Identification of playback device and stereo pair names

• US 10,228,898 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kallai, Christopher, Ericson, Michael Darrell Andrew, Lambourne, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCord, Paul C
• Application Number:
  US15/228,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20160342387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/01 Multi-channel, i.e. more than two input channels, sound reproduction with two speakers wherein the multi-channel information is substantially preserved
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2400/13 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in stereophonic sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/308 Electronic adaptation dependent on speaker or headphone connection

Abstract

An example method includes, based on an adjustment to a first displayed volume control, instructing the first playback device to adjust playback volume level; based on an adjustment to a second displayed volume control, instructing the second playback device to adjust playback volume level; after sending the commands, instructing the first and/or second playback device to process an audio stream into a first and/or second channel and to reproduce a respective one of the first and second channel, wherein the grouped first and second playback devices provide multi-channel sound; and based on an adjustment to a third displayed volume control, instructing the first and/or second playback device to adjust a group volume level for both the first and second playback devices.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to;

store a first name for identification of a first playback device and a second name for identification of a second playback device;

cause display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively;

after storing the first name and the second name, configure a stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, wherein while in the stereo pair the first playback device is configured for play back according to a stereo sound effect with a second playback device;

and

while the stereo pair is configured, cause display of a nickname for identification of first playback device and the second playback device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the system to:

separate the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device; and

after separating the stereo pair, again provide the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively, comprises causing, via a controller, a graphical display to display the first name and the second name.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein causing display of the nickname for identification of first playback device and the second playback device comprises causing, via a controller, a graphical display to display the nickname.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively, comprises sending, via the first playback device to a controller over a data network, the first name and the second name.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively, comprises sending, via the first playback device to a third playback device over a data network, the first name and the second name.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the nickname is the same as the first name.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first name, the second name, and the nickname are different.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein configuring the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device comprises configuring the first playback device to:

process audio data into at least one of first audio channel data and second audio channel data; and

play back one or the other of the first audio channel data and the second audio channel data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first audio channel data comprises a left audio channel and the second audio channel data comprises a right audio channel.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein configuring the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device comprises configuring the first playback device to:

process audio data into at least one of first audio channel data and second audio channel data;

play back the first audio channel data; and

send the second audio channel data to the second playback device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein configuring the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device comprises configuring the first playback device to:

process audio data into at least one of first audio channel data and second audio channel data;

play back the first audio channel data; and

send the audio data to the second playback device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the system to:

separate the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device; and

while the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device is separated, do not provide the nickname for identification of first playback device and the second playback device.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a controller configured to provide, from the controller to the stereo pair, multi-channel audio content.

41. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a controller configured to:

provide, from the controller to the first playback device, a first channel of audio content; and

provide, from the controller to the second playback device, a second channel of the audio content.

42. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a controller configured to:

receive, via the controller, an input to change a volume of the stereo pair;

in response to receiving the input, transmit, from the controller to the stereo pair, a message to change the volume of the stereo pair.

43. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a controller configured to:

receive, via the controller, an input to change a volume of the stereo pair;

in response to receiving the input;

transmit, from the controller to the first playback device, a first message to change the volume of the first playback device; and

transmit, from the controller to the second playback device, a second message to change the volume of the second playback device.

44. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a controller configured to provide, from the controller to the stereo pair, multi-channel audio content;

and

wherein configuring the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device comprises;

configuring the first playback device to;

(i) process the multi-channel audio content into first audio channel data, and (ii) play back the first audio channel data; and

configuring the second playback device to;

(i) process the multi-channel audio content into second audio channel data, and (ii) play back the second audio channel data.

14. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes a system to perform a method comprising:

storing a first name for identification of a first playback device and a second name for identification of a second playback device;

causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively;

after storing the first name and the second name, configuring a stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, wherein while in the stereo pair the first playback device is configured for play back according to a stereo sound effect with a second playback device;

while the stereo pair is configured, causing display of a nickname for identification of first playback device and the second playback device.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

separating the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device; and

after separating the stereo pair, again providing the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively, comprises causing, via a controller, a graphical display to display the first name and the second name.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16, wherein causing display of the nickname for identification of first playback device and the second playback device comprises causing, via a controller, a graphical display to display the nickname.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively, comprises sending, via the first playback device to a controller over a data network, the first name and the second name.

19. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively, comprises sending, via the first playback device to a third playback device over a data network, the first name and the second name.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the nickname is the same as the first name.

21. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein each of the first name, the second name, and the nickname are different.

22. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein configuring the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device comprises configuring the first playback device to:

process audio data into at least one of first audio channel data and second audio channel data; and

play back one or the other of the first audio channel data and the second audio channel data.

23. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 22, wherein the first audio channel data comprises a left audio channel and the second audio channel data comprises a right audio channel.

24. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein configuring the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device comprises configuring the first playback device to:

process audio data into at least one of first audio channel data and second audio channel data;

play back the first audio channel data; and

send the second audio channel data to the second playback device.

25. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein configuring the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device comprises configuring the first playback device to:

process audio data into at least one of first audio channel data and second audio channel data;

play back the first audio channel data; and

send the audio data to the second playback device.

26. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

separating the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device; and

while the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device is separated, not providing the nickname for identification of first playback device and the second playback device.

27. A method comprising:

storing a first name for identification of a first playback device and a second name for identification of a second playback device;

causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively;

after storing the first name and the second name, configuring a stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device, wherein while in the stereo pair the first playback device is configured for play-back according to a stereo sound effect with a second playback device;

while the stereo pair is configured, causing display of a nickname for identification of first playback device and the second playback device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

separating the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device; and

after separating the stereo pair, again providing the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively, comprises causing, via a controller, a graphical display to display the first name and the second name.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein causing display of the nickname for identification of first playback device and the second playback device comprises causing, via a controller, a graphical display to display the nickname.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively, comprises sending, via the first playback device to a controller over a data network, the first name and the second name.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein causing display of the first name and the second name for identification of the first playback device and the second playback device, respectively, comprises sending, via the first playback device to a third playback device over a data network, the first name and the second name.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the nickname is the same as the first name.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein each of the first name, the second name, and the nickname are different.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein configuring the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device comprises configuring the first playback device to:

process audio data into at least one of first audio channel data and second audio channel data; and

play back one or the other of the first audio channel data and the second audio channel data.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first audio channel data comprises a left audio channel and the second audio channel data comprises a right audio channel.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein configuring the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device comprises configuring the first playback device to:

process audio data into at least one of first audio channel data and second audio channel data;

play back the first audio channel data; and

send the second audio channel data to the second playback device.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein configuring the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device comprises configuring the first playback device to:

process audio data into at least one of first audio channel data and second audio channel data;

play back the first audio channel data; and

send the audio data to the second playback device.

39. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

separating the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device; and

while the stereo pair comprising the first playback device and the second playback device is separated, not providing the nickname for identification of first playback device and the second playback device.