WO2006130931A1 - Systeme audio en reseau - Google Patents

Systeme audio en reseau Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006130931A1
WO2006130931A1 PCT/AU2006/000808 AU2006000808W WO2006130931A1 WO 2006130931 A1 WO2006130931 A1 WO 2006130931A1 AU 2006000808 W AU2006000808 W AU 2006000808W WO 2006130931 A1 WO2006130931 A1 WO 2006130931A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
audio
output
series
rendering
hardware
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU2006/000808
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Leonard Charles Layton
Chi-Chen Cheng
Chih-Ching Chiang
Original Assignee
C-Media Electronics, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2005903054A external-priority patent/AU2005903054A0/en
Application filed by C-Media Electronics, Inc. filed Critical C-Media Electronics, Inc.
Publication of WO2006130931A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006130931A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/16—Sound input; Sound output
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/53—Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers
    • H04H20/61—Arrangements specially adapted for specific applications, e.g. for traffic information or for mobile receivers for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/02—Arrangements for generating broadcast information; Arrangements for generating broadcast-related information with a direct linking to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for simultaneous generation of broadcast information and broadcast-related information
    • H04H60/04—Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of audio stream distribution in a networked environment and, in particular, discloses an efficient mechanism for implementation of networked audio streams.
  • a personal computer for instance may be equipped with a sound card which is designed to play a downloaded audio stream.
  • a personal computer for instance may be equipped with a sound card which is designed to play a downloaded audio stream.
  • Such devices have operated in a standalone manner. Operation in a standalone manner is often inefficient. This is especially the case where sophisticated processing of the audio is involved.
  • a sophisticated processing capability in a PC may operate on an audio stream so as to produce a complex audio format providing, for example, surround sound capabilities for the audio.
  • these capabilities are more localised to a particular device.
  • An environment may contain many audio playback devices and where the sophisticated processing is restricted to one of the devices and therefore is a consequential inefficient use of audio resources.
  • a method of providing audio streaming capabilities in a networked environment comprising the steps of: on a first hardware device, rendering an audio applications audio output to a virtual software driver device to produce a first output audio stream suitable for rendering on a second audio hardware playback device; outputting the first output audio stream across a network to a matching second audio hardware playback device; rendering the emitted the first output audio stream at the second audio playback device.
  • the network can comprise a wireless network.
  • the first hardware device can comprise a Personal Computer having digital signal processing capabilities.
  • the first output audio stream can be in a surround sound format.
  • a method of providing audio streaming capabilities in a networked environment comprising the steps of: on a first hardware device, rendering a series of audio applications audio output to a corresponding virtual software driver device to produce a corresponding series of audio streams; mixing predetermined audio streams together in accordance with the output requirements for a series of audio output devices located at a series of dispersed locations so as to produce a series of mixed audio streams; outputting the mixed audio streams first output audio stream across a network to a corresponding series of audio hardware playback devices;
  • the method can also include the step of further providing on the hardware device a user interface for altering the playback characteristics of at least the second audio playback device.
  • a method of providing audio streaming capabilities in a networked environment comprising the steps of: (a) on a first hardware device rendering an audio applications audio output to a virtual software driver device to produce a first series of output audio streams suitable for rendering on a second series of audio hardware playback devices; (b) outputting the first series of output audio streams across a network to matching second audio hardware playback devices; and (c) rendering the emitted first series of output audio streams at corresponding ones of said second audio playback devices.
  • a method of providing audio streaming capabilities in a networked environment comprising the steps of: (a) forming an audio cluster by clustering together a series of audio output devices; (b) presenting a uniform virtual interface for rendering audio to said cluster; (c) virtually rendering audio for playback on said cluster by said virtual interface; and (d) dispatching said virtually rendered audio for playback by said cluster.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates an operational environment of the preferred embodiment
  • Fig. 2 illustrates schematically one form of the preferred embodiment
  • Fig. 3 illustrates the process of mixing audio application streams in the preferred embodiment
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the process of a control interface on a personal computer controlling a audio device
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a standard formatting utilised in the preferred embodiment.
  • the preferred embodiment provides for a networked audio technology which is designed to provide for a high performance, robust way for personal computer users to stream audio content from their computer to other devices over wired or wireless networks.
  • the preferred embodiment has been designed to provide an audio streaming system which is low cost, simple to use, robust, high quality, real time streaming, variable latency and buffer trade off, interoperability with existing content applications and decoders, and has remote control and user interface remote operation capabilities.
  • a master computer which can comprise a portable computer 11 or standalone device 12 communicates with a series of audio devices over a wireless network.
  • These devices can optionally include an access point 13 with audio capabilities, a wireless audio receiver box 14 which outputs to a series of speakers; a home theatre system 15 having wireless audio steaming capabilities; a set of wireless speakers 16; a stereo system 17 having built in wireless audio capabilities.
  • a PC e.g. 21 or 22 is utilised to control the audio output device e.g. 23.
  • the PC e.g. 21 includes a Graphical User Interface arrangement 25 for overall control.
  • the audio media for output by the device 26 is also assumed to have been provided in addition to a web browsing environment 27.
