FACILITATING THE RESOLUTION OF ADDRESS CONFLICTS IN A NETWORKED MEDIA PLAYBACK SYSTEM

• US 20150095486A1
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Gossain, Hrishikesh, Graziani, Jose, Peters, Jeffrey M., Agerbak, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,537,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use

Abstract

Examples are disclosed and described to facilitate resolution of Internet Protocol address conflicts. An example method includes listening, by a first playback device having a first IP address, to a specified server port, receiving, by the first playback device from a second playback device via the specified server port, a message, wherein the message identifies a second IP address, wherein the second IP address has been assigned to the second playback device, determining, by the first playback device, whether the first IP address is the same as the second IP address, and when the first IP address is the same as the second IP address, obtaining, by the first playback device, a new IP address, wherein the new IP address is different from the first IP address and the second IP address.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

listening, by a first playback device having a first Internet Protocol (IP) address, to a specified server port;

receiving, by the first playback device from a second playback device via the specified server port, a message, wherein the message identifies a second IP address, wherein the second IP address has been assigned to the second playback device;

determining, by the first playback device, whether the first IP address is the same as the second IP address; and

when the first IP address is the same as the second IP address, obtaining, by the first playback device, a new IP address, wherein the new IP address is different from the first IP address and the second IP address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified server port comprises UDP port 67.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a DHCP_REQUEST packet.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the DHCP_REQUEST packet includes an options field, and wherein the options field identifies the second IP address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the new IP address comprises:

transmitting, by the first playback device to a DHCP server, a DHCP request; and

receiving, by the playback device from the DHCP server, a DHCP acknowledgement, wherein the DHCP acknowledgement includes the new IP address.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first playback device comprises a first zone player, and wherein the second playback device comprises a second zone player.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the DHCP server comprises an access point.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution by a processor, the set of instructions, when executed, cause a first playback device having a first Internet Protocol (IP) address to:

listen to a specified server port;

receive from a second playback device via the specified server port, a message, wherein the message identifies a second IP address, wherein the second IP address has been assigned to the second playback device;

determine whether the first IP address is the same as the second IP address; and

when the first IP address is the same as the second IP address, obtain a new IP address, wherein the new IP address is different from the first IP address and the second IP address.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the specified server port comprises UDP port 67.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the message comprises a DHCP_REQUEST packet.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the DHCP_REQUEST packet includes an options field, and wherein the options field identifies the second IP address.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein obtaining the new IP address comprises instructions that when executed cause the first playback device to:

transmit to a DHCP server, a DHCP request; and

receive from the DHCP server, a DHCP acknowledgement, wherein the DHCP acknowledgement includes the new IP address.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first playback device comprises a first zone player, and wherein the second playback device comprises a second zone player.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the DHCP server comprises an access point.

15. A playback device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor;

data storage; and

program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to;

listen to a specified server port via the network interface;

receive from a second playback device via the specified server port, a message, wherein the message identifies a second Internet Protocol (IP) address, wherein the second IP address has been assigned to the second playback device;

determine whether a first IP address assigned to the playback device is the same as the second IP address; and

when the first IP address is the same as the second IP address, obtain a new IP address, wherein the new IP address is different from the first IP address and the second IP address.

16. The client device of claim 15, wherein the specified server port comprises UDP port 67.

17. The client device of claim 15, wherein the message comprises a DHCP_REQUEST packet.

18. The client device of claim 17, wherein the DHCP_REQUEST packet includes an options field, and wherein the options field identifies the second IP address.

19. The client device of claim 15, wherein obtaining the new IP address comprises program logic stored in the data storage that when executed cause the playback device to:

transmit to a DHCP server, a DHCP request; and

receive from the DHCP server, a DHCP acknowledgement, wherein the DHCP acknowledgement includes the new IP address.

20. The client device of claim 19, wherein (i) the playback device comprises a first zone player, and (ii) the second playback device comprises a second zone player.

21-40. -40. (canceled)