JP5299183B2 - Wireless audio system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless audio system that reproduces audio content of other source devices even when an alarm is set. <P>SOLUTION: The wireless audio system includes: a main player having transmission mode and receiving mode; a portable player; and a speaker device (sub-woofer) of receiving mode. When a radio alarm is set, the main player manages time while transmitting an audio signal in the transmission mode and enters the receiving mode by transmitting a start command to the portable player when the alarm time comes. The portable player is on standby in the receiving mode, enters the transmission mode when the start command is received, reproduces predetermined audio content and transmits it to the main player and the speaker device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless audio system that wirelessly transmits an audio signal, and more particularly to an alarm function that activates a device at a predetermined activation time.

  Audio systems that transmit audio signals wirelessly have been proposed. The wireless audio system is simple to install because there is no need to route a cable, and the degree of freedom of installation location of the audio equipment is increased. There is an advantage that a portable audio player can be easily connected to a stationary audio device. Many of such wireless audio systems transmit audio signals according to a communication standard called Bluetooth (registered trademark) (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-278328 A

  One of the functions of the audio system is an alarm function. The alarm function is a function in which an audio system is activated at a time set by a user and audio content is automatically reproduced. When this alarm function is to be realized by a system in which a portable audio player and a stationary audio device are wirelessly connected, the following problems occur.

  A stationary audio device has a source device connected in addition to a portable audio player, and may want to enjoy the audio content of the source device while the alarm is set. While waiting until the activation time, the portable audio player is selected, so the content of another source device cannot be enjoyed.

  Since the wireless communication function needs to be operating all the time while the alarm is on standby, the battery of the portable audio player may be consumed by the alarm time.

  An object of this invention is to provide the wireless audio system which solved the said subject in a wireless alarm function.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided first and second audio playback devices that can be switched between a transmission mode for transmitting an audio signal wirelessly or a reception mode for receiving an audio signal wirelessly, and a third device for wirelessly receiving an audio signal. A wireless audio system including an audio playback device,
The first audio reproduction device manages time in a state in which an audio signal is transmitted to the second and third audio reproduction devices in a transmission mode, and the second audio reproduction is performed when a predetermined activation time is reached. A start time managing means for transmitting a start command to the device and switching its own mode to a reception mode, wherein the second audio playback device waits in the reception mode and receives the start command from the first audio playback device; When receiving, an alarm starting means is provided for switching an own mode to a transmission mode and transmitting an audio signal to the first and third audio reproducing apparatuses.

  In the present invention, when the alarm function is set, the first audio reproduction device manages its activation time. Since it is operating in the transmission mode during management, it is possible to reproduce the audio content and transmit the audio signal to the third audio reproducing apparatus. Then, when the second audio playback device is started when the start time has arrived, the audio signal sent from the second audio playback device is received and played back / sound to switch its own mode to the reception mode. Is possible.

  The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the first and second audio devices transmit audio packets without confirming reception of the counterpart device in the transmission mode.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the first audio playback device manages the time, the first audio playback device continues to the second and third audio playback devices regardless of the presence or absence of an audio signal to be transmitted. An audio packet is transmitted.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the second audio playback device is a device driven by a rechargeable battery, and the alarm activation means is configured to receive the reception mode on the condition that the battery is in a charging operation. It is characterized by waiting at.

  According to the present invention, since the first audio playback device is operating in the transmission mode during standby in which an alarm is set, other audio content can be played back and transmitted to the third audio playback device. become.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the second audio playback device does not drain the battery during standby in which an alarm is set.

Configuration diagram of a wireless audio system according to an embodiment of the present invention Diagram showing the basic system network construction procedure Diagram showing the network construction procedure of the extended system Diagram showing wireless alarm setting procedure and alarm operation procedure Diagram showing wireless alarm setting procedure and alarm operation procedure Diagram showing wireless alarm setting procedure and alarm operation procedure Diagram showing wireless alarm setting procedure and alarm operation procedure The figure explaining the change of the system configuration at the time of wireless alarm setting

  A wireless audio system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This wireless audio system is a system that transmits and receives audio signals between devices using radio waves. In addition, this system has a wireless alarm function for managing the time by a stationary main playback device and starting the portable portable playback device wirelessly to play audio content when a predetermined alarm time is reached.

