Communication routes based on low power operation

• US 9,298,244 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Gossain, Hrishikesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US14/040,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20150092608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for utilizing direct and non-direct communication routes based low power operation. A playback device determines that it should enter a low power mode, where the playback device is part of a networked media system. The playback device identifies at least one additional playback device that is part of the networked media system, where the playback device is configured to communicate with the at least one additional playback device via a first route and a second route. The playback device informs the at least one additional playback device not to utilize the first route with the playback device and enters the low power mode. The playback device periodically receives a message from a master device, where the master device is part of the networked media system. Based on the message, the playback device exits the low power mode.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a first playback device, that the first playback device should enter a low power mode, wherein the first playback device is part of a networked media system;

based on the determination;

identifying, by the first playback device, at least one additional playback device that is part of the networked media system, wherein the first playback device is configured to communicate with the at least one additional playback device via (i) a first route, and (ii) a second route;

informing, by the first playback device, the at least one additional playback device not to utilize the first route with the first playback device;

entering, by the first playback device, the low power mode; and

while the first playback device is in the low power mode;

periodically receiving, by the first playback device, a message from a master device, wherein the master device is part of the networked media system; and

based on the message, exiting, by the first playback device, the low power mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to exiting the lower power mode, informing, by the first playback device, the at least one additional playback device to reutilize the first route with the first playback device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first route comprises a direct point-to-point communication route, and wherein the second route comprises a non-direct route.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination that the first playback device should enter a low power mode comprises:

determining, by the first playback device, that the first playback device has not played audio content for a specified period of time.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determination that the first playback device should enter a low power mode further comprises:

determining, by the first playback device, that the first playback device is not providing audio data to a second playback device, wherein the second playback device is part of the networked media system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the master device comprises a third playback device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the master device comprises a parent node to the first playback device, and wherein the networked media system comprises a mesh network utilizing a spanning tree protocol.

8. A playback device comprising:

a processor;

a network interface;

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and

program logic stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by the processor to;

determine that the playback device should enter a low power mode, wherein the playback device is part of a networked media system;

based on the determination;

identify at least one additional playback device that is part of the networked media system, wherein the playback device is configured to communicate with the at least one additional playback device via (i) a first route, and (ii) a second route;

inform the at least one additional playback device not to utilize the first route with the playback device;

enter the low power mode; and

while the first playback device is in the low power mode;

periodically receive a message from a master device, wherein the master device is part of the networked media system; and

based on the message, exit the low power mode.

9. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the program logic is further executable by the processor to:

subsequent to exiting the lower power mode, inform the at least one additional playback device to reutilize the first route with the playback device.

10. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the first route comprises a direct point-to-point communication route, and wherein the second route comprises a non-direct route.

11. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the determination that the playback device should enter a low power mode comprises:

a determination that the playback device has not played audio content for a specified period of time.

12. The playback device of claim 11, wherein the determination that the playback device should enter a low power mode further comprises:

a determination that the playback device is not providing audio data to a second playback device, wherein the second playback device is part of the networked media system.

13. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the master device comprises a third playback device.

14. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the master device comprises a parent node to the playback device, and wherein the networked media system comprises a mesh network utilizing a spanning tree protocol.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution by a processor, the set of instructions, when executed, cause a playback device to:

determine that the playback device should enter a low power mode, wherein the playback device is part of a networked media system;

based on the determination;

identify at least one additional playback device that is part of the networked media system, wherein the playback device is configured to communicate with the at least one additional playback device via (i) a first route, and (ii) a second route;

inform the at least one additional playback device not to utilize the first route with the playback device;

enter the low power mode; and

while the first playback device is in the low power mode;

periodically receive a message from a master device, wherein the master device is part of the networked media system; and

based on the message, exit the low power mode.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the set of instructions, when executed, further cause the playback device to:

subsequent to exiting the lower power mode, inform the at least one additional playback device to reutilize the first route with the playback device.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first route comprises a direct point-to-point communication route, and wherein the second route comprises a non-direct route.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the determination that the playback device should enter a low power mode comprises:

a determination that the playback device has not played audio content for a specified period of time.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the determination that the playback device should enter a low power mode further comprises:

a determination that the playback device is not providing audio data to a second playback device, wherein the second playback device is part of the networked media system.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the master device comprises a third playback device.