How Smart Speakers Adapt Sound to Your Room and Listening Spot
This patent describes a system that automatically adjusts how spatial audio sounds in a room by sensing speaker locations, listener position, and room acoustics, then dynamically calibrating the sound output.
Original patent title: “System for rendering and playback of object based audio in various listening environments”
This patent describes a system that automatically adjusts how spatial audio sounds in a room by sensing speaker locations, listener position, and room acoustics, then dynamically calibrating the sound output. Granted to Dolby Laboratories Licensing in 2021 with 22 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2040.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This system controls an audio environment by first automatically figuring out where each loudspeaker is located (claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). It also gathers detailed acoustic information, called loudspeaker profile information, from each speaker's individual sound-producing parts, or drivers. The system then automatically determines where a listener is sitting in the room. It takes in special audio data designed for spatial sound and uses microphones, some of which can be built into the speakers, to understand the room's unique sound characteristics. Based on all this information—speaker locations, speaker profiles, listener position, and room characteristics—the system renders, or processes, the audio data. It then calibrates this rendered audio to perfectly match the room and listener, providing the adjusted sound to the speakers. For example, if you add a new speaker, the system automatically detects it and adjusts the sound rendering (claim 9).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover audio systems where loudspeaker locations are manually entered or fixed, rather than automatically determined by the system.
- Does not cover systems that do not automatically determine the listener's position in the audio environment.
- Does not cover audio playback systems that only handle traditional stereo or mono audio, without spatial audio-based sound data.
- Does not cover systems that lack microphones to automatically sense and calibrate for the room's specific acoustic characteristics.
- Does not cover systems that cannot dynamically adjust their sound output when loudspeakers are added or removed from the setup.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The truly clever part is the system's ability to automatically sense and adapt to its environment. It dynamically determines speaker positions, listener location, and room acoustics, then continuously adjusts the spatial audio rendering. This means the sound is always optimized without manual intervention, even if speakers are moved or added.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Dolby Atmos home theater systems
High-end soundbars with automatic room calibration
Smart speakers with integrated acoustic tuning features
Professional audio setups that self-configure for different venues
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is crucial for delivering immersive audio experiences, like those found in home theaters and advanced sound systems. It simplifies the setup process for users by automating complex calibration steps that previously required manual adjustments or professional installers. By adapting sound to the specific room and listener, it ensures a consistent and high-quality audio experience, regardless of the environment's acoustics or speaker placement. This enables more accessible and effective deployment of spatial audio technologies.
Filed
August 24, 2020
Granted
November 16, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a leader in audio technology and continues to develop and licenselicensePermission from the patent owner to make, use, or sell the invention — usually in exchange for payment. Doesn't transfer ownership.Read more → systems for immersive sound. Companies like Sony, Samsung, and LG integrate similar room-calibration and spatial audio technologies into their televisions, soundbars, and home theater systems. These companies are continually refining how audio adapts to diverse listening environments.
Market impact
This patent supports the widespread adoption of immersive audio formats by making advanced sound systems easier to set up and use. It helps ensure that consumers can experience high-quality spatial audio without needing specialized technical knowledge or professional installation. This has driven innovation in home entertainment, allowing manufacturers to offer more sophisticated audio experiences in a plug-and-play format, thereby expanding the market for premium sound solutions.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This system controls an audio environment by first automatically figuring out where each loudspeaker is located (claim 1). It also gathers detailed acoustic information, called loudspeaker profile information, from each speaker's individual sound-producing parts, or drivers. The system then automatically determines where a listener is sitting in the room. It takes in special audio data designed for spatial sound and uses microphones, some of which can be built into the speakers, to understand the room's unique sound characteristics. Based on all this information—speaker locations, speaker profiles, listener position, and room characteristics—the system renders, or processes, the audio data. It then calibrates this rendered audio to perfectly match the room and listener, providing the adjusted sound to the speakers. For example, if you add a new speaker, the system automatically detects it and adjusts the sound rendering (claim 9).
The clever bit
The truly clever part is the system's ability to automatically sense and adapt to its environment. It dynamically determines speaker positions, listener location, and room acoustics, then continuously adjusts the spatial audio rendering. This means the sound is always optimized without manual intervention, even if speakers are moved or added.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover audio systems where loudspeaker locations are manually entered or fixed, rather than automatically determined by the system.
- Does not cover systems that do not automatically determine the listener's position in the audio environment.
- Does not cover audio playback systems that only handle traditional stereo or mono audio, without spatial audio-based sound data.
- Does not cover systems that lack microphones to automatically sense and calibrate for the room's specific acoustic characteristics.
- Does not cover systems that cannot dynamically adjust their sound output when loudspeakers are added or removed from the setup.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$82K – $262K
Midpoint $164K · 14.0 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Lando, J. B., Chabanne, C., Murrie, S., Seefeldt, A., Brown, C. P., Mehta, S. S., Hooks, S., Crockett, B. G., & Basler, B. (2021). How Smart Speakers Adapt Sound to Your Room and Listening Spot (U.S. Patent No. 11,178,503). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11178503/system-for-rendering-and-playback-of-object-based-audio-in-various-listening-env
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Smart Speakers Adapt Sound to Your Room and Listening Spot cover?
This patent describes a system that automatically adjusts how spatial audio sounds in a room by sensing speaker locations, listener position, and room acoustics, then dynamically calibrating the sound output.
Who owns patent US 11178503?
Dolby Laboratories Licensing owns this patent, granted in 2021.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 24, 2040, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11178503 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is crucial for delivering immersive audio experiences, like those found in home theaters and advanced sound systems. It simplifies the setup process for users by automating complex calibration steps that previously required manual adjustments or professional installers. By adapting sound to the specific room and listener, it ensures a consistent and high-quality audio experience, regardless of the environment's acoustics or speaker placement. This enables more accessible and effective deployment of spatial audio technologies.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover audio systems where loudspeaker locations are manually entered or fixed, rather than automatically determined by the system.
Same assignee
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