<Configuration of wireless audio system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless audio system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This wireless audio system includes a stationary audio playback device (hereinafter referred to as a main playback device) 1, a speaker device 2, and a portable audio playback device (hereinafter referred to as a portable playback device) 3. . The main playback device 1 includes a playback device main body 10, a communication processing unit 11, and an operation unit 12. The speaker device 2 includes a speaker device main body 20 and a communication processing unit 21. The portable playback device 3 includes a battery 31 and a storage 32, and an external communication adapter 35 and a charger 36 are detachably connected.

  The communication processing unit 11 of the main playback device 1, the communication processing unit 21 of the speaker device 2, and the communication adapter 35 of the portable playback device 3 communicate with each other to send and receive audio signals and commands.

  The playback device main unit 10 and the communication processing unit 11 of the main playback device 1 have separate power supply circuits. Although the power source (main body power source) of the playback apparatus main body 10 can be turned on / off, the power source of the communication processing unit 11 is always on even when the main body power source is off. The main body power is turned on / off by a user operation on the operation unit 12 and the communication processing unit 11. Similarly, the speaker device main body 20 and the communication processing unit 21 also have different power supply circuits, and the speaker device main body 20 is turned on / off. Is always on. The power source of the speaker device main body 20 is turned on / off by the communication processing unit 21.

  The power source of the portable playback device 3 is turned on / off by the power switch and the communication adapter 35. When the communication adapter 35 is connected to the main body of the portable playback device 3, it operates upon receiving power from the portable playback device 3. The portable playback device 3 continues to supply power from the battery 31 or the charger 36 to the communication adapter 35 even when its own power is turned off, and the communication adapter 35 is always operating. In the following description, a system in which the communication adapter 35 is connected to the portable playback device 3 may be simply referred to as the portable playback device 3.

  One or a plurality of source devices 4 and a speaker system 5 are connected to the playback device main body 10 of the main playback device 1. The playback apparatus main body 10 is a functional unit that amplifies and equalizes an audio signal input from the source device 4 or the communication processing unit 11 and outputs the amplified audio signal to the speaker system 5. As the source device 4, a DVD player, a television (TV) or the like is connected. The speaker system 5 may be a multi-channel (for example, 5-channel) speaker system or an array speaker such as the Applicant's Digital Sound Projector (trademark).

  The operation unit 12 is a functional unit that receives an operation by the user and controls the operation of the apparatus. The operation unit 12 receives operations such as power on / off, source device selection, and wireless alarm setting by the user. Details of the wireless alarm function will be described later.

  The speaker device body 20 of the speaker device 2 has a subwoofer 22. The speaker device main body 20 includes an amplifier, amplifies the audio signal input from the communication processing unit 21, and inputs the amplified audio signal to the subwoofer 22.

  The portable playback device 3 includes a battery 31, a storage 32 for storing audio files, and the like, and has a function of playing back an audio file stored in the storage 32 and outputting it to an earphone terminal. When the communication adapter 35 is connected, the reproduced audio signal is output to the communication adapter 35, and the audio signal is transmitted from the communication adapter 35 to the main reproduction device 1 and the speaker device 2, so that the speaker system 5 and the subwoofer are transmitted. 22 also has a function of emitting sound.

  The charger 36 is of a so-called desktop holder type, and is configured such that the portable player 3 can be charged while being placed and used on the desktop. The charger 36 converts commercial power into an appropriate DC voltage to charge the battery 31 of the portable playback device 3 and supplies power to the communication adapter 35.

<Description of communication method>
The communication processing unit 11 and the communication adapter 35 have an operation function in a transmission mode for transmitting an audio signal packet (audio packet) and an operation function in a reception mode for receiving an audio packet transmitted from another device. Further, the communication processing unit 21 has only an operation function in the reception mode.

  A communication method between the communication processing units 11 and 21 and the communication adapter 35 is a non-procedure method. That is, the transmission mode device transmits the audio packet in one way without confirming reception of the reception mode device. This enables transmission of an audio stream signal with high speed and little delay. Note that a linear PCM signal is used as the audio stream signal. This audio packet is transmitted using any of 8 transmission channels with a bandwidth of 6 MHz set in the 2.4 GHz band.