  • the Graphical User Interface 25 is utilised to set up how the remote device is to output its audio stream. This can include volume controls, directional controls etc.
  • the various values for control are output to an overall audio driver 29 which also takes as an input the base material.
  • the audio driver 29 is assumed to include internal digital signal processing capabilities 30 for rendering the audio stream received 26 in accordance with the control information received from the Graphical User Interface 25.
  • the driver 29 recreates the required output audio stream and formats it for transmission over the wireless network. This is then transmitted over the wireless network to the relevant device 23.
  • the audio stream information is received by the device's receiver firmware 32 and subsequently output by the device.
  • the device 23 has a remote server configuration interface 33 for configuring the device 23 over the wireless network via, for example, web browser 27.
  • the driver 29 therefore acts as a virtual device driver that masquerades as a local audio hardware device on the computer 21 however it sends its audio data over the wireless network to the remote device 23.
  • the output audio stream from diver 29 could also be sent to other local or real audio hardware devices.
  • a simple Graphical User Interface can also be provided on the device 21 for remote control of the audio devices located on the network.
  • the network audio driver 29 can provide an interface identical in behaviour to a standard audio device driver but provide communication to remote audio hardware over a communications network.
  • the preferred embodiment provides a wireless multi-stream capability allowing multiple streams to be supported simultaneously and independently routed to different hardware and or mixed with other streams in a local or remote manner. This can be advantageous. For example, it may be desirable to have all audio streams locally on speakers attached directly to a PC. Some sounds such as that from a music audio application may be routed to another room.
  • Fig. 3 Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein two applications 40, 41 are running on a host computer.
  • the application 41 may provide an output stream that is high quality music.
  • the output stream is forwarded to a device driver 43 which may provide surround sound capability.
  • the application 40 provides an output audio stream which is forwarded to device driver 44.
  • Hardware device 45 receives only the output stream from device driver 43.
  • Hardware device 46 receives both output streams which are firstly mixed by mixer 47.
  • the preferred embodiment also allows for more intelligent routing and adaptive behaviour in audio devices.
  • Previous PC audio systems provide simple, static behaviour and ignore signals from users that represent intentions with respect to audio functions.
  • EG A user has audio playing from a USB speaker system, the User connects headphones to front panel of PC, the PC should mute USB speakers an re-route audio to the front panel
  • User can specify the acoustical relationships of audio devices (such as their physical locations in the same room).
  • Behavioural rules can be specified to enable 'smart' convenient and intuitive behaviours to be implemented in response to user's actions.
  • Audio devices that are physically connected to different PCs or network nodes can be logically grouped into a single 'meta-device' or a 'cluster' to enable smart behaviour to be implemented across the collection of devices. For example, a user connects headphones to a PC that is acting as a server for audio that is being played over a network to a set of networked speakers. The user can selectively enable a behavioural rule that will mute the speakers when the headphones are connected.
  • the audio driver 29 of Fig. 2 can be implemented in software on a PC this represents an opportunity to present a standard device discovery interface to an overall network.
  • the device driver 29 can act as a virtual UPNP device even though the connected audio devices may not have UPNP capabilities.
  • the abstraction of audio to the virtual device driver also allows the abstraction of the control interface for different classes of audio playback and recording product. Graphical interpretations of user interfaces can be stored on the device so that the drivers do not need to be preloaded on the control end product.
  • Such an arrangement is illustrated schematically in Fig. 4 wherein an audio receiver 50 is controlled from a PC device 51 with a user interface 52 being present to the user for overall system control.
  • the remote interface 12 functions of audio visual products can be provided where the user interface can be remotely controlled from any client. This allows for device abstraction and separate encoding, for example, XML coding of device characteristics. An example of this encoding is illustrated in Fig. 5.
  • the audio device can become a client on the user's pre-existing wireless network. There is a need to tell the wireless device the name of the network and also install the security key, if any, into it.
  • the PC will also be a client of the wireless network (a peer to the device).
  • the process for registration of the wireless device can proceed by the following steps:
  • the device is turned on for the first time by the user 2.
  • the device starts up initially as an "access point" - i.e. a wireless network hub & is set to a specific network name (e..g "Network A")
  • the user installs the software on a PC in reasonable proximity (wireless network range) to the device
  • the PC software sets the PC's wireless network name to the same as the device's default network e.g. "Network A" above. (The PC's current wireless network name is stored)
  • the PC software searches for a wireless audio node on that network
  • PC configures the device as follows: 8. -The device scans for other wireless networks in the area and the user is presented with a list of networks to choose from -The user selects their wireless network
  • the device is now a client on the network and is a peer of the PC.
  • the PC can connect to the device and stream audio [0032]
  • the preferred embodiments thereby provides for a simplified audio interface in a complex audio environment. [0033]
  • the forgoing describes preferred forms of the present invention. Modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Audiology, Speech & Language Pathology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un procédé offrant des capacités de flux audio dans un environnement de réseaux et comprenant les étapes suivantes: rendre sur un premier appareil le flux audio d'applications vers un gestionnaire de logiciel virtuel pour émettre un premier flux audio à rendre sur un deuxième appareil de reproduction audio; émettre le premier flux audio via un réseau vers un deuxième appareil de reproduction audio correspondant; et rendre le premier audio émis sur le deuxième appareil audio.
PCT/AU2006/000808 2005-06-10 2006-06-09 Systeme audio en reseau WO2006130931A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2005903054A AU2005903054A0 (en) 2005-06-10 Networked audio system
AU2005903054 2005-06-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006130931A1 true WO2006130931A1 (fr) 2006-12-14

