Smart Audio Settings

• US 20150212788A1
• Filed: 04/02/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Lang, Jonathan P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,916,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3089 Control of digital or coded signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/005 of digital signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/025 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide for smart configuration of audio settings for a playback device. According to an embodiment, while a playback device is a part of a first zone group that includes the playback device and at least one first playback device, the playback device applies a first audio setting. The embodiment also includes the playback device joining a second zone group that includes the playback device and at least one second playback device. The embodiment further includes the playback device applying a second audio setting based on an audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

a processor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

while the playback device is a part of a first zone group that includes the playback device and at least one first playback device, applying a first audio setting;

joining a second zone group, the second zone group including the playback device and at least one second playback device; and

applying a second audio setting based on an audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein applying the second audio setting comprises:

determining an audio content profile for media content previously played by the playback device as part of the second zone group; and

applying the second audio setting based on the determined audio content profile for media content previously played by the playback device as part of the second zone group.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein applying the second audio setting comprises:

identifying in a database, the second audio setting based on the audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group; and

applying the identified second audio setting.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein applying the first audio setting comprises:

causing the playback device and the at least one first playback device of the first zone group to apply the first audio setting.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein applying the second audio setting comprises:

causing the playback device and the at least one second playback device to apply the second audio setting.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

playing audio content as part of the second zone group; and

updating the audio content profile based on the audio content being played by the playback device as part of the second zone group.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the audio content profile is a first audio content profile, and wherein the functions further comprise:

while playing audio content as part of the second zone group, receiving data indicating a command to adjust the second audio setting;

identifying a second audio content profile for the audio content; and

determining that the second audio content profile substantially matches the first audio content profile; and

storing in a database, the adjusted second audio setting in association with the first audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the audio content profile is a first audio content profile, and wherein the functions further comprise:

while playing audio content as part of the second zone group, receiving data indicating a command to adjust the second audio setting;

identifying a second audio content profile for the audio content;

determining that the second audio content profile does not substantially match the first audio content profile; and

transmitting a message indicating that the audio content is not representative of audio content previously played by the playback device as part of the second zone group.

9. The playback device of claim 1, wherein joining the second zone group comprises:

receiving data indicating a command to join the second zone group; and

responsively leaving the first zone group and joining the second zone group.

10. The playback device of claim 1, wherein joining the second zone group comprises:

receiving data indicating that a given first playback device of the first zone group has left the first zone group; and

responsively leaving the first zone group and joining the second zone group.

11. The playback device of claim 1, wherein joining the second zone group comprises:

receiving data indicating that a third playback device has joined the first zone group; and

responsively, leaving the first zone group joining the second zone group.

12. A method comprising:

while a playback device is a part of a first zone group that includes the playback device and at least one first playback device, applying, by the playback device, a first audio setting;

joining, by the playback device, a second zone group, the second zone group including the playback device and at least one second playback device; and

applying, by the playback device, a second audio setting based on an audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the second audio setting comprises:

determining, by the playback device, an audio content profile for media content previously played by the playback device as part of the second zone group; and

applying the second audio setting based on the determined audio content profile for media content previously played by the playback device as part of the second zone group.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein applying the second audio setting comprises:

identifying, by the playback device in a database, the second audio setting based on the audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group; and

applying, by the playback device, the identified second audio setting.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

playing, by the playback device, audio content as part of the second zone group; and

updating, by the playback device, the audio content profile based on the audio content being played by the playback device as part of the second zone group.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor to cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:

while the playback device is a part of a first zone group that includes the playback device and at least one first playback device, applying a first audio setting;

joining a second zone group, the second zone group including the playback device and at least one second playback device; and

applying a second audio setting based on an audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein applying the second audio setting comprises:

determining an audio content profile for media content previously played by the playback device as part of the second zone group; and

applying the second audio setting based on the determined audio content profile for media content previously played by the playback device as part of the second zone group.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the function of applying the second audio setting comprises:

identifying in a database, the second audio setting based on the audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group; and

applying the identified second audio setting.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise:

playing audio content as part of the second zone group; and

updating the audio content profile based on the audio content being played by the playback device as part of the second zone group.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the functions further comprise:

while playing audio content as part of the second zone group, receiving data indicating a command to adjust the second audio setting;

identifying a second audio content profile for the audio content; and

determining that the second audio content profile substantially matches the first audio content profile; and

storing in a database, the adjusted second audio setting in association with the first audio content profile corresponding to the second zone group.