Systems and methods for mobile music zones
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- identifying, via a portable playback device, an available playback network for playback of first content;
when the available playback network is accessible, automatically (i) connecting the portable playback device to the available playback network; and
(ii) pairing the portable playback device with at least one first additional playback device on the available playback network when connected to the available playback network;
wherein the portable playback device plays at least one first channel of audio associated with the first content when paired with the at least one first additional playback device while each of the at least one first additional playback device plays a respective at least one second channel of audio associated with the first content in synchrony with the portable playback device, wherein the at least one first channel of audio played by the portable playback device and the respective at least one second channel of audio played by the at least one first additional playback device are each a subset of a full range of audio associated with the first audio content;
detecting that the portable playback device moved from within a range of the available playback network to outside of the range of the available playback network when paired with the at least one first additional playback device; and
in response to detecting that the portable playback device moved outside of the range of the available playback network when paired with the at least one first additional playback device, automatically (a) removing the pairing between the portable playback device and the at least one first additional playback device;
(b) establishing, by the portable playback device, a mobile playback network to facilitate playback of second content in the mobile playback network, wherein the mobile playback network is not available for access prior to the portable playback device establishing the mobile playback network;
(c) switching, by the portable playback device, to the mobile playback network to provide the second content for playback by the portable playback device;
(d) changing playback, by the portable playback device, from the subset of the full range of audio associated with the first audio content when paired with the at least one first additional playback device to a full range of audio associated with the second content when the pairing is removed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate portable playback of multimedia content are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a communication interface to send and receive data via a network connection, the data including multimedia content for playback. The example apparatus includes a memory to store instructions and data. The example apparatus includes a processor. The processor is to search for an available playback network and, if available, automatically connect to the playback network. The processor is to, in an absence of an available network, establish a mobile zone to facilitate multimedia content playback via the mobile zone. The processor is to automatically switch between the playback network and the mobile zone depending upon availability of the playback network to provide content playback via the portable playback device. The processor is to facilitate control and playback of content on the playback network via the portable playback device.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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identifying, via a portable playback device, an available playback network for playback of first content; when the available playback network is accessible, automatically (i) connecting the portable playback device to the available playback network; and
(ii) pairing the portable playback device with at least one first additional playback device on the available playback network when connected to the available playback network;wherein the portable playback device plays at least one first channel of audio associated with the first content when paired with the at least one first additional playback device while each of the at least one first additional playback device plays a respective at least one second channel of audio associated with the first content in synchrony with the portable playback device, wherein the at least one first channel of audio played by the portable playback device and the respective at least one second channel of audio played by the at least one first additional playback device are each a subset of a full range of audio associated with the first audio content; detecting that the portable playback device moved from within a range of the available playback network to outside of the range of the available playback network when paired with the at least one first additional playback device; and in response to detecting that the portable playback device moved outside of the range of the available playback network when paired with the at least one first additional playback device, automatically (a) removing the pairing between the portable playback device and the at least one first additional playback device; (b) establishing, by the portable playback device, a mobile playback network to facilitate playback of second content in the mobile playback network, wherein the mobile playback network is not available for access prior to the portable playback device establishing the mobile playback network; (c) switching, by the portable playback device, to the mobile playback network to provide the second content for playback by the portable playback device; (d) changing playback, by the portable playback device, from the subset of the full range of audio associated with the first audio content when paired with the at least one first additional playback device to a full range of audio associated with the second content when the pairing is removed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A portable playback device comprising:
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a communication interface to send and receive data via a network connection, the data including first content and second content for playback; a memory to store instructions and data; and a processor to; identify, via the portable playback device, an available playback network for playback of first content; when the available playback network is accessible, automatically (i) connect the portable playback device to the available playback network; and
(ii) pair the portable playback devicewith at least one first additional playback device on the available playback network when connected to the available playback network; wherein the portable playback device plays at least one first channel of audio associated with the first content when paired with the at least one first additional playback device while each of the at least one first additional playback device plays a respective at least one second channel of audio associated with the first content in synchrony with the portable playback device, wherein the at least one first channel of audio played by the portable playback device and the respective at least one second channel of audio played by the at least one first additional playback device are each a subset of a full range of audio associated with the first audio content; detect that the portable playback device moved from within a range of the available playback network to outside of the range of the available playback network when paired with the at least one first additional playback device; and in response to detecting that the portable playback device moved outside of the range of the available playback network when paired with the at least one first additional playback device, automatically (a) remove the pairing between the portable playback device and the at least one first additional playback device; (b) establish, by the portable playback device, a mobile playback network to facilitate playback of second content in the mobile playback network, wherein the mobile playback network is not available for access prior to the portable playback device establishing the mobile playback network; (c) switch, by the portable playback device, to the mobile playback network to provide the second content for playback by the portable playback device; (d) change playback, by the portable playback device, from the subset of the full range of audio associated with the first audio content when paired with the at least one first additional playback device to a full range of audio associated with the second content when the pairing is removed. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed by the processor, implementing a portable playback device, the device arranged to:
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identify, via the portable playback device, an available playback network for playback of first content; when the available playback network is accessible, automatically (i) connect the portable playback device to the available playback network; and
(ii) pair the portable playback devicewith at least one first additional playback device on the available playback network when connected to the available playback network; and wherein the portable playback device plays at least one first channel of audio associated with the first content when paired with the at least one first additional playback device while each of the at least one first additional playback device plays a respective at least one second channel of audio associated with the first content in synchrony with the portable playback device, wherein the at least one first channel of audio played by the portable playback device and the respective at least one second channel of audio played by the at least one first additional playback device are each a subset of a full range of audio associated with the first audio content; detect that the portable playback device moved from within a range of the available playback network to outside of the range of the available playback network when paired with the at least one first additional playback device; and in response to detecting that the portable playback device moved outside of the range of the available playback network when paired with the at least one first additional playback device, automatically (a) remove the pairing between the portable playback device and the at least one first additional playback device; (b) establish, by the portable playback device, a mobile playback network to facilitate playback of second content in the mobile playback network, wherein the mobile playback network is not available for access prior to the portable playback device establishing the mobile playback network; (c) switch, by the portable playback device, to the mobile playback network to provide the second content for playback by the portable playback device; (d) change playback, by the portable playback device, from the subset of the full range of audio associated with the first audio content when paired with the at least one first additional playback device to a full range of audio associated with the second content when the pairing is removed. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification