Wireless radio switching

• US 10,645,504 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Peters, Jeffrey M., Fox, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Odunukwe, Ubachukwu A
• Application Number:
  US16/404,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20190335282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 381 81
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• 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

Abstract

Examples are provided for establishing a bonded zone comprising a first playback device comprising a respective first wireless radio and a second playback device comprising a second respective wireless radio. The first and second playback devices may establish a bonded zone comprising at least the first and second playback device. While in the established bonded zone, the first playback device may determine that the first playback device is in the established bonded zone and that the first playback device is not currently playing audio in synchrony with the second playback device. Responsive to determining that the first playback device is not playing audio in synchrony, the first playback device may disable communicating via the first wireless radio of the first playback device and send a message to the second playback device to disable communicating via the first wireless radio of the second playback device.

Claims

1. A first playback 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 first playback device to perform functions comprising;

operating in an audio playback system with a second playback device that comprises (i) a first spectrum radio that, when enabled, facilitates communication with the first playback device over a first spectrum and (ii) a second spectrum radio that, when enabled, facilitates communication with the first playback device over a second spectrum;

receiving (i) first audio information from the second playback device over the first spectrum and (ii) first control information from the second playback device over the second spectrum;

after receiving both of the first audio information and the first control information from the second playback device, receiving second control information from the second playback device over the second spectrum, wherein the second control information indicates that the second playback device is either (i) disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the second spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled or (ii) disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the first spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled;

in response to receiving the second control information from the second playback device, identifying a given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum over which to continue communicating with the second playback device, wherein the identifying comprises either (i) identifying the first spectrum if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the first spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled or (ii) identifying the second spectrum if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the second spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled;

after identifying the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum, transmitting a first acknowledgement message to the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum; and

after transmitting the first acknowledgement message to the second playback device, receiving at least one of (i) second audio information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum or (ii) third control information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

prior to receiving both of the first audio information and the first control information from the second playback device, entering into a group with the second playback device.

3. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first spectrum is a 5-GHz spectrum and the second spectrum is a 2.4-GHz spectrum.

4. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the second spectrum radio enabled, and wherein the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum comprises the second spectrum.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, the first playback device further comprising:

a first spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the first spectrum;

a second spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the second spectrum; and

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

in response to receiving the second control information, either (i) disabling the first spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) disabling the second spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

after receiving the at least one of the second audio information from the second playback device or the third control information from the second playback device, receiving fourth control information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum, wherein the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling whichever one of the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or the second spectrum radio of the second playback device was previously indicated as being disabled.

7. The first playback device of claim 6, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

in response to receiving the fourth control information, transmitting a second acknowledgement message to the second playback device over either (i) the first spectrum if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) the second spectrum if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device.

8. The first playback device of claim 1, the first playback device further comprising:

a first spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the first spectrum;

a second spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the second spectrum; and

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

in response to receiving the second control information, either (i) disabling the first spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) disabling the second spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device;

after receiving the at least one of the second audio information from the second playback device or the third control information from the second playback device, receiving fourth control information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum, wherein the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling whichever one of the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or the second spectrum radio of the second playback device was previously indicated as being disabled; and

in response to receiving the fourth control information, either (i) enabling the first spectrum radio of the first playback device if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) enabling the second spectrum radio of the first playback device if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device.

9. A method carried out by a first playback device, the method comprising:

operating in an audio playback system with a second playback device that comprises (i) a first spectrum radio that, when enabled, facilitates communication with the first playback device over a first spectrum and (ii) a second spectrum radio that, when enabled, facilitates communication with the first playback device over a second spectrum;

receiving (i) first audio information from the second playback device over the first spectrum and (ii) first control information from the second playback device over the second spectrum;

after receiving both of the first audio information and the first control information from the second playback device, receiving second control information from the second playback device over the second spectrum, wherein the second control information indicates that the second playback device is either (i) disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the second spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled or (ii) disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the first spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled;

in response to receiving the second control information from the second playback device, identifying a given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum over which to continue communicating with the second playback device, wherein the identifying comprises either (i) identifying the first spectrum if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the first spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled or (ii) identifying the second spectrum if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the second spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled;

