Controlling and manipulating groupings in a multi-zone media system
First Claim
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1. In a network comprising a plurality of independent playback devices, a method comprising:
- maintaining, by a first independent playback device, a zone configuration, the zone configuration characterizing one or more zone scenes each zone scene identifying a group configuration associated with two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices;
transmitting, by the first independent playback device via a network interface, the zone configuration to a controller device;
receiving, by the first independent playback device via the network interface, an instruction from the controller device to invoke a zone scene of the one or more zone scenes; and
causing, by the first independent playback device, two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices in the network to group in accordance with the received instruction to invoke the zone scene of the one or more zone scenes.
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Abstract
In general, techniques of controlling a plurality of multimedia players in groups are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is provided to allow a user to group some of the players according to a theme or scene, where each of the players is located in a zone. When the scene is activated, the players in the scene react in a synchronized manner. For example, the players in the scene are all caused to play a multimedia source or music in a playlist, wherein the multimedia source may be located anywhere on a network.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a network comprising a plurality of independent playback devices, a method comprising:
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maintaining, by a first independent playback device, a zone configuration, the zone configuration characterizing one or more zone scenes each zone scene identifying a group configuration associated with two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices; transmitting, by the first independent playback device via a network interface, the zone configuration to a controller device; receiving, by the first independent playback device via the network interface, an instruction from the controller device to invoke a zone scene of the one or more zone scenes; and causing, by the first independent playback device, two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices in the network to group in accordance with the received instruction to invoke the zone scene of the one or more zone scenes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A first independent playback device including a processor, the first independent playback device configured to:
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maintain a zone configuration, the zone configuration characterizing one or more zone scenes, each zone scene identifying a group configuration associated with two or more of a plurality of independent playback devices; transmit, via a network interface of the first independent playback device, the zone configuration to a controller device; receive, via the network interface, an instruction from the controller device to invoke a zone scene of the one or more zone scenes; and cause two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices in the network to group in accordance with the received instruction to invoke the zone scene of the one or more zone scenes. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution by a processor, the set of instructions, when executed, implement a first independent playback device configured to:
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maintain a zone configuration, the zone configuration characterizing one or more zone scenes each zone scene identifying a group configuration associated with two or more of a plurality of independent playback devices; transmit, via a network interface of the first independent playback device, the zone configuration to a controller device; receive, via the network interface of the first independent playback device, an instruction from the controller device to invoke a zone scene of the one or more zone scenes; and cause two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices in the network to group in accordance with the received instruction to invoke the zone scene of the one or more zone scenes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification