Systems and methods for networked music playback

• US 10,567,831 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2018
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Coburn, IV, Arthur, Hoadley, Joni Rafalski
• Primary Examiner(s): Montoya, Oschta I
• Application Number:
  US15/872,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20180205987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• 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 3/12 : for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to a multimedia playback network are disclosed. An example method provides content to a local playback network. The example method includes identifying multimedia content from a content provider. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a local playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to a trigger. The example method includes facilitating play of the multimedia content via a local playback network associated with the local playback system.

Claims

1. A playback device of a playback system, the playback device comprising:

a network interface;

one or more speakers;

one or more amplifiers configured to drive the one or more speakers;

one or more processors;

data storage having instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform functions comprising;

receiving, via the network interface from a playback system cloud server, one or more instructions to (1) stream first audio content from a network location of the first audio content at one or more first cloud servers of a first streaming media service, the one or more instructions including a first uniform resource locator indicating the network location of the first audio content at the one or more first cloud servers of the first streaming media service, and (2) play back first audio content beginning at a particular play position within the first audio content corresponding to when a set of inputs for transferring playback of the first audio content from a mobile device to the playback device were detected at a control interface of the mobile device, wherein the one or more first cloud servers exclude the playback system cloud server;

in response to the one or more instructions;

streaming the first audio content from the network location of the first audio content at the one or more first cloud servers of the first streaming media service using the first uniform resource locator, wherein the playback device is connected to a local area network, and wherein the network location of the first audio content is outside of the local area network; and

playing back the streamed first audio content beginning at the particular play position via the one or more amplifiers and the one or more speakers.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback device is configured into a synchrony group with one or more additional playback devices, and wherein playing back the streamed first audio content beginning at the particular play position via the one or more amplifiers and the one or more speakers comprises playing back the streamed first audio content beginning at the particular play position in synchrony with the one or more additional playback devices.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the set of inputs for transferring playback of the first audio content from the mobile device to the playback device comprise inputs to (i) select the playback device and (ii) select the first audio content.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback device is configured to play back from a playback queue, and wherein the functions further comprise:

adding, to the playback queue, the first uniform resource locator indicating the network location of the first audio content at the one or more first cloud servers of the first streaming media service.

5. The playback device of claim 4, wherein the functions further comprise:

while playing back the streamed first audio content, receiving, via the network interface, one or more instructions to queue second audio content in the playback queue, the one or more instructions to queue the second audio content in the playback queue including a second uniform resource locator indicating a network location of the second audio content at one or more second cloud servers of a second streaming media service;

in response to the one or more instructions to queue second audio content in the playback queue, adding, to the playback queue, the second uniform resource locator indicating the network location of the second audio content at the one or more second cloud servers of the second streaming media service;

when the first audio content finishes playback, streaming the second audio content from the network location of the second audio content at the one or more second cloud servers of the second streaming media service using the second uniform resource locator, wherein the network location of the second audio content is outside of the local area network; and

playing back the streamed second audio content via the one or more amplifiers and the one or more speakers.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

before receiving the one or more instructions, sending, via the network interface over the local area network to the mobile device, one or more messages indicating that the playback device is available for playback of audio content.

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

while playing back the first audio content, sending one or more messages indicating that the playback device is playing back the first audio content, thereby causing the control interface to display, on a graphical display of the mobile device, a status indicator indicating that the playback device is playing back the first audio content.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, via the network interface over the local area network from the mobile device, one or more instructions to pause playback, and

in response to the one or more instructions to pause playback, (1) pausing playback of the first audio content via the one or more amplifiers and the one or more speakers and (2) sending one or more messages indicating that playback by the playback device is paused, thereby causing the control interface to display, on a graphical display of the mobile device, a status indicator indicating that playback by the playback device is paused.

9. A method to be performed by a playback device of a playback system, the method comprising:

receiving, via a network interface from a playback system cloud server, one or more instructions to (1) stream first audio content from a network location of the first audio content at one or more first cloud servers of a first streaming media service, the one or more instructions including a first uniform resource locator indicating the network location of the first audio content at the one or more first cloud servers of the first streaming media service, and (2) play back first audio content beginning at a particular play position within the first audio content corresponding to when a set of inputs for transferring playback of the first audio content from a mobile device to the playback device were detected at a control interface of the mobile device, wherein the one or more first cloud servers exclude the playback system cloud server;

in response to the one or more instructions;

streaming the first audio content from the network location of the first audio content at the one or more first cloud servers of the first streaming media service using the first uniform resource locator, wherein the playback device is connected to a local area network, and wherein the network location of the first audio content is outside of the local area network; and

