Digital multi-zone audio system

Abstract

An embedded computing device which receives and buffers one or more digital audio streams provided by wired or wireless devices such as computers, tablets and smart phones via a network. The streams are buffered to allow for delays and irregularities in the rate at which these streams are delivered. The streams are then distributed to a series of digital amplifiers while allowing each amplifier to play a chosen source at a volume level that is selected by a user. This embodiment reduces the number of required electronic components, delivers high quality audio because the system is entirely digital from source through amplification, and is energy efficient thereby minimizing the generation of waste heat. In addition, the invention allows for features such as limiting the volume for certain users, or for certain zones during specified periods of time, as well as features to diagnose and/or compensate for installation errors or problems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A digital multi-zone audio system comprising:
 an embedded computing device connected to a plurality of computing devices via a network and which is configured to receive a plurality of digital audio streams from each of the plurality of computing devices; and   an audio stream manager in communication with the embedded computing device and a plurality of digital amplifiers, each of which is connected to at least one of a plurality of speakers, the audio stream manager being configured to:
 receive the plurality of digital audio streams and a user selection of a selected digital audio stream of the plurality of digital audio streams and one or more target zones of a plurality of zones where the selected digital audio stream is to be played, and 
 transmit the selected digital audio stream to a corresponding digital amplifier of the plurality of digital amplifiers, the corresponding digital amplifier being connected to a speaker of the plurality of speakers in a respective location of the target zone, causing the selected digital audio stream to be played to the target zone. 
   
     
     
         2 . The digital multi-zone audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio stream manager is a field programmable gate array. 
     
     
         3 . The digital multi-zone audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio stream manager is a microprocessor running a real-time operating system. 
     
     
         4 . The digital multi-zone audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the embedded computing device comprises a Raspberry Pi 3B. 
     
     
         5 . The digital multi-zone audio system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the embedded computing device is further configured to cause a user device connected to the embedded computing device via the network to display on the user device a user interface including a listing of the plurality of zones where the digital audio stream from the user device may be played via the plurality of speakers disposed in respective locations of the plurality of zones; and   the plurality of speakers are situated in different locations throughout a building or property and the plurality of zones correspond to the different locations of the building or property.   
     
     
         6 . The digital multi-zone audio system of  claim 5 , wherein the listing of the plurality of zones in the user interface are designated in the listing according to the corresponding locations of the building or property. 
     
     
         7 . The digital multi-zone audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the user selection also includes a volume setting indicating a volume level at which the selected digital audio stream is to be played. 
     
     
         8 . The digital multi-zone audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the user selection also includes a series of restrictions which may be set by an administrator indicating specified times when digital audio streams may not be played by the digital multi-zone audio system. 
     
     
         9 . A method of performing multi-zone and multi-source digital audio playback, the method comprising:
 receiving, at an embedded computer, a plurality of digital audio streams from a plurality of computing devices connected to the embedded computer via a network connection;   receiving, by an audio stream manager, the plurality of digital audio streams and a user selection of a selected digital audio stream of the plurality of digital audio streams and one or more target zones of a plurality of zones where the selected digital audio stream is to be played, the user selection being made via a user interface, where the audio stream manager is in communication with the embedded computer and a plurality of digital amplifiers, each of which is connected to at least one of a plurality of speakers; and   transmitting, by the audio stream manager, the selected digital audio stream to a corresponding digital amplifier of the plurality of digital amplifiers, the corresponding digital amplifier being connected to a speaker of the plurality of speakers in a respective location of the target zone, causing the selected digital audio stream to be played to the target zone.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the audio stream manager comprises a field programmable gate array. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the audio stream manager comprises a microprocessor running a real-time operating system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the embedded computer comprises a Raspberry Pi 3B. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of speakers are situated in different locations throughout a building or property and the plurality of zones correspond to the different locations of the building or property. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 causing a user device connected to the embedded computing device via the network to display on the user device the user interface including a listing of the plurality of zones where the digital audio stream from the user device may be played via the plurality of speakers disposed in respective locations of the plurality of zones, wherein the listing of the plurality of zones in the user interface are designated in the listing according to the corresponding locations of the building or property.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user selection also includes a volume setting indicating a volume level at which the selected digital audio stream is to be played. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user selection also includes a series of restrictions which may be set by the user comprising an administrator indicating specified times when digital audio streams may not be played by the plurality of speakers. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded therein programming code executable to perform or control performance of operations comprising:
 receiving, at an embedded computer, a plurality of digital audio streams from a plurality of computing devices connected to the embedded computer via a network connection;   receiving, by an audio stream manager, the plurality of digital audio streams and a user selection of a selected digital audio stream of the plurality of digital audio streams and one or more target zones of a plurality of zones where the selected digital audio stream is to be played, the user selection being made via a user interface, where the audio stream manager is in communication with the embedded computer and a plurality of digital amplifiers, each of which is connected to at least one of a plurality of speakers; and   transmitting, by the audio stream manager, the selected digital audio stream to a corresponding digital amplifier of the plurality of digital amplifiers, the corresponding digital amplifier being connected to a speaker of the plurality of speakers in a respective location of the target zone, causing the selected digital audio stream to be played to the target zone.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the audio stream manager comprises a field programmable gate array. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the audio stream manager comprises a microprocessor running a real-time operating system. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the embedded computer comprises a Raspberry Pi 3B.