Volume Enhancements in a Multi-Zone Media Playback System

• US 20150092959A1
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: TRIPLETT, Mark W., AGUSTIN, Jerome, LANG, Jonathan P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,231,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 2201/50 Gain control characterized by the means of gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/001 Digital control of analog signals
• 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: H03G 3/3089 Control of digital or coded signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Embodiments are described herein that provide numerous volume enhancements to a media playback system, especially for use by a system that contains two or more zone players that are capable of being grouped to form a synchronous audio playback group.

Claims

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

receiving a command to establish a synchronous audio playback group between a first zone player and a second zone player;

receiving a first volume level for the first zone player for audio playback in the synchronous audio playback group; and

storing, in a data storage, the first volume level associated with the first zone player and the synchronous audio playback group, wherein the stored first volume level is used by the first zone player in a subsequent grouping between the first and second zone players.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a volume level for the first zone player prior to the grouping, wherein the first zone player is configured to play audio according to the volume level; and

storing the volume level prior to grouping, wherein the volume level is used by the first zone player when the first zone player is removed from the synchronous audio playback group.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command to establish a synchronous audio playback group between the first zone player, the second zone player, and a third zone player;

receiving a second volume level for the first zone player while in the synchronous audio playback group comprising the first, second, and third zone players;

storing the second volume level associated with the first zone player and the synchronous playback group comprising the first, second, and third zone players, wherein the stored second volume level is used by the first zone player in a subsequent grouping between the first, second, and third zone players.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command to remove the first zone player from the synchronous audio playback group;

subsequently receiving a new volume level for the first zone player, wherein the first zone player is no longer in the synchronous audio playback group;

receiving a command to regroup the first zone player with the second zone player; and

adjusting the first zone player to the stored first volume level responsive to regrouping the first and second zone players.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the new volume level is a volume level for the first zone player prior to the grouping.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first volume level represents an absolute volume level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first volume level represents a volume level that is proportional to a volume level of the second zone player.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

adjusting the first volume level in proportion to a change in the volume level of the second zone player.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

adjusting the volume level of the second zone player in proportion to a change in the first volume level of the first zone player.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first volume level is determined based on a volume level of a group coordinator of the synchronous audio group.

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

receiving a command to establish a synchronous audio playback group between a first zone player and a second zone player;

receiving a first volume level for the first zone player for audio playback in the synchronous audio playback group; and

storing the first volume level associated with the first zone player and the synchronous audio playback group, wherein the stored first volume level is used by the first zone player in a subsequent grouping between the first and second zone players.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a volume level for the first zone player prior to the grouping, wherein the first zone player is configured to play audio according to the volume level; and

storing the volume level prior to grouping, wherein the volume level is used by the first zone player when the first zone player is removed from the synchronous audio playback group.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a command to establish a synchronous audio playback group between the first zone player, the second zone player, and a third zone player;

receiving a second volume level for the first zone player while in the synchronous audio playback group comprising the first, second, and third zone players;

storing the second volume level associated with the first zone player and the synchronous playback group comprising the first, second, and third zone players, wherein the stored second volume level is used by the first zone player in a subsequent grouping between the first, second, and third zone players.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a command to remove the first zone player from the synchronous audio playback group;

subsequently receiving a new volume level for the first zone player, wherein the first zone player is no longer in the synchronous audio playback group;

receiving a command to regroup the first zone player with the second zone player; and

adjusting the first zone player to the stored first volume level responsive to regrouping the first and second zone players.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the new volume level is a volume level for the first zone player prior to the grouping.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first volume level represents an absolute volume level.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first volume level represents a volume level that is proportional to a volume level of the second zone player.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computing device to perform functions comprising:

adjusting the first volume level in proportion to a change in the volume level of the second zone player.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computing device to perform functions comprising:

adjusting the volume level of the second zone player in proportion to a change in the first volume level of the first zone player.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first volume level is determined based on a volume level of a group coordinator of the synchronous audio group.