and manages the wireless speaker1that is the sender of the subgroup forming request in association with a reception time at which the subgroup forming request has been received (Step S206).

When the given time T1has elapsed since the reception of the subgroup forming operation (“YES” in Step S208) without receiving a subgroup forming notification (“NO” in Step S207), the subgroup forming request unit108refers to the wireless speaker1managed in association with the reception time of the subgroup forming request, and determines the wireless speaker1that is the sender of the subgroup forming request received within the given time T1before and after the reception of the subgroup forming operation to be a subgroup member of a subgroup to be newly formed, along with its own wireless speaker1. The subgroup forming request unit108then registers settings of the newly formed subgroup by adding, to the subgroup information table1062of the group information storage unit106, the record10620of subgroup member information of each wireless speaker1determined to be a subgroup member (including its own wireless speaker1) (Step S209). The subgroup forming request unit108then transmits, via the near field communication interface unit101, to each of the other wireless speakers1determined to be subgroup members, a subgroup forming notification including the record10620of subgroup member information of each subgroup member (Step S210).

When a subgroup forming notification is received (“YES” in Step S207) before the given time T1since the reception of the subgroup forming operation elapses (“NO” in Step S208), the subgroup forming request unit108confirms that the record10620of its own wireless speaker1is included among the record10620of subgroup member information of each subgroup member included in the subgroup forming notification, and registers settings of the subgroup by adding the record10620of subgroup member information of each subgroup member to the subgroup information table1062of the group information storage unit106(Step S211).

FIG.8is a flow chart for illustrating group joining request processing of the wireless speakers1. This flow is executed when the own wireless speaker1is not set as a master.

First, the main control unit111receives given group joining operation, which is a short press (a press lasting, for example, less than 1 second) of the operation button102or the like, from the user (“YES” in Step S220), and instructs the group joining request unit107to join a group. In response, the group joining request unit107examines whether a search for masters by the master search unit105has been executed within a given time T2(for example, 3 minutes). When it is found out that the search has been executed within the given time T2(“YES” in Step S221), the process proceeds to Step S224.

When it is found out that a search for masters by the master search unit105has not been executed within the given time T2(“NO” in Step S221), on the other hand, the group joining request unit107instructs the master search unit105to search for masters. In response, the master search unit105multicasts a master inquiry from the near field communication interface unit101(Step S222). The master search unit105then receives master notifications within a given time (for example, 5 seconds), and creates a master list in which the wireless speakers1set as masters are listed in the order of, for example, reception of the master notifications (Step S223). The process then proceeds to Step S224.

In Step S224, the group joining request unit107refers to the group information table1061of the group information storage unit106, and examines whether the record10610of group member information including its own wireless speaker1is registered in the group information table1061, to thereby determine whether its own wireless speaker1has already joined one of groups. When it is determined that its own wireless speaker1has not joined any group (“NO” in Step S224), the process proceeds to Step S228.

When it is determined that its own wireless speaker1has joined one of the groups (“YES” in Step S224), the group joining request unit107identifies the record10610of group member information in which the master flag is registered in the field10613from among records of the group information table1061. The group joining request unit107then transmits, via the near field communication interface unit101, a group leaving request to a master of the group joined by its own wireless speaker1which is identified from this record10610(Step S225). When its own wireless speaker1belongs to a subgroup (when the record10620of subgroup member information is registered in the subgroup information table1062of the group information storage unit106), the transmitted group leaving request includes information of each of subgroup members including its own wireless speaker1. When its own wireless speaker does not belong to any subgroup (when the record10620of subgroup member information is not registered in the subgroup information table1062of the group information storage unit106), the transmitted group leaving request includes information of its own wireless speaker1.

The group joining request unit107then receives, via the near field communication interface unit101, a group leaving notification from the master that is the transmission destination of the group leaving request (Step S226), and clears settings of the group by deleting every record10610of group member information from the group information table1061(Step S227). The process proceeds to Step S228.

In Step S228, the group joining request unit107determines a master of a group to join, based on the latest master list (Step S228). For example, when it is found out in Step S224that its own wireless speaker1has not joined any group (“NO” in Step S224), the group joining request unit107determines a master listed at the top of the master list as the master of the group to join, and, when it is found out in Step S224that its own wireless speaker1has joined a group (“YES” in Step S224), determines a master listed next to a master of a group that has just been left by its own wireless speaker1on the master list (when the master of the group that has just been left by its own wireless speaker1is listed last on the master list, a master listed at the top of the master list) as the master of the group to join.

Next, the group joining request unit107transmits, via the near field communication interface unit101, a group joining request to the master of the group to join (Step S229). When its own wireless speaker1belongs to a subgroup, the transmitted group joining request includes information of each of subgroup members including its own wireless speaker1. When its own wireless speaker1does not belong to any subgroup, the transmitted group joining request includes information of its own wireless speaker1.

The group joining request unit107then receives, via the near field communication interface unit101, a group joining notification from the master that is the transmission destination of the group joining request (Step S230), and registers settings of the group by registering, in the group information table1061, for each group member of the group to join, the record10610of group member information included in the group joining notification, in association with the group name10614of the group to join (Step S231).

Next, the group joining request unit107notifies, to the main control unit111, the group name of the group to join and information (a speaker ID and/or address information) of the master of the group to join. In response, the main control unit111outputs a group joining message containing the group name of the group to join from the speaker unit104(Step S232). For example, when its own wireless speaker1is given a speaker name, a group joining message to the effect that “oo (the speaker name) speaker has joined oo (the group name) group” is output from the speaker unit104. When its own wireless speaker1is not given a speaker name, a group joining message to the effect that “this speaker has joined oo (the group name) group” is output from the speaker104. The audio transmission/reception control unit110receives reproduced data of audio data from the master of the group to join via the near field communication interface unit101(“YES” in Step S233), and outputs the reproduced data from the speaker unit104(Step S234).

FIG.9is a flow chart for illustrating subordinate group joining processing of the wireless speakers1. This flow is executed when the own wireless speaker1is not set as a master and belongs to a subgroup.

The group joining request unit107receives a group leaving notification via the near field communication interface unit101(“YES” in Step S240), and clears settings of the group by deleting every record10610of group member information from the group information table1061of the group information storage unit160(Step S241).

The group joining request unit107receives a group joining notification via the near field communication interface unit101(“YES” in Step S242), and registers settings of the group by registering, in the group information table1061, for each group member of the group to join, the record10610of group member information included in the group joining notification, in association with the group name10614of the group to join (Step S243).

The group joining request unit107then notifies, to the main control unit111, the group name of the group to join and information (a speaker ID and/or address information) of the master of the group to join. In response, the main control unit111outputs a group joining message containing the group name of the group to join from the speaker unit104(Step S244). For example, when its own wireless speaker1is given a speaker name, a group joining message to the effect that “oo (the speaker name) speaker has joined00(the group name) group” is output from the speaker unit104. When its own wireless speaker1is not given a speaker name, a group joining message to the effect that “this speaker has joined oo (the group name) group” is output from the speaker104. The audio transmission/reception control unit110receives reproduced data of audio data from the master of the group to join via the near field communication interface unit101(“YES” in Step S245), and outputs the reproduced data from the speaker unit104(Step S246).

FIG.10is a flow chart for illustrating group addition/removal processing of the wireless speakers1. This flow is executed when the own wireless speaker1is set as a master.

The main control unit111receives a master inquiry from another wireless speaker1via the near field communication interface unit101(“YES” in Step S250), refers to the group information table1061of the group information storage unit106, and transmits, via the near field communication interface unit101, a master notification including the group name10614and the record10610of group member information of each group member to the wireless speaker1that is the sender of the master inquiry (Step S251).

The main control unit111receives a group joining request from another wireless speaker1via the near field communication interface unit101(“YES” in Step S252), and hands the group joining request over to the group addition/removal processing unit109. In response, the group addition/removal processing unit109registers, for each wireless speaker1having information included in the group joining request, the record1061of group member information that includes this information in the group information table1061of the group information storage unit106. In this manner, each wireless speaker1having information included in the group joining request is added to a group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs as the master (Step S253). The main control unit111then transmits, via the near field communication interface unit101, a group joining notification including the record10610of group member information of each group member that is included in the group information table1061and the group name10614to each wireless speaker1that is identified by the information included in the group joining request (Step S254).