  Then, between audio packets, commands and beacons are transmitted and received using the same transmission channel in a time division manner. The command is a control signal sent from the device in the transmission / reception mode to the device in the reception / transmission mode. That is, a command can be transmitted and received by a device operating in either the transmission mode or the reception mode. The beacon is a presence confirmation signal periodically transmitted from the device in the reception mode to the device in the transmission mode.

  Note that the communication adapter 35 of the portable playback device 3 has a reception mode operation function, which is a function provided to execute a wireless alarm function to be described later, and is portable by receiving audio packets from other devices. It is not provided for playback by the playback device 3. Therefore, the audio packet received by the communication adapter 35 is discarded.

  As described above, the transmission of audio packets is a non-procedural one-way communication. Therefore, only one device Tx in the transmission mode can exist in the system, but a plurality of devices Rx in the reception mode can exist. is there.

With reference to FIG. 2, a description will be given of a network construction procedure of a basic system in which the main playback device 1 is the transmission mode device Tx and the speaker device 2 is the reception mode device Rx.
As described above, Tx and Rx communicate using one of the eight transmission channels. When the power is turned on, the communication processing unit 11 of the main playback device 1 sets the transmission mode by default, and executes a search operation for searching for the device Rx in the reception mode as the device Tx in the transmission mode. On the other hand, the communication processing unit 21 of the speaker device 2 operates in the reception mode Rx when the power is turned on, and performs a search operation for searching for the device Tx in the transmission mode. The search operation is an operation of transmitting a beacon indicating the presence of the own device and watching whether a beacon is sent from the partner device. When the beacon from the partner device is not received in the search operation in one channel, the search operation is executed in the same manner by moving (scanning) to the next channel. When a beacon is received from the partner device, scanning is stopped and a state in which beacons can be transmitted and received mutually is maintained. This establishes a physical level link.

  The movement (scan) from one channel to the next channel is performed quickly by the device Rx in the reception mode and slowly by the device Tx in the transmission mode. This allows Tx, Rx to encounter some channel at some time and establish a physical level link.

  When a physical level link between the main playback device 1 and the speaker device 2 is established by the above procedure (S101), an application level link is then established (S102).

  Application level link establishment is performed in the following procedure. First, a connection request command is transmitted from the device Rx in the reception mode to the device Tx in the transmission mode (S110). This connection request command includes identification information of the device itself. The identification information is, for example, a device ID, a group ID, a product code, a manufacturer code, and the like. The device Tx in the transmission mode receives the connection request command from the device Rx in the reception mode, and determines whether or not connection is possible based on the identification information included in this command (S111). Whether connection is possible is determined based on, for example, whether the group ID is the same as that of the own device. If it is determined that the connection is possible, a connection permission message is returned to the device Rx in the reception mode (S112). Then, the device Rx in the reception mode prepares to receive an audio packet (S113), and an application level link is established.

  If the device Tx in the transmission mode that has received the connection request command determines that the partner device Rx cannot establish an application level link, it returns a connection rejection message. In this case, both the device Tx in the transmission mode and the device Rx in the reception mode cancel the physical level link and return to the scan operation.

  When an application level link is established between the device Tx in the transmission mode and the device Rx in the reception mode, a network is established between these devices (S103). When the network is constructed, an audio transmission process (s103) is executed. In the audio transmission process, an audio packet is transmitted from the device Tx in the transmission mode to the device Rx in the reception mode (S120), and a beacon is periodically transmitted from the device Rx in the reception mode to the device Tx in the transmission mode ( In step S121, commands are transmitted and received bidirectionally as necessary (S122).

  Note that if there is no partner device that can construct the network within the communicable range (for example, only Tx or only Rx), the link cannot be established, so the communication processing unit always executes the above scanning operation. Continue.

