Cloud queue access control

• US 9,729,599 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Beckhardt, Steven, Schulert, Andrew J., Ramsperger, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Almeida, Devin
• Application Number:
  US14/616,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20150358310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/638 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 : Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 : involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 : for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 : Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 : involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 : Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• 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

Abstract

An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving a request from a first media playback system for access to a queue of media items, and a request from a second media playback system for access to the queue of media items. The computing system may grant a first type of access to the first media playback system and a second type of access to the second media playback system. The first type of access and the second type of access may authorize a first set of operations and a second set of operations on the queue of media items, respectively. The computing system may provide an indication that the first media playback system may access the queue as authorized by the first type of access, and an indication that the second media playback system may access the queue as authorized by the second type of access.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via a computing system over a network interface, (i) a request from a first media playback system for access to a cloud queue of media items, and (ii) a request from a second media playback system for access to the cloud queue of media items, wherein the cloud queue is accessible to the first media playback system and the second media playback system via a wide area network, and wherein the first media playback system comprises a first playback device that is connected to the wide area network via a first local area network and the second media playback system comprises a second playback device that is connected to the wide area network via a second local area network;

granting, via the computing system, (i) to the first media playback system, a first type of access to the cloud queue authorizing the first media playback system to perform a first set of operations, wherein the first type of access to the cloud queue causes the first media playback system to restrict a first local queue that is stored on the first playback device to the first set of operations, and wherein the first local queue includes at least one media item of the cloud queue of media items, and wherein performing a given first operation on the first local queue causes the computing system to perform a corresponding first operation on the cloud queue, and (ii) to the second media playback system, a second type of access to the cloud queue authorizing the second media playback system to perform a second set of operations, wherein the second type of access to the cloud queue causes the second media playback system to restrict a second local queue that is stored on the second playback device to the second set of operations, and wherein the second local queue includes at least one media item of the cloud queue of media items, wherein the performing a given second operation on the second local queue causes the computing system to perform a corresponding second operation on the cloud queue, and wherein the second set of operations is different from the first set of operations; and

providing, via the computing system over the network interface, (i) an indication that the first media playback system is granted the first type of access to the cloud queue, and (ii) an indication that the second media playback system is granted the second type of access to the cloud queue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of operations corresponds to control of playback of the cloud queue, and wherein the second set of operations corresponds to manipulation of the cloud queue.

3. The method of claim 1:

wherein the first set of operations comprises initiating playback of the cloud queue on the first media playback system; and

wherein the second set of operations comprise one or more of;

inserting media items into the cloud queue, removing media items from the cloud queue, and re-ordering media items of the cloud queue.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first media playback system over the network interface, a request to play back the cloud queue;

determining that the first type of access granted to the first media playback system authorizes the first media playback system to play back the cloud queue; and

sending, to the first media playback system over the network interface, data indicating (i) one or more media items of the cloud queue, and (ii) respective sources of the one or more media items, wherein the one or more media items are playable from the respective sources by the first media playback system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the second media playback system over the network interface, a request to change a playhead from a first position in the cloud queue to a second position within the cloud queue, wherein the playhead indicates a given position in the cloud queue corresponding to a particular media item that is currently playing;

determining that the second type of access granted to the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to change position of the playhead; and

based on determining that second type of access rights granted to the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to change the position of the playhead, changing the playhead from the first position to the second position within the cloud queue.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that a playhead has moved to one or more respective positions within the cloud queue, wherein the playhead indicates a given position in the cloud queue corresponding to a particular media item that is currently playing; and

sending, to the first media playback system over the network interface, respective indications of the one or more respective positions.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, over the network interface, a request to grant the second type of access to the first media playback system;

determining that granting the second type of access to the first media playback system would exceed a threshold number of media playback systems that are granted the second type of access; and

based on determining that granting the second type of access to the first media playback system would exceed the threshold number of media playback systems, denying the request to grant the second type of access to the first media playback system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request from the second media playback system for access to the cloud queue of media items comprises receiving a request from the second media playback system to establish the cloud queue;

and wherein granting the second type of access to the second media playback system comprises;

determining that the second media playback system established the cloud queue; and

based on determining that the second media playback system established the cloud queue, granting the second media playback system the second type of access.

9. A computing system comprising:

a network interface;

at least one processor;

a data storage; and

a program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the at least one processor to;

receive, via the network interface, (i) respective requests from multiple first media playback systems for respective access to a cloud queue of media items and (ii) a request from a second media playback system for access to the cloud queue of media items, wherein the cloud queue is accessible to the multiple first media playback systems and the second media playback system via a wide area network, and wherein each first media playback system of the multiple first media playback systems comprises a respective first playback device that is connected to the wide area network via a first local area network and the second media playback system comprises a second playback device that is connected to the wide area network via a second local area network;

grant (i) to the multiple first media playback systems, a first type of access to the cloud queue authorizing the multiple first media playback systems to perform a first set of operations, wherein the first type of access to the cloud queue causes the respective first media playback systems to restrict respective first local queues that are stored on the first playback devices to the first set of operations and wherein the first local queues include at least one media item of the cloud queue of media items, and wherein performing a given first operation on the first local queues causes the computing system to perform a corresponding first operation on the cloud queue and (ii) to the second media playback system, a second type of access to the cloud queue authorizing the second media playback system to perform a second set of operations, wherein the second type of access to the cloud queue causes the second media playback system to restrict a second local queue that is stored on the second playback device to the second set of operations, and wherein the second local queue includes at least one media item of the cloud queue of media items, wherein the performing a given second operation on the second local queue causes the computing system to perform a corresponding second operation on the cloud queue, and wherein the second set of operations is different from the first set of operations; and

provide, via the network interface, (i) the multiple first media playback systems access to the cloud queue as authorized by the first type of access, and (ii) the second media playback system access to the cloud queue as authorized by the second type of access.