The main control unit111receives a group leaving request from another wireless speaker1via the near field communication interface unit101(“YES” in Step S255), and hands the group leaving request over to the group addition/removal processing unit109. In response, the group addition/removal processing unit109deletes, for each wireless speaker1having information included in the group leaving request, the record1061of group member information that includes this information from the group information table1061of the group information storage unit106. In this manner, each wireless speaker1having information included in the group leaving request is removed from a group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs as the master (Step S256). The main control unit111then transmits, via the near field communication interface unit101, a group leaving notification to each wireless speaker1that is identified by the information included in the group leaving request (Step S257).

FIG.11is a flow chart for illustrating audio reproduction processing of the wireless speakers1. This flow is executed when the control unit111of the wireless speaker1set as a master receives an audio reproduction instruction accompanied by specification of a tune from the controller2via the wireless LAN interface unit100.

First, the main control unit111accesses the media server5via the wireless LAN interface unit100and downloads audio data of the tune specified in the audio reproduction instruction received from the controller2(Step S260). The main control unit111hands the downloaded audio data over to the audio reproduction unit103and instructs the audio reproduction unit103to reproduce the audio data. In response, the audio reproduction unit103starts reproducing the audio data received from the main control unit111(Step S261).

Next, the audio transmission/reception control unit110refers to the group information table1061of the group information storage unit106, and transmits, via the near field communication interface unit101, the reproduced data of the audio data reproduced by the audio reproduction unit103to each of other wireless speakers1that are group members of a group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs (Step S262). The audio reproduction unit103starts output of the reproduced data from the speaker unit104with output timing delayed so that timing at which the reproduced data transmitted to the group members by the audio transmission/reception control unit110is output is the same throughout the group members (Step S263).

After that, the audio transmission/reception control unit110monitors the group information table1061of the group information storage unit106. When the record10610of group member information is registered in the group information table1061, which means that a new group member is added to the group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs (“YES” in Step S264), the audio transmission/reception control unit110starts transmitting the reproduced data to the added group member (Step S265). When the record10610of group member information is deleted from the group information table1061, which means that a group member is removed from the group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs (“YES” in Step S266), the audio transmission/reception control unit110stops transmitting the reproduced data to the removed group member (Step S267).

The main control unit111receives an audio reproduction stopping instruction from the controller2via the wireless LAN interface unit100(“YES” in Step S268), and instructs the audio reproduction unit103to stop reproducing the audio data.

In response, the audio reproduction unit103stops reproducing the audio data (Step S269). This causes the audio transmission/reception control unit110to end the transmission of the reproduced data to each group member of the group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs, and the speaker unit104to end the output of the reproduced data (Step S271).

Similarly, when the audio reproduction unit103ends the reproduction of the audio data (“YES” in Step S270), the audio transmission/reception control unit110ends the transmission of the reproduced data to each group member of the group to which its own wireless speaker1belongs, and the speaker unit104ends the output of the reproduced data (Step S271).

This concludes the description of the one embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, when given group joining operation is received from the user, the wireless speaker1that has not joined any group transmits a group joining request to one of masters, and joins a group to which this master belongs, and the wireless speaker1that has already joined one of groups transmits a group leaving request to a master of this group to leave this group, and then transmits a group joining request to one of the masters other than the transmission destination of the group leaving request to join a group to which the one of the masters belongs. It is therefore unrequired, when the controller2is implemented by application software installed in a smartphone or a similar information terminal, to go to the trouble of activating and operating the application for joining of the wireless speaker1to one of the groups. In addition, immediate output of reproduced data of audio data being reproduced in the group newly joined by the wireless speaker1enables the user to determine the group joined by the wireless speaker by checking the audio data being reproduced. According to this embodiment, joining of one wireless speaker1to a group can thus be accomplished by simple operation.

In this embodiment, when given group joining operation is received from the user, the wireless speaker1that belongs to a subgroup and that does not belong to any group transmits a group joining request including information of every wireless speaker1belonging to the subgroup to one of masters so that every wireless speaker1belonging to the subgroup joins the same group, and the wireless speaker1that belongs to a subgroup and that has already joined one of groups transmits a group leaving request including specification of every wireless speaker1belonging to the subgroup to a master of this group so that every wireless speaker1belonging to the subgroup leaves this group, and transmits a group joining request including information of every wireless speaker1belonging to the subgroup to one of the masters other than the master of this group so that every wireless speaker1belonging to the subgroup joins the same group. According to this embodiment, all wireless speakers1belonging to a subgroup can thus join the same group by execution of the given group joining operation on any one of the wireless speakers belonging to the subgroup, and this improves user-friendliness.