  Thereafter, audio packets are periodically transmitted from the device Tx in the transmission mode to the device Rx in the reception mode. Audio packets are transmitted even when the device Tx in the transmission mode is not reproducing audio content. That is, since the transmission / reception of the audio packet is a lower layer process, it is running independently of the playback process of the audio content of the upper layer, and the audio packet when the audio content is not played back shows a signal level 0. A packet consisting of data.

  Further, a beacon is periodically transmitted from the device Rx in the reception mode to the device Tx in the transmission mode. As described above, the beacon is a presence confirmation signal for informing the presence of the device Rx in the reception mode to the device Tx in the transmission mode. When the device Tx in the transmission mode has not been able to receive the beacon for a certain time or longer, the communication partner device Rx disappears and the network is canceled, and the device Rx in the reception mode is searched for the physical level. Perform reconnection to establish a link.

  Since the reconnection operation is a lower layer process, the device Tx in the transmission mode continues to reproduce the audio content even during the reconnection operation. That is, no sound is output from the subwoofer 22 of the speaker device 2, but sound is output from the speaker system 5 of the main playback device 1.

  The above is the network construction operation of the basic system including the main playback device 1 and the speaker device 2. Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the network construction operation of the extended system composed of the main playback device 1, the speaker device 2, and the portable playback device 3 will be described. In the extended system, one transmission mode apparatus Tx performs a network construction operation in parallel with a plurality of reception mode apparatuses Rx. The individual network construction operation performed by the transmission mode device Tx for each reception mode device Rx is the same as the network construction operation of the basic system shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows a procedure in the case where the portable playback device 3 becomes the device Tx in the transmission mode. First, a physical level link is established between the transmission mode device Tx (portable playback device 3) and the reception mode device Rx (main playback device 1, speaker device 2) (S131, S132). The portable playback device 3 starts to operate as a device Tx in the transmission mode when the power is turned on, and switches to the device Rx in the reception mode when receiving a command indicating that it should be in the reception mode from another device. The main playback device 1 switches the transmission mode / reception mode according to the user's operation and other devices existing in the network.

  Next, an application level link is established between the transmission mode device Tx and the two reception mode devices Rx (S133, S134). In the application level link establishment, as in S102 of FIG. 2, a connection request command is first transmitted from the reception mode apparatus Rx to the transmission mode apparatus Tx, and the transmission mode apparatus Tx receives the connection request command. Thus, it is determined whether or not connection is possible, and when it is determined that connection is possible, a connection permission message is returned to the device Rx in the reception mode.

  By establishing an application level link between the transmission mode device Tx and the reception mode device Rx, a network is established between these devices, and the audio transmission process (s135) is executed. In the audio transmission process, the device Tx in the transmission mode transmits the audio packet in a non-procedure, and the two devices Rx in the reception mode receive it. The beacon and the command are transmitted and received individually by the device Rx in each reception mode.

  Although the case where the portable playback device 3 is the transmission mode device Tx has been described with reference to FIG. 3, the network is constructed by the same operation when the main playback device 1 is Tx. Further, the number of devices Rx in the reception mode is not limited to two, and may be three or more.

<Description of wireless alarm function>
When the wireless audio system is operating in the extended system described above, the user can operate the main playback device 1 to set the wireless alarm function. The wireless alarm function means that the main playback device 1 is activated at a set alarm time, and the activated main playback device 1 sends a startup command to the portable playback device 3 to activate the portable playback device 3, and the portable playback device 3 reproduces the audio content and transmits it to the main reproduction device 1 and the speaker device 2, so that the audio content reproduced by the portable reproduction device 3 is emitted from the main reproduction device 1 and the speaker device 2 at the alarm time, and the user is notified. It is a function to wake up.

  In this wireless audio system, after the wireless alarm is set, the wireless alarm is set in the following procedure so that the audio content of the source device 4 can be played back by the main playback device 1.

4 to 7 are diagrams showing an operation procedure when the wireless alarm is set. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a system configuration when a wireless alarm is set.
As shown in FIG. 8A, the wireless alarm function can be set when the wireless audio system is operating in the extended system. That is, the portable playback device 3 transmits an audio packet as the device Tx in the transmission mode, and the main playback device 1 and the speaker device 2 receive the audio packet as the device Rx in the reception mode.

