Systems and methods to provide play/pause content

• US 9,298,415 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Griffiths, Neil, Reilly, Jonathon
• Primary Examiner(s): ELBIN, JESSE A
• Application Number:
  US13/937,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20150018992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 715/716, 715/727
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10657 Cache memories for random data access, e.g. buffers wherein the data output is controlled by a priority parameter other than retention time
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/102 Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• 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: 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 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• 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 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• 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 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• 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

Embodiments are disclosed for providing play/pause content. An example method includes receiving a command to play audio from a zone, the zone including one or more playback devices, wherein the zone is configured to play items from a playback queue responsive to the command to play audio. The example method also includes determining that the playback queue includes no playable items. The example method also includes automatically placing information identifying at least one playable item in the playback queue. The example method also includes, responsive to the command to play audio, causing to play the at least one playable item by the zone.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a command to resume playback of previously paused audio in a zone, the zone including one or more playback devices, wherein the zone is configured to play items from a playback queue responsive to the command to resume playback of previously paused audio, the command to resume playback of previously paused audio received from a controller in communication with at least one of the playback devices, the playback queue associated with the zone;

determining that the playback queue includes no playable items;

in response to the determining, placing at least one playable item in the playback queue based on content information corresponding to the previously paused audio, wherein at least one playable item is placed in the playback queue without user input; and

responsive to the command to resume playback of previously paused audio, causing to play the at least one playable item by the zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the playback queue includes no playable items further comprises determining there are no items in the playback queue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the playback queue includes no playable items further comprises:

determining that an item is in the playback queue; and

determining that the item is unplayable because audio data corresponding to the item is not retrievable for playback by the zone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one playable item comprises a playable item previously included in the playback queue of the zone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the zone is a first zone, the playback queue is a first playback queue, and the at least one playable item comprises a playable item included in a second playback queue associated with a second zone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one playable item comprises a playable item included in a list of favorites accessible by the zone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one playable item comprises a playable item provided by a third party media service that identifies the playable item based on an input from the one or more playback devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the command to resume playback of previously paused audio is in response to a user input received via a control of the one or more playback devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the command to resume playback of previously paused audio is in response to a user input received via a control interface on a controller that is associated with the zone.

10. A system comprising:

a zone including one or more playback devices to play items from a playback queue, the playback queue associated with the zone; and

a processor configured to execute instructions, the instructions to cause the processor to;

determine, in response to a command for the zone to resume playback of previously paused audio, that the playback queue includes no playable items, the command to resume playback of previously paused audio received from a controller in communication with the zone;

place at least one playable item in the playback queue based on content information corresponding to the previously paused audio, wherein at least one playable item is placed in the playback queue without user input; and

in response to the command to resume playback of previously paused audio, facilitate playback of the at least one playable item by the zone.

11. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the processor to determine that the playback queue includes no playable items by determining that there are no items in the playback queue.

12. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein the instructions cause the processor to determine that the playback queue includes no playable items by:

determining that the playback queue includes an item; and

determining that the item is unplayable because audio data corresponding to the item is not retrievable for playback by the zone.

13. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein the instructions are to further cause the processor to receive the command to resume playback of previously paused audio in response to a user input provided via a control interface on a playback device of the one or more playback devices.

14. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein the instructions are to further cause the processor to receive the command to resume playback of previously paused audio in response to a user input provided via a control interface on a controller that is associated with the zone.

15. A tangible computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a command to resume playback of previously paused audio in a zone, the zone including one or more playback devices, wherein the zone is configured to play items from a playback queue in response to the command to resume playback of previously paused audio, the command to resume playback of previously paused audio received from a controller in communication with at least one of the playback devices, the playback queue associated with the zone;

determining that the playback queue includes no playable items;

in response to the determining, placing at least one playable item in the playback queue based on content information corresponding to the previously paused audio, wherein at least one playable item is placed in the playback queue without user input; and

in response to the command to resume playback of previously paused audio, causing to play the at least one playable item by the zone.

16. A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise determining there are no items in the playback queue.

17. A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise:

determining that an item is in the playback queue; and

determining that the item is unplayable because audio data corresponding to the item is not retrievable for playback by the zone.

18. A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the at least one playable item comprises a playable item previously included in the playback queue.

19. A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the zone is a first zone, the playback queue is a first playback queue, and the at least one playable item comprises a playable item included in a second playback queue associated with a second zone.

20. A tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise providing an input to a third party media server to determine the at least one playable item.