Cloud queue synchronization

• US 10,333,920 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2018
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Coburn, IV, Arthur L., Beckhardt, Steven, Schulert, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US16/143,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20190028453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 272 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

Example implementations involve cloud queue synchronization. An example implementation may involve a cloud server system receiving a request for a window of media items from a cloud queue of media items that is maintained by the cloud server system and sending, to a playback device, the requested window of media items from the cloud queue of media items. The playback device receives the requested window of media items from the cloud queue of media items and populates a local queue with the media items from the window. The playback device also receives, from a mobile device, a request to modify the local queue, and in response to the request to modify the local queue, modifies the local queue according to the request to modify the local queue.

Claims

1. A system comprising a playback device and a cloud server system,

the cloud server system configured to perform functions comprising:

receiving, from a playback device over a network interface of the cloud server system, a request for a window of media items from a cloud queue of media items that is maintained by the cloud server system; and

sending, to the playback device over the network interface of the cloud server system, the requested window of media items from the cloud queue of media items;

the playback device configured to perform functions comprising;

receiving, from the cloud server system over a network interface of the playback device, the requested window of media items from the cloud queue of media items;

populating a local queue with the media items from the window;

receiving, from a mobile device over the network interface of the playback device, a request to modify the local queue, wherein modifying the local queue comprises one or more of (a) adding one or more media items to the local queue, (b) removing one or more media items from the local queue, or (c) re-arranging one or more media items within the local queue; and

in response to the request to modify the local queue, modifying the local queue according to the request to modify the local queue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the playback device is configured to perform functions further comprising:

sending, to the cloud server system over the network interface of the playback device, one or more instructions to modify the cloud queue according to the request to modify the local queue, thereby synchronizing at least a portion of the cloud queue with the local queue, the portion corresponding to the window of media items from the cloud queue.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein sending one or more instructions to modify the cloud queue according to the request to modify the local queue comprises sending one or more messages indicating a current state of the local queue, wherein the cloud server system updates at least the portion of the cloud queue to correspond to the local queue.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the playback device is configured to perform functions further comprising:

receiving, from the mobile device over the network interface of the playback device, a request to play back the cloud queue of media items, wherein the request includes an identifier of the cloud queue; and

in response to the received request to play back the cloud queue, sending the request for the window of media items from the cloud queue of media items, wherein the request includes the identifier of the cloud queue.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the identifier of the cloud queue is a uniform resource locator indicating a network location of the cloud queue at one or more servers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the playback device is configured to perform functions further comprising:

sending, to the mobile device over the network interface of the playback device, one or more messages representing the modified local queue.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the playback device is a first playback device of a synchrony group that includes a second playback device, and wherein the first playback device and second playback device are configured to play back the local queue in synchrony.

8. A system comprising a mobile device and a cloud server system,

the mobile device configured to perform functions comprising:

receiving input data representing selection of a cloud queue of media items and selection of a playback device for playback of the cloud queue;

sending, to the playback device over a network interface of the mobile device, a request to play back the cloud queue;

while the playback device is playing back the cloud queue from a local queue, sending, to the playback device over the network interface of the mobile device, a request to modify the cloud queue, wherein modifying the cloud queue comprises one or more of (a) adding one or more media items to the cloud queue, (b) removing one or more media items from the cloud queue, or (c) re-arranging one or more media items within the cloud queue; and

the cloud server system configured to perform functions comprising;

receiving, from the playback device over a network interface of the cloud server system, a request for a window of media items from the cloud queue of media items that is maintained by the cloud server system; and

sending, to the playback device over the network interface of the cloud server system, the requested window of media items from the cloud queue of media items, thereby causing the playback device to populate the local queue with the media items from the window.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mobile device is configured to perform functions further comprising:

receiving input data indicating one or more inputs to modify the cloud queue, wherein the mobile device sends the request to modify the cloud queue in response to receiving the input data indicating one or more inputs to modify the cloud queue.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the cloud server system is configured to perform functions further comprising:

receiving, from the playback device over the network interface of the cloud server system, one or more instructions to modify the cloud queue according to the request to modify the local queue, thereby synchronizing at least a portion of the cloud queue with the local queue, the portion corresponding to the window of media items from the cloud queue.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein receiving one or more instructions to modify the cloud queue according to the request to modify the local queue comprises receiving one or more messages indicating a current state of the local queue, wherein the cloud server system updates at least the portion of the cloud queue to correspond to the local queue.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the playback device is configured to perform functions comprising:

receiving, from the mobile device over the network interface of the playback device, the request to play back the cloud queue of media items, wherein the request includes an identifier of the cloud queue; and

in response to the received request to play back the cloud queue, sending the request for the window of media items from the cloud queue of media items, wherein the request includes the identifier of the cloud queue.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the identifier of the cloud queue is a uniform resource locator indicating a network location of the cloud queue at one or more servers.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the playback device is configured to perform functions further comprising:

sending, to the mobile device over the network interface of the playback device, one or more messages representing the modified cloud queue.

15. A system comprising a mobile device and a playback device,

the mobile device configured to perform functions comprising:

receiving input data representing selection of a cloud queue of media items and selection of a playback device for playback of the cloud queue;

sending, to the playback device over a network interface of the mobile device, a request to play back the cloud queue;

while the playback device is playing back the cloud queue from a local queue, sending, to the playback device over the network interface of the mobile device, a request to modify the cloud queue, wherein modifying the cloud queue comprises one or more of (a) adding one or more media items to the cloud queue, (b) removing one or more media items from the cloud queue, or (c) re-arranging one or more media items within the cloud queue; and

the playback device configured to perform functions comprising;

receiving, from the mobile device over a network interface of the playback device, the request to play back the cloud queue;

in response to the received request to play back the cloud queue, sending, to a cloud server system over the network interface of the playback device, a request for a window of media items from the cloud queue of media items, wherein the cloud queue is maintained by the cloud server system;

receiving, from the cloud server system over a network interface of the playback device, the requested window of media items from the cloud queue of media items;

populating a local queue with the media items from the window;

receiving, from the mobile device over the network interface of the playback device, the request to modify the cloud queue; and

in response to the request to modify the cloud queue, modifying the local queue according to the request to modify the local queue.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is configured to perform functions further comprising:

receiving input data indicating one or more inputs to modify the cloud queue, wherein the mobile device sends the request to modify the cloud queue in response to receiving the input data indicating one or more inputs to modify the cloud queue.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the playback device is configured to perform functions further comprising:

sending, to the cloud server system over the network interface of the playback device, one or more instructions to modify the cloud queue according to the request to modify the local queue, thereby synchronizing at least a portion of the cloud queue with the local queue, the portion corresponding to the window of media items from the cloud queue.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein sending one or more instructions to modify the cloud queue according to the request to modify the local queue comprises sending one or more messages indicating a current state of the local queue, wherein the cloud server system updates at least the portion of the cloud queue to correspond to the local queue.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is configured to perform functions further comprising:

receiving, from the playback device over the network interface of the mobile device, one or more messages representing the modified local queue; and

updating a graphical display to display an indication of the modified local queue.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the playback device is a first playback device of a synchrony group that includes a second playback device, and wherein the first playback device and second playback device are configured to play back the local queue in synchrony.