Lock screen media playback control

• US 9,519,413 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Bates, Paul Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US14/320,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20160004417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for providing on a display of a computing device, playback controls for a particular playback zone of a media playback system, while the computing device is in a locked state. The playback controls may then be selected to control playback of media content in the playback zone, while the computing device remains in the locked state.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

entering, via a computing device, the computing device into a locked state;

while the computing device is in the locked state;

identifying, via the computing device independent of user input, a given playback zone from among multiple playback zones of a media playback system;

while the given playback zone of the media playback system is in a first playback state, causing, via the computing device, a graphical display to display an indication of the playback zone and at least one control element, wherein the at least one control element controls the playback state of the playback zone;

receiving, via the computing device, input data indicating a selection of a particular control element from among the at least one displayed control element; and

based on receiving the input data indicating the selection of the particular control element, causing, via the computing device, the given playback zone to exit the first playback state and enter a second playback state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the computing device causing the graphical display to display an indication of the playback state of the media playback system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprising a housing, and wherein the graphical display is enclosed by the housing of the computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the playback zone is a first indication of the playback zone, wherein the at least one control element consists of one or more first control elements, and wherein the method further comprises:

while the computing device is in the locked state, causing, via the computing device, the graphical display to display an indication of a control for unlocking the computing device;

receiving, via the computing device, input data indicating a selection of the control for unlocking the computing device; and

based on the selection of the control for unlocking the computing device, causing, via the computing device, the graphical display to display a controller interface for the media playback system, wherein the controller interface for the media playback system comprises a second indication of the playback zone and one or more second control elements to manage playback of media items in the playback zone.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, via the computing device, a selection of at least one of the one or more second control elements; and

based on the received selection, causing, via the computing device, the playback zone to enter a third playback state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one control element comprises one or more of the following:

(a) a play control element, (b) a pause control element, (c) a skip forward control element, (d) a skip backward control element, (e) a volume adjustment control element, (f) a playback zone selection control element, (g) a playback zone group configuration control element, and (h) a playback queue browsing control element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the given playback zone from among the multiple playback zones comprises:

determining that, among the multiple playback zones in the media playback system, a particular playback zone is physically nearest to the computing device; and

identifying the particular playback zone as the given playback zone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the given playback zone from among the multiple playback zones comprises:

determining that, among the multiple playback zones in the media playback system, a particular playback zone was most-recently controlled by the computing device; and

identifying the particular playback zone as the given playback zone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the given playback zone from among the multiple playback zones comprises:

determining whether, among the multiple playback zones in the media playback system, any playback zone is currently playing back media;

when a particular playback zone is currently playing back media, identifying the particular playback zone as the given playback zone; and

when each of the multiple playback zones are not currently playing back media;

determining that, among the multiple playback zones in the media playback system, a particular playback zone was most-recently controlled by the computing device and identifying the particular playback zone as the given playback zone.

10. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising;

entering the computing device into a locked state; and

while the computing device is in the locked state;

identifying, independent of user input, a given playback zone from among multiple playback zones of a media playback system;

while the given playback zone of the media playback system is in a first playback state, causing a graphical display to display an indication of the playback zone and at least one control element, wherein the at least one control element controls the playback state of the playback zone;

receiving input data indicating a selection of a particular control element from among the at least one displayed control element; and

based on receiving the input data indicating the selection of the particular control element, causing the given playback zone to exit the first playback state and enter a second playback state.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing the graphical display to display an indication of the playback state of the media playback system.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the computing device comprising a housing, and wherein the graphical display is enclosed by the housing of the computing device.

13. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the indication of the playback zone is a first indication of the playback zone, wherein the at least one control element consists of one or more first control elements, and wherein the functions further comprise:

while the computing device is in the locked state, causing the graphical display to display an indication of a control for unlocking the computing device;

receiving input data indicating a selection of the control for unlocking the computing device; and

based on the selection of the control for unlocking the computing device, causing the graphical display to display a controller interface for the media playback system, wherein the controller interface for the media playback system comprises a second indication of the playback zone and one or more second control elements to manage playback of media items in the playback zone.

14. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the at least one control element comprises one or more of the following:

(a) a play control element, (b) a pause control element, (c) a skip forward control element, (d) a skip backward control element, (e) a volume adjustment control element, (f) a playback zone selection control element, (g) a playback zone group configuration control element, and (h) a playback queue browsing control element.

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

entering the computing device into a locked state;

while the computing device is in the locked state;

identifying, independent of user input, a given playback zone from among multiple playback zones of a media playback system;

while the given playback zone of the media playback system is in a first playback state, causing a graphical display to display an indication of the playback zone and at least one control element, wherein the at least one control element controls the playback state of the playback zone;

receiving input data indicating a selection of a particular control element from among the at least one displayed control element; and

based on receiving the input data indicating the selection of the particular control element, causing the given playback zone to exit the first playback state and enter a second playback state.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing the graphical display to display an indication of the playback state of the media playback system.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first playback state of the playback zone is associated with a media item, and wherein the indication of the playback zone overlays artwork associated with the media item.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one control element comprises one or more of the following:

(a) a play control element, (b) a pause control element, (c) a skip forward control element, (d) a skip backward control element, (e) a volume adjustment control element, (f) a playback zone selection control element, (g) a playback zone group configuration control element, and (h) a playback queue browsing control element.

19. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the indication of the playback zone is a first indication of the playback zone, wherein the at least one control element consists of one or more first control elements, and wherein the functions further comprise:

while the computing device is in the locked state, causing the graphical display to display an indication of a control for unlocking the computing device;

receiving input data indicating a selection of the control for unlocking the computing device; and

based on the selection of the control for unlocking the computing device, causing the graphical display to display a controller interface for the media playback system, wherein the controller interface for the media playback system comprises a second indication of the playback zone and one or more second control elements to manage playback of media items in the playback zone.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein identifying the given playback zone from among the multiple playback zones comprises:

determining that, among the multiple playback zones in the media playback system, a particular playback zone is physically nearest to the computing device; and

identifying the particular playback zone as the given playback zone.

21. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein identifying the given playback zone from among the multiple playback zones comprises:

determining that, among the multiple playback zones in the media playback system, a particular playback zone was most-recently controlled by the computing device; and

identifying the particular playback zone as the given playback zone.

22. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein identifying the given playback zone from among the multiple playback zones comprises:

determining whether, among the multiple playback zones in the media playback system, any playback zone is currently playing back media;

when a particular playback zone is currently playing back media, identifying the particular playback zone as the given playback zone; and

when each of the multiple playback zones are not currently playing back media;

determining that, among the multiple playback zones in the media playback system, a particular playback zone was most-recently controlled by the computing device and identifying the particular playback zone as the given playback zone.