Providing aggregate playback information

• US 10,462,569 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Triplett, Mark, Lang, Jonathan P., Reilly, Jonathon, Taylor, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhang, Leshui
• Application Number:
  US15/728,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20180035209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 381 77, 381 80, 381 81, 381 82, 381 86, 381332, 381334, 381306, 381302, 381303, 381311, 381 56, 381 61, 381124, 455 201, 455 301, 455 303, 455 304, 455 305, 455 306, 709204, 709205, 709217, 709218, 709219, 709220, 709221, 707803, 707722, 707E17032
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• 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 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

System, method, and apparatus including receiving an identification of content played a playback system and an identification of location of the playback system. A playlist of content is associated with the location. A request is received to retrieve the playlist of content and the requested playlist of content is sent to a playback system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via a network device over a wide area network (WAN) from a first playback system, first audio information data related to audio content played by the first playback system during a first time period, wherein the first playback system comprises at least one first playback device, and wherein the first audio information data related to audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period is automatically sent by the first playback system after an expiration of the first time period;

receiving, via the network device over the WAN from a second playback system, second audio information data related to audio content played by the second playback system during a second time period, wherein the second playback system comprises at least one second playback device, wherein the first playback system and the second playback system are both associated with a given household, and wherein the second audio information data related to audio content played by the second playback system during the second time period is automatically sent by the second playback system after an expiration of the second time period;

generating, via the network device, (1) a first playlist of content based on the first audio information data related to audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period, and (2) a second playlist of content based on the second audio information data related to audio content played by the second playback system during the second time period;

receiving, via the network device over the WAN from the first playback system, a request to retrieve the first playlist of content, wherein the request to retrieve the first playlist of content is received by the network device at a first request time, and wherein the request to retrieve the first playlist of content is received as a result of the first playback system receiving a first command issued by a controller device that is connected to the first playback system via one or more data networks;

receiving, via the network device over the WAN from the second playback system, a request to retrieve the second playlist of content, wherein the request to retrieve the second playlist of content is received by the network device at a second request time that is different than the first request time, and wherein the request to retrieve the second playlist of content is received as a result of the second playback system receiving a second command issued by the controller device that is connected to the second playback system via the one or more data networks;

sending, via the network device over the WAN to the first playback system, the requested first playlist of content; and

sending, via the network device over the WAN to the second playback system, the requested second playlist of content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the expiration of the first time period is determined by at least one of the first playback system or the network device and the expiration of the second time period is determined by at least one of the second playback system or the network device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period includes audio content from a first content provider and a second portion of the audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period includes audio content from a second content provider, wherein the first playback system is communicatively coupled to the first content provider by the WAN and the first playback system is communicatively coupled to the second content provider by the WAN.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a third portion of the audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period includes audio content stored on the first playback device or a device connected to the first playback device via a local area network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first audio information data related to audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period comprises at least one of song titles associated with the audio content played by the first playback system, artists associated with the audio content played by the first playback system, album titles of songs associated with the audio content played by the first playback system, and musical categories of songs associated with the audio content played by the first playback system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first playback system comprises at least the first playback device and a third playback device, and wherein the first playback system comprises a zone group in which the first playback device forms a bonded zone with the third playback device such that the first playback device plays the audio content in synchrony with the third playback device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first playback system is connected to the second playback system via a local area network associated with the given household.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time period is the second time period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is a cloud server.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method comprising:

receiving, via a network device over a wide area network (WAN) from a first playback system, first audio information data related to audio content played by the first playback system during a first time period, wherein the first playback system comprises at least one first playback device, and wherein the first audio information data related to audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period is automatically sent by the first playback system after an expiration of the first time period;

receiving, via the network device over the WAN from a second playback system, second audio information data related to audio content played by the second playback system during a second time period, wherein the second playback system comprises at least one second playback device, wherein the first playback system and the second playback system are both associated with a given household, and wherein the second audio information data related to audio content played by the second playback system during the second time period is automatically sent by the second playback system after an expiration of the second time period;

generating, via the network device, (1) a first playlist of content based on the first audio information data related to audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period, and (2) a second playlist of content based on the second audio information data related to audio content played by the second playback system during the second time period;

