Multiple groupings in a playback system

• US 10,248,376 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2015
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Keyser-Allen, Lee, Garber, Jillian, Coburn, IV, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): McCord, Paul C
• Application Number:
  US14/737,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20160364206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 381104-109, 381117
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00

Abstract

The examples provided herein involve multiple groups in a playback system. An example method involves facilitating storage of a configuration of multiple zone groups as a multi-zone scene of a media playback system, the media playback system including at least a first zone group including at least two zone players and a second zone group, a user interface of a controller presenting at least an indication of (1) the first zone group, (2) the second zone group, and (3) a multi-zone group scene creation command. The method involves generating, based on a detected triggering of the multi-zone group scene creation command, a multi-zone scene configuration including stored configuration data for the first zone group and the second zone group to instantiate the multi-zone scene based on identified parameters associated with the captured configuration of the multiple zone groups of the media playback system, the parameters including (1) zone players currently associated with the first zone group and the second zone group, and (2) an indication that the first zone group and the second zone group belong to the multi-zone group scene, and transmitting the configuration data to at least a first zone player in the first zone group for subsequent instantiation of the multi-zone group scene.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying, via a display interface of a controller device, a graphical indicator, that when selected, causes storing of configuration data, wherein the configuration data is associated with a multi-zone group scene of a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises a first zone group and a second zone group, wherein the first zone group comprises a first zone player, and wherein the second zone group comprises a second zone player and a third zone player;

detecting, via the controller device, a selection of the indicator that causes the storing of the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene;

in response to the detecting, (i) storing, at the second zone player, the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene and (ii) simultaneously displaying, via the display interface, a graphical indicator for each of (1) the first zone group, (2) the second zone group, and (3) the multi-zone group scene, wherein the multi-zone group scene comprises the first, second, and third zone players;

detecting, via the display interface, respective selections of the graphical indicator of the first zone group, the graphical indicator of the second zone group, and the graphical indicator of the multi-zone group scene;

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator of the first zone group, transmitting, via the controller device, one or more first commands that configure the first zone player for playback of audio content in the first zone group and independent of the second and third zone players;

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator of the second zone group, transmitting, via the controller device, one or more second commands that configure the second and third zone players for playback of audio content in synchrony with one another and independent of the first zone player;

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator of the multi-zone group scene, transmitting one or more third commands to the second zone player of the second zone group; and

based on the one or more third commands, instantiating, via the second zone player, the multi-zone group scene according to the stored configuration data, wherein the instantiating comprises (i) configuring the second and third zone players of the second zone group for playback of audio content and (ii) transmitting, via the second zone player, one or more fourth commands to the first zone player of the first zone group, wherein the fourth commands configure the first zone player of the first zone group for playback of audio content.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator that causes the storing of the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene, facilitating, via the controller device, creating a name of the multi-zone group scene;

and

associating the name with the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the instantiating comprises transmitting one or more commands that configure the first, second, and third zone players for playback of audio content in synchrony with one another.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene comprises storing configuration parameters, wherein the configuration parameters comprise one or more of a) a volume level for audio playback for each zone in the zone group, b) a mute or unmute setting for audio playback, c) media content for playback, d) a play mode setting, e) an equalization setting for audio playback, and f) an audio alarm.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media playback system further comprises a third zone group, wherein the third zone group further comprises a fourth zone player, and wherein storing the configuration data of the multi-zone group comprises storing a configuration parameter that excludes the third zone group from the multi-zone group scene.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the media playback system further comprises a third zone group, wherein the third zone group further comprises a fourth zone player, and wherein the instantiating comprises:

instructing the second zone player to transmit one or more commands that configure the third zone player of the fourth zone group for playback of audio content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the instantiating comprises:

transmitting one or more commands that configure the first, second, and third zone players for playback of audio content in synchrony with one another and independent of the fourth zone player.

8. A controller device comprising:

at least one processor; and

a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller device to perform functions comprising;

displaying, via a display interface of the controller device, a graphical indicator that, when selected, causes storing of configuration data, wherein the configuration data is associated with a multi-zone group scene of a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises a first zone group and a second zone group, wherein the first zone group comprises a first zone player, and wherein the second zone group comprises a second zone player and a third zone player;

detecting a selection of the indicator that causes the storing of the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene;

in response to the detecting, (i) instructing the second zone player to store the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene and (ii) simultaneously displaying, via the display interface, a graphical indicator for each of (1) the first zone group, (2) the second zone group, and (3) the multi-zone group scene, wherein the multi-zone group scene comprises the first, second, and third zone players;

detecting, via the display interface, respective selections of the graphical indicator of the first zone group, the graphical indicator of the second zone group, and the graphical indicator of the multi-zone group scene;

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator of the first zone group, transmitting one or more first commands that configure the first zone player for playback of audio content in the first zone group and independent of the second and third zone players;

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator of the second zone group, transmitting one or more second commands that configure the second and third zone players for playback of audio content in synchrony with one another and independent of the first zone player; and

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator of the multi-zone group scene, transmitting one or more third commands to the second zone player of the second zone group, wherein the one or more third commands instruct the second zone player to instantiate the multi-zone group scene according to the stored configuration data, wherein the instantiating comprises (i) configuring the second and third zone players of the second zone group for playback of audio content and (ii) transmitting, via the second zone player, one or more fourth commands to the first zone player of the first zone group, wherein the fourth commands configure the first zone player of the first zone group for playback of audio content.

