Media content based on playback zone awareness

• US 9,326,070 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Bender, Kristen, Kuper, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Edun, Muhammad N
• Application Number:
  US14/921,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20160044414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 186 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• 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 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• 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 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• 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 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing audio content based on playback zone awareness. In an example implementation, a computing system receives, via one or more network interfaces, zone data that identifies a particular zone of a media playback system, where the zone data indicates a selection of the particular zone, and where the particular zone includes one or more playback devices. The computing system identifies audio content based on the zone data. Identifying audio content based on the zone data may involve determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone. After identifying the audio content, the computing system provides an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via a computing system associated with a service provider, zone data that identifies a particular zone of a media playback system, wherein the zone data indicates a selection of the particular zone, and wherein the particular zone includes one or more playback devices;

identifying, via the computing system, audio content based on the zone data, wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone; and

providing, via the computing system, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that playback of a particular genre of audio content is preferred in the particular zone, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content corresponding to the particular genre of audio content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining, based on audio preference data, that playback of certain audio content is preferred in the particular zone at a given time of day, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content that is preferred in the particular zone at the given time of day.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that the particular zone is associated with respective content ratings of audio items, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying, based on the respective content ratings of audio items, audio content that has respective content ratings that exceed a threshold rating.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that particular audio content is played most frequently among audio content available for playback by the media playback system, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content from among the particular audio content that is played most frequently.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving audio preference data indicating one or more of;

(i) particular audio items that have been played back via the one or more playback devices of the particular zone, (ii) respective content rankings of particular audio items that have been played back via the one or more playback devices of the particular zone; and

(iii) favorite audio items associated with the particular zone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the zone data indicates that the particular zone is a first zone of a particular zone group that comprises the first zone and one or more particular second zones, wherein the one or more particular second zones comprise one or more respective playback devices, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone group when the first zone is in the particular zone group, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content preferred when the first zone is in the particular zone group.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the zone data indicates that the particular zone is a given zone of a media playback system that comprises a plurality of zones in a party mode such that all zones of the media playback system are configured to play back media in synchrony, wherein the plurality of zones comprise one or more respective playback devices, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that particular audio content is preferred in the media playback system when the media playback system is in the party mode, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content preferred in the party mode.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computing system to perform operations comprising:

receiving, via a network interface, zone data that identifies a particular zone of a media playback system, wherein the zone data indicates a selection of the particular zone, and wherein the particular zone includes one or more playback devices;

identifying audio content based on the zone data, wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone; and

providing, via the network interface, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that playback of a particular genre of audio content is preferred in the particular zone;

and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content corresponding to the particular genre of audio content.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining, based on audio preference data, that playback of certain audio content is preferred in the particular zone at a given time of day, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content that is preferred in the particular zone at the given time of day.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that the particular zone is associated with respective content ratings of audio items, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying, based on the respective content ratings of audio items, audio content that has respective content ratings that exceed a threshold rating.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that particular audio content is played most frequently among audio content available for playback by the media playback system, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content from among the particular audio content that is played most frequently.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving audio preference data indicating one or more of;

(i) particular audio items that have been played back via the one or more playback devices of the particular zone, (ii) respective content rankings of particular audio items that have been played back via the one or more playback devices of the particular zone; and

(iii) favorite audio items associated with the particular zone.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the zone data indicates that the particular zone is a first zone of a particular zone group that comprises the first zone and one or more particular second zones, wherein the one or more particular second zones comprise one or more respective playback devices, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone group when the first zone is in the particular zone group, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content preferred when the first zone is in the particular zone group.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the zone data indicates that the particular zone is a given zone of a media playback system that comprises a plurality of zones in a party mode such that all zones of the media playback system are configured to play back media in synchrony, wherein the plurality of zones comprise one or more respective playback devices, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that particular audio content is preferred in the media playback system when the media playback system is in the party mode, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content preferred in the party mode.

17. A computing system configured to:

receive, via one or more network interfaces, zone data that identifies a particular zone of a media playback system, wherein the zone data indicates a selection of the particular zone, and wherein the particular zone includes one or more playback devices;

identify content based on the zone data, wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone; and

provide, via the one or more network interfaces, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

18. The computing system of claim 17, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that playback of a particular genre of audio content is preferred in the particular zone;

and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content corresponding to the particular genre of audio content.

19. The computing system of claim 17, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining, based on audio preference data, that playback of certain audio content is preferred in the particular zone at a given time of day;

and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content that is preferred in the particular zone at the given time of day.

20. The computing system of claim 17, wherein determining that particular audio content is preferred in the particular zone comprises determining that the particular zone is associated with respective content ratings of audio items, and wherein identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio content that is preferred in the particular zone comprises identifying, based on the respective content ratings of audio items, audio content that has respective content ratings that exceed a threshold rating.