111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007236739B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Chang
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,236,739 B2
`*Jun. 26, 2007
`
`(54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
`COORDINATED MUSIC PLAYBACK IN
`WIRELESS AD-HOC NETWORKS
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Chin-chi Chang, F7-2, No. 71,
`Tung-An Street, Taipei (TW)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 298 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/882,804
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun. 29, 2004
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2004/0248601 Al
`
`Dec. 9, 2004
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/853,728, filed on
`May 10, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,757,517.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04H 1100
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................... 455/3.05; 455/3.06; 455/41.2;
`455/45; 455/186.1
`(58) Field of Classification Search ...... 455/3.01-3.06,
`455/41.1-41.2, 517-518, 45, 66.1, 186.1-186.2,
`455/418-420, 90.1-90.2; 725/86.7; 709/718-719,
`709/729
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,616,876 A *
`4/1997 Cluts ........................... 84/609
`5,812,937 A *
`9/1998 Takahisa eta!. ........... 455/66.1
`5,819,160 A *
`10/1998 Foladare eta!. .............. 455/45
`6,014,569 A *
`1/2000 Bottum ...................... 455/466
`6,490,432 B1 *
`12/2002 Wegener et a!. ........... 455/3.05
`6,754,468 B1 *
`6/2004 Sieben et al ............... 455/41.2
`6,757,517 B2 *
`6/2004 Chang ....................... 455/3.05
`2002/0132616 A1 *
`9/2002 Ross eta!. .................. 455/419
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Matthew D. Anderson
`Assistant Examiner-Tuan Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-The Mcintosh Group LLC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention details a novel application of wireless
`networking and digital music technologies to achieve coor(cid:173)
`dinated and synchronized music playback among peer lis(cid:173)
`teners connected by wireless ad-hoc networks. Two or more
`listeners in local proximity allowed by short-range wireless
`transmission can participate and listen to the same song at
`the same time. Moreover, the present invention allows
`listeners in the transmission range to discover each other
`through profile matching. A high matching score may indi(cid:173)
`cate similar preference or taste to a certain music style
`thereby easily locating mutual interests, which would not
`have been possible.
`
`19 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`200
`
`Wireless transceiver listens to public channel
`and relays announcement message
`
`202
`
`Random access controller determines if
`announcement message carne from a new,remote party
`
`204
`
`206
`
`Random access controller scans all the channels
`and randomly selects one not in use,
`then responds lo remote party with its own rnessoge and
`selected channel number transmitted to public channel
`
`208
`
`210
`
`212
`
`Profile of remote party is received ond
`forwarded to profile storage and matching unit
`
`If profile is a rnotch,contacl and wait for
`confrrmotion from remote party
`
`When confirmation is received,instruc!
`music playback unit to start playing
`
`BHM 0023481
`
`SONOS 1001 - Page 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.26,2007
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`US 7,236,739 B2
`
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`BHM 0023482
`
`SONOS 1001 - Page 2
`
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`~ co w
`1\) w
`0
`0
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`::I: s
`m
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`•
`rJ'l
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`FIG. 2
`
`music playback unit to start playing
`When confirmation is received,instruct
`
`w
`
`confirma lion from remote party
`
`If profile is a match,contact and wait for
`
`w
`
`forwarded to profile storage and matching unit
`
`Profile of remote party is received and
`
`w
`
`212 './"'
`
`21 0--./'
`
`208--./'
`
`selected channel number transmitted to public channel
`then responds to remote party with its own message and
`
`and randomly selects one not in use,
`
`Random access controller scans all the channels
`
`"-../'"'
`
`206
`
`204~ ::::-No
`
`Yes
`
`announcement message came from a new ,remote party
`
`Random access controller determines if
`
`2
`02 '-../"'
`
`w
`
`and relays announcement message
`
`Wireless transceiver listens to public channel
`
`200~
`
`SONOS 1001 - Page 3
`
`

`

`•
`rJ).
`•
`Lj
`
`FIG. 3
`
`playback unit to start playing
`
`If yes,responds with confirmation.lnstructs music
`
`310 I~
`
`l
`
`storage and matching unit to determine if it is a match
`
`Profile of remote party is relayed to profile
`
`308 ~
`
`1
`
`for confirmation from remote party
`
`Wireless transceiver listens to private channel
`
`3 06~
`
`T
`
`and forwards it to remote party through private channel
`Random access controller retrieves profile information
`
`30 4~
`
`l
`
`relays responding message to random access controller
`
`Wireless transceiver listens to public channel and
`
`30 2~
`
`1
`
`Announcement message is broadcast to public channel
`
`3 00'-./'
`
`SONOS 1001 - Page 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.26,2007
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 7,236,739 B2
`
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`BHM 0023485
`
`SONOS 1001 - Page 5
`
`

`

`US 7,236,739 B2
`
`1
`APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
`COORDINATED MUSIC PLAYBACK IN
`WIRELESS AD-HOC NETWORKS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation application of,
`claims the priority benefit of, U.S. application Ser.
`09/853,728 filed on May 10, 2001 now U.S. Pat.
`6,757,517.
`
`and
`No.
`
`No.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of Invention
`The present invention relates to a method and an appa(cid:173)
`ratus for music playback. More particularly, the present
`invention relates to a method and an apparatus for coordi(cid:173)
`nated and synchronized music playback in local spatial
`proximity with wireless ad hoc networks.
`2. Description of Related Art
`Traditional portable musical entertainment, best exempli(cid:173)
`fied by Walkman and portable CD players, is usually con(cid:173)
`fined to individual listeners. In general, for a group of music
`listeners to share mutual music listening, the only way is to
`play music loudly to the open space. However, it might
`cause nuisances to other persons, who have no intention for
`listening, while the music is playing loudly. Therefore it is
`advantageous for music sharers to confine mutual music
`sharing to only persons who intend to listen.
`With leaping advances in wireless networking and digital
`music technologies such as Bluetooth and MP3, portable
`musical entertainment can be shared and appreciated simul(cid:173)
`taneously by more than one person without playing music
`out loudly. furthermore, music sharers can decide to appre(cid:173)
`ciate mutual musical entertainment simultaneously with
`onlv the chosen sharers.
`Prior art relating to music carrying radio lacks the mecha(cid:173)
`nisms and methods to achieve the aforementioned objective.
`For example, Bottum (U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,569), uses cel(cid:173)
`lular communication systems to deliver asynchronous audio
`to subscribers. There is no mechanism to ensure synchro(cid:173)
`nous audio reception and playback among the logged-on
`subscribers. Cluts (U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,876) asks user to
`select songs from a collection to form a preferred song list.
`The computer server then analyzes this list to suggest more
`sonas similar to user preference. There is no method to
`sug~est how two or multiple users can match their mutual
`preference to music.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`2
`indicate similar preference or taste to a certain music style
`thereby easily locating mutual interests, which would not
`have been possible.
`As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention
`provides a method and an apparatus for coordinated and
`synchronized music playback in local spatial proximity with
`wireless ad hoc networks. The playback/listening system
`includes at least two or more playback/listening apparatus
`used respectively by at least two or more users. The play-
`back/listening apparatus enhanced with profile matching
`functionality comprises four key components: a wireless
`transceiver, a random access controller, a profile storage and
`matching unit, and a music playback unit. The playback/
`15 listening apparatus can operate in at least two modes,
`listening mode and advertising mode, for profile matching.
`These two modes constitute two basic and necessary func(cid:173)
`tionality.
`The method for coordinated and synchronized music
`20 playback in local spatial proximity with wireless ad hoc
`networks includes the following steps: establishing a wire(cid:173)
`less ad-hoc network between at least a first listening appa(cid:173)
`ratus used by the first user and a second listening apparatus
`used by the second user; sending a first message from the
`25 first apparatus to a public channel; scanning the public
`channel and receiving the first message to the second
`apparatus; responding to the first apparatus by sending a
`second message from the second apparatus to direct the first
`apparatus to a private channel; sending a first profile from
`30 the first apparatus to the private channel; performing match(cid:173)
`ing evaluation between the first profile and a second profile
`of the second apparatus in the second apparatus based on a
`specific criterion; sending the second profile to the first
`apparatus; performing matching evaluation between the
`35 second profile and the first profile in the first apparatus;
`selecting a song; synchronizing playing the song; scanning
`the public channel and receiving the first message to a third
`apparatus used by a third user over the wirele~s ad-~oc
`network; responding to the third apparatus by sendmg a th1rd
`40 message from the first apparatus to direct the third apparatus
`to the private charmel; and synchronizing playing the song
`in the apparatuses.
`The present invention relates to an apparatus for coordi(cid:173)
`nated and synchronized music playback in local spatial
`45 proximity through wireless ad hoc networks. With the appa(cid:173)
`ratus ofthe present invention, peer listeners can share music
`listening without playing the music out loudly.
`The present invention allows listeners in the transmission
`range to discover one another through profile matching,
`50 thereby locating the music public based on matched profiles.
`The present invention therefore has potential applications in
`sociality, merchandizing, or marketing.
