Communication based on operation mode

• US 10,324,685 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2018
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Gossain, Hrishikesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US15/973,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20180253278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for utilizing communication routes based operation mode. In an example implementation, while operating in a normal power mode, a playback device maintains information in a network table, the information includes first information associated with a second playback device of the networked media system and second information associated with a third playback device of the networked media system. The playback device determines that the first playback device is to enter a low power mode to draw less power from a battery of the first playback device relative to the normal power mode, and responsive to the determination, foregoing maintaining of the second information in the network table. Thereafter, the playback device determines that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode; and, and in response, synchronizes with the second playback device based at least in part on the first information for playback of audio content.

Claims

1. A first playback device of a networked media system, the first playback device comprising:

a battery configured to power the first playback device;

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the one or more processors, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising;

while operating in a normal power mode, maintaining information in a network table, wherein the information comprises (i) first information associated with a second playback device of the networked media system and (ii) second information associated with a third playback device of the networked media system;

determining that the first playback device is to enter a low power mode to draw less power from the battery relative to the normal power mode;

responsive to the determination, foregoing maintaining of the second information in the network table while continuing to maintain the first information;

after foregoing the maintaining the of the second information, determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode; and

in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode, synchronizing with the second playback device based at least in part on the first information for playback of audio content.

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

probing for other playback devices in the networked media system while operating in the normal power mode; and

ceasing to probe for other playback devices in the networked media system in response to determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode.

3. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise ceasing to subsequently update the second information in response to determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode.

4. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise updating the second information in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to the normal power mode.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the second information comprises a network address of the third playback device in the networked media system.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the second information further comprises an identification of a routing protocol for communicating with the third playback device over the networked media system.

7. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode comprises determining that a battery power level of the first playback device is below a predetermined threshold value.

8. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the network table is a first network table, and wherein synchronizing with the second playback device based at least in part on the first information for playback of audio content comprises synchronizing at least a portion of the first network table with a second network table maintained by the second playback device.

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

receiving, via a network interface over a network defined by the network table, data representing the audio content; and

playing back the audio content via one or more speakers.

10. The first playback device of claim 9, wherein receiving the data representing the audio content comprises:

receiving the audio content via one of the first playback device or the second playback device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a first playback device of a networked media system to perform functions comprising:

while operating in a normal power mode, maintaining information in a network table, wherein the information comprises (i) first information associated with a second playback device of the networked media system and (ii) second information associated with a third playback device of the networked media system;

determining that the first playback device is to enter a low power mode to draw less power from a battery of the first playback device relative to the normal power mode;

responsive to the determination, foregoing maintaining of the second information in the network table while continuing to maintain the first information;

after foregoing the maintaining the of the second information, determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode; and

in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode, synchronizing with the second playback device based at least in part on the first information for playback of audio content.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the functions further comprise:

probing for other playback devices in the networked media system while operating in the normal power mode; and

ceasing to probe for other playback devices in the networked media system in response to determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the functions further comprise ceasing to subsequently update the second information in response to determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the functions further comprise updating the second information in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to the normal power mode.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the second information comprises a network address of the third playback device in the networked media system.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the second information further comprises an identification of a routing protocol for communicating with the third playback device over the networked media system.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode comprises determining that a battery power level of the first playback device is below a predetermined threshold value.

18. A method comprising:

while operating in a normal power mode, maintaining, via a first playback device of a networked media system, information in a network table, wherein the information comprises (i) first information associated with a second playback device of the networked media system and (ii) second information associated with a third playback device of the networked media system;

determining that the first playback device is to enter a low power mode to draw less power from a battery of the first playback device relative to the normal power mode;

responsive to the determination, foregoing maintaining of the second information in the network table while continuing to maintain the first information;

after foregoing the maintaining the of the second information, determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode; and

in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode, synchronizing with the second playback device based at least in part on the first information for playback of audio content.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

probing for other playback devices in the networked media system while operating in the normal power mode; and

ceasing to probe for other playback devices in the networked media system in response to determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising ceasing to subsequently update the second information in response to determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising updating the second information in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to the normal power mode.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the second information comprises a network address of the third playback device in the networked media system.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the second information further comprises an identification of a routing protocol for communicating with the third playback device over the networked media system.