SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS MUSIC PLAYBACK

• US 20130103873A1
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Reilly, Jonathon, Millington, Nicholas A.J., Polomski, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,094,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/18 based on priority control G06F13/1605 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/364 using independent requests or grants, e.g. using separated request and grant lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/374 using a self-select method with individual priority code comparator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/43615 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

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to control audio playback devices via a playback network including a dock interface are disclosed. An example dock includes a docking connection to enable a portable playback device to be connected to the dock and a network communication interface to enable the portable playback device to connect to a playback network via the dock, the network communication interface to provide content from the portable playback device to at least one network playback device for playback of the content via the playback network.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a device to a playback network, the method comprising:

enabling synchronization, via a dock interface, of a first playback device with a second playback device connected to a playback network; and

facilitating, via the dock interface upon receipt of a selection of content included with the first playback device, playback of the selected content from the first playback device by the second playback device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein content on the first playback device includes stored audio tracks.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein content on the first playback device includes streamed music.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first playback device comprises a mobile playback device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second playback device is one of a plurality of playback devices associated with at least one group organized with respect to the playback network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating, during playback of content from the first playback device, charging of a battery of the first playback device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the dock interface enables the first playback device to function as a same type of device as the second playback device on the playback network.

8. A playback system comprising:

a dock interface to accept connection with a first playback device, the dock interface configured to connect to a playback network, the first playback device including content for playback,

wherein the dock interface is configured to enable synchronization, via the dock interface, of the first playback device with a second playback device connected to the playback network and facilitate, via the dock interface upon receipt of a selection of content included with the first playback device, playback of the selected content from the first playback device by the second playback device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein content on the first playback device comprises at least one of stored audio tracks and streaming music.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first playback device comprises a mobile playback device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the second playback device is one of a plurality of playback devices associated with at least one group organized with respect to the playback network.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a power connection to facilitate, during playback of content from the first playback device, charging of a battery of the first playback device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the dock interface is to enable the first playback device to function as a same type of device as the second playback device on the playback network.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising a network connector to initiate an automated connection of the dock apparatus to the playback network.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the dock interface is to facilitate control of the second playback device via the first playback device.

16. A wireless dock apparatus comprising:

a docking connection to enable a portable playback device to be connected to the dock apparatus; and

a network communication interface to enable the portable playback device to connect to a playback network via the dock apparatus, the network communication interface to provide content from the portable playback device to at least one network playback device for playback of the content via the playback network.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a network connection button to initiate an automated connection of the dock apparatus to the playback network.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a status indicator to indicate a network connection status of the dock apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a volume control to control a volume of playback of the content from the portable playback device via the playback network.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a power connection to charge the portable playback device when the portable playback device is connected to the dock apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the content comprises a digital media file and wherein the content remains a digital media file when provided to at least one network playback device for playback of the content via the playback network.