Immersive audio in a media playback system
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- a network media system identifying a primary zone in the network media system to play back audio tracks of videos, wherein identifying the primary zone comprises determining that an input interface of a playback device within the primary zone is connected to (a) an output port of a display device or (b) an output port of a media player device that outputs audio and video;
the network media system determining respective audio responses of each of one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content with the primary zone;
the network media system identifying at least one auxiliary zone of the one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content based on the respective audio responses of each of the one or more auxiliary zones indicating that the at least one auxiliary zone is within audible range of the primary zone; and
while a multi-channel audio track of a given video is playing back, the network media system temporarily forming a playback configuration in which the primary zone plays back primary audio content comprising one or more first audio channels of the multi-channel audio track and the at least one auxiliary zone plays back auxiliary audio content comprising one or more second audio channels of the multi-channel audio track, wherein the primary zone and the at least one auxiliary zone are each configured to play back audio content individually before forming the playback configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments described herein involve identifying a primary zone in a network media system for playback of primary audio content, where audio content comprises the primary audio content and auxiliary audio content, and determining respective audio responses of each of one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of the auxiliary audio content with the primary zone. At least one auxiliary zone of the one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content may be identified based on the respective audio responses of each of the one or more auxiliary zones. The primary zone can play back the primary audio content, and the at least one auxiliary zone can coordinate playback of the auxiliary audio content with the primary audio content played by the primary zone.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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a network media system identifying a primary zone in the network media system to play back audio tracks of videos, wherein identifying the primary zone comprises determining that an input interface of a playback device within the primary zone is connected to (a) an output port of a display device or (b) an output port of a media player device that outputs audio and video; the network media system determining respective audio responses of each of one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content with the primary zone; the network media system identifying at least one auxiliary zone of the one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content based on the respective audio responses of each of the one or more auxiliary zones indicating that the at least one auxiliary zone is within audible range of the primary zone; and while a multi-channel audio track of a given video is playing back, the network media system temporarily forming a playback configuration in which the primary zone plays back primary audio content comprising one or more first audio channels of the multi-channel audio track and the at least one auxiliary zone plays back auxiliary audio content comprising one or more second audio channels of the multi-channel audio track, wherein the primary zone and the at least one auxiliary zone are each configured to play back audio content individually before forming the playback configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause a network media system to perform functions comprising:
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identifying a primary zone in the network media system to play back audio tracks of videos, wherein identifying the primary zone comprises determining that an input interface of a playback device within the primary zone is connected to (a) an output port of a display device or (b) an output port of a media player device that outputs audio and video; determining respective audio responses of each of one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content with the primary zone; identifying at least one auxiliary zone of the one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content based on the respective audio responses of each of the one or more auxiliary zones indicating that the at least one auxiliary zone is within audible range of the primary zone; and while a multi-channel audio track of a given video is playing back, the network media system temporarily forming a playback configuration in which the primary zone plays back primary audio content comprising one or more first audio channels of the multi-channel audio track and the at least one auxiliary zone plays back auxiliary audio content comprising one or more second audio channels of the multi-channel audio track, wherein the primary zone and the at least one auxiliary zone are each configured to play back audio content individually before forming the playback configuration. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computing device of a network media system comprising:
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at least one processor; and memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the computing device to perform functions comprising; identifying a primary zone in the network media system to play back audio tracks of videos, wherein identifying the primary zone comprises determining that an input interface of a playback device within the primary zone is connected to (a) an output port of a display device or (b) an output port of a media player device that outputs audio and video; determining respective audio responses of each of one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content with the primary zone; identifying at least one auxiliary zone of the one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content based on the respective audio responses of each of the one or more auxiliary zones indicating that the at least one auxiliary zone is within audible range of the primary zone; and while a multi-channel audio track of a given video is playing back, the network media system temporarily forming a playback configuration in which the primary zone plays back primary audio content comprising one or more first audio channels of the multi-channel audio track and the at least one auxiliary zone plays back auxiliary audio content comprising one or more second audio channels of the multi-channel audio track, wherein the primary zone and the at least one auxiliary zone are each configured to play back audio content individually before forming the playback configuration. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification