Volume Interactions for Connected Playback Devices

• US 20140037107A1
• Filed: 08/01/2012
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Marino, Frank Jr., Apodaca, Eduardo Ahumada, Lambourne, Robert Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,995,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 11/00 Limiting amplitude; Limiting rate of change of amplitude ; Clipping in general
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/10 having semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• 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: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for, volume interactions for connected playback device. In one example, a plurality of playback devices may be rendering audio in synchrony, when a volume adjustment is made for the plurality of playback devices as a group. In one case, a first playback device in the plurality of playback devices may have a volume limit, as indicated by a state variable associated with the first playback device. In this case, the resulting volume adjustment for the first playback device may be made according to both the group volume adjustment and the volume limit of the first playback device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

applying a state variable update associated with a first playback device in a plurality of playback devices, the state variable update indicating a limited volume range associated with the first playback device;

causing the plurality of playback devices to render audio content in synchrony;

receiving input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the plurality of playback devices; and

causing a playback volume of the first playback device to be adjusted based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the state variable update further indicates one or more play modes of the first playback device associated with the limited volume range.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the state variable update further indicates one or more time frames associated with the limited volume range.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the state variable update associated with the first playback device in the plurality of playback devices comprises:

determining a validity of the state variable update; and

applying the state variable update based on the validity of the state variable update.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the validity of the state variable update further comprises:

determining a source of the state variable update.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the validity of the state variable update further comprises:

sending a request for an indication of qualification;

receiving an indication of qualification; and

determining the validity of the state variable update based on the indication of qualification.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving input data indicating a group volume adjustment fir the plurality of playback devices further comprises:

providing on a display a first volume scale representing the limited volume range relative to a device volume range associated with the first playback device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein causing a playback volume of the first playback device to be adjusted based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range further comprises:

providing on a display an indication that the group volume adjustment has not been applied to the first playback device, if the group volume adjustment indicates a playback volume by the first playback device beyond the limited volume range associated with the first playback device

9. A system comprising:

a plurality of playback devices; and

a processor configured to execute instructions for;

applying a state variable update associated with a first playback device in the plurality of playback devices, the state variable update indicating a limited volume range associated with the first playback device;

causing the plurality of playback devices to render audio content in synchrony;

receiving input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the plurality of playback devices; and

causing a playback volume of the first playback device to be adjusted based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein instructions for applying the state variable update associated with the first playback device in the plurality of playback devices further comprises instructions for:

determining a validity of the state variable update; and

applying the state variable update based on the validity of the state variable update.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the state variable update further indicates one or more play modes of the first playback device associated with the limited volume range

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the state variable update further indicates one or more time frames associated with the limited volume range.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

applying a state variable update associated with a first playback device in a plurality of playback devices, the state variable update indicating a limited volume range associated with the first playback device;

causing the plurality of playback devices to render audio content in synchrony;

receiving input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the plurality of playback devices; and

causing a playback volume of the first playback device to be adjusted based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the state variable update further indicates one or more play modes of the first playback device associated with the limited volume range.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable:

medium of claim 13, wherein the state variable update further indicates one or more time frames associated with the limited volume range.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable:

medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions for storing the state variable update associated with the first playback device in the plurality of playback devices further comprise instructions executable by the computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising;

determining a validity of the state variable update; and

applying the state variable update based on the validity of the state variable update.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions for determining the validity of the state variable update further comprises instructions executable by the computing device to cause the computer device to perform functions comprising:

determining a source of the state variable update.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions for determining the validity of the state variable update further comprises instructions executable by the computing device to cause the computer device to perform functions comprising:

sending a request for an indication of qualification;

receiving an indication of qualification; and

determining the validity of the state variable update based on the indication of qualification.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions for receiving input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the plurality of playback devices further comprise instructions executable by the computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

providing on a display a first volume scale representing the limited volume range relative to a device volume range associated with the first playback device.

20. The non-transitory compute-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions for causing a playback volume of the first playback device to be adjusted based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range further comprise instructions executable by the computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

providing on a display an indication that the group volume adjustment has not been applied to the first playback device, if the group volume adjustment indicates a playback volume by the first playback device beyond the limited volume range associated with the first playback device.