Systems and Methods for Networked Music Playback

• US 20150040167A1
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Coburn, Arthur IV, Hoadley, Joni Rafalski
• Granted Patent: US 9,860,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• 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 21/4307 Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• 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 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• 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 3/12 : for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to a multimedia playback network are disclosed. An example method provides content to a local playback network. The example method includes identifying multimedia content from a content provider. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a local playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to a trigger. The example method includes facilitating play of the multimedia content via a local playback network associated with the local playback system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

playing, by a first network device, a multimedia content;

displaying, by the first network device, a selectable option for directing a second network device to play the multimedia content;

detecting, by the first network device while at a given play position of the multimedia content, a selection of the selectable option; and

in response to detecting the selection of the selectable option, directing, by the first network device, the second network device to (1) obtain the multimedia content from a third network device and (2) play the multimedia content according to the given play position of the multimedia content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network device and the second network device are communicatively coupled via a local area network (LAN), and wherein the third network device is outside of the LAN.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing, by the first network device to the second network device, an identifier of the multimedia content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identifier of the multimedia content comprises a uniform resource locator (URL).

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the identifier of the multimedia content comprises one or more of an identifier of a single track, a playlist, a streaming radio station, or a programmed radio station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network device, second network device, and third network device are communicatively coupled via a local area network (LAN).

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the first network device, a trigger, wherein displaying the selectable option comprises displaying the selectable option in response to the first network device detecting the trigger.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after detecting the selection of the selectable option, stopping, by the first network device, playing of the multimedia content by the first network device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the given play position comprises a play position after the beginning of the multimedia content.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the second network device, playback parameter information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network device is a portable device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network device is a multimedia playback device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

directing, by the first network device, a third network device to play the multimedia content.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

directing, by the first network device, the second network device and the third network device to play the multimedia content in synchrony.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method comprising:

playing, by a first network device, a multimedia content;

displaying, by the first network device, a selectable option for directing a second network device to play the multimedia content;

detecting, by the first network device while at a given play position of the multimedia content, a selection of the selectable option; and

in response to detecting the selection of the selectable option, directing, by the first network device, the second network device to (1) obtain the multimedia content from a third network device and (2) play the multimedia content according to the given play position of the multimedia content.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, the method further comprising:

detecting, by the first network device, a trigger, wherein displaying the selectable option comprises displaying the selectable option in response to the first network device detecting the trigger.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 16, the method further comprising:

providing, by the first network device to the second network device, an identifier of the multimedia content.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the identifier of the multimedia content comprises a uniform resource locator (URL).

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the identifier of the multimedia content comprises one or more of an identifier of a single track, a playlist, a streaming radio station, or a programmed radio station.

20. A first network device comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method comprising:

playing, by a first network device, a multimedia content;

displaying, by the first network device, a selectable option for directing a second network device to play the multimedia content;

detecting, by the first network device while at a given play position of the multimedia content, a selection of the selectable option; and

in response to detecting the selection of the selectable option, directing, by the first network device, the second network device to (1) obtain the multimedia content from a third network device and (2) play the multimedia content according to the given play position of the multimedia content.