Family

ID=37498046

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2006/000808 WO2006130931A1 (fr) 2005-06-10 2006-06-09 Systeme audio en reseau

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2006130931A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101266582B (zh) * 2008-05-09 2010-04-21 中兴通讯股份有限公司 嵌入式设备的音频管理装置及方法
CN102117221A (zh) * 2009-12-31 2011-07-06 上海博泰悦臻电子设备制造有限公司 音频应用冲突的管理方法和管理器
US20120297383A1 (en) * 2011-05-20 2012-11-22 Steven Meisner Methods and systems for virtualizing audio hardware for one or more virtual machines
US9386123B2 (en) 2013-07-23 2016-07-05 Adobe Systems Incorporated Distributed audio playback and recording
CN113377329A (zh) * 2021-07-01 2021-09-10 安徽文香科技有限公司 一种虚拟音频设备、音频数据处理方法及装置

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5867223A (en) * 1995-07-17 1999-02-02 Gateway 2000, Inc. System for assigning multichannel audio signals to independent wireless audio output devices
WO2000033474A1 (fr) * 1998-11-30 2000-06-08 Phonex Corporation Systeme de haut-parleur multivoies sans fil reposant sur la combinaison de voies multiplexees et la diversite de frequence
WO2000050971A2 (fr) * 1999-02-25 2000-08-31 Berkeley Concept Research Corporation Reseau repeteur radio multicanal reparti
EP1146775A2 (fr) * 2000-04-11 2001-10-17 Agere Systems Guardian Corporation Installation de système audio numérique sans fil et procédé d'opération correspondant
US20020064285A1 (en) * 2000-11-30 2002-05-30 Deleon Roland H. System and method for processing an audio signal prior to encoding
US20030005138A1 (en) * 2001-06-25 2003-01-02 Giffin Michael Shawn Wireless streaming audio system
US6850496B1 (en) * 2000-06-09 2005-02-01 Cisco Technology, Inc. Virtual conference room for voice conferencing
WO2005124764A1 (fr) * 2004-06-16 2005-12-29 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Systeme audio multicanal

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5867223A (en) * 1995-07-17 1999-02-02 Gateway 2000, Inc. System for assigning multichannel audio signals to independent wireless audio output devices
WO2000033474A1 (fr) * 1998-11-30 2000-06-08 Phonex Corporation Systeme de haut-parleur multivoies sans fil reposant sur la combinaison de voies multiplexees et la diversite de frequence
WO2000050971A2 (fr) * 1999-02-25 2000-08-31 Berkeley Concept Research Corporation Reseau repeteur radio multicanal reparti
EP1146775A2 (fr) * 2000-04-11 2001-10-17 Agere Systems Guardian Corporation Installation de système audio numérique sans fil et procédé d'opération correspondant
US6850496B1 (en) * 2000-06-09 2005-02-01 Cisco Technology, Inc. Virtual conference room for voice conferencing
US20020064285A1 (en) * 2000-11-30 2002-05-30 Deleon Roland H. System and method for processing an audio signal prior to encoding
US20030005138A1 (en) * 2001-06-25 2003-01-02 Giffin Michael Shawn Wireless streaming audio system
WO2005124764A1 (fr) * 2004-06-16 2005-12-29 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Systeme audio multicanal

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101266582B (zh) * 2008-05-09 2010-04-21 中兴通讯股份有限公司 嵌入式设备的音频管理装置及方法
CN102117221A (zh) * 2009-12-31 2011-07-06 上海博泰悦臻电子设备制造有限公司 音频应用冲突的管理方法和管理器
US20120297383A1 (en) * 2011-05-20 2012-11-22 Steven Meisner Methods and systems for virtualizing audio hardware for one or more virtual machines
US8972984B2 (en) * 2011-05-20 2015-03-03 Citrix Systems, Inc. Methods and systems for virtualizing audio hardware for one or more virtual machines
US9386123B2 (en) 2013-07-23 2016-07-05 Adobe Systems Incorporated Distributed audio playback and recording
CN113377329A (zh) * 2021-07-01 2021-09-10 安徽文香科技有限公司 一种虚拟音频设备、音频数据处理方法及装置
CN113377329B (zh) * 2021-07-01 2024-04-26 安徽文香科技股份有限公司 一种虚拟音频设备、音频数据处理方法及装置

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