playing back the streamed first audio content beginning at the particular play position via one or more amplifiers and one or more speakers.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the playback device is configured into a synchrony group with one or more additional playback devices, and wherein playing back the streamed first audio content beginning at the particular play position via the one or more amplifiers and the one or more speakers comprises playing back the streamed first audio content beginning at the particular play position in synchrony with the one or more additional playback devices.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of inputs for transferring playback of the first audio content from the mobile device to the playback device comprise inputs to (i) select the playback device and (ii) select the first audio content.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the playback device is configured to play back from a playback queue, and wherein the method further comprises:

adding, to the playback queue, the first uniform resource locator indicating the network location of the first audio content at the one or more first cloud servers of the first streaming media service.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

while playing back the streamed first audio content, receiving, via the network interface, one or more instructions to queue second audio content in the playback queue, the one or more instructions to queue the second audio content in the playback queue including a second uniform resource locator indicating a network location of the second audio content at one or more second cloud servers of a second streaming media service;

in response to the one or more instructions to queue second audio content in the playback queue, adding, to the playback queue, the second uniform resource locator indicating the network location of the second audio content at the one or more second cloud servers of the second streaming media service;

when the first audio content finishes playback, streaming the second audio content from the network location of the second audio content at the one or more second cloud servers of the second streaming media service using the second uniform resource locator, wherein the network location of the second audio content is outside of the local area network; and

playing back the streamed second audio content via the one or more amplifiers and the one or more speakers.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

before receiving the one or more instructions, sending, via the network interface over the local area network to the mobile device, one or more messages indicating that the playback device is available for playback of audio content.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

while playing back the first audio content, sending one or more messages indicating that the playback device is playing back the first audio content, thereby causing the control interface to display, on a graphical display of the mobile device, a status indicator indicating that the playback device is playing back the first audio content.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, via the network interface over the local area network from the mobile device, one or more instructions to pause playback, and

in response to the one or more instructions to pause playback, (1) pausing playback of the first audio content via the one or more amplifiers and the one or more speakers and (2) sending one or more messages indicating that playback by the playback device is paused, thereby causing the control interface to display, on a graphical display of the mobile device, a status indicator indicating that playback by the playback device is paused.

17. A system comprising:

a playback device of a playback system; and

a control application executing on a mobile device, the control application configured to perform functions comprising;

displaying, via a graphical display of the mobile device, a control interface;

receiving, via the displayed control interface, one or more first inputs to play back first audio content;

while playing back the first audio content, receiving, via the displayed control interface, a set of inputs for transferring playback of the first audio content from the mobile device to the playback device;

sending, via a network interface to a playback system cloud server, one or more instructions to transfer playback of the first audio content to the playback device;

the playback device configured to perform functions comprising;

receiving, via the network interface from the playback system cloud server, the one or more instructions to (1) stream the first audio content from a network location of the first audio content at one or more first cloud servers of a first streaming media service and (2) play back first audio content beginning at a particular play position within the first audio content corresponding to when the set of inputs for transferring playback of the first audio content from the mobile device to the playback device were detected at the control interface of the mobile device, wherein the one or more first cloud servers exclude the playback system cloud server;

in response to the one or more instructions;

streaming the first audio content from the network location of the first audio content at the one or more first cloud servers of the first streaming media service using a first uniform resource locator, wherein the playback device is connected to a local area network, and wherein the network location of the first audio content is outside of the local area network; and

playing back the streamed first audio content beginning at the particular play position via one or more amplifiers and one or more speakers.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the playback device is configured into a synchrony group with one or more additional playback devices, and wherein playing back the streamed first audio content beginning at the particular play position via the one or more amplifiers and the one or more speakers comprises playing back the streamed first audio content beginning at the particular play position in synchrony with the one or more additional playback devices.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the playback device is configured to play back from a playback queue, and wherein the playback device is configured to perform functions further comprising:

adding, to the playback queue, the first uniform resource locator indicating the network location of the first audio content at the one or more first cloud servers of the first streaming media service.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the playback device is configured to perform functions further comprising:

while playing back the streamed first audio content, receiving, via the network interface, one or more instructions to queue second audio content in the playback queue, the one or more instructions to queue the second audio content in the playback queue including a second uniform resource locator indicating a network location of the second audio content at one or more second cloud servers of a second streaming media service;

in response to the one or more instructions to queue second audio content in the playback queue, adding, to the playback queue, the second uniform resource locator indicating the network location of the second audio content at the one or more second cloud servers of the second streaming media service;

when the first audio content finishes playback, streaming the second audio content from the network location of the second audio content at the one or more second cloud servers of the second streaming media service using the second uniform resource locator, wherein the network location of the second audio content is outside of the local area network; and

playing back the streamed second audio content via the one or more amplifiers and the one or more speakers.