`The invention and the attendant advantages thereof will
`be better understood by reference to the following detailed
`55 description when considered in connection with the accom(cid:173)
`panying figures.
`It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
`description and the followed detailed description are exem-
`60 plary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the
`invention as claimed.
`
`In view of the foregoing, it is an objective of the present
`invention to provide a method and an apparatus that use
`wireless ad-hoc networks to coordinate and synchronize
`song playback between two or more users who wish to share
`mutual music listening.
`The present invention details a novel application of wire(cid:173)
`less networking and digital music technologies to achieve
`coordinated and synchronized music playback among peer
`listeners connected by wireless ad-hoc networks. Two or
`more listeners in local proximity allowed by short-range
`wireless transmission can participate and listen to the same
`song at the same time. Moreover, the present invention 65
`allows listeners in the transmission range to discover each
`other through profile matching. A high matching score may
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The accompanying drawings are included to provide a
`further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated
`in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings
`
`BHM 0023486
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`SONOS 1001 - Page 6
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`

`

`US 7,236,739 B2
`
`3
`illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with
`the description, serve to explain the principles of the inven(cid:173)
`tion. In the drawings,
`FIG. 1 is a schematic view ofthe four key components of
`an apparatus in a system according to one preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ment of this invention;
`FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the processing steps
`when the system is in the listening mode according to one
`preferred embodiment of this invention;
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the processing steps
`when the system is in the advertising mode according to one
`preferred embodiment of this invention.
`FIG. 4 is a functional diagram illustrating various com(cid:173)
`binations of matching and playback functions that the lis(cid:173)
`tening apparatus may choose to implement according to one
`preferred embodiment of this invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention provides a method for providing
`coordinated and synchronized music playback at the same
`time for two or more listeners in local proximity and a music
`playback/listening system for applying the aforementioned
`method.
`The aforementioned playback/listening system includes at
`least two or more playback/listening apparatus used respec(cid:173)
`tively by at least two or more users. The playback/listening
`apparatus can be simplified to have no profile matching
`capability or be further enhanced and enriched with profile
`matching capability. FIG. 1 illustrates four key components
`of the apparatus for the playback/listening system, compris(cid:173)
`ing a wireless transceiver (100), a random access controller
`(102), a profile storage and matching unit (104), and a music
`playback unit (106). The wireless transceiver (100) can be
`implemented by any short-range radio technology, such as
`but not limited to Bluetooth, 802.11, or DECT. The trans(cid:173)
`ceiver constantly listens to a pre-progrannned public chan(cid:173)
`nel for new, remote parties. It can also connect to a remote
`party through an assigned private channel. The random
`access controller (102) instructs which channel the wireless
`transceiver should be sending or receiving messages. It also
`determines the frequency of advertising the presence of the
`apparatus to other remote parties. The profile storage and
`matching unit (1 04) stores the musical preference of the user
`as a local profile and performs matching between the local
`profile and a received profile from a remote party. For
`example, a profile can be as simple as a list of songs stored
`in the playback unit or even a whole record including music
`playing history. High matching scores thus generally indi(cid:173)
`cate similarity in music preference and taste between users.
`A nine-out-of-ten match between two song lists is consid(cid:173)
`ered strong matching. No intersection indicates low or no
`matching. The user can set up a criterion to decide whether
`the degree of matching is appropriate. Other possible match(cid:173)
`ing criteria include music style, release dates, singer, con(cid:173)
`duclor, and song writers etc. The profile matching function
`can also be implemented by displaying the profile of the
`remote party on screen. Human user then reviews and
`decides to accept or reject through conventional selecting
`means, for example, pressing a button or a switch. The music
`playback unit (106) can be a digital device that stores and
`plays songs. The unit may be implemented based on but not
`limited to MP3, MTDT and other digital audio technologies.
`The enhanced playback/listening apparatus can operate in
`at least two or more modes for profile matching. One mode
`
`4
`is named "listening mode" while another is named "adver(cid:173)
`tising mode". These two modes constitute two basic and
`necessary functionality.
`FIG. 2 illustrates the processing steps when the apparatus
`operates in the listening mode. In this mode, the wireless
`transceiver scans the public channel for newly jointed
`remote parties, which send out announcements containing
`their signatures (200). Messages and announcements are
`digital data packets like Internet Protocol (IP) packets. Each
`10 apparatus has a factory assigned unique signature. The
`announcement message from a remote party is relayed to the
`random access controller, which examines the signature of
`the remote party (202). The random access controller keeps
`a list of signatures from recently contacted but failed parties.