10. The computing system of claim 9, wherein providing the multiple first media playback systems access to the cloud queue as authorized by the first type of access comprises:

initiating playback of the cloud queue on the multiple first media playback systems in synchrony.

11. The computing system of claim 9, wherein receiving (i) respective requests from the multiple first media playback systems for respective access to the cloud queue of media items and (ii) the request from the second media playback system for access to the cloud queue of media items comprises receiving (i) respective credentials from the multiple first media playback systems and (ii) a credential from the second media playback system;

and wherein granting (i) the first type of access to the first media playback system and (ii) the second type of access to the second media playback system comprises determining (i) that the respective credentials from the multiple first media playback systems authorize the multiple first media playback systems to be granted the first type of access and (ii) that the credential from the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to be granted the second type of access.

12. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the program logic is further executable by the at least one processor to:

receive, from the second media playback system over the network interface, a request to change a playhead from a first position within the cloud queue to a second position within the cloud queue;

determine that the second type of access granted to the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to change position of the playhead; and

responsively, cause, over the network interface, each first playback device of the multiple first media playback systems to play back a media item that corresponds to the second position within the cloud queue.

13. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the program logic is further executable by the at least one processor to:

detect that the second media playback system has been granted the second type of access for a threshold duration of time; and

based on detecting that the second media playback system has been granted the second type of access for the threshold duration of time, granting at least one of the multiple first media playback systems the second type of access and granting the second media playback system the first type of access.

14. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the program logic is further executable by the at least one processor to:

receive, over the network interface, respective requests from one or more third media playback systems for respective access to the cloud queue of media items, wherein each third media playback system of the one or more third media playback systems comprises a respective third playback device that is connected to the wide area network via a respective third local area network;

determine that the respective requests are respective first instances of requests from the one or more third media playback systems for respective access to the cloud queue of media items; and

based on determining that the respective requests are respective first instances of requests from the one or more third media playback systems for respective access to the cloud queue of media items, grant the second type of access to the one or more third media playback systems for a pre-determined duration of time.

15. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the program logic is further executable by the at least one processor to:

receive, over the network interface, a request from the second media playback system to grant the second type of access to a particular first media playback system;

determine that the second type of access granted to the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to grant the second type of access; and

based on determining that the second type of access granted to the second media playback system authorizes the second media playback system to grant the second type of access, granting the second type of access to the particular first media playback system.

16. A method comprising:

sending, via a first media playback system to a remote server over a network interface, a request for access to a cloud queue of media items, wherein the cloud queue is accessible to the first media playback system via a wide area network;

receiving, via the first media playback system over the network interface, an indication that the first media playback system is authorized to access the cloud queue according to a first type of access of two types of access, the two types of access comprising the first type of access and a second type of access, wherein the first type of access causes the first media playback system to restrict a local queue to a first set of operations, wherein the local queue is stored on at least one playback device of the first media playback system and includes at least one media item of the cloud queue of media items, wherein the second type of access causes the first media playback system to restrict the local queue to a second set of operations, and wherein the second set of operations is different from the first set of operations;

performing a given first operation on the local queue;

causing, via the first media playback system, the remote server to perform the given first operation on the cloud queue, wherein causing the remote server to perform the given first operation on the cloud queue comprises sending, over the network interface to the remote server, an indication of the given first operation performed on the local queue; and

receiving, via the first media playback system over a network interface, an indication of one or more media items of the cloud queue.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of operations involve playback of the cloud queue and wherein the second set of operations involve manipulation of the cloud queue.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of operations include playback of the cloud queue on one or more playback devices of the first media playback system, the method further comprising:

receiving, via the first media playback system over the network interface, indications of respective positions of a playhead, wherein the playhead indicates a position in the cloud queue corresponding to a particular media item that is currently playing; and

initiating playback of the cloud queue in synchrony with the playhead on the one or more playback devices.

19. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising:

receiving, via the first media playback system over the network interface, an indication that the first media playback system is authorized to access the cloud queue according to the second type of access; and

sending, via the first media playback system to the remote server over the network interface, a request to change a playhead from a first position within the cloud queue to a second position within the cloud queue, wherein the playhead indicates a position in the cloud queue corresponding to a particular media item that is currently playing.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of operations include modification of the cloud queue, the method further comprising:

receiving, via the first media playback system over the network interface, an indication that the first media playback system is authorized to access the cloud queue according to the second type of access; and

sending, to the remote server over the network interface, a request to add one or more additional media items to the cloud queue so as to modify the cloud queue.