Volume interactions for connected playback devices

• US 10,536,123 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2019
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Marino, Frank, Apodaca, Eduardo Ahumada, Lambourne, Robert Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul
• Application Number:
  US16/404,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20190326869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 381105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 11/00 Limiting amplitude; Limiting rate of change of amplitude ; Clipping in general
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/10 having semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for volume interactions for connected playback devices. In an example implementation, a first playback device applies a state variable update associated with a group of playback devices comprising the first playback device and one or more second playback devices. The state variable update indicates a limited volume range associated with the first playback device. The first playback device renders audio content in synchrony with the one or more second playback devices. Rendering the audio content involves a subwoofer speaker of the first playback device rendering a bass frequency component of the audio content. The first playback device receives input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the group of playback devices and adjusting a playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of playback devices, wherein the plurality of playback devices comprises (i) a first playback device comprising a pair of headphones and (ii) one or more second playback devices, wherein at least one of the playback devices of the plurality of playback devices comprises tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media storing instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the at least one of the playback devices of the plurality of playback devices to perform operations comprising;

determining a presence of the first playback device;

in response to determining the presence of the first playback device, applying a first state variable update associated with the plurality of playback devices, wherein the first state variable update indicates a limited volume range associated with the plurality of playback devices;

rendering audio content in synchrony with the plurality of playback devices;

receiving input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the plurality of playback devices; and

adjusting a playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining an absence of the first playback device; and

in response to determining the absence of the first playback device, applying a second state variable update associated with the plurality of playback devices, wherein the second state variable update indicates a maximum volume range associated with the plurality of playback devices.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first state variable update includes information about the first playback device, and wherein the limited volume range is based off of the information about the first playback device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise grouping the first playback device with the one or more second playback devices, wherein applying the first state variable update comprises applying the first state variable update after the grouping.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising one or more third playback devices, wherein the grouping comprises grouping the first playback device with the one or more third playback devices, and wherein each of the one or more second playback devices is associated with a first channel and each of the one or more third playback devices is associated with a second channel different than the first channel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the limited volume range comprises a maximum frequency, and wherein the maximum frequency is below mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first state variable update further indicates one or more of (i) a playback device play mode associated with the limited volume range, and (ii) a time frame associated with the limited volume range.

8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions executable by one or more processors to cause at least one playback device of a plurality of playback devices to perform a method comprising:

determining a presence of a first playback device, wherein the first playback device comprises a pair of headphones;

in response to determining the presence of the first playback device, applying a first state variable update associated with the plurality of playback devices, wherein the plurality of playback devices comprises (i) the first playback device and (ii) one or more second playback devices, and wherein the first state variable update indicates a limited volume range associated with the plurality of playback devices;

rendering audio content in synchrony with the plurality of playback devices;

receiving input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the plurality of playback devices; and

adjusting a playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

determining an absence of the first playback device; and

in response to determining the absence of the first playback device, applying a second state variable update associated with the plurality of playback devices, wherein the second state variable update indicates a maximum volume range associated with the plurality of playback devices.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first state variable update includes information about the first playback device, and wherein the limited volume range is based off of the information about the first playback device.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises grouping the first playback device with the one or more second playback devices, wherein applying the first state variable update comprises applying the first state variable update after the grouping.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of playback devices further comprises one or more third playback devices, wherein the grouping comprises grouping the first playback device with the one or more third playback devices, and wherein each of the one or more second playback devices is associated with a first channel and each of the one or more third playback devices is associated with a second channel different than the first channel.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the limited volume range comprises a maximum frequency, and wherein the maximum frequency is below mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first state variable update further indicates one or more of (i) a playback device play mode associated with the limited volume range, and (ii) a time frame associated with the limited volume range.

15. A method comprising:

determining a presence of a first playback device, wherein the first playback device comprises a pair of headphones;

in response to determining the presence of the first playback device, applying a first state variable update associated with a plurality of playback devices, wherein the plurality of playback devices comprises (i) the first playback device and (ii) one or more second playback devices, and wherein the first state variable update indicates a limited volume range associated with the plurality of playback devices;

rendering audio content in synchrony with the plurality of playback devices;

receiving input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the plurality of playback devices; and

adjusting a playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining an absence of the first playback device; and

in response to determining the absence of the first playback device, applying a second state variable update associated with the plurality of playback devices, wherein the second state variable update indicates a maximum volume range associated with the plurality of playback devices.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first state variable update includes information about the first playback device, and wherein the limited volume range is based off of the information about the first playback device.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising grouping the first playback device with the one or more second playback devices, wherein applying the first state variable update comprises applying the first state variable update after the grouping.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of playback devices further comprises one or more third playback devices, wherein the grouping comprises grouping the first playback device with the one or more third playback devices, and wherein each of the one or more second playback devices is associated with a first channel and each of the one or more third playback devices is associated with a second channel different than the first channel.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first state variable update further indicates one or more of (i) a playback device play mode associated with the limited volume range, and (ii) a time frame associated with the limited volume range.