`15 Failed parties need not be contacted again. If the new
`signature is not in the list, the random access controller then
`instructs the wireless transceiver to scan for private channels
`not in use. The random access controller then selects one
`available private channel, and responds to the remote party
`20 with a new message containing the number of this channel
`(206). Future correspondence between the two parties will
`use the established private channel.
`Upon receiving the response to its announcement mes(cid:173)
`sage, the remote party sends its profile through the private
`25 channel (208). The profile matching unit at the local appa(cid:173)
`ratus (used by the local party) then performs matching
`evaluation. If it is a good match, the local apparatus sends its
`own profile to the remote party for verification and confir(cid:173)
`mation (210). The remote party performs its matching and if
`30 it agrees to proceed, sends out confirmation and selects a
`song that appears in both profiles to play. Both parties then
`synchronize and play the selected song at the same time
`(212). The aforementioned step can be referred as "local
`playback". However, if the selected song is present in only
`35 one party (i.e. either the local or the remote party), the
`selected song needs to be transmitted to another party in
`order to be played at the same time, thus referring as
`"radio-in-playback" hereafter. It depends on the available
`bandwidth of the wireless, ad-hoc network to decide
`40 whether local playback or radio-in playback can be applied.
`In the listening mode, the system passively waits for new
`announcements. The above flow diagram applies equally to
`two party-linking as well as multi-party linking.
`For a more complicated scenario of the method with
`45 profile matching, a wireless ad-hoc network between at least
`a first listening apparatus in advertising mode and a second
`listening apparatus in listening mode is first established.
`After the first apparatus sends a signature to a public
`channel, the second apparatus scans the public channel and
`so detect the signature of the first apparatus. The second
`apparatus then responds to the first apparatus by sending a
`message to direct the first apparatus to a private channel. The
`first apparatus sends its profile to the private channel.
`Afterwards, the second apparatus performs matching evalu-
`55 ation between its own profile and the profile of the first
`apparatus in the second apparatus based on a specific
`criterion. If the criterion is met, the second apparatus sends
`its profile to the first apparatus. After the firs apparatus
`performing matching evaluation between both profiles in the
`60 first apparatus, both apparatuses synchronize playing the
`song. The selected song can be played either in local
`playback or radio-in-playback.
`Multiple parties can be joined together one at a time by
`responding to the announcement, which is described next.
`65 FIG. 3 illustrates the processing steps when the system
`operates in the advertising mode. In this mode, the local
`system actively seeks for profile-matched remote parties. It
`
`BHM 0023487
`
`SONOS 1001 - Page 7
`
`

`

`US 7,236,739 B2
`
`10
`
`5
`first sends out announcement with its own signature (300).
`The wireless transceiver then listens to the public channel
`for responses and relays the responses, one at a time, to the
`random access controller (302). For each response, the
`controller retrieves the local profile and forwards it to the
`remote party for profile matching (304). If the remote party
`responds with positive confirmation, the profile of the
`remote party is matched locally (308). A good match will
`then leads to the selection of a matched song for playback
`(310).
`When two or more devices (referred as the playback
`group) are participating in synchronized playback, a new
`apparatus (using by a new party) may join by responding to
`the announcement message from the advertising apparatus.
`The interactions between the new apparatus and the adver- 15
`tising apparatus follow the same procedure illustrated in
`FIG. 3. There is one more step after (310). In this step, the
`advertising apparatus, which is participating in the playback,
`sends out a channel reset message to the newly joined
`device. The channel reset message contains the channel 20
`number shared by the playback group. The newly joined
`device then switches and listens to the shared channel
`number in order to synchronize its playback with the play(cid:173)
`back group. At this point, the newly joined device is part of
`the playback group. A playback group may be formed by 25
`inviting new devices one at a time following the above
`procedure.
`It is noted that multi-party synchronized playback
`assumes that at least one song is available on all apparatuses
`or one device will actively transmit songs over the wireless 30
`channel. Enforcing the criterion can be easily imposed by
`the advertising device, which exchanges and stores profile
`information with others.
`Music playback can continue when the system operates in
`either mode, listening or advertising. It is up to the owner to 35
`decide what to do when a new match is found. The owner
`may elect to continue the current playback, or to start with
`a new song.
`It is noted that the method of this invention for interac(cid:173)
`tively playing music between multiple users can be summa(cid:173)
`rized as combinations according to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a
`functional diagram illustrating various combinations of
`matching and playback functions a listening apparatus may
`choose to implement. The simplest case of this invention is
`the combination of A1-B1-C1, as a playback/listening
`system having two interactive listening apparatuses without
`profile matching and in local playback. This simple scenario
`is within the scope of the present invention.