receiving, via the network device over the WAN from the first playback system, a request to retrieve the first playlist of content, wherein the request to retrieve ef the first playlist of content is received by the network device at a first request time, and wherein the request to retrieve the first playlist of content is received as a result of the first playback system receiving a first command issued by a controller device that is connected to the first playback system via one or more data networks;

receiving, via the network device over the WAN from the second playback system, a request to retrieve the second playlist of content, wherein the request to retrieve the second playlist of content is received by the network device at a second request time that is different than the first request time, and wherein the request to retrieve the second playlist of content is received as a result of the second playback system receiving a second command issued by the controller device that is connected to the second playback system via the one or more data networks;

sending, via the network device over the WAN to the first playback system, the requested first playlist of content; and

sending, via the network device over the WAN to the second playback system, the requested second playlist of content.

11. The tangible non-transitory computer readable storage of claim 10, wherein a first portion of the audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period includes audio content from a first content provider and a second portion of the audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period includes audio content from a second content provider, wherein the first playback system is communicatively coupled to the first content provider by the WAN and the first playback system is communicatively coupled to the second content provider by the WAN.

12. The tangible non-transitory computer readable storage of claim 11, wherein a third portion of the audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period includes audio content stored on the first playback device or a device connected to the first playback device via a local area network.

13. The tangible non-transitory computer readable storage of claim 10, wherein the expiration of the first time period is determined by at least one of the first playback system or the network device and the expiration of the second time period is determined by at least one of the second playback system or the network device.

14. The tangible non-transitory computer readable storage of claim 10, wherein the first playback system comprises at least the first playback device and a third playback device, and wherein the first playback system comprises a zone group in which the first playback device forms a bonded zone with the third playback device such that the first playback device plays the audio content in synchrony with the third playback device.

15. A network device comprising:

a network interface to communicate over a wide area network (WAN);

a processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the processor to cause the mobile device to perform functions comprising;

receiving, via the network interface over the WAN from a first playback system, first audio information data related to audio content played by the first playback system during a first time period, wherein the first playback system comprises at least one first playback device, and wherein the first audio information data related to audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period is automatically sent by the first playback system after an expiration of the first time period;

receiving, via the network interface over the WAN from a second playback system, second audio information data related to audio content played by the second playback system during a second time period, wherein the second playback system comprises at least one second playback device, wherein the first playback system and the second playback system are both associated with a given household, and wherein the second audio information data related to audio content played by the second playback system during the second time period is automatically sent by the first playback system after an expiration of the second time period;

generating (1) a first playlist of content based on the first audio information data related to audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period, and (2) a second playlist of content based on the second audio information data related to audio content played by the second playback system during the second time period;

receiving, via the network interface over the WAN from the first playback system, a request to retrieve the first playlist of content, wherein the request to retrieve the first playlist of content is received by the network device at a first request time, and wherein the request to retrieve the first playlist of content is received as a result of the first playback system receiving a first command issued by a controller device that is connected to the first playback system via one or more data networks;

receiving, via the network interface over the WAN from the second playback system, a request to retrieve the second playlist of content, wherein the request to retrieve the second playlist of content is received by the network device at a second request time that is different than the first request time, and wherein the request to retrieve the second playlist of content is received as a result of the second playback system receiving a second command issued by the controller device that is connected to the second playback system via the one or more data networks;

sending, over the WAN to the first playback system, the requested first playlist of content; and

sending, over the WAN to the second playback system, the requested second playlist of content.

16. The network device of claim 15, wherein the expiration of the first time period is determined by at least one of the first playback system or the network device and the expiration of the second time period is determined by at least one of the second playback system or the network device.

17. The network device of claim 15, wherein a first portion of the audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period includes audio content from a first content provider and a second portion of the audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period includes audio content from a second content provider, wherein the first playback system is communicatively coupled to the first content provider by the WAN and the first playback system is communicatively coupled to the second content provider by the WAN.

18. The network device of claim 17, wherein a third portion of the audio content played by the first playback system during the first time period includes audio content stored on the first playback device or a device connected to the first playback device via a local area network.

19. The network device of claim 15, wherein the first playback system comprises at least the first playback device and a third playback device, and wherein the first playback system comprises a zone group in which the first playback device forms a bonded zone with the third playback device such that the first playback device plays the audio content in synchrony with the third playback device.

20. The network device of claim 15, wherein the network device is a cloud server.