Command device to control a synchrony group

• US 10,579,328 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2018
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Reichert, Stefan, Amaranto, David John McCaffree
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, An T
• Application Number:
  US15/973,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20180349089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/04 in untuned amplifiers
• 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: H03G 3/3089 Control of digital or coded signals
• 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

Embodiments are described herein that provide a dedicated command device that is bonded to a zone player or zone to perform adjustments to the zone player or zone. In an example implementation, a command device receives an instruction to pair with a first playback device that is associated with a group of playback devices that includes the first playback device and at least one additional playback device. The group of playback devices is associated with at least one group variable controlling playback by the playback devices of the group. The command device receives an input to adjust a first group variable of the at least one group variable and transmits, via a wireless communications interface, a command that causes an adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.

Claims

1. A command device for a media playback system, the command device comprising:

a display-less control interface comprising multiple physical buttons;

a wireless communications interface;

a processor;

memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the command device to perform functions comprising;

receiving, via the wireless communications interface from a mobile device, an instruction to pair the command device with a first zone of the media playback system, the first zone comprising a first playback device, wherein the first zone is joined into a synchrony group with one or more second zones that comprise one or more respective second playback devices;

based on the instruction to pair the command device, pairing the command device to the first zone such that the multiple buttons to control playback are configured to control playback by the first zone;

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of a first physical button of the multiple physical buttons, the first physical button corresponding to a play/pause control; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the first physical button of the multiple buttons, sending an instruction to cause the first zone to play back a queue in synchrony with the one or more second zones, wherein the queue indicates one or more media items.

2. The command device of claim 1, wherein a second physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a volume increase control, and wherein the functions further comprise:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of the second physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the second physical button of the multiple buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to increase volume of the first zone, wherein the instruction causes the one or more second zones to correspondingly increase volume.

3. The command device of claim 2, wherein the instruction to increase volume of the first zone causes the first playback device to adjust a first volume level variable that controls volume level of the first zone, and wherein the adjusting the first volume level variable of the first zone causes a corresponding adjustment to one or more second volume level variables that control respective volume levels of the one or more second zones in the synchrony group with the first zone.

4. The command device of claim 1, wherein a third physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a favorites control, and wherein the functions further comprise:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the third physical button of the multiple buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to populate the queue with one or more particular media items that have been pre-designated as favorites, wherein the first zone and the one or more second zones play back the queue in synchrony.

5. The command device of claim 4, wherein the synchrony group is a first synchrony group, wherein the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a zone scene control and the favorites control, and wherein the functions further comprise:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a gesture input to the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the gesture input to the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to join the first zone into a second synchrony group with one or more third zones that comprise one or more respective third playback devices, wherein at least one of the third zones is different from the one or more second zones.

6. The command device of claim 5, wherein the functions further comprise:

in response to detecting the input data representing the gesture input to the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction populate a queue associated with the second synchrony group with a particular set of media items that correspond to a zone scene, wherein the first zone and the one or more third zones play back the queue.

7. The command device of claim 1, wherein a fourth physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a skip forward control, and wherein the functions further comprise:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of the fourth physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the fourth physical button of the multiple buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to advance playback within the queue to a subsequent media item, wherein the first zone and the one or more second zones play back the subsequent media item in synchrony.

8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a one or more processors to cause a command device of a media playback system to perform a method comprising:

receiving, via a wireless communications interface from a mobile device, an instruction to pair the command device with a first zone of the media playback system, the first zone comprising a first playback device, wherein the first zone is joined into a synchrony group with one or more second zones that comprise one or more respective second playback devices;

based on the instruction to pair the command device, pairing the command device to the first zone such that multiple buttons to control playback are configured to control playback by the first zone;

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of a first physical button of multiple physical buttons on a display-less control interface, the first physical button corresponding to a play/pause control; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the first physical button of the multiple buttons, sending an instruction to cause the first zone to play back a queue in synchrony with the one or more second zones, wherein the queue indicates one or more media items.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein a second physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a volume increase control, and wherein the method further comprises:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of the second physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the second physical button of the multiple buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to increase volume of the first zone, wherein the instruction causes the one or more second zones to correspondingly increase volume.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instruction to increase volume of the first zone causes the first playback device to adjust a first volume level variable that controls volume level of the first zone, and wherein the adjusting the first volume level variable of the first zone causes a corresponding adjustment to one or more second volume level variables that control respective volume levels of the one or more second zones in the synchrony group with the first zone.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein a third physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a favorites control, and wherein the method further comprises:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the third physical button of the multiple buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to populate the queue with one or more particular media items that have been pre-designated as favorites, wherein the first zone and the one or more second zones play back the queue in synchrony.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the synchrony group is a first synchrony group, wherein the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a zone scene control and the favorites control, and wherein the method further comprises:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a gesture input to the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the gesture input to the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to join the first zone into a second synchrony group with one or more third zones that comprise one or more respective third playback devices, wherein at least one of the third zones is different from the one or more second zones.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to detecting the input data representing the gesture input to the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction populate a queue associated with the second synchrony group with a particular set of media items that correspond to a zone scene, wherein the first zone and the one or more third zones play back the queue.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein a fourth physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a skip forward control, and wherein the method further comprises:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of the fourth physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the fourth physical button of the multiple buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to advance playback within the queue to a subsequent media item, wherein the first zone and the one or more second zones play back the subsequent media item in synchrony.

15. A method to be performed by a command device of a media playback system, the method comprising

receiving, via a wireless communications interface from a mobile device, an instruction to pair the command device with a first zone of the media playback system, the first zone comprising a first playback device, wherein the first zone is joined into a synchrony group with one or more second zones that comprise one or more respective second playback devices;

based on the instruction to pair the command device, pairing the command device to the first zone such that the multiple buttons to control playback are configured to control playback by the first zone;

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of a first physical button of multiple physical buttons on a display-less control interface, the first physical button corresponding to a play/pause control; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the first physical button of the multiple buttons, sending an instruction to cause the first zone to play back a queue in synchrony with the one or more second zones, wherein the queue indicates one or more media items.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a second physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a volume increase control, and wherein the method further comprises:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of the second physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the second physical button of the multiple buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to increase volume of the first zone, wherein the instruction causes the one or more second zones to correspondingly increase volume.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the instruction to increase volume of the first zone causes the first playback device to adjust a first volume level variable that controls volume level of the first zone, and wherein the adjusting the first volume level variable of the first zone causes a corresponding adjustment to one or more second volume level variables that control respective volume levels of the one or more second zones in the synchrony group with the first zone.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein a third physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a favorites control, and wherein the method further comprises:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the third physical button of the multiple buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to populate the queue with one or more particular media items that have been pre-designated as favorites, wherein the first zone and the one or more second zones play back the queue in synchrony.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the synchrony group is a first synchrony group, wherein the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a zone scene control and the favorites control, and wherein the method further comprises:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a gesture input to the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the gesture input to the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to join the first zone into a second synchrony group with one or more third zones that comprise one or more respective third playback devices, wherein at least one of the third zones is different from the one or more second zones.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to detecting the input data representing the gesture input to the third physical button of the multiple physical buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction populate a queue associated with the second synchrony group with a particular set of media items that correspond to a zone scene, wherein the first zone and the one or more third zones play back the queue.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein a fourth physical button of the multiple physical buttons corresponds to a skip forward control, and wherein the method further comprises:

while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a press of the fourth physical button of the multiple physical buttons; and

in response to detecting the input data representing the press of the fourth physical button of the multiple buttons, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to advance playback within the queue to a subsequent media item, wherein the first zone and the one or more second zones play back the subsequent media item in synchrony.