User Interfaces for Controlling and Manipulating Groupings in a Multi-Zone Media System

• US 20130014015A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Lambourne, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,588,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• 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: G11B 27/00 Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
• 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 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 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field

Abstract

In general, user interfaces for controlling a plurality of multimedia players in groups are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a user interface is provided to allow a user to group some of the players according to a theme or scene, where each of the players is located in a zone. When the scene is activated, the players in the scene react in a synchronized manner. For example, the players in the scene are all caused to play a multimedia source or music in a playlist, wherein the multimedia source may be located anywhere on a network. The user interface is further configured to illustrate graphically a size of a group, the larger the group appears relatively, the more plays there are in the group.

Claims

1. A method for groupings in a multi-zone media system, the method comprising:

providing a user interface to allow a user to determine which players in the system to be associated with a theme representing a group, the user interface showing all available players at the time the user interface is created;

allowing the user to visually select at least one of the players to be a first member of the theme;

allowing the user to add an additional one or more of the available players to the theme, if desired;

configuring the theme with parameters pertaining to the players, wherein the theme is activated at anytime or a specific time so that the players react in a synchronized manner.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface also shows what media is being played on each of the available players.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said allowing the user to visually select at least one of the players to be a first member of the theme comprises:

displaying a visual means for the user to activate a selection of one of the players; and

modifying the visual means after the selection is made so that the selection can be visually seen.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising displaying the user interface to show the theme graphically, the more members in the theme, the larger the theme is shown with respect to any of the available players that are not member of any theme.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the group includes by default at least a controller used to provide commands to synchronize the players in the theme.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the controller is used to manage the group and create, edit or update a playlist for the group.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

activating the theme;

determining a status of each of the players; and

sending commands to the each of the players to play the multimedia file when the status indicates that the each of the players is in condition to synchronize with the group.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the commands include data that causes a volume level of the each of the players to be set to a predetermined level.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the commands include data that causes a volume level of the players in the group all to be set to a predetermined level provided the players are all in condition to synchronize with the group.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, when the theme is activated at a specific time, the group is configured to perform as an alarm.

11. An invention for groupings in a multi-zone media system, the invention comprising:

a plurality of players in the system;

a controller showing a user interface to allow a user to determine which of the players to be associated with a theme representing a group, the user interface showing all available players at the time the user interface is created, the handheld device including an entry mechanism to allow the user to visually select at least one of the players to be a first member of the theme and add an additional one or more of the available players to the theme, if desired, and

wherein the theme is configured with parameters pertaining to the players, and is activated at anytime or a specific time so that the players react in a synchronized manner.

12. The invention as recited in claim 11, wherein the user interface shows what media is being played on each of the available players.

13. The invention as recited in claim 12, wherein the user interface shows a visual means for the user to activate a selection of one of the players;

and modify the visual means after the selection is made so that the selection can be visually seen.

14. The invention as recited in claim 13, wherein the user interface is configured to show the theme graphically, the more members are in the theme, the larger the theme is shown with respect to any of the available players that are not a member of the theme.

15. The invention as recited in claim 14, wherein the group includes by default at least a controller used to provide commands to synchronize the players in the theme.

16. The invention as recited in claim 15, wherein the controller is used to manage the group and create, edit or update a playlist for the group.

17. The invention as recited in claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to be able to perform operations of:

activating the theme;

determining a status of each of the players; and

sending commands to the each of the players to play the multimedia file when the status indicates that the each of the players is in condition to synchronize with the group.

18. The invention as recited in claim 17, wherein the commands include data that causes a volume level of the each of the players to be set to a predetermined level.

19. The invention as recited in claim 18, wherein the commands include data that causes a volume level of the players in the group all to be set to a predetermined level provided the players are all in condition to synchronize with the group.

20. The invention as recited in claim 11, wherein, when the theme is activated at a specific time, the group is configured to perform as an alarm.