Adjusting volume levels
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- providing a user interface for a group of playback devices, wherein the group of playback devices comprises at least a first playback device and a second playback device in a local area network (LAN), wherein while in the group of playback devices, the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to play audio in synchrony;
accepting via the user interface, a first playback-device-specific input to adjust a volume of the first playback device;
in response to accepting the first playback-device-specific input, (i) sending a first volume control instruction, via the LAN to the first playback device, wherein the first volume control instruction causes the first playback device to adjust its volume, and (ii) based on the adjustment of the first playback device volume, adjusting a position of a group volume setting within the user interface, wherein the position of the group volume setting represents volume levels of both the first playback device and the second playback device;
accepting, via the user interface, a group-level input to adjust the position of the group volume setting representing the volume levels of both the first playback device and the second playback device; and
in response to accepting the group-level input to adjust the position of the group volume setting,(1) sending a second volume control instruction, via the LAN to the first playback device, wherein the second volume control instruction causes the first playback device to adjust its volume, and(2) sending a third volume control instruction, via the LAN to the second playback device, wherein the third volume control instruction causes the second playback device to adjust its volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In general, user interfaces for controlling a plurality of multimedia players in groups are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a user interface is provided to allow a user to group some of the players according to a theme or scene, where each of the players is located in a zone. When the scene is activated, the players in the scene react in a synchronized manner. For example, the players in the scene are all caused to play a multimedia source or music in a playlist, wherein the multimedia source may be located anywhere on a network. The user interface is further configured to illustrate graphically a size of a group, the larger the group appears relatively, the more plays there are in the group.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a user interface for a group of playback devices, wherein the group of playback devices comprises at least a first playback device and a second playback device in a local area network (LAN), wherein while in the group of playback devices, the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to play audio in synchrony; accepting via the user interface, a first playback-device-specific input to adjust a volume of the first playback device; in response to accepting the first playback-device-specific input, (i) sending a first volume control instruction, via the LAN to the first playback device, wherein the first volume control instruction causes the first playback device to adjust its volume, and (ii) based on the adjustment of the first playback device volume, adjusting a position of a group volume setting within the user interface, wherein the position of the group volume setting represents volume levels of both the first playback device and the second playback device; accepting, via the user interface, a group-level input to adjust the position of the group volume setting representing the volume levels of both the first playback device and the second playback device; and in response to accepting the group-level input to adjust the position of the group volume setting, (1) sending a second volume control instruction, via the LAN to the first playback device, wherein the second volume control instruction causes the first playback device to adjust its volume, and (2) sending a third volume control instruction, via the LAN to the second playback device, wherein the third volume control instruction causes the second playback device to adjust its volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising:
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displaying a user interface for a group of playback devices, wherein the group of playback devices comprises at least a first playback device and a second playback device in a local area network (LAN), wherein while in the group of playback devices, the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to play audio in synchrony; accepting via the user interface, a first playback-device-specific input to adjust a volume of the first playback device; in response to accepting the first playback-device-specific input, (i) sending a first volume control instruction, via the LAN to the first playback device, wherein the first volume control instruction causes the first playback device to adjust its volume, and (ii) based on the adjustment of the first playback device volume, adjusting a position of a group volume setting within the user interface, wherein the position of the group volume setting represents volume levels of both the first playback device and the second playback device; accepting, via the user interface, a group-level input to adjust the position of the group volume setting representing the volume levels of both the first playback device and the second playback device; and in response to accepting the group-level input to adjust the position of the group volume setting, (1) sending a second volume control instruction, via the LAN to the first playback device, wherein the second volume control instruction causes the first playback device to adjust its volume, and (2) sending a third volume control instruction, via the LAN to the second playback device, wherein the third volume control instruction causes the second playback device to adjust its volume. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computing device comprising:
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at least one processor; and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising; displaying a user interface for a group of playback devices, wherein the group of playback devices comprises at least a first playback device and a second playback device in a local area network (LAN), wherein while in the group of playback devices, the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to play audio in synchrony; accepting via the user interface, a first playback-device-specific input to adjust a volume of the first playback device; in response to accepting the first playback-device-specific input, (i) sending a first volume control instruction, via the LAN to the first playback device, wherein the first volume control instruction causes the first playback device to adjust its volume, and (ii) based on the adjustment of the first playback device volume, adjusting a position of a group volume setting within the user interface, wherein the position of the group volume setting represents volume levels of both the first playback device and the second playback device; accepting via the user interface, a group-level input to adjust the position of the group volume setting representing the volume levels of both the first playback device and the second playback device; and in response to accepting the group-level input to adjust the position of the group volume setting, (1) sending a second volume control instruction, via the LAN to the first playback device, wherein the second volume control instruction causes the first playback device to adjust its volume, and (2) sending a third volume control instruction, via the LAN to the second playback device, wherein the third volume control instruction causes the second playback device to adjust its volume. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification