Default playback devices

• US 9,820,039 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Lang, Jonathan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-See
• Application Number:
  US15/098,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 381 92, 381 56- 59, 381314, 381300, 381303, 381 61, 381 77, 381 96, 700 94, 715736, 715716, 370338, 4554143
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/14 using statistical models, e.g. Hidden Markov Models [HMMs] G10L15/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/02 Speech enhancement, e.g. noise reduction or echo cancellation reducing echo effects in line transmission systems H04B3/20; echo suppression in hands-free telephones H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/303 Tracking of listener position or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 : Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Systems and method discussed herein involve applying a designation of a default playback device in a media playback system. One method may involve maintaining a database comprising data indicating an assignment of an identification of a network microphone device to a playback zone of a media playback system, receiving a message indicating (i) the identification of the network microphone device and (ii) a media playback command, identifying the playback zone in the media playback system based on the data in the database and the received message, and transmitting to the playback zone, a message indicating the media playback command.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

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

maintaining a database comprising data indicating an assignment of an identification of a network microphone device to a particular playback zone of a media playback system, wherein the particular playback zone comprises at least one playback device;

receiving from the network microphone device, data indicating a voice input comprising

a media playback command;

determining that the voice input does not comprise an indication of any playback zone in the media playback system;

in response to determining that the voice input does not comprise an indication of any playback zone in the media playback system, identifying in the maintained database, the particular playback zone in the media playback system based on the data indicating the assignment of the identification of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone; and

after identifying the particular playback zone, transmitting to the at least one playback device of the particular playback zone, a message indicating the media playback command to cause the at least one playback device of the particular playback zone to execute the media playback command.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the particular playback zone comprises two or more playback devices, and wherein transmitting to the at least one playback device of the particular playback zone, a message indicating the media playback command comprises:

transmitting to each of the two or more playback devices, the message indicating the media playback command.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the particular playback zone comprises two or more playback devices, and wherein transmitting to the at least one playback device of the particular playback zone, a message indicating the media playback command comprises:

selecting one of the two or more playback devices; and

transmitting to the selected playback device, the message indicating the media playback command.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the particular playback zone is a first playback zone, wherein the database further comprises data indicating an assignment of the identification of the network microphone device to a second playback zone of the media playback system, and wherein identifying the first playback zone in the media playback system comprises:

identifying in the maintained database, both the first playback zone and the second playback zone based on the data in the database; and

wherein transmitting to the at least one playback device associated with the playback zone, the message indicating the media playback command comprises;

selecting the first playback zone based on the data indicating the voice input; and

based on the selection of the first playback zone, transmitting to the at least one playback device of the first playback zone, the message indicating the media playback command.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the data indicating the voice input further indicates proximity information corresponding to the voice input, and wherein selecting the first playback zone in the media playback system comprises:

selecting the first playback zone based the proximity information.

6. The computing device of claim 4,

wherein selecting the first playback zone in the media playback system comprises:

selecting the first playback zone based on a determination that the first playback zone is associated with media content.

7. The computing device of claim 4, wherein selecting the first playback zone comprises:

selecting the first playback zone based on a determination that the second playback zone is not associated with media content.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting to the network microphone device, a message indicating the media playback command was sent to the at least one playback device in the particular playback zone.

9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to transmitting to the network microphone device, the message indicating the media playback command was sent to the at least one playback device in the particular playback zone, receiving from the at least one playback device in the playback zone, a message indicating receipt of the media playback command.

10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the computing device is a first server, and

wherein transmitting to the network microphone device, the message indicating the media playback command was sent to the at least one playback device in the particular playback zone comprises:

transmitting the message via a second server.

11. The computing device of claim 8, wherein transmitting to the network microphone device, a message indicating the media playback command was sent to the at least one playback device in the particular playback zone comprises:

causing the at least one playback device in the playback zone to transmit to the network microphone device, the message indicating that the media playback command was received by the

at least one playback device of the particular playback zone.

12. A method comprising:

maintaining, by a computing device, a database comprising data indicating an assignment of an identification of a network microphone device to a particular playback zone of a media playback system, wherein the particular playback zone comprises at least one playback device;

receiving by the computing device from the network microphone device, data indicating a voice input comprising media playback command;

determining by the computing device that the voice input does not comprise an indication of any playback zone in the media playback system;

in response to determining that the voice input does not comprise an indication of any playback zone in the media playback system, identifying by the computing device in the maintained database, the particular playback zone in the media playback system based on the data indicating the assignment of the identification of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone; and

after identifying the particular playback zone, transmitting by the computing device to the at least one playback device of the particular playback zone, a message indicating the media playback command to cause the at least one playback device of the particular playback zone to execute the media playback command.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the particular playback zone is a first playback zone;

wherein the database further comprises data indicating an assignment of the identification of the network microphone device to a second playback zone of the media playback system; and

wherein identifying the first playback zone in the media playback system comprises;

identifying, by the computing device, the first playback zone and the second playback zone based on the data in the database; and

selecting, by the computing device, the first playback zone out of the first playback zone and the second playback zone based on a determination that the first playback zone is associated with media content.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the particular playback zone is a first playback zone;

wherein the database further comprises data indicating an assignment of the identification of the network microphone device to a second playback zone of the media playback system; and

wherein identifying the first playback zone in the media playback system comprises;

identifying, by the computing device, the first playback zone and the second playback zone based on the data in the database; and

selecting by the computing device, the first playback zone out of the first playback zone and the second playback zone based on a determination that the second playback zone is not associated with media content.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the particular playback zone is a first playback zone;

wherein the database further comprises data indicating an assignment of the identification of the network microphone device to a second playback zone of the media playback system;

wherein the data indicating the voice input further indicates proximity information corresponding to the voice input; and

wherein identifying the first playback zone in the media playback system comprises;

identifying by the computing device, the first playback zone further based on the proximity information.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting, by the computing device to the network microphone device, a message indicating the media playback command was sent to the at least one playback device in the particular playback zone.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method comprising:

maintaining a database comprising data indicating an assignment of an identification of a network microphone device to a particular playback zone of a media playback system, wherein the particular playback zone comprises at least one playback device;

receiving from the network microphone device, data indicating a voice input comprising a media playback command;

determining that the voice input does not comprise an indication of any playback zone in the media playback system;

in response to determining that the voice input does not comprise an indication of any playback zone in the media playback system, identifying in the maintained database, the particular playback zone in the media playback system based on the data indicating the assignment of the identification of the network microphone device to the playback zone; and

after identifying the playback zone, transmitting to the at least one playback device of the particular playback zone, a message indicating the media playback command to cause the at least one playback device of the particular playback zone to execute the media playback command.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the particular playback zone is a first playback zone;

wherein the database further comprises data indicating an assignment of the identification of the network microphone device to a second playback zone of the media playback system; and

wherein identifying the first playback zone in the media playback system comprises;

identifying the first playback zone and the second playback zone based on the data in the database; and

selecting the first playback zone from the first playback zone and second playback zone based on a determination that the first playback zone is associated with-media content.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the particular playback zone is a first playback zone;

wherein the database further comprises data indicating an assignment of the identification of the network microphone device to a second playback zone of the media playback system;

wherein the data indicating the voice input further indicates proximity information corresponding to the voice input; and

wherein identifying the first playback zone in the media playback system comprises;

identifying the first playback zone further based on the proximity information.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

transmitting to the network microphone device, a message indicating the media playback command was sent to the at least one playback device in the particular playback zone.