Method and apparatus for adjusting volume levels in a multi-zone system

• US 8,588,949 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Lambourne, Robert A., Millington, Nicholas A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCORD, PAUL C
• Application Number:
  US13/619,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20130014015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/00 Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/008 Visual indication of individual signal levels visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field

Abstract

A multimedia controller including a processor, the controller configured to: provide a user interface for a player group, wherein the player group includes a plurality of players in a local area network, and wherein each player is configured to playback a multimedia output from a multimedia source; accept an input to facilitate formation of the player group, indicating that at least two of the players in the local area network are to be included in the player group; for each of the plurality of players within the player group, accept an input to adjust a volume associated with the player, that causes the player to adjust its volume; and accept an input to adjust a volume associated with the player group, wherein the input to adjust the volume associated with the group causes the players in the player group to adjust their volumes.

Claims

1. A multimedia controller including a processor, the controller configured to:

provide a user interface for a player group, wherein the player group includes a plurality of players in a local area network, and wherein each player is an independent playback device configured to playback a multimedia output from a multimedia source;

accept via the user interface an input to facilitate formation of the player group, wherein the input to facilitate formation of the player group indicates that at least two of the plurality of players in the local area network are to be included in the player group;

for each of the plurality of players within the player group, accept via the user interface an input to adjust a volume associated with the player, wherein the input to adjust the volume associated with the player causes the corresponding independent playback device to adjust its volume; and

accept via the user interface an input to adjust a volume associated with the player group, wherein the input to adjust the volume associated with the group causes the corresponding independent playback devices in the player group to adjust their volumes.

2. The multimedia controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to accept via the user interface an input to remove one of the plurality of players from the player group.

3. The multimedia controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to accept via the user interface an input to mute the volume of the player group, wherein the input to mute the player group causes the players within the player group to mute their volume.

4. The multimedia controller of claim 3, wherein the input to mute the player group causes the players in the player group to adjust their volumes further comprises:

the controller sending an instruction to one of the players in the player group, the instruction indicating that the volumes of each of the players in the player group should be adjusted in scale.

5. The multimedia controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to accept via the user interface an input to name the player group.

6. The multimedia controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to accept via the user interface an input to mute the volume of one of the players within the player group, wherein the input to mute one of the players within the player group causes the player within the player group to mute its volume.

7. The multimedia controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to save a configuration associated with the player group, wherein the configuration includes one or more of the following parameters:

a) a volume level for each player in the player group, b) a mute or unmute setting for each player in the player group, and d) an equalization setting for each player in the player group.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution by a processor, the set of instructions, when implemented, implement a controller configured to:

provide a user interface for a player group, wherein the player group includes a plurality of players in a local area network, and wherein each player is an independent playback device configured to playback a multimedia output from a multimedia source;

accept via the user interface an input to facilitate formation of the player group, wherein the input to facilitate formation of the player group indicates that at least two of the plurality of players in the local area network are to be included in the player group;

for each of the plurality of players within the player group, accept via the user interface an input to adjust a volume associated with the player, wherein the input to adjust the volume associated with the player causes the corresponding independent playback device to adjust its volume; and

accept via the user interface an input to adjust a volume associated with the player group, wherein the input to adjust the volume associated with the group causes the corresponding independent playback devices in the player group to adjust their volumes.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to accept via the user interface an input to remove one of the plurality of players from the player group.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to accept via the user interface an input to mute the volume of the player group, wherein the input to mute the player group causes the players within the player group to mute their volume.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the input to mute the player group causes the players in the player group to adjust their volumes comprises:

the controller sending an instruction to one of the players in the player group, the instruction indicating that the volumes of each of the players in the player group should be adjusted in scale.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to accept via the user interface an input to name the player group.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to accept via the user interface an input to mute the volume of one of the players within the player group, wherein the input to mute one of the players within the player group causes the player within the player group to mute its volume.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to save a configuration associated with the player group, wherein the configuration includes one or more of the following parameters:

a) a volume level for each player in the player group, b) a mute or unmute setting for each player in the player group, and d) an equalization setting for each player in the player group.

15. A method comprising:

displaying a user interface for a player group, wherein the player group includes a plurality of players in a local area network, and wherein each player is an independent playback device configured to playback a multimedia output from a multimedia source;

receiving via the user interface an input to facilitate formation of the player group, wherein the input to facilitate formation of the player group indicates that at least two of the plurality of players in the local area network are to be included in the player group;

receiving via the user interface an input to adjust a volume associated with one of the players within the player group, and responsively instructing the corresponding independent playback device within the player group to adjust its volume; and

receiving via the user interface an input to adjust a volume associated with the player group, and responsively instructing the corresponding independent playback devices in the player group to adjust their volumes.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving via the user interface an input to remove one of the plurality of players from the player group, and responsively removing the one of the plurality of players from the player group.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving via the user interface an input to mute the volume of the player group, and responsively instructing the players within the player group to mute their volume.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein instructing the players in the player group to adjust their volumes:

sending an instruction to one of the players in the player group, the instruction indicating that the volumes of each of the players in the player group should be adjusted in scale.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving an input to name the player group, and responsively assigning the name to the player group.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving via the user interface an input to mute the volume of one of the players within the player group, and responsively instructing the player within the player group to mute its volume.