Controlling and manipulating groupings in a multi-zone media system
First Claim
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1. In a network comprising a plurality of zone players, a method comprising:
- receiving via the network by a controller device, a zone configuration from one of the plurality of zone players, wherein the zone configuration is maintained at one or more of the plurality of zone players, and wherein the zone configuration characterizes one or more zone scenes created by a user, each zone scene comprising at least one zone group, each zone group including at least one of the plurality of zone players, and each zone player in the zone group configured to synchronously playback multimedia content from a multimedia source with another zone player in the zone group;
receiving, by the controller device, a user input to modify the zone configuration;
based on the user input, modifying, by the controller device, the zone configuration; and
transmitting, by the controller device to one of the plurality of zone players, the modified zone configuration to facilitate synchronized playback of multimedia content in accordance with the modified zone configuration, wherein the modified zone configuration identifies a first multimedia source for playback by a first zone group associated with a first zone scene and a second multimedia source for playback by a second zone group associated with the first zone scene.
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Abstract
In general, techniques of controlling a plurality of multimedia players in groups are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a mechanism 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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a network comprising a plurality of zone players, a method comprising:
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receiving via the network by a controller device, a zone configuration from one of the plurality of zone players, wherein the zone configuration is maintained at one or more of the plurality of zone players, and wherein the zone configuration characterizes one or more zone scenes created by a user, each zone scene comprising at least one zone group, each zone group including at least one of the plurality of zone players, and each zone player in the zone group configured to synchronously playback multimedia content from a multimedia source with another zone player in the zone group; receiving, by the controller device, a user input to modify the zone configuration; based on the user input, modifying, by the controller device, the zone configuration; and transmitting, by the controller device to one of the plurality of zone players, the modified zone configuration to facilitate synchronized playback of multimedia content in accordance with the modified zone configuration, wherein the modified zone configuration identifies a first multimedia source for playback by a first zone group associated with a first zone scene and a second multimedia source for playback by a second zone group associated with the first zone scene. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A multimedia controller including a processor, the controller configured to:
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receive, via a network interface, a zone configuration from one of the plurality of zone players, wherein the zone configuration is maintained at one or more of the plurality of zone players, and wherein the zone configuration characterizes one or more zone scenes created by a user, each zone scene comprising at least one zone group each zone group including at least one of the plurality of zone players, and each zone player in the zone group configured to synchronously playback multimedia content from a multimedia source with another zone player in the zone group; receive a user input to modify the zone configuration; based on the user input, modify, the zone configuration; and transmit to one of the plurality of zone players, the modified zone configuration to facilitate synchronized playback of multimedia content in accordance with the modified zone configuration, wherein the modified zone configuration identifies a first multimedia source for playback by a first zone group associated with a first zone scene and a second multimedia source for playback by a second zone group associated with the first zone scene. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution by a processor, the set of instructions, when executed, implement a controller configured to:
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receive, via a network interface, a zone configuration from one of the plurality of zone players, wherein the zone configuration is maintained at one or more of the plurality of zone players, and wherein the zone configuration characterizes one or more zone scenes created by a user, each zone scene comprising at least one zone group each zone group including at least one of the plurality of zone players, and each zone player in the zone group configured to synchronously playback multimedia content from a multimedia source with another zone player in the zone group; receive a user input to modify the zone configuration; based on the user input, modify, the zone configuration; and transmit to one of the plurality of zone players, the modified zone configuration to facilitate synchronized playback of multimedia content in accordance with the modified zone configuration, wherein the modified zone configuration identifies a first multimedia source for playback by a first zone group associated with a first zone scene and a second multimedia source for playback by a second zone group associated with the first zone scene. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification