Cloud Queue Access Control

• US 20150358310A1
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Beckhardt, Steven, Schulert, Andrew J., Ramsperger, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 9,729,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/638 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 : Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 : involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 : for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 : Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 : involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 : Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 : Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving a request from a first media playback system for access to a queue of media items, and a request from a second media playback system for access to the queue of media items. The computing system may grant a first type of access to the first media playback system and a second type of access to the second media playback system. The first type of access and the second type of access may authorize a first set of operations and a second set of operations on the queue of media items, respectively. The computing system may provide an indication that the first media playback system may access the queue as authorized by the first type of access, and an indication that the second media playback system may access the queue as authorized by the second type of access.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing system via a network interface, (i) a request from a first media playback system for access to a queue of media items, and (ii) a request from a second media playback system for access to the queue of media items;

granting, by the computing system, (i) a first type of access to the first media playback system, wherein the first type of access authorizes the first media playback system to perform a first set of operations on the queue of media items, and (ii) a second type of access to the second media playback system, wherein the second type of access authorizes the second media playback system to perform a second set of operations on the queue of media items, and wherein the second set of operations is different from the first set of operations; and

providing, by the computing system via the network interface, (i) an indication that the first media playback system may access the queue as authorized by the first type of access, and (ii) an indication that the second media playback system may access the queue as authorized by the second type of access.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of operations correspond to control of playback of the queue and wherein the second set of operation corresponds to manipulation of the queue.

3. The method of claim 1:

wherein the first set of operations comprise initiating playback of the queue on a given media playback system; and

wherein the second set of operations comprise one or more of;

inserting media items into the queue, removing media items from the queue, and re-ordering media items of the queue.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first media playback system, a request to playback the queue;

determining that the first type of access granted to the first media playback system authorizes the first media playback system to playback the queue; and

sending, to the first media playback system, data indicating (i) one or more media items of the queue, and (ii) respective sources of the one or more media items, wherein the one or more media items are playable from the respective sources by the first media playback system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the second media playback system, a request to change a playhead from a first position in the queue to a second position within the queue, wherein the playhead indicates a given position in the queue corresponding to a particular media item that is currently playing;

determining that the second type of access granted to the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to change the position of the playhead; and

based on determining that second type of access rights granted to the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to change the position of the playhead, changing the playhead from the first position to the second position.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting that a playhead has moved to one or more respective positions within the queue, wherein the playhead indicates a given position in the queue corresponding to a particular media item that is currently playing; and

sending to the first media playback system respective indications of the one or more respective positions.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to grant the second type of access to the first media playback system;

determining that granting the second type of access to the first media playback system would exceed a threshold number of media playback systems; and

based on determining that granting the second type of access to the first media playback system would exceed a threshold number of media playback systems, denying the request to grant the second type of access to the first media playback system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request from a second media playback system for access to the queue of media items comprises receiving a request from the second media playback to establish the queue;

and wherein granting the second type of access to the second media playback system comprises;

determining that the second media playback system established the queue; and

based on determining that the second media playback system established the queue, granting the second media playback system the second type of access.

9. A computing system comprising:

a network interface;

at least one processor;

a data storage; and

a program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the at least one processor to;

receive, via the network interface, (i) respective requests from a plurality of first media playback systems for respective access to a queue of media items, and (ii) a request from a second media playback system for access to the queue of media items;

grant (i) a first type of access to the first media playback systems, wherein the first type of access authorizes the first media playback systems to perform a first set of operations on the queue of media items, and (ii) a second type of access to the second media playback system, wherein the second type of access authorizes the second media playback system to perform a second set of operations on the queue of media items, wherein the second set of operations is different from the first set of operations; and

provide, via the network interface, (i) the first media playback systems access to the queue as authorized by the first type of access rights, and (ii) the second media playback system access to the queue as authorized by the second type of access rights.

10. The computing system of claim 9, wherein providing the plurality of first media playback systems access to the queue as authorized by the first type of access comprises:

initiating playback of the queue on the first media playback systems in synchrony.

11. The computing system of claim 9, wherein receiving (i) respective requests from the plurality of first media playback systems for respective access to the queue of media items, and (ii) the request from the second media playback system for access to the queue of media items comprises receiving (i) respective credentials from the plurality of first media playback systems, and (ii) a credential from the second media playback system;

and wherein granting (i) the first type of access to the first media playback system, and (ii) the second type of access to the second media playback system comprises determining (i) that the respective credentials from the plurality of first media playback systems authorize the first media playback systems to be granted the first type of access, and (ii) that the credential from the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to be granted the second type of access.

12. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the program logic is further executable by the at least one processor to:

receive, from the second media playback system, a request to change a playhead from a first position within the queue to a second position within the queue;

determine that the access rights granted to the second media playback system authorize the second media playback system to change the position of the playhead; and

cause the one or more respective playback devices of the first media playback systems to playback a media item corresponding to the second position.

13. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the program logic is further executable by the at least one processor to:

detect that the second media playback system has been granted the second type of access for a threshold duration of time; and

based on detecting that the second media playback system has been granted the second type of access for a threshold duration of time, granting at least one of the first media playback systems the second type of access and granting the second media playback system the first type of access.

14. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the program logic is further executable by the at least one processor to:

receive respective requests from one or more third media playback systems for respective access to the queue of media items;

determine that the respective requests are respective first instances of requests from the one or more third media playback for respective access to the queue of media items; and

based on determining that the respective requests are respective first instances of requests from the one or more third media playback for respective access to the queue of media items, grant the second type of access to the one or more third media playback systems for a pre-determined duration of time.

15. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the program logic is further executable by the at least one processor to:

receive a request from the second media playback system to grant the second type of access to a particular first media playback system;

determine that the second type of access granted to the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to grant the second type of access; and

based on determining that the second type of access granted to the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to grant the second type of access, granting the second type of access to the particular first media playback system.

16. A method comprising:

sending, by a device of a media playback system, a request for access to a queue of media items;

receiving, by the device, an indication that the media playback system may access the queue as authorized by a first type of access, wherein the first type of access authorizes the first media playback system to perform a first set of operations on the queue of media items; and

wherein a second type of access authorizes the second media playback system to perform a second set of operations on the queue of media items that is different from the first set of operations; and

receiving, by the device, an indication of one or more media items of the queue.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of operations involve playback of the queue and wherein the second set of operations involve manipulation of the queue.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of operations include playback of the queue on the media playback system, the method further comprising:

receiving indications of respective positions of a playhead, wherein the playhead indicates a position in the queue corresponding to a particular media item that is currently playing; and

initiating playback of the queue in synchrony with the playhead.

19. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the device, an indication that the media playback system may access the queue as authorized by the second type of access; and

sending a request to change a playhead from a first position within the queue to a second position within the queue wherein the playhead indicates a position in the queue corresponding to a particular media item that is currently playing.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of operations include modification of the queue, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the device, an indication that the media playback system may access the queue as authorized by the second type of access; and

sending a request to add one or more additional media items to the queue so as to modify the queue.