Intelligent group identification

• US 10,284,980 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Woo, Sein, Pollock, Roy, van den Berg, Liesbeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Thomas H
• Application Number:
  US14/988,534
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• 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 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• 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 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• 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 7/305 Electronic adaptation of stereophonic audio signals to reverberation of the listening space H04S7/301 takes precedence

Abstract

An example implementation may involve a media playback system receiving message(s) indicating that a first playback device is available for configuration into a zone of a media playback system. The implementation may further involve identifying one or more second playback devices and determining that the first playback device and the one or more second playback devices are compatible with certain bonded zone configurations. The implementation may also involve detecting selection of a bonded zone configuration from among the compatible bonded zone configurations and displaying an indication of one or more particular second playback devices that are compatible with the selected bonded zone configuration. The implementation may involve detecting selection of at least one particular second playback device from among the one or more particular second playback devices and causing the first playback device to form the selected bonded zone configuration with the selected at least one particular second playback device.

Claims

1. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a control device to perform a method comprising:

displaying a first substantially full-screen control interface comprising graphical representations of each zone of a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises one or more zones that include at least one respective first playback device, and wherein the control device is configured to control the respective first playback devices of the one or more zones via a given local area network;

detecting a second playback device that is not presently configured into any zone of a media playback system such that the second playback device is a new playback device relative to the media playback system, wherein detecting the second playback device comprises receiving, via a wireless network interface from the second playback device while the second playback device is disconnected from the given local area network, one or more beacon messages indicating (i) that the second playback device is available for configuration into a zone of a media playback system and (ii) a type of the second playback device;

in response to detecting the second playback device, displaying a second substantially full-screen control interface comprising (i) an indication that the control device detected the second playback device, and (ii) a selectable control that, when selected, initiates a setup procedure for the second playback device;

in response to detecting selection of the selectable control that, when selected, initiates a setup procedure for the second playback device, initiating the setup procedure for the second playback device, wherein the setup procedure for the second playback device comprises;

identifying one or more first playback devices that are connected to the given local area network;

based on the type of the second playback device indicated in the one or more beacon messages being the same particular type as the identified one or more first playback devices such that the second playback device and the identified one or more first playback devices having similar acoustic characteristics, determining that the second playback device and the one or more first playback devices are compatible with a stereo pair bonded zone configurations;

displaying a third substantially full-screen control interface comprising (i) a selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into a new zone of the media playback system and (ii) a selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into the stereo pair bonded zone configuration, wherein the third substantially full-screen control interface includes the selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into the stereo pair bonded zone configuration based on the control device determining that the second playback device is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with one or more first playback devices of the media playback system;

in response to detecting selection of the selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into the stereo pair bonded zone configuration, displaying a fourth substantially full-screen control interface comprising graphical representations of each zone of the media playback system that consists of a respective first playback device that is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the second playback device;

detecting, via the fourth substantially full-screen control interface, input data indicating a selection of a particular zone of the media playback system, the particular zone consisting of a particular first playback device that is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the second playback device; and

in response to detecting the input data indicating the selection of the particular zone, causing, via the wireless network interface, the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone, wherein causing the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration comprises configuring the second playback device into the particular zone of the media playback system.

2. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein causing the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone comprises:

displaying a fifth substantially full-screen control interfaced comprising a prompt to designate a given playback device as a particular channel of the stereo pair bonded zone configuration by pressing one or more particular buttons on one of;

(a) the second playback device or (b) the particular first playback device;

receiving, via the wireless network interface from the given playback device, a message indicating that the one or more particular buttons were pressed on the given playback device; and

configuring the given playback device as the particular channel of the stereo pair bonded zone configuration.

3. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the one or more particular buttons consist of:

(a) a play/pause button, (b) a volume up button, (c) a volume down button, or (d) a combination of (a)-(c).

4. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

after causing the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone, displaying a sixth substantially full screen control interface comprising an indication that the stereo pair bonded zone configuration was formed.

5. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the particular zone has a particular zone name before forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration, and wherein the particular zone and the particular zone name the second playback device forms the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone.

6. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein determining that the second playback device is compatible with forming a stereo pair bonded zone configuration with one or more first playback devices of the one or more zones comprises determining that the second playback device is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with one or more first playback devices of the one or more zones based on the second playback device being the same model as the one or more first playback devices of the one or more zones.

7. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to detecting input data indicating a command to form a zone group with one or more additional zones, causing the particular zone to form the zone group with the one or more additional zones to play audio content in synchrony, wherein the particular zone consists of the stereo pair bonded zone configuration.

8. A method comprising:

displaying, via a control device, a first substantially full-screen control interface comprising graphical representations of each zone of a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises one or more zones that include at least one respective first playback device, and wherein the control device is configured to control the respective first playback devices of the one or more zones via a given local area network;

detecting a second playback device that is not presently configured into any zone of a media playback system such that the second playback device is a new playback device relative to the media playback system, wherein detecting the second playback device comprises receiving, via a wireless network interface of a control device from the second playback device while the second playback device is disconnected from the given local area network, one or more beacon messages indicating (i) that the second playback device is available for configuration into a zone of a media playback system and (ii) a type of the second playback device;

in response to detecting the second playback device, displaying a second substantially full-screen control interface comprising (i) an indication that the control device detected the second playback device, and (ii) a selectable control that, when selected, initiates a setup procedure for the second playback device;

in response to detecting selection of the selectable control that, when selected, initiates a setup procedure for the second playback device, initiating the setup procedure for the second playback device, wherein the setup procedure for the second playback device comprises;

identifying one or more first playback devices that are connected to the given local area network;

based on the type of the second playback device indicated in the one or more beacon messages being the same particular type as the identified one or more first playback devices such that the second playback device and the identified one or more first playback devices having similar acoustic characteristics, determining that the second playback device and the one or more first playback devices are compatible with a stereo pair bonded zone configuration;

displaying a third substantially full-screen control interface comprising (i) a selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into a new zone of the media playback system and (ii) a selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into the stereo pair bonded zone configuration, wherein the third substantially full-screen control interface includes the selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into the stereo pair bonded zone configuration based on the control device determining that the second playback device is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with one or more first playback devices of the media playback system;

in response to detecting selection of the selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into the stereo pair bonded zone configuration, displaying a fourth substantially full-screen control interface comprising graphical representations of each zone of the media playback system that consists of a respective first playback device that is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the second playback device;

detecting, via the fourth substantially full-screen control interface, input data indicating a selection of a particular zone of the media playback system, the particular zone consisting of a particular first playback device that is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the second playback device; and

in response to detecting the input data indicating the selection of the particular zone, causing, via the wireless network interface, the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone, wherein causing the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration comprises configuring the second playback device into the particular zone of the media playback system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein causing the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone comprises:

displaying a fifth substantially full-screen control interfaced comprising a prompt to designate a given playback device as a particular channel of the stereo pair bonded zone configuration by pressing one or more particular buttons on one of;

(a) the second playback device or (b) the particular first playback device;

receiving, via the wireless network interface from the given playback device, a message indicating that the one or more particular buttons were pressed on the given playback device; and

configuring the given playback device as the particular channel of the stereo pair bonded zone configuration.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more particular buttons consist of:

(a) a play/pause button, (b) a volume up button, (c) a volume down button, or (d) a combination of (a)-(c).

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

after causing the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone, displaying a sixth substantially full screen control interface comprising an indication that the stereo pair bonded zone configuration was formed.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the particular zone has a particular zone name before forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration, and wherein the particular zone and the particular zone name the second playback device forms the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein determining that the second playback device is compatible with forming a stereo pair bonded zone configuration with one or more first playback devices of the one or more zones comprises determining that the second playback device is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with one or more first playback devices of the one or more zones based on the second playback device being the same model as the one or more first playback devices of the one or more zones.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

in response to detecting input data indicating a command to form a zone group with one or more additional zones, causing the particular zone to form the zone group with the one or more additional zones to play audio content in synchrony, wherein the particular zone consists of the stereo pair bonded zone configuration.

