Power decrease based on packet type

• US 9,252,721 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Holmgren, Steve F., MacFarlane, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saunders, Jr., Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/465,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20140363028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• 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: H03F 1/52 Circuit arrangements for protecting such amplifiers monitoring arrangements G01R31/28; increasing reliability in communication systems, e.g. using redundancy H04B1/74
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/03 the amplifier being designed for audio applications
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/183 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/0088 using discontinuously variable devices, e.g. switch-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• 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 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• 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

Techniques for controlling one or more audio amplifiers in or associated with a device coupled on a local area network are disclosed. An example playback device includes a processor, an amplifier, a network interface, and a memory. The memory includes a software module that, when executed by the processor, causes the playback device to: operate in a first power mode in which the amplifier consumes a first amount of power; while operating in the first power mode, determine that a defined time has passed since receiving, via the network interface, a specified type of data packet; and based on determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the specified type of data packet, transition from operating in the first power mode to operate in a second power mode in which the amplifier consumes a second amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is greater than the second amount of power.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

one or more processors;

an amplifier;

a network interface; and

tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to;

operate in a first power mode in which the amplifier consumes a first amount of power;

while operating in the first power mode, receive one or more packets addressed to the playback device, and determine that a defined time has passed since receiving a specified type of data packet; and

after determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the specified type of data packet, transition from operating in the first power mode to operate in a second power mode in which the amplifier consumes a second amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is greater than the second amount of power.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the specified type of data packet is a data packet received from an audio source.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the specified type of data packet is a data packet relating to an audio source.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the amplifier comprises an analog circuit.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the specified type of data packet comprises a data packet comprising audio content received from an audio source.

6. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the specified type of data packet comprises a packet of an audio stream received from an audio source.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the specified type of data packet comprises a control packet that comprises control information relating to an audio stream.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein causing the amplifier to operate in the second power mode comprises switching at least one electronic connection.

9. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the second amount of power is no power.

10. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the second amount of power is greater than no power.

11. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the playback device to:

while operating in the first power mode, play back an audio stream in response to receiving a data packet comprising a command to start playback of the audio stream.

12. The playback device of claim 11, wherein the specified type of data packet comprises a control packet comprising a command to stop playback of the audio stream.

13. A method comprising:

a playback device operating in a first power mode in which an amplifier of the playback device consumes a first amount of power;

while operating in the first power mode, the playback device receiving one or more packets addressed to the playback device, and determining that a defined time has passed since receiving a specified type of data packet; and

after determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the specified type of data packet, the playback device transitioning from operating in the first power mode to operating in a second power mode in which the amplifier consumes a second amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is greater than the second amount of power.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the specified type of data packet is a data packet associated with an audio source.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the specified type of data packet comprises a data packet received from an audio source.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the specified type of data packet comprises a packet of an audio stream received from an audio source.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the specified type of data packet comprises a control packet comprising control information relating to an audio stream received from an audio source, wherein the control packet is received from one of the audio source or a controller that is separate from the audio source.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the second amount of power is greater than no power.

19. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause a playback device to perform a method comprising:

operating the playback device in a first power mode in which an amplifier of the playback device consumes a first amount of power;

while operating in the first power mode, the playback device receiving one or more packets addressed to the playback device, and determining that a defined time has passed since receiving a specified type of data packet; and

after determining that the defined time has passed since receiving the specified type of data packet, transitioning the playback device from operating in the first power mode to operating in a second power mode in which the amplifier consumes a second amount of power, wherein the first amount of power is greater than the second amount of power.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the specified type of data packet comprises one of a data packet comprising audio content or a control packet comprising instructions to start playback of audio content.