Power decrease and increase based on packet type

• US 10,254,822 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Holmgren, Steve F., MacFarlane, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saunders, Jr., Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/245,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20160363988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• 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: H03F 1/52 Circuit arrangements for protecting such amplifiers monitoring arrangements G01R31/28; increasing reliability in communication systems, e.g. using redundancy H04B1/74
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/03 the amplifier being designed for audio applications
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/183 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/0088 using discontinuously variable devices, e.g. switch-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• 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 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• 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

Techniques for controlling one or more audio amplifiers in or associated with a device coupled on a local area network are disclosed. An example playback device includes a processor, an amplifier, a network interface, and a memory. The memory includes a software module that, when executed by the processor, causes the playback device to: operate in a first power mode in which the amplifier consumes a first amount of power; while operating in the first power mode, determine that a defined time has passed since receiving, via the network interface, a specified type of data packet; and based on determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the specified type of data packet, transition from operating in the first power mode to operate in a second power mode in which the amplifier consumes a second amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is greater than the second amount of power.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

a network interface; and

tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the playback device, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

operating in a first power mode in which the playback device consumes a first amount of power;

while operating in the first power mode, receiving one or more data packets addressed to the playback device via the network interface, and determining that the one or more received data packets comprises audio data;

after determining that the one or more received data packets comprises audio data, transitioning from operating in the first power mode to operating in a second power mode in which the playback device consumes a second amount of power, wherein the second amount of power is greater than the first amount of power;

while operating in the second power mode, determining that a defined time has passed since receiving non-audio data; and

after determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the non-audio data, transitioning from operating in the second power mode to operating in the first power mode.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the data packets is a data packet received from an audio source.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the data packets is a data packet relating to an audio source.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the data packets comprises audio data received from an audio source.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the data packets is one packet of a stream of packets comprising audio data received from an audio source.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the data packets comprises control information relating to an audio stream.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein transitioning from operating in the second power mode to operating in the first power mode comprises reducing power supplied to an amplifier of the playback device.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein operating in the first power mode comprises shutting off power to an amplifier of the playback device.

9. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by a playback device, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

operating in a first power mode in which the playback device consumes a first amount of power;

while operating in the first power mode, receiving one or more data packets addressed to the playback device via a network interface of the playback device, and determining that the one or more received data packets comprises audio data;

after determining that the one or more received data packets comprises audio data, transitioning from operating in the first power mode to operating in a second power mode in which the playback device consumes a second amount of power, wherein the second amount of power is greater than the first amount of power;

while operating in the second power mode, determining that a defined time has passed since receiving non-audio data; and

after determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the non-audio data, transitioning from operating in the second power mode to operating in the first power mode.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein at least one of the data packets is a data packet received from an audio source.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein at least one of the data packets is a data packet relating to an audio source.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein at least one of the data packets comprises audio data received from an audio source.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein at least one of the data packets is one packet of a stream of packets comprising audio data received from an audio source.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein at least one of the data packets comprises control information relating to an audio stream.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein transitioning from operating in the second power mode to operating in the first power mode comprises reducing power supplied to an amplifier of the playback device.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein operating in the first power mode comprises shutting off power to an amplifier of the playback device.

17. A method performed by a playback device, the method comprising:

operating in a first power mode in which the playback device consumes a first amount of power;

while operating in the first power mode, receiving one or more data packets addressed to the playback device via a network interface of the playback device, and determining that the one or more received data packets comprises audio data;

after determining that the one or more received data packets comprises the audio data, transitioning from operating in the first power mode to operating in a second power mode in which the playback device consumes a second amount of power, wherein the second amount of power is greater than the first amount of power;

while operating in the second power mode, determining that a defined time has passed since receiving non-audio data; and

after determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the non-audio data, transitioning from operating in the second power mode to operating in the first power mode.