Location-enabled portable audio system

Abstract

Audio systems and methods for obtaining location information are disclosed. A portable, wireless speaker that may include a beacon that a user may activate to remotely trigger a request for shot information, which may include location information of the user or speaker. The beacon may be wirelessly coupled to the speaker. The speaker may receive location information from a remote device, such as a GPS-enabled mobile phone. The shot information may be converted into an audio format for playback by the speaker. The speaker may pause the playback of the speaker to play out the shot information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An audio playback system comprising:
 a beacon configured to trigger a request by a user for information;   a speaker device comprising an audio output to play audio content and a magnetic mount configured to mount the speaker device to a metal or magnetic surface, the speaker device configured to removably receive the beacon;   a display to display information to the user;   a controller wirelessly coupled to the beacon, the speaker device, and the display, the controller configured to:
 transmit the request for information to a remote device, wherein the remote device includes a GPS-enabled location service, and the information comprises a geographic location of the remote device correlated with environmental information; 
 receive the information from the remote device; 
 convert the information into an audio signal; 
 determine whether audio content is playing from the speaker device, and if audio content is playing, adapting the audio content; and 
 play back the audio signal to an audio output coupled to the speaker device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The audio playback system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes an application stored on a remote device. 
     
     
         3 . The audio playback system of  claim 1 , wherein the speaker device defines a recess, the recess sized and shaped to retain the beacon. 
     
     
         4 . The audio playback system of  claim 1 , wherein the beacon is magnetically coupleable to the speaker device. 
     
     
         5 . The audio playback system of  claim 1 , wherein the speaker device further comprises a wireless charging interface configured to charge the beacon. 
     
     
         6 . The audio playback system of  claim 1 , further comprising a microphone coupled to the controller, the microphone configured to receive a voice command. 
     
     
         7 . The audio playback system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless connection is a Bluetooth connection. 
     
     
         8 . An audio playback system comprising:
 a beacon comprising an actuator configured to trigger a request by a user for information;   a speaker device comprising a speaker to play audio content and a first magnetic mount configured to mount the speaker device to a metal or magnetic surface, the speaker device defining a recess comprising a second magnetic mount to magnetically couple the beacon to the speaker device;   a display for displaying information to the user;   a controller wirelessly coupled to the beacon, the speaker device, and the display, the controller comprising a processor capable of processing instructions stored in memory to:
 receive the request for information; 
 determine the geographic location of the user and correlate the geographic location with environmental data to generate information, the information comprising a distance to a flagstick or landmark; 
 convert the information into an audio signal; 
 determine whether audio content is playing from the speaker, and if audio content is playing, adapting the audio content; and 
 play back the audio signal to the speaker. 
   
     
     
         9 . The audio playback system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller includes an application stored on a remote device. 
     
     
         10 . The audio playback system of  claim 8 , wherein the speaker device further comprises a wireless charging interface configured to charge the beacon. 
     
     
         11 . The audio playback system of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless connection is a Bluetooth connection. 
     
     
         12 . The audio playback system of  claim 8 , wherein the information include data relating to at least one landmark. 
     
     
         13 . The audio playback system of  claim 12 , wherein the information includes a distance between the controller and the at least one landmark. 
     
     
         14 . The audio playback system of  claim 8 , wherein the information includes at least one of a distance, an environmental element, a geographic location element, a shot history, a commentary, and an applause element. 
     
     
         15 . The audio playback system of  claim 8 , wherein adapting the audio content comprises pausing the audio content during play back of the audio signal. 
     
     
         16 . The audio playback system of  claim 8 , wherein adapting the audio content comprises attenuating the audio content during play back of the audio signal. 
     
     
         17 . An audio playback system comprising:
 a speaker device comprising one or more speakers to play audio content and a first magnetic mount configured to mount the speaker device to a metal or magnetic surface, the speaker device defining a recess comprising a second magnetic mount;   a portable beacon comprising an actuator configured to trigger a request by a user for information, the beacon configured to be received in the recess in the speaker device and magnetically coupled to the second magnetic mount;   a display to display information to the user;   a controller wirelessly coupled to the beacon, the speaker device, and the display, the controller configured to:
 transmit the request for information to a remote device, wherein the remote device includes a GPS-enabled location service, and the information comprises a distance to a target; 
 receive the information from the remote device; 
 convert the information into an audio signal comprising a statement of the distance to the target; 
 determine whether audio content is playing from the speaker device, and if audio content is playing, adapting the audio content; and 
 play back the audio signal to a speaker coupled to the speaker device. 
   
     
     
         18 . The audio playback system of  claim 17 , wherein the remote device correlates the GPS location information with environmental information to determine where the remote device is located. 
     
     
         19 . The audio playback system of  claim 17 , wherein adapting the audio content comprises pausing the audio content during play back of the audio signal. 
     
     
         20 . The audio playback system of  claim 17 , wherein adapting the audio content comprises attenuating the audio content during play back of the audio signal.