Playback device control

• US 9,671,780 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Bierbower, Chris, Nelson, Matt, Kafadar, Paul, Griffiths, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCORD, PAUL C
• Application Number:
  US14/500,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20160011590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/42 Recording and playback systems, i.e. in which the programme is recorded from a cycle of operations, e.g. the cycle of operations being manually controlled, after which this record is played back on the same machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23249 Using audio and or video playback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

Examples described herein involve a playback device performing one or more playback device actions based on locations of one or more physical contacts on an external surface of the playback device. A processor of the playback device may receive from an array of proximity sensors underlying an external surface of the playback device, location data indicating a physical contact at a location on the external surface. Based on at least the location, the processor may identify a playback device action from a plurality of playback device actions, and cause at least the playback device to perform the identified playback device action. The playback device may further include at least one orientation sensor from which the processor may also receive orientation data indicating an orientation of the playback device. The processor may identify identify the playback device action also based on the orientation of the playback device.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

an enclosure comprising a first external surface comprising a speaker grille and a second external surface substantially orthogonal to the first external surface;

an array of proximity sensors underlying the second external surface of the playback device;

an orientation sensor;

a processor; and

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

entering a given playback state;

while in the given playback state, receiving, via the array of proximity sensors, location data indicating a physical contact at a given location on the array of proximity sensors;

in response to receiving the location data;

if orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in a first orientation,

causing the playback device to perform a first playback action that changes the given playback state of the playback device, the first playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors, (ii) the first orientation, and (iii) the given playback state; and

if orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in a second orientation,

causing the playback device to perform a second playback action that changes the given playback state of the playback device, the second playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors, (ii) the second orientation, and (iii) the given playback state, wherein the second playback action is different from the first playback action.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the array of proximity sensors comprises a first volume control and a second volume control, wherein receiving location data indicating the physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors comprises receiving data indicating a physical contact at the first volume control, wherein causing the playback device to perform the first playback action comprises causing the playback device to increase playback volume, and wherein causing the playback device to perform the second playback action comprises causing the playback device to decrease playback volume.

3. The playback device of claim 2, wherein the playback device is in a group of playback devices configured to playback media content in synchrony, wherein causing the playback device to perform the first playback action comprises causing the group of playback device to increase volume of synchronous playback, and wherein causing the playback device to perform the second playback action comprises causing the group of playback device to decrease volume of synchronous playback.

4. The playback device of claim 2, wherein the functions further comprise:

while orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in the second orientation, receiving, via the array of proximity sensors, location data indicating a physical contact at the second volume control; and

causing the playback device to perform the first playback action, the first playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact at the second volume control, (ii) the second orientation, and (iii) the given playback state.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the array of proximity sensors comprises a first touch control and a second touch control in a linear arrangement, wherein receiving location data indicating the physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors comprises receiving data indicating a swipe contact from the first touch control to the second touch control, wherein causing the playback device to perform the first playback action comprises causing the playback device to skip to a subsequent audio track, and wherein causing the playback device to perform the second playback action comprises causing the playback device to skip to a previous audio track.

6. The playback device of claim 5, wherein the playback device is in a group of playback devices configured to playback media content in synchrony, wherein causing the playback device to perform the first playback action comprises causing the group of playback device to skip to the subsequent audio track in synchrony, and wherein causing the playback device to perform the second playback action comprises causing the group of playback device to skip to the previous audio track in synchrony.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the playback device further comprises a proximity sensor underlying a third external surface of the enclosure that is substantially orthogonal to the first external surface and the second external surface, and wherein the functions further comprise:

while orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in the second orientation in which the third external surface is oriented upwards, receiving, via the proximity sensor underlying the third external surface, location data indicating a physical contact to the proximity sensor underlying the third external surface; and

causing the playback device to perform a third playback action, the third playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact to the proximity sensor underlying the third external surface (ii) the second orientation in which the third external surface is oriented upwards, and (iii) the given playback state, wherein the third playback action is different from the first playback action and the second playback action.

8. The playback device of claim 7, wherein the playback device further comprises a proximity sensor underlying a fourth external surface opposite the third external surface and substantially orthogonal to the first external surface and the second external surface, and wherein the functions further comprise:

while orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in the second orientation in which the fourth external surface is oriented upwards, receiving, via the proximity sensor underlying the fourth external surface, location data indicating a physical contact to the proximity sensor underlying the third external surface; and

causing the playback device to perform the third playback action, the third playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact to the proximity sensor underlying the fourth external surface, (ii) the second orientation in which the fourth external surface is oriented upwards, and (iii) the given playback state.

9. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise disabling the proximity sensor underlying a third external surface of the enclosure that is substantially orthogonal to the first external surface and the second external surface while the orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in the second orientation in which the fourth external surface is oriented upwards.

15. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

while orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in motion, disabling the array of proximity sensors.

10. A tangible non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:

entering a given playback state;

while in the given playback state, receiving, via an array of proximity sensors, location data indicating a physical contact at a given location on the array of proximity sensors;

in response to receiving the location data;

if orientation data from an orientation sensor of the playback device indicates that an enclosure of the playback device is in a first orientation,

causing the playback device to perform a first playback action that changes the given playback state of the playback device, the first playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors, (ii) the first orientation, and (iii) the given playback state; and

if orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in a second orientation,

causing the playback device to perform a second playback action that changes the given playback state of the playback device, the second playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors, (ii) the second orientation, and (iii) the given playback state, wherein the second playback action is different from the first playback action.

11. The tangible non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the array of proximity sensors comprises a first volume control and a second volume control, wherein receiving location data indicating the physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors comprises receiving data indicating a physical contact at the first volume control, wherein causing the playback device to perform the first playback action comprises causing the playback device to increase playback volume, and wherein causing the playback device to perform the second playback action comprises causing the playback device to decrease playback volume.

12. The tangible non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the playback device is in a group of playback devices configured to playback media content in synchrony, wherein causing the playback device to perform the first playback action comprises causing the group of playback device to increase volume of synchronous playback, and wherein causing the playback device to perform the second playback action comprises causing the group of playback device to decrease volume of synchronous playback.

13. The tangible non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the functions further comprise:

while orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in the second orientation, receiving, via the array of proximity sensors, location data indicating a physical contact at the second volume control; and

causing the playback device to perform the first playback action, the first playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact at the second volume control, (ii) the second orientation, and (iii) the given playback state.

14. The tangible non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the array of proximity sensors comprises a first touch control and a second touch control in a linear arrangement, wherein receiving location data indicating the physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors comprises receiving data indicating a swipe contact from the first touch control to the second touch control, wherein causing the playback device to perform the first playback action comprises causing the playback device to skip to a subsequent audio track, and wherein causing the playback device to perform the second playback action comprises causing the playback device to skip to a previous audio track.

16. The tangible non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the functions further comprise:

while orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in motion, disabling the array of proximity sensors.

17. A method executable by a playback device, wherein the playback device comprises:

an enclosure comprising a first external surface comprising a speaker grille and a second external surface substantially orthogonal to the first external surface;

an array of proximity sensors underlying the second external surface of the playback device, and an orientation sensor, the method comprising;

entering a given playback state;

while in the given playback state, receiving, via the array of proximity sensors, location data indicating a physical contact at a given location on the array of proximity sensors;

in response to receiving the location data;

if orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in a first orientation, causing the playback device to perform a first playback action that changes the given playback state of the playback device, the first playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors, (ii) the first orientation, and (iii) the given playback state; and

if orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in a second orientation, causing the playback device to perform a second playback action that changes the given playback state of the playback device, the second playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors, (ii) the second orientation, and (iii) the given playback state, wherein the second playback action is different from the first playback action.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the array of proximity sensors comprises a first volume control and a second volume control, wherein receiving location data indicating the physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors comprises receiving data indicating a physical contact at the first volume control, wherein causing the playback device to perform the first playback action comprises causing the playback device to increase playback volume, and wherein causing the playback device to perform the second playback action comprises causing the playback device to decrease playback volume.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the array of proximity sensors comprises a first touch control and a second touch control in a linear arrangement, wherein receiving location data indicating the physical contact at the given location on the array of proximity sensors comprises receiving data indicating a swipe contact from the first touch control to the second touch control, wherein causing the playback device to perform the first playback action comprises causing the playback device to skip to a subsequent audio track, and wherein causing the playback device to perform the second playback action comprises causing the playback device to skip to a previous audio track.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the playback device further comprises a proximity sensor underlying a third external surface of the enclosure that is substantially orthogonal to the first external surface and the second external surface, and wherein the method further comprises:

while orientation data from the orientation sensor indicates that the enclosure is in the second orientation in which the third external surface is oriented upwards, receiving, via the proximity sensor underlying the third external surface, location data indicating a physical contact to the proximity sensor underlying the third external surface; and

causing the playback device to perform a third playback action, the third playback action corresponding to (i) physical contact to the proximity sensor underlying the third external surface, (ii) the second orientation in which the third external surface is oriented upwards, and (iii) the given playback state, wherein the third playback action is different from the first playback action and the second playback action.