15. A control device comprising:

a wireless network interface;

one or more processors; and

tangible, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control device to perform a method comprising;

displaying a first substantially full-screen control interface comprising graphical representations of each zone of a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises one or more zones that include at least one respective first playback device, and wherein the control device is configured to control the respective first playback devices of the one or more zones via a given local area network;

detecting a second playback device that is not presently configured into any zone of a media playback system such that the second playback device is a new playback device relative to the media playback system, wherein detecting the second playback device comprises receiving, via the wireless network interface from the second playback device while the second playback device is disconnected from the given local area network, one or more beacon messages indicating (i) that the second playback device is available for configuration into a zone of a media playback system and (ii) a type of the second playback device;

in response to detecting the second playback device, displaying a second substantially full-screen control interface comprising (i) an indication that the control device detected the second playback device, and (ii) a selectable control that, when selected, initiates a setup procedure for the second playback device;

in response to detecting selection of the selectable control that, when selected, initiates a setup procedure for the second playback device, initiating the setup procedure for the second playback device, wherein the setup procedure for the second playback device comprises;

identifying one or more first playback devices that are connected to the given local area network;

based on the type of the second playback device indicated in the one or more beacon messages being the same particular type as the identified one or more first playback devices such that the second playback device and the identified one or more first playback devices having similar acoustic characteristics, determining that the second playback device and the one or more first playback devices are compatible with a stereo pair bonded zone configuration;

displaying a third substantially full-screen control interface comprising (i) a selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into a new zone of the media playback system and (ii) a selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into the stereo pair bonded zone configuration, wherein the third substantially full-screen control interface includes the selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into the stereo pair bonded zone configuration based on the control device determining that the second playback device is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with one or more first playback devices of the media playback system;

in response to detecting selection of the selectable control that, when selected, initiates configuration of the second playback device into the stereo pair bonded zone configuration, displaying a fourth substantially full-screen control interface comprising graphical representations of each zone of the media playback system that consists of a respective first playback device that is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the second playback device;

detecting, via the fourth substantially full-screen control interface, input data indicating a selection of a particular zone of the media playback system, the particular zone consisting of a particular first playback device that is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the second playback device; and

in response to detecting the input data indicating the selection of the particular zone, causing, via the wireless network interface, the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone, wherein causing the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration comprises configuring the second playback device into the particular zone of the media playback system.

16. The control device of claim 15, wherein causing the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone comprises:

displaying a fifth substantially full-screen control interfaced comprising a prompt to designate a given playback device as a particular channel of the stereo pair bonded zone configuration by pressing one or more particular buttons on one of;

(a) the second playback device or (b) the particular first playback device;

receiving, via the wireless network interface from the given playback device, a message indicating that the one or more particular buttons were pressed on the given playback device; and

configuring the given playback device as the particular channel of the stereo pair bonded zone configuration.

17. The control device of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

after causing the second playback device to form the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone, displaying a sixth substantially full screen control interface comprising an indication that the stereo pair bonded zone configuration was formed.

18. The control device of claim 15, wherein the particular zone has a particular zone name before forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration, and wherein the particular zone and the particular zone name the second playback device forms the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with the particular first playback device in the particular zone.

19. The control device of claim 15, wherein determining that the second playback device is compatible with forming a stereo pair bonded zone configuration with one or more first playback devices of the one or more zones comprises determining that the second playback device is compatible with forming the stereo pair bonded zone configuration with one or more first playback devices of the one or more zones based on the second playback device being the same model as the one or more first playback devices of the one or more zones.

20. The control device of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to detecting input data indicating a command to form a zone group with one or more additional zones, causing the particular zone to form the zone group with the one or more additional zones to play audio content in synchrony, wherein the particular zone consists of the stereo pair bonded zone configuration.