`It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
`modifications and variations can be made to the structure of 50
`the present invention without departing from the scope or
`spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended
`that the present invention cover modifications and variations
`of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the
`following claims and their equivalents.
`
`40
`
`6
`a profile storage and matching unit to store musical
`preferences of a user and to perform matching between
`the local profile and a received profile from a remote
`party;
`a music playback unit that stores and plays songs; and
`a transceiver connected to the random access controller
`for receiving and sending message over the wireless
`ad-hoc network and for relaying messages to the ran(cid:173)
`dom access controller;
`wherein, the first listening apparatus can synchronize
`playing music with the listening apparatuses other than
`the first listening apparatus with agreement from all
`parties.
`2. A method for sharing music between a first music
`playback device, and at least a second music playback
`device, comprising the steps of:
`exchanging wireless messages between the first and the at
`least second music playback devices, wherein exchang(cid:173)
`ing messages establishes an ad-hoc network between
`the first and the at least second music playback devices;
`determining whether music sharing is enabled;
`playing a music selection on the first music playback
`device; and
`playing back the music selection on the at least second
`music playback device in synchrony with the first
`music playback device.
`3. The method of claim 2, wherein the ad-hoc network is
`established using short-range radio technologies.
`4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining
`comprises exchanging a profile over the ad-hoc network
`wherein the profile is selected from the set consisting of
`information about the music stored on the music playback
`device transmitting the message and information about the
`user of the music playback device transmitting the message.
`5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining
`comprises automatically matching a profile from the first
`music playback device and the at least second music play(cid:173)
`back device.
`6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining
`comprises the user of the first music playback device exam(cid:173)
`ining the profile from the at least second music playback
`device and manually selecting a choice from the set con(cid:173)
`sisting of establishing the ad-hoc network and not establish-
`45 ing the network.
`7. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of playing
`comprises playing music from music stores on both the first
`music playback device and the at least second music play(cid:173)
`back device.
`8. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of playing
`comprises playing music from a music store on the first
`music playback device that is transmitted via the ad-hoc
`network to the at least second music playback device.
`9. A portable music listening apparatus for coordinated
`55 music playback with at least one other music listening
`apparatus the portable apparatus, comprising:
`a music playback device;
`a random access controller that communicates with the
`music playback device; and
`a wireless transceiver that communicates with the random
`access controller;
`wherein the random access controller supports the estab-
`lishment of an ad-hoc network over the wireless trans(cid:173)
`ceiver with the at least one other apparatus after which
`a music selection being played on the music playback
`device is synchronously played on a music playback
`device of the other apparatus.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A first music listening apparatus for interactively play(cid:173)
`ing music with at least one other music listening apparatus,
`comprising:
`a random access controller for instructing a transceiver to
`transmit signals to one or more other apparatuses or to
`receive signals from one or more other apparatuses
`through one of a plurality of channels, wherein
`exchange of signals between the first apparatus and one 65
`or more apparatuses establishes a wireless ad-hoc net(cid:173)
`work between apparatuses;
`
`60
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`BHM 0023488
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`SONOS 1001 - Page 8
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`US 7,236,739 B2
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`7
`10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the music to be
`played on the apparatus and the other apparatus is stored
`only on the apparatus, and wherein the stored music is
`transmitted to the other apparatus for playing of the music on
`the other apparatus.
`11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the music to be
`played on the apparatus and the other apparatus is stored
`locally on both apparatuses, and the music is played on the
`other apparatus from the local store subsequent to an instruc(cid:173)
`tion from the apparatus.
`12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a plu(cid:173)
`rality of channels for communicating between the apparatus
`and the other apparatus, wherein the plurality of channels
`include at least one public channel and at least one private
`channel.
`13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transceiver
`further comprises at least an advertising mode and a listen(cid:173)
`ing mode.
`14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transceiver may
`listen to at least one public channel and wherein the trans- 20
`ceiver may relay an announcement message.
`
`8
`15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display
`screen, for showing signatures or names or information of
`the other apparatus other than the listening apparatus to a
`user.
`16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a list of
`factory-assigned signatures kept on the controller.
`17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a manual
`selector, wherein the user of the apparatus selects from the
`group consisting of establishing or not establishing the
`10 ad-hoc network with the other apparatus.
`18. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a profile
`storage and matching unit, wherein matching of the profile
`on the apparatus with the profile on the other apparatus by
`exchanging the profile of the apparatus with the other
`15 apparatus
`through the wireless
`transceiver determines
`whether music is interactively played.
`19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a
`selection device that the user uses to accept or reject the
`other apparatus other than the listening apparatus.
`
`* * * * *
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`BHM 0023489
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`SONOS 1001 - Page 9
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