Music service selection

• US 10,555,077 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2018
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Jarvis, Simon, Plagge, Mark, Butts, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Opsasnick, Michael N
• Application Number:
  US16/154,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20190045299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• 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: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/14 using statistical models, e.g. Hidden Markov Models [HMMs] G10L15/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/02 Speech enhancement, e.g. noise reduction or echo cancellation reducing echo effects in line transmission systems H04B3/20; echo suppression in hands-free telephones H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• 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 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• 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 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 : Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for identifying a music service based on a user command. A content type is identified from a received user command and a music service is selected that supports the content type. A selected music service can then transmit audio content associated with the content type for playback.

Claims

1. A network device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the network device to perform functions comprising;

receiving, via the network interface, data indicating a request for audio content by a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises a plurality of playback zones, wherein each playback zone comprises at least one playback device, and wherein each playback device is programmed with the capability to receive and playback audio content from either a first music service provider or a second music service provider;

parsing the data to identify at least (i) a first segment indicating a content identification and (ii) a second segment indicating a particular playback zone of the plurality of playback zones;

selecting one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider based on the second segment, wherein selecting one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider comprises;

determining a first confidence metric corresponding to the first music service provider and a second confidence metric corresponding to the second music service provider, wherein the first confidence metric is based on a history of accesses to the first music service provider by the particular playback zone and wherein the second confidence metric is based on a history of accesses to the second music service provider by the particular playback zone;

determining that a given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric better satisfies a confidence condition; and

selecting whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric;

after selecting the one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider, identifying a uniform resource identifier corresponding to the content identification and the selected one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider;

identifying a particular playback device in the particular playback zone; and

transmitting, via the network interface to the particular playback device, the uniform resource identifier to cause the particular playback device to retrieve audio content from the selected one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider according to the uniform resource identifier.

2. The network device of claim 1, wherein determining that the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric better satisfies a confidence condition comprises:

determining that the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric exceeds a confidence level threshold; and

wherein selecting whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric comprises;

selecting whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric that exceeds the confidence level threshold.

3. The network device of claim 2, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the network device to perform functions comprising:

in response to determining that one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric exceeds the confidence level threshold, determining that a difference between the first confidence metric and the second confidence metric is outside of a predetermined range; and

in response to determining that the difference between the first confidence metric and the second confidence metric is outside of the predetermined range, selecting the given one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider that exceeds the confidence level threshold.

4. The network device of claim 2, wherein the confidence level threshold is one of (i) a default system setting or (ii) adjustable by a user.

5. The network device of claim 1, wherein determining that the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric better satisfies a confidence condition comprises:

determining that one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric has a higher value; and

wherein selecting whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric comprises;

selecting whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric having the higher value.

6. The network device of claim 1, wherein the content identification indicates one or more of an of Artist, Genre, Song, and Album of the requested audio content.

7. The network device of claim 1, wherein the data indicating the request for audio content is received via the network interface from a network microphone device.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, by a network device via a network interface, data indicating a request for audio content by a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises a plurality of playback zones, wherein each playback zone comprises at least one playback device, and wherein each playback device is programmed with the capability to receive and playback audio content from either a first music service provider or a second music service provider;

parsing, by the network device, the data to identify at least (i) a first segment indicating a content identification and (ii) a second segment indicating a particular playback zone of the plurality of playback zones;

selecting, by the network device, one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider based on the second segment, wherein selecting one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider comprises;

determining, by the network device, a first confidence metric corresponding to the first music service provider and a second confidence metric corresponding to the second music service provider, wherein the first confidence metric is based on a history of accesses to the first music service provider by the particular playback zone and wherein the second confidence metric is based on a history of accesses to the second music service provider by the particular playback zone;

determining, by the network device, that a given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric better satisfies a confidence condition; and

selecting, by the network device, whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric;

after selecting the one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider, identifying, by the network device, a uniform resource identifier corresponding to the content identification and the selected one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider;

identifying, by the network device, a particular playback device in the particular playback zone; and

transmitting, by the network device via the network interface to the particular playback device, the uniform resource identifier to cause the particular playback device to retrieve audio content from the selected one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider according to the uniform resource identifier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining, by the network device, that the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric better satisfies a confidence condition comprises:

determining, by the network device, that the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric exceeds a confidence level threshold; and

wherein selecting, by the network device, whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric comprises;

selecting, by the network device, whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric that exceeds the confidence level threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to determining, by the network device, that one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric exceeds the confidence level threshold, determining, by the network device, that a difference between the first confidence metric and the second confidence metric is outside of a predetermined range; and

in response to determining, by the network device, that the difference between the first confidence metric and the second confidence metric is outside of the predetermined range,

selecting, by the network device, the given one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider that exceeds the confidence level threshold.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the confidence level threshold is one of (i) a default system setting or (ii) adjustable by a user.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining, by the network device, that the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric better satisfies a confidence condition comprises:

determining, by the network device, that one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric has a higher value; and

wherein selecting, by the network device, whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric comprises;

selecting, by the network device, whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric having the higher value.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the content identification indicates one or more of an of Artist, Genre, Song, and Album of the requested audio content.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the data indicating the request for audio content is received via the network interface from a network microphone device.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by a processor, cause a network device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via a network interface, data indicating a request for audio content by a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises a plurality of playback zones, wherein each playback zone comprises at least one playback device, and wherein each playback device is programmed with the capability to receive and playback audio content from either a first music service provider or a second music service provider;

parsing the data to identify at least (i) a first segment indicating a content identification and (ii) a second segment indicating a particular playback zone of the plurality of playback zones;

selecting one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider based on the second segment, wherein selecting one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider comprises;

determining a first confidence metric corresponding to the first music service provider and a second confidence metric corresponding to the second music service provider, wherein the first confidence metric is based on a history of accesses to the first music service provider by the particular playback zone and wherein the second confidence metric is based on a history of accesses to the second music service provider by the particular playback zone;

determining that a given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric better satisfies a confidence condition; and

selecting whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric;

after selecting the one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider, identifying a uniform resource identifier corresponding to the content identification and the selected one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider;

identifying a particular playback device in the particular playback zone; and

transmitting, via the network interface to the particular playback device, the uniform resource identifier to cause the particular playback device to retrieve audio content from the selected one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider according to the uniform resource identifier.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining that the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric better satisfies a confidence condition comprises:

determining that the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric exceeds a confidence level threshold; and

wherein selecting whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric comprises;

selecting whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric that exceeds the confidence level threshold.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the network device to perform functions comprising:

in response to determining that one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric exceeds the confidence level threshold, determining that a difference between the first confidence metric and the second confidence metric is outside of a predetermined range; and

in response to determining that the difference between the first confidence metric and the second confidence metric is outside of the predetermined range, selecting the given one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider that exceeds the confidence level threshold.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the confidence level threshold is one of (i) a default system setting or (ii) adjustable by a user.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein determining that the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric better satisfies a confidence condition comprises:

determining that one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric has a higher value; and

wherein selecting whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric comprises;

selecting whichever one of the first music service provider or the second music service provider corresponds to the given one of the first confidence metric or the second confidence metric having the higher value.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the data indicating the request for audio content is received via the network interface from a network microphone device.