9. The controller device of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator that causes the storing of the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene, facilitating creating a name of the multi-zone group scene; and

associating the name with the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene.

10. The controller device of claim 8, wherein the instantiating comprises transmitting one or more commands that configure the first, second, and third zone players for playback of audio content in synchrony with one another.

11. The controller device of claim 8, wherein storing the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene comprises storing configuration parameters, wherein the configuration parameters comprise one or more of a) a volume level for audio playback for each zone in the zone group, b) a mute or unmute setting for audio playback, c) media content for playback, d) a play mode setting, e) an equalization setting for audio playback, and f) an audio alarm.

12. The controller device of claim 8, wherein the media playback system further comprises a third zone group, wherein the third zone group further comprises a fourth zone player, and wherein storing the configuration data of the multi-zone group comprises storing a configuration parameter that excludes the third zone group from the multi-zone group scene.

13. The controller device of claim 8, wherein the media playback system further comprises a third zone group, wherein the third zone group further comprises a fourth zone player, and wherein the instantiating comprises:

instructing the second zone player to transmit one or more commands that configure the third zone player of the fourth zone group for playback of audio content.

14. The controller device of claim 13, wherein the instantiating comprises:

transmitting one or more commands that configure the first, second, and third zone players for playback of audio content in synchrony with one another and independent of the fourth zone player.

15. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a controller device to perform functions comprising:

displaying, via a display interface of the controller device, a graphical indicator, that when selected, causes storing of configuration data, wherein the configuration data is associated with a multi-zone group scene of a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises a first zone group and a second zone group, wherein the first zone group comprises a first zone player, and wherein the second zone group comprises a second zone player and a third zone player;

detecting a selection of the indicator for storing the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene;

in response to the detecting, (i) instructing the second zone player to store the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene and (ii) simultaneously displaying, via the display interface, a graphical indicator for each of (1) the first zone group, (2) the second zone group, and (3) the multi-zone group scene, wherein the multi-zone group scene comprises the first, second, and third zone players;

detecting, via the display interface, respective selections of the graphical indicator of the first zone group, the graphical indicator of the second zone group, and the graphical indicator of the multi-zone group scene;

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator of the first zone group, transmit one or more first commands that configure the first zone player for playback of audio content in the first zone group and independent of the second and third zone players;

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator of the second zone group, transmit one or more second commands that configure the second and third zone players for playback of audio content in synchrony with one another and independent of the first zone player; and

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator of the multi-zone group scene, transmitting one or more third commands to the second player of the second zone group, wherein the one or more third commands instruct the second zone player to instantiate the multi-zone group scene according to the stored configuration data, wherein the instantiating comprises (i) configuring the second and third zone players of the second zone group for playback of audio content and (ii) transmitting, via the second zone player, one or more fourth commands to the first zone player of the first zone group, wherein the fourth commands configure the first zone player of the first zone group for playback of audio content.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise:

in response to detecting the selection of the indicator for causing the storing of the configuration data of multi-zone group scene, facilitating creation of a name of the multi-zone group scene; and

associating the name with the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 15, wherein the instantiating comprises transmitting one or more commands that configure the first, second, and third zone players for playback of audio content in synchrony with one another.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 15, wherein storing the configuration data of the multi-zone group scene comprises storing configuration parameters, wherein the configuration parameters comprise one or more of a) a volume level for audio playback for each zone in the zone group, b) a mute or unmute setting for audio playback, c) media content for playback, d) a play mode setting, e) an equalization setting for audio playback, and f) an audio alarm.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 15, wherein the media playback system further comprises a third zone group, wherein the third zone group further comprises a fourth zone player, and wherein storing the configuration data of the multi-zone group comprises storing a configuration parameter that excludes the third zone group from the multi-zone group scene.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 15, wherein the media playback system further comprises a third zone group, wherein the third zone group further comprises a fourth zone player, and wherein the instantiating comprises:

instructing the second zone player to transmit one or more commands that configure the third zone player of the fourth zone group for playback of audio content.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage memory of claim 20, wherein the instantiating comprises:

transmitting one or more commands that configure the first, second, and third zone players for playback of audio content in synchrony with one another and independent of the fourth zone player.