Cloud queue playhead

• US 10,326,750 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Coburn, IV, Arthur L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US15/477,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20170208110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/638 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 : Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 : involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 : for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 : Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 : involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• 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

Abstract

An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system over the network interface, a request to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at a first media item. The computing system assigns a playhead pointer to a position within the particular cloud queue that corresponds to the first media item and transmits, to the media playback system over the network interface, an instruction that causes one or more playback devices of the media playback system to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at the first media item. While the one or more playback devices play back the particular cloud queue, the computing system updates the assigned position of the playhead pointer to indicate the currently playing media item of the particular cloud queue.

Claims

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

transmitting, to a computing system over a network interface, one or more messages indicating one or more media items in a cloud queue and a particular user account of a streaming media service, wherein the one or more media items in the cloud queue correspond to respective network sources at one or more servers of the streaming media service, and wherein the streaming media service provides on-demand streaming of audio tracks via the one or more servers;

receiving, from the computing system over the network interface, an indication of one or more particular playback policies associated with the cloud queue, wherein the one or more particular playback policies include (a) at least one first playback policy that authorizes the playback device to perform one or more first playback operations on the cloud queue when the particular user account of the streaming media service is a first type of subscriber to the streaming media service or (b) at least one second playback policy that authorizes the playback device to perform one or more second playback operations on the cloud queue when the particular user account of the streaming media service is a second type of subscriber to the streaming media service; and

causing playback of a local queue to be restricted according to the one or more particular playback policies, the local queue comprising at least one media item of the one or more media items in the cloud queue.

2. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, the one or more messages indicating the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises:

transmitting an indication of a first media item corresponding to a playhead pointer, wherein the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises the first media item.

3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, the one or more messages indicating the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises:

transmitting an identifier of a first media item in the cloud queue.

4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, the one or more messages indicating the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises:

transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, one or more media items in the cloud queue and an indication of an identity of a media playback system that comprises the playback device.

5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting, to the computing system via the network interface, a request for an indication of a playhead pointer for the cloud queue; and

receiving, from the computing system via the network interface, an indication of the playhead pointer for the cloud queue.

6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the functions further comprise:

assigning a position of a local playhead pointer for a local queue to correspond to the playhead pointer for the cloud queue, wherein the local queue is stored on the playback device.

7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the one or more particular playback policies restrict at least one of (i) a shuffle option, (ii) a repeat option, (iii) a skip forward option, (iv) a skip backwards option, (v) a seek forward option, (vi) a seek backward option or (vii) playback order modification option.

8. A playback device, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

transmitting, to a computing system over a network interface, one or more messages indicating one or more media items in a cloud queue and a particular user account of a streaming media service, wherein the one or more media items in the cloud queue correspond to respective network sources at one or more servers of the streaming media service, and wherein the streaming media service provides on-demand streaming of audio tracks via the one or more servers;

receiving, from the computing system over the network interface, one or more particular playback policies associated with the cloud queue, wherein the one or more particular playback policies include (a) at least one first playback policy that authorizes the playback device to perform one or more first playback operations on the cloud queue when the particular user account of the streaming media service is a first type of subscriber to the streaming media service or (b) at least one second playback policy that authorizes the playback device to perform one or more second playback operations on the cloud queue when the particular user account of the streaming media service is a second type of subscriber to the streaming media service; and

causing playback of a local queue to be restricted according to the one or more particular playback policies, the local queue comprising at least one media item of the one or more media items in the cloud queue.

9. The playback device of claim 8, wherein transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, the one or more messages indicating the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises:

transmitting an indication of a first media item corresponding to a playhead pointer, wherein the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises the first media item.

10. The playback device of claim 8, wherein transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, the one or more messages indicating the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises:

transmitting an identifier of a first media item in the cloud queue.

11. The playback device of claim 8, wherein transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, the one or more messages indicating the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises:

transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, one or more media items in the cloud queue and an indication of an identity of a media playback system that comprises the playback device.

12. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting, to the computing system via the network interface, a request for an indication of a playhead pointer for the cloud queue; and

receiving, from the computing system via the network interface, an indication of the playhead pointer for the cloud queue.

13. The playback device of claim 12, wherein the functions further comprise:

assigning a position of a local playhead pointer for a local queue to correspond to the playhead pointer for the cloud queue, wherein the local queue is stored on the playback device.

14. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the one or more particular playback policies restrict at least one of (i) a shuffle option, (ii) a repeat option, (iii) a skip forward option, (iv) a skip backwards option, (v) a seek forward option, (vi) a seek backward option or (vii) playback order modification option.

15. A method, comprising:

transmitting, via a playback device to a computing system over a network interface, one or more messages indicating one or more media items in a cloud queue and a particular user account of a streaming media service, wherein the one or more media items in the cloud queue correspond to respective network sources at one or more servers of the streaming media service, and wherein the streaming media service provides on-demand streaming of audio tracks via the one or more servers;

receiving, via the playback device from the computing system over the network interface, one or more particular playback policies associated with the cloud queue, wherein the one or more particular playback policies include (a) at least one first playback policy that authorizes the playback device to perform one or more first playback operations on the cloud queue when the particular user account of the streaming media service is a first type of subscriber to the streaming media service or (b) at least one second playback policy that authorizes the playback device to perform one or more second playback operations on the cloud queue when the particular user account of the streaming media service is a second type of subscriber to the streaming media service; and

causing, via the playback device, playback of a local queue to be restricted according to the one or more particular playback policies, the local queue comprising at least one media item of the one or more media items in the cloud queue.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, the one or more messages indicating the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises:

transmitting an indication of a first media item corresponding to a playhead pointer, wherein the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises the first media item.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, the one or more messages indicating the one or more media items in the cloud queue comprises:

transmitting, to the computing system over the network interface, one or more media items in the cloud queue and an indication of an identity of a media playback system that comprises the playback device.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting, to the computing system via the network interface, a request for an indication of a playhead pointer for the cloud queue; and

receiving, from the computing system via the network interface, an indication of the playhead pointer for the cloud queue.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

assigning a position of a local playhead pointer for a local queue to correspond to the playhead pointer for the cloud queue, wherein the local queue is stored on the playback device.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more particular playback policies restrict at least one of (i) a shuffle option, (ii) a repeat option, (iii) a skip forward option, (iv) a skip backwards option, (v) a seek forward option, (vi) a seek backward option or (vii) playback order modification option.