  When the user operates the wireless alarm set by operating the operation unit 12 of the main playback device 1 (S200), the main playback device 1 transmits an alarm set command to the portable playback device 3 (S201). The wireless alarm setting operation is an operation such as “select wireless alarm setting. Select portable playback device 3 as a source device. Set alarm time”. When the portable playback device 3 receives the alarm set command, the portable playback device 3 confirms that it is currently connected to the charger 36 (S202), and then returns a message indicating that the wireless alarm setting is permitted (S203). If it is not connected to the charger 36 (N in S202), the fact that there is an alarm set is memorized (S204). After that, when it is connected to the charger 36 (S205), the wireless alarm is set. A message indicating permission is returned (S206).

  The reason why the wireless alarm set is permitted on the condition that the charger 36 is being connected is that the wireless adapter 35 continues to operate regardless of whether the portable playback device 3 is powered on or off. That is, while the wireless alarm is on standby, the power of the portable playback device 3 is turned off, but the wireless adapter 35 is on standby until the alarm time (until a start command is sent from the main playback device 1). This is because the power consumption of the wireless adapter 35 is large, and there is no guarantee that the battery 31 built in the portable playback device 3 can maintain the operation state until the alarm time. If the portable playback device 3 cannot operate due to the battery 31 running out at the alarm time, the alarm sound is not emitted and the user cannot be awakened, so power can be supplied reliably until the alarm time. The alarm set is permitted only when it is connected to the charger 36.

  Note that after the wireless alarm is set, an extended system in which the portable playback device 3 is set as the transmission mode device Tx is maintained, and the audio content played back by the portable playback device 3 is the speaker system 5 of the main playback device 1 and the speaker device 2. The sound emitted from the subwoofer 22 continues.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation when the user turns off the main playback device 1 after the wireless alarm is set. When the user performs an operation to turn off the main playback device 1 (S210), the main playback device 1 transmits a power-off command to the portable playback device 3 and the speaker device 2 (S211 and S212). The power source of the playback apparatus main body 10 is turned off (S213). The portable playback device 3 that has received the power-off command stops playback of the audio content (S214), and turns off the power of the portable playback device 3 (S215). The speaker device 2 that has received the power-off command turns off the power of the speaker reproducing device body 20 (S216).

  After that, the portable playback device 3 stops transmitting audio packets and transmits a network resolution command to the main playback device 1 and the speaker device 2 (S220). The network cancellation command is a command for instructing a device in the reception mode to cancel the currently configured network. Thereafter, the own mode is switched to the reception mode (S221). The main playback device 1 and the speaker device 2 that have received the network cancellation command cancel the link with the portable playback device 3 (S222, S223). Further, the main playback device 1 switches the mode of its communication processing unit 11 to the transmission mode (S224).

  After that, an extended system network construction process is performed in which the main playback device 1 is the transmission mode device Tx in the procedure shown in FIG. 3 (S225). Thereby, an extended system having the configuration shown in FIG. 8B is constructed.

  Note that, even if the power of the main body units 10 and 20 is off, the power of the communication processing units 11 and 21 is always on, and the link state is maintained in the form shown in FIG. 8C. That is, a silent audio packet is transmitted from the main playback device 1, and the speaker device 2 and the portable playback device 3 receive the audio packet but do not play it. Moreover, transmission / reception of a command is always possible.

  In FIG. 8B, the arrow from the main playback device 1 to the portable playback device 3 is a dotted line because the portable playback device 3 does not decode and play back the audio packet even if it receives the audio packet. is there. However, the command sent from the main playback device 1 is analyzed by the wireless adapter 35.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation when the user switches the source by operating the main playback device 1 after the wireless alarm is set. The main playback device 1 transmits a source switching command to the portable playback device 3 (S230). The portable playback device 3 that has received the source switching command stops playback of audio content (S231), stops transmitting audio packets, and transmits a network resolution command to the main playback device 1 and the speaker device 2 (S232). . Thereafter, the own mode is switched to the reception mode (S233), and the power source of the portable playback device 3 is turned off (S234).