In this embodiment, the wireless speaker1that has received given subgroup forming operation from the user multicasts a subgroup forming request, and forms a subgroup together with another wireless speaker1that is the sender of a subgroup forming request received within the given time T1before and after the reception of the subgroup forming operation. It is therefore unrequired, when the controller2is implemented by application software installed in a smartphone or a similar information terminal, to go to the trouble of activating and operating the application for forming of a subgroup. According to this embodiment, a subgroup can thus be formed by simple operation.

In this embodiment, the group joining operation and the subgroup forming operation are received from the user by simple operation (a long press, a short press, and the like) of the operation button102provided on each wireless speaker1. The user-friendliness is thus improved.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the group joining operation and the subgroup forming operation are received from the user by simple operation (a long press, a short press, and the like) of the operation button102provided on each wireless speaker1, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Each wireless speaker1may be provided with, instead of the operation button102, a microphone and a voice recognition processing unit which performs voice recognition processing on a sound input to the microphone so that group joining operation and subgroup forming operation are received from the user by voice operation.

In the embodiment described above, when the wireless speaker1set as a master receives a group joining request from another wireless speaker1, the wireless speaker1set as a master unconditionally adds, to its own group, each of other wireless speakers1having information included in the group joining request, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The wireless speaker1set as a master may output, when receiving a group joining request from another wireless speaker1, an inquiry message to ask whether the wireless speakers1having information included in the group joining request are allowed to be added to the group of the wireless speaker1set as a master so that the wireless speakers1having information included in the group joining request are added to the group of the wireless speaker1set as a master only when permission is received by operation of the operation button102or by voice operation. When addition to the group is rejected by operation of the operation button102or by voice operation, the wireless speakers1having information included in the group joining request are not added to the group of the wireless speaker1set as a master. In this case, it is preferred that the wireless speaker1set as a master transmit a group addition rejection message containing the group name of its own group of the wireless speaker1set as a master to the sender of the group joining request, and that the wireless speaker1that is the sender of the group joining request output, in response, an audio message to the effect that addition to a group identified by the group name included in the group addition rejection message has been rejected.

In the embodiment described above, the wireless speakers1transmit and receive various types of information including a master inquiry to and from one another by near field communication, but may use wireless communication via the access point3to transmit and receive information to and from one another.

In the embodiment described above, a group may be dissolved, for example, as follows. Specifically, when an instruction to dissolve a group is received by operation of the operation button102or by voice operation, the wireless speaker1set as a master transmits a group dissolution notification to each of the wireless speakers1belonging to a group of the wireless speaker1set as a master, and clears the group information table1061. When audio data is being reproduced at that point, transmission of the reproduced data to those wireless speakers1is stopped. Meanwhile, the wireless speakers1that have received the group dissolution notification each clear the group information table1061. For example, when a group dissolution instruction is input to the wireless speaker1-4by operating the operation button102of the wireless speaker1-4or by voice operation under a state in which the wireless speaker1-4and the wireless speaker1-5form Group B, and the wireless speaker1-4is set as a master as illustrated inFIG.1, Group B is dissolved and the wireless speaker1-4and the wireless speaker1-5no longer belong to any group.

The description given above on the embodiment takes as an example a case in which the wireless speaker1set as a master downloads audio data of a tune to be reproduced from the media server5. However, the method of obtaining audio data of a tune to be reproduced is not limited thereto. For example, the wireless speaker1set as a master may read audio data of a tune to be reproduced out of a USB memory, a CD-ROM, or other storage media.

The description given above on the embodiment takes as an example the wireless speakers1connected by wireless connection to the network4via the access point3. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention is applicable also to speakers connected by wired connection to the network4with the use of a LAN cable.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” and “between about X and Y” should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as “between about X and Y” mean “between about X and about Y.” As used herein, phrases such as “from about X to Y” mean “from about X to about Y.”

