Providing media for playback

• US 10,114,606 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Griffiths, Neil, Reilly, Jonathon
• Primary Examiner(s): Elbin, Jesse A
• Application Number:
  US15/016,259
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 715716, 715727
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10657 Cache memories for random data access, e.g. buffers wherein the data output is controlled by a priority parameter other than retention time
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/102 Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

Embodiments are disclosed for providing play/pause content. An example method includes receiving a command to play audio from a zone, the zone including one or more playback devices, wherein the zone is configured to play items from a playback queue responsive to the command to play audio. The example method also includes determining that the playback queue includes no playable items. The example method also includes automatically placing information identifying at least one playable item in the playback queue. The example method also includes, responsive to the command to play audio, causing to play the at least one playable item by the zone.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

receiving a command to play back media content from a first playback queue associated with the playback device, wherein the first playback queue contains zero or more media items for playback by the playback device;

after receiving the command, determining that the first playback queue contains no playable media content;

in response to determining that the first playback queue contains no playable media content, identifying a second playback queue that contains one or more playable media items, wherein the second playback queue is associated with the playback device when the command is received; and

responsive to the command, playing the one or more playable media items from the second playback queue.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein identifying the second playback queue comprises identifying that the second playback queue was previously played by the playback device.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein receiving the command to play back media content comprises receiving the command at a particular time of day, and wherein identifying the second playback queue comprises identifying the second playback queue based on the particular time of day.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback device is associated with a particular zone in a household, and wherein identifying the second playback queue comprises identifying the second playback queue based on the particular zone.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to receiving the command, generating the second playback queue based on frequencies at which media items are played by the playback device.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein identifying the second playback queue comprises:

transmitting to a remote server, a request for the second playback queue; and

receiving from the remote server, data indicating the second playback queue.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein determining that the first playback queue contains no playable media content comprises:

in response to the command, transmitting to a content server, a request for the media content; and

determining that the media content is no longer retrievable.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein determining that the first playback queue contains no playable media content comprises:

determining that the first playback queue is empty.

9. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the command is a first command, and wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to receiving the first command, playing back media content from the first playback queue associated with the playback device; and

in response to a second command, pausing the playback, wherein receiving the first command comprises;

while playback is paused, receiving a command to resume playback of media content from the first playback queue.

10. The playback device of claim 9, wherein playing media content from the first playback queue associated with the playback device comprises playing media content from a line-in source coupled to the playback device, and wherein determining that the first playback queue contains no playable media content comprises determining that the line-in source is no longer coupled to the playback device.

11. A method comprising:

receiving by a playback device, a command to play back media content from a first playback queue associated with the playback device, wherein the first playback queue contains zero or more media items for playback by the playback device;

after receiving the command, determining by the playback device, that the first playback queue contains no playable media content;

in response to determining that the playback queue contains no playable media content, identifying by the playback device, a second playback queue that contains one or more playable media items, wherein the second playback queue is associated with the playback device when the command is received; and

responsive to the command, playing by the playback device, the one or more playable media items from the second playback queue.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the second playback queue comprises identifying that the second playback queue was previously played by the playback device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving by the playback device, the command to play back media content comprises receiving by the playback device, the command at a particular time of day, and wherein identifying by the playback device, the second playback queue comprises identifying by the playback device, the second playback queue based on the particular time of day.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the playback device is associated with a particular zone in a household, and wherein identifying by the playback device, the second playback queue comprises identifying by the playback device, the second playback queue based on the particular zone.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to receiving the command, generating by the playback device, the second playback queue based on frequencies at which media items are played by the playback device.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a command to play back media content from a first playback queue associated with the playback device, wherein the first playback queue contains zero or more media items for playback by the playback device;

after receiving the command, determining that the first playback queue contains no playable media content;

in response to determining that the playback queue contains no playable media content, identifying a second playback queue that contains one or more playable media items, wherein the second playback queue is associated with the playback device when the command is received; and

responsive to the command, playing the one or more media items from the second playback queue.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein identifying the second playback queue comprises:

transmitting to a remote server, a request for the second playback queue; and

receiving from the remote server, data indicating the second playback queue.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining that the first playback queue contains no playable media content comprises:

in response to the command, transmitting to a content server, a request for the media content; and

determining that the media content is no longer retrievable.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining that the first playback queue contains no playable media content comprises:

determining that the playback queue is empty.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the command is a first command, and wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to receiving the first command, playing back media content from the first playback queue associated with the playback device; and

in response to a second command, pausing the playback, wherein receiving the first command comprises;

while playback is paused, receiving a command to resume playback of media content from the first playback queue.