Satellite volume control

• US 9,680,433 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Dizon, Bob, Griffiths, Neil, Vega Zayas, Luis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Odunukwe, Ubachukwu
• Application Number:
  US15/217,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20160329872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 381 77, 381 79, 381 81, 381104, 381105, 381107, 709203, 709217, 709218, 709219, 700 94, 455 301, 455 303, 455 306
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 1/02 Remote control of amplification, tone or bandwidth combined with remote tuning or selection of resonant circuits H03J
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3089 Control of digital or coded signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for satellite volume control. An example method includes receiving an input at a playback device to adjust a volume for a plurality of playback devices that are grouped for synchronous playback of audio content, wherein the plurality of playback devices includes the playback device. The method also includes sending a first message over a network from the playback device to a device associated with the plurality of playback devices, the first message including information based on the input, wherein the information is used to adjust the volume of the plurality of playback devices. The method also includes receiving a second message at the playback device over the network, the second message including information for the volume of the playback device, wherein the volume is based on the adjusted volume of the plurality of playback devices.

Claims

1. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause a first playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a first input indicating a first volume change for audio content;

in response to receiving the first input, determining whether the first playback device is included in a group of playback devices with at least one other playback device, wherein the group of playback devices is configured to synchronously play audio content; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is included in the group of playback devices, determining whether the first playback device is a secondary device; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is a secondary device, then transmitting to the one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not a secondary device, then adjusting volume of the audio content for the group of playback devices based on the volume change information; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not included in the group of playback devices, then applying the first volume change to a volume level of the first playback device.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the audio content comprises a plurality of audio channels, and wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving at least one channel of the plurality of audio channels of the audio content;

determining that the audio content comprises the plurality of channels, and

wherein if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is a secondary device, then transmitting, to the one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change comprises;

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is a secondary device and based on determining that the audio content comprises the plurality of audio channels, then transmitting, to the one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the message is a first message, and wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, from a second playback device of the at least one other playback device, a second message comprising second volume information indicating a volume change to apply to the first playback device based on the first volume change; and

applying the volume change to change the first playback device from a first volume level to a second volume level.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the second volume information indicating the volume change based on the first volume change comprises volume-adjusted audio content.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the second volume information indicating the volume change based on the first volume change comprises a gain value, and wherein applying the volume change comprises:

changing the first volume level to the second volume level based on the gain value.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1,

wherein determining whether the first playback device is included in a group of playback devices with at least one other playback device comprises:

determining whether the first playback device is in a bonded zone;

wherein if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is included in the group of playback devices, then transmitting, to one or more of the at least one other playback device, a message comprising volume change information indicating the first volume change comprises;

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is in a bonded zone, then transmitting, the to one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change; and

wherein if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not included in the group of playback devices, then applying the first volume change to a volume level of the first playback device comprises;

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not included in a bonded zone, then applying the first volume change to a volume level of the first playback device.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the message is a first message, and wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving a command instructing the first playback device to leave the group of playback devices;

receiving a second input indicating a second volume change for the audio content;

in response to receiving the second input, determining that the first playback device is not included in the group of playback devices; and

based on determining that the first playback device is not included in the group of playback devices, applying the second volume change to the volume level of the first playback device.

8. A first playback device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising;

receiving a first input indicating a first volume change for audio content;

in response to receiving the first input, determining whether the first playback device is included in a group of playback devices with at least one other playback device, wherein the group of playback devices is configured to synchronously play audio content; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is included in the group of playback devices, determining whether the first playback device is a secondary device; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is a secondary device, then transmitting to the one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not a secondary device, then adjusting volume of the audio content for the group of playback devices based on the volume change information; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not included in the group of playback devices, then applying the first volume change to a volume level of the first playback device.

9. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein the audio content comprises a plurality of audio channels, and wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving at least one channel of the plurality of audio channels of the audio content;

determining that the audio content comprises the plurality of channels, and

wherein if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is a secondary device, transmitting to the one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change comprises;

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is a secondary device and based on determining that the audio content comprises the plurality of audio channels, transmitting, to the one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change.

10. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein the message is a first message, and wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, from a second playback device of the at least one other playback device, a second message comprising second volume information indicating a volume change to apply to the first playback device based on the first volume change; and

applying the volume change to change the first playback device from a first volume level to a second volume level.

11. The first playback device of claim 10, wherein the second volume information indicating the volume change based on the first volume change comprises volume-adjusted audio content.

12. The first playback device of claim 10, wherein the second volume information indicating the volume change based on the first volume change comprises a gain value, and wherein applying the volume change comprises:

changing the first volume level to the second volume level based on the gain value.

13. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein determining whether the first playback device is included in a group of playback devices with at least one other playback device comprises:

determining whether the first playback device is in a bonded zone;

wherein if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is included in the group of playback devices, then transmitting, to one or more of the at least one other playback device, a message comprising volume change information indicating the first volume change comprises;

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is in a bonded zone, then transmitting, the to one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change; and

wherein if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not included in the group of playback devices, then applying the first volume change to a volume level of the first playback device comprises;

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not included in a bonded zone, then applying the first volume change to a volume level of the first playback device.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving, via a first playback device, a first input indicating a first volume change for audio content;

in response to receiving the first input, determining, via the first playback device, whether the first playback device is included in a group of playback devices with at least one other playback device, wherein the group of playback devices is configured to synchronously play audio content; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is included in the group of playback devices, determining whether the first playback device is a secondary device; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is a secondary device, then transmitting to the one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not a secondary device, then adjusting volume of the audio content for the group of playback devices based on the volume change information; and

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not included in the group of playback devices, then applying, via the first playback device, the first volume change to a volume level of the first playback device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the audio content comprises a plurality of audio channels, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, via the first playback device, at least one channel of the plurality of audio channels of the audio content;

determining, via the first playback device, that the audio content comprises the plurality of channels, and

wherein if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is a secondary device, then transmitting, via the first playback device to the one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change comprises;

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is a secondary device and based on determining that the audio content comprises the plurality of audio channels, then transmitting, via the first playback device to the one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the message is a first message, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, via the first playback device from a second playback device of the at least one other playback device, a second message comprising second volume information indicating a volume change to apply to the first playback device based on the first volume change; and

applying, via the first playback device, the volume change to change the first playback device from a first volume level to a second volume level.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the first playback device is included in a group of playback devices with at least one other playback device comprises:

determining whether the first playback device is in a bonded zone;

wherein if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is included in the group of playback devices, then transmitting, to one or more of the at least one other playback device, a message comprising volume change information indicating the first volume change comprises;

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is in a bonded zone, then transmitting, the to one or more of the at least one other playback device, the message comprising the volume change information indicating the first volume change; and

wherein if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not included in the group of playback devices, then applying the first volume change to a volume level of the first playback device comprises;

if the first playback device determines that the first playback device is not included in a bonded zone, then applying the first volume change to a volume level of the first playback device.