As used herein, “hardware” can include a combination of discrete components, an integrated circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, or other suitable hardware. As used herein, “software” can include one or more objects, agents, threads, lines of code, subroutines, separate software applications, two or more lines of code or other suitable software structures operating in two or more software applications, on one or more processors (where a processor includes one or more microcomputers or other suitable data processing units, memory devices, input-output devices, displays, data input devices such as a keyboard or a mouse, peripherals such as printers and speakers, associated drivers, control cards, power sources, network devices, docking station devices, or other suitable devices operating under control of software systems in conjunction with the processor or other devices), or other suitable software structures. A “system” can be hardware or software operating in conjunction with hardware, and the term “means” as used in the specification is not the same as the term “means” as used in a claim and is not intended to invoke the provisions of the 35 U.S.C. 112(6), but rather is the Japanese language equivalent for a system. In one exemplary embodiment, software can include one or more lines of code or other suitable software structures operating in a general purpose software application, such as an operating system, and one or more lines of code or other suitable software structures operating in a specific purpose software application. As used herein, the term “couple” and its cognate terms, such as “couples” and “coupled,” can include a physical connection (such as a copper conductor), a virtual connection (such as through randomly assigned memory locations of a data memory device), a logical connection (such as through logical gates of a semiconducting device), other suitable connections, or a suitable combination of such connections. The term “data” can refer to a suitable structure for using, conveying or storing data, such as a data field, a data buffer, a data message having the data value and sender/receiver address data, a control message having the data value and one or more operators that cause the receiving system or component to perform a function using the data, or other suitable hardware or software components for the electronic processing of data.

In general, a software system is a system that operates on a processor to perform predetermined functions in response to predetermined data fields. A software system is typically created as an algorithmic source code by a human programmer, and the source code algorithm is then compiled into a machine language algorithm with the source code algorithm functions, and linked to the specific input/output devices, dynamic link libraries and other specific hardware and software components of a processor, which converts the processor from a general purpose processor into a specific purpose processor. This well-known process for implementing an algorithm using a processor should require no explanation for one of even rudimentary skill in the art. For example, a system can be defined by the function it performs and the data fields that it performs the function on. As used herein, a NAME system, where NAME is typically the name of the general function that is performed by the system, refers to a software system that is configured to operate on a processor and to perform the disclosed function on the disclosed data fields. A system can receive one or more data inputs, such as data fields, user-entered data, control data in response to a user prompt or other suitable data, and can determine an action to take based on an algorithm, such as to proceed to a next algorithmic step if data is received, to repeat a prompt if data is not received, to perform a mathematical operation on two data fields, to sort or display data fields or to perform other suitable well-known algorithmic functions. Unless a specific algorithm is disclosed, then any suitable algorithm that would be known to one of skill in the art for performing the function using the associated data fields is contemplated as falling within the scope of the disclosure. For example, a message system that generates a message that includes a sender address field, a recipient address field and a message field would encompass software operating on a processor that can obtain the sender address field, recipient address field and message field from a suitable system or device of the processor, such as a buffer device or buffer system, can assemble the sender address field, recipient address field and message field into a suitable electronic message format (such as an electronic mail message, a TCP/IP message or any other suitable message format that has a sender address field, a recipient address field and message field), and can transmit the electronic message using electronic messaging systems and devices of the processor over a communications medium, such as a network. One of ordinary skill in the art would be able to provide the specific coding for a specific application based on the foregoing disclosure, which is intended to set forth exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and not to provide a tutorial for someone having less than ordinary skill in the art, such as someone who is unfamiliar with programming or processors in a suitable programming language. A specific algorithm for performing a function can be provided in a flow chart form or in other suitable formats, where the data fields and associated functions can be set forth in an exemplary order of operations, where the order can be rearranged as suitable and is not intended to be limiting unless explicitly stated to be limiting.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1,1-1to1-7: wireless speaker,2: controller,3: access point,4: network,5: media server100: wireless LAN interface unit,101: near field communication interface unit,102: operation button,103: audio reproduction unit,104: speaker unit,105: master search unit,106: group information storage unit,107: group joining request unit,108: subgroup forming request unit,109: group addition/removal processing unit,110: audio transmission/reception control unit,111main control unit