  The main playback device 1 and the speaker device 2 that have received the network cancellation command cancel the link with the portable playback device 3 (S235, S236). Further, the main playback device 1 switches the mode of its own communication processing unit 11 to the transmission mode (S237).

  After that, an extended system network construction process in which the main playback device 1 is the transmission mode device Tx is performed in the procedure shown in FIG. 3 (S238). Thereby, an extended system having the configuration shown in FIG. 6B is constructed. By constructing the extended system in which the main playback device 1 is the transmission mode device Tx, the user can freely listen to the audio content by operating the main playback device 1 and selecting the source device 4. After the extended system network is constructed, the main playback device 1 switches the input source to the source device 4 selected by the user (S239), and from the speaker system 5 of the main playback device 1 and the subwoofer 22 of the speaker device 2. The audio content of the source device 4 is emitted.

  Thereafter, when the user performs an operation to turn off the power of the main playback device 1 (s250), the main playback device 1 transmits a power-off command to the speaker device 2 (s251), and The power is turned off (s252). The speaker device 2 that has received the power-off command turns off the power of the speaker reproducing device body 20 (S253).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of the system when the alarm time comes. When the alarm time comes (S230), the power of the playback device main body 10 of the main playback device 1 is turned on (S231). The main playback device 1 transmits an activation command to the portable playback device 3 and the speaker device 2 (S262, S263). In response to the activation command, the speaker device 2 turns on the power of the speaker device main body 20 (S265), and the wireless adapter 35 turns on the power of the portable playback device 3 main body (S264). Further, the main playback device 1 transmits a network resolution command to the portable playback device 3 and the speaker device 2 (S266, S267), and switches its own mode to the reception mode (S268). In response to the network cancellation command, the portable playback device 3 and the speaker device 2 cancel the link with the main playback device 1 (S269, S270).

  After that, the portable playback device 3 switches its mode to the transmission mode (S271), and executes the extended system network construction process shown in FIG. 3 (S272). Thereby, the network of the extended system shown in FIG. 8A is constructed, and the portable playback device 3 starts playback of the audio content (S280). For the reproduction of the audio content, any content reproduction method such as resume reproduction that reproduces from the continuation of the audio content stopped in S214 or S231, or designated file reproduction that reproduces the audio content designated in advance may be applied.

  It should be noted that when the alarm time has arrived without turning off the power of the main playback device, that is, when the alarm time has arrived without performing the processing of FIG. 5, or the processing after S250 of FIG. 6 is not performed. Even when the alarm time comes, the process of FIG. 7 is executed.

《Still Write》
In the above embodiment, the wireless alarm function in which the main playback device 1 activates the portable playback device 3 at a predetermined alarm time has been described. However, the wireless audio system is operated in the form as shown in FIG. The main playback device 1 may activate the portable playback device 3 in accordance with the user's operation on the main playback device 1 to play back the audio content in the form as shown in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main reproduction apparatus 2 Speaker apparatus 3 Portable reproduction apparatus 11, 21 Communication processing part 35 Wireless adapter 36 Charger

Claims (4)

Wireless audio including first and second audio playback devices that can be switched to a transmission mode for wirelessly transmitting audio signals or a reception mode for wirelessly receiving audio signals, and a third audio playback device that wirelessly receives audio signals A system,
The first audio reproduction device manages time in a state in which an audio signal is transmitted to the second and third audio reproduction devices in a transmission mode, and the second audio reproduction is performed when a predetermined activation time is reached. A startup time management means for transmitting a startup command to the device and switching its own mode to a reception mode;
The second audio playback device stands by in the reception mode, and when receiving a start command from the first audio playback device, switches the own mode to the transmission mode, and switches to the first and third audio playback devices. A wireless audio system comprising alarm activation means for transmitting an audio signal.   The wireless audio system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second audio devices transmit audio packets without confirming reception of the counterpart device in the transmission mode.   The first audio reproduction device continuously transmits audio packets to the second and third audio reproduction devices regardless of the presence or absence of an audio signal to be transmitted when managing the time. The wireless audio system according to claim 1 or 2. The second audio playback device is a device driven by a rechargeable battery,
4. The wireless audio system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm activation unit stands by in the reception mode on condition that the battery is being charged. 5.

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