after identifying the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum, transmitting a first acknowledgement message to the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum; and

after transmitting the first acknowledgement message to the second playback device, receiving at least one of (i) second audio information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum or (ii) third control information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the second spectrum radio enabled, and wherein the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum comprises the second spectrum.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first playback device further comprises a first spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the first spectrum and a second spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the second spectrum, and the method further comprising:

in response to receiving the second control information, either (i) disabling, by the first playback device, the first spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) disabling, by the first playback device, the second spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

after receiving the at least one of the second audio information from the second playback device or the third control information from the second playback device, receiving, by the first playback device, fourth control information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum, wherein the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling whichever one of the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or the second spectrum radio of the second playback device was previously indicated as being disabled.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

in response to receiving the fourth control information, transmitting, by the first playback device, a second acknowledgement message to the second playback device over either (i) the first spectrum if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) the second spectrum if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first playback device further comprises a first spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the first spectrum and a second spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the second spectrum, and the method further comprising:

in response to receiving the second control information, either (i) disabling, by the first playback device, the first spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) disabling, by the first playback device, the second spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device;

after receiving the at least one of the second audio information from the second playback device or the third control information from the second playback device, receiving, by the first playback device, fourth control information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum, wherein the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling whichever one of the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or the second spectrum radio of the second playback device was previously indicated as being disabled; and

in response to receiving the fourth control information, either (i) enabling, by the first playback device, the first spectrum radio of the first playback device if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) enabling, by the first playback device, the second spectrum radio of the first playback device if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback 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 first playback device to perform functions comprising:

operating in an audio playback system with a second playback device that comprises (i) a first spectrum radio that, when enabled, facilitates communication with the first playback device over a first spectrum and (ii) a second spectrum radio that, when enabled, facilitates communication with the first playback device over a second spectrum;

receiving (i) first audio information from the second playback device over the first spectrum and (ii) first control information from the second playback device over the second spectrum;

after receiving both of the first audio information and the first control information from the second playback device, receiving second control information from the second playback device over the second spectrum, wherein the second control information indicates that the second playback device is either (i) disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the second spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled or (ii) disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the first spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled;

in response to receiving the second control information from the second playback device, identifying a given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum over which to continue communicating with the second playback device, wherein the identifying comprises either (i) identifying the first spectrum if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the first spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled or (ii) identifying the second spectrum if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the second spectrum radio of the second playback device enabled;

after identifying the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum, transmitting a first acknowledgement message to the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum; and

after transmitting the first acknowledgement message to the second playback device, receiving at least one of (i) second audio information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum or (ii) third control information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device while keeping the second spectrum radio enabled, and wherein the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum comprises the second spectrum.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the first playback device further comprising:

a first spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the first spectrum; and

a second spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the second spectrum, and

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

in response to receiving the second control information, either (i) disabling the first spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) disabling the second spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

after receiving the at least one of the second audio information from the second playback device or the third control information from the second playback device, receiving fourth control information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum, wherein the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling whichever one of the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or the second spectrum radio of the second playback device was previously indicated as being disabled.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

in response to receiving the fourth control information, transmitting a second acknowledgement message to the second playback device over either (i) the first spectrum if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) the second spectrum if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the first playback device further comprising:

a first spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the first spectrum; and

a second spectrum radio that facilitates communication with the second playback device over the second spectrum; and

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

in response to receiving the second control information, either (i) disabling the first spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) disabling the second spectrum radio of the first playback device if the second control information indicates that the second playback device is disabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device;

after receiving the at least one of the second audio information from the second playback device or the third control information from the second playback device, receiving fourth control information from the second playback device over the given one of the first spectrum or the second spectrum, wherein the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling whichever one of the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or the second spectrum radio of the second playback device was previously indicated as being disabled; and

in response to receiving the fourth control information, either (i) enabling the first spectrum radio of the first playback device if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the first spectrum radio of the second playback device or (ii) enabling the second spectrum radio of the first playback device if the fourth control information indicates that the second playback device is enabling the second spectrum radio of the second playback device.