Playback device grouping

• US 10,387,102 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Lambourne, Robert A., Millington, Nicholas A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCord, Paul C
• Application Number:
  US15/095,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20160241983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,227 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 381119
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/00 Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field

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.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

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

displaying on a first user interface, a first plurality of graphical representations, wherein a first graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a first zone in a media playback system, and wherein a second graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a second zone in the media playback system;

receiving via the first user interface, an input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone;

after receiving the input to create the zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone, displaying on a second user interface, a second plurality of graphical representations, wherein a first graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the first zone, wherein a second graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the second zone, and wherein a third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the zone group;

receiving via the second user interface, an input to cause the zone group to play audio content;

in response to the input to cause the zone group to play audio content, transmitting to at least one of the first and second zones, a command to play audio content as the zone group; and

changing both a first volume setting of the first zone to a second volume setting of the first zone and a first volume setting of the second zone to a second volume setting of the second zone by adjusting a group volume control representation, wherein a value of the group volume control representation always corresponds to an average of the first volume setting and the second volume setting.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein receiving via the first user interface, the input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone comprises:

receiving via the first user interface, an input to create a zone group; and

after receiving the input to create the zone group, receiving input indicating (i) a selection of the first zone and (ii) a selection of the second zone.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein receiving via the second user interface, the input to cause the zone group to play audio content comprises:

receiving via the second user interface, an input to play the audio content; and

after receiving the input to play the audio content, receiving an input indicating a selection of the third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein receiving via the second user interface, the input to cause the zone group to play audio content comprises:

receiving via the second user interface, an input indicating a selection of the third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations; and

after receiving the input indicating the selection of the third graphical representation, receiving an input to play audio content.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the command to play audio content as the zone group comprises a command to cause at least the first and second zones to play the audio content in synchrony.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein transmitting to at least one of the first and second zones, a command to play audio content as the zone group comprises:

transmitting to at least one of the first and second zones, a network address from which the audio content can be received.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

after receiving via the first user interface, the input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone, transmitting to a first computing device of two or more computing devices in the zone group, a command to become a zone group head of the two or more computing devices in the zone group.

8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing device to perform functions comprising:

displaying on a first user interface, a first plurality of graphical representations, wherein a first graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a first zone in a media playback system, and wherein a second graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a second zone in the media playback system;

receiving via the first user interface, an input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone;

after receiving the input to create the zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone, displaying on a second user interface, a second plurality of graphical representations, wherein a first graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the first zone, wherein a second graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the second zone, and wherein a third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the zone group;

receiving via the second user interface, an input to cause the zone group to play audio content;

in response to the input to cause the zone group to play audio content, transmitting to at least one of the first and second zones, a command to play audio content as the zone group; and

changing both a first volume setting of the first zone to a second volume setting of the first zone and a first volume setting of the second zone to a second volume setting of the second zone by adjusting a group volume control representation, wherein a value of the group volume control representation always corresponds to an average of the first volume setting and the second volume setting.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein receiving via the first user interface, the input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone comprises:

receiving via the first user interface, an input to create a zone group; and

after receiving the input to create the zone group, receiving input indicating (i) a selection of the first zone and (ii) a selection of the second zone.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein receiving via the second user interface, the input to cause the zone group to play audio content comprises:

receiving via the second user interface, an input to play the audio content; and

after receiving the input to play the audio content, receiving an input indicating a selection of the third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein receiving via the second user interface, the input to cause the zone group to play audio content comprises:

receiving via the second user interface, an input indicating a selection of the third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations; and

after receiving the input indicating the selection of the third graphical representation, receiving an input to play audio content.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the command to play audio content as the zone group comprises a command to cause at least the first and second zones to play the audio content in synchrony.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein transmitting to at least one of the first and second zones, a command to play audio content as the zone group comprises:

transmitting to at least one of the first and second zones, a network address from which the audio content can be received.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

after receiving via the first user interface, the input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone, transmitting to a first computing device of two or more computing devices in the zone group, a command to become a zone group head of the two or more computing devices in the zone group.

15. A method comprising:

displaying by a computing device on a first user interface, a first plurality of graphical representations, wherein a first graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a first zone in a media playback system, and wherein a second graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a second zone in the media playback system;

receiving by the computing device via the first user interface, an input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone;

after receiving the input to create the zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone, displaying by the computing device on a second user interface, a second plurality of graphical representations, wherein a first graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the first zone, wherein a second graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the second zone, and wherein a third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the zone group;

receiving by the computing device via the second user interface, an input to cause the zone group to play audio content;

in response to the input to cause the zone group to play audio content, transmitting by the computing device to at least one of the first and second zones, a command to play audio content as the zone group; and

changing both a first volume setting of the first zone to a second volume setting of the first zone and a first volume setting of the second zone to a second volume setting of the second zone by adjusting a group volume control representation, wherein a value of the group volume control representation always corresponds to an average of the first volume setting and the second volume setting.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving by the computing device via the first user interface, the input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone comprises:

receiving by the computing device via the first user interface, an input to create a zone group; and

after receiving the input to create the zone group, receiving by the computing device, input indicating (i) a selection of the first zone and (ii) a selection of the second zone.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving by the computing device via the second user interface, the input to cause the zone group to play audio content comprises:

receiving by the computing device via the second user interface, an input to play the audio content; and

after receiving the input to play the audio content, receiving by the computing device, an input indicating a selection of the third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving by the computing device via the second user interface, the input to cause the zone group to play audio content comprises:

receiving via the second user interface, an input indicating a selection of the third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations; and

after receiving the input indicating the selection of the third graphical representation, receiving an input to play audio content.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the command to play audio content as the zone group comprises a command to cause at least the first and second zones to play the audio content in synchrony.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting by the computing device to at least one of the first and second zones, a command to play audio content as the zone group comprises:

transmitting by the computing device to at least one of the first and second zones, a network address from which the audio content can be received.