Default playback device designation

• US 9,826,306 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• 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:
  US15/098,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 381 92, 381 56- 59, 381314, 381300, 381303, 381 61, 381 77, 381 96, 700 94, 715736, 715716, 370338
• 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 methods discussed herein involve designating a default playback device in a local playback network. One method may involve determining that a networked microphone device is available for assignment to one or more playback zones within a local playback network, displaying a prompt to indicate at least one playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned, receiving an input indicating a particular playback zone in the local playback system to which the network microphone device is to be assigned, and storing data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

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

determining that a network microphone device is available for assignment to one of a plurality of playback zones within a local playback network;

displaying a prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned, wherein assigning the given playback zone to the network microphone device comprises configuring the playback device of the given playback zone to be a default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device;

receiving an input indicating a selection of a particular playback zone of the plurality of playback zones; and

causing to be stored data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the particular playback zone comprises two or more playback devices, and wherein the input indicating the selection of the particular playback zone in the media playback system comprises an input indicating a particular playback device of the two or more playback devices in the particular playback zone to be the default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone comprises:

transmitting to a server, a message to cause the server to store the data indicating the assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein displaying the prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned comprises:

displaying on the interface, for each playback zone in the media playback system, a corresponding representation; and

displaying on the interface, a prompt to select a representation corresponding to the given playback zone.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein displaying the prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned comprises:

displaying on the interface, a prompt to press a button on a playback device in the given playback zone.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the particular playback zone comprises two or more playback devices, and wherein the functions further comprise:

displaying on the interface, a prompt to indicate a particular playback device in the particular playback zone to be the default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the local playback network is a first network, and wherein determining that a networked microphone device is available for assignment to one of a plurality of playback zones within the local playback network comprises:

establishing communication with the network microphone device over a second network; and

receiving from the network microphone device, a message indicating that the network microphone is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback devices within the local playback network.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the local playback network is a first network, and wherein determining that a networked microphone device is available for assignment to one of a plurality of playback zones within the local playback network comprises:

establishing communication with the network microphone device over a second network;

transmitting to the network microphone device over the second network, data indicating parameters for joining the first network; and

after transmitting to the network microphone device, the data indicating parameters for joining the first network, receiving a message indicating that the network microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within the first network.

9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein receiving the message indicating that the network microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within the first network comprises:

receiving a message from the network microphone device over the first network.

10. The computing device of claim 8, wherein receiving the message indicating that the network microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within the first network comprises:

receiving from a playback device via the first network, data indicating that the network microphone device is connected to the first network.

11. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the second network is a local area network (LAN).

12. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the second network is a personal area network (PAN).

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the PAN is facilitated according to a Bluetooth wireless technology standard.

14. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the network microphone device corresponds to an unique identifier, and wherein causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone comprises:

causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the unique identifier to the particular playback zone.

15. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured as a controller device for the local playback network.

16. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the network microphone device is a component of the computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the network microphone device is a component of a playback device in the local playback network.

18. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the particular playback zone is a first playback zone, wherein the functions further comprises:

receiving an input indicating a second playback zone in the local playback network; and

causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the second playback zone such that the network microphone device is assigned to both the first playback zone and the second playback zone.

19. A method comprising:

determining that a network microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within a local playback network;

displaying a prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned, wherein assigning the given playback zone to the network microphone device comprises configuring the playback device of the given playback zone to be a default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device;

receiving an input indicating a selection of a particular playback zone of the plurality of playback zones; and

causing to be stored data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the playback zone comprises two or more playback devices, and wherein the input indicating the selection of the particular playback zone in the media playback system comprises an input indicating a particular playback device of the two or more playback devices in the particular playback zone to be the default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein displaying the prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned comprises:

displaying on the interface, a prompt to press a button on a playback device in the particular playback zone.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the local playback network is a first network, and wherein determining that a networked microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within the local playback network comprises:

establishing communication with the network microphone device over a second network; and

receiving from the network microphone device, a message indicating that the network microphone is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback devices within the local playback network.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the local playback network is a first network, and wherein determining that a networked microphone device is available for assignment to one of a plurality of playback zones within the local playback network comprises:

establishing communication with the network microphone device over a second network;

transmitting to the network microphone device over the second network, data indicating parameters for joining the first network; and

after transmitting to the network microphone device, the data indicating parameters for joining the first network, receiving a message indicating that the network microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within the first network.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the particular playback zone is a first playback zone, the method further comprising:

receiving an input indicating a second playback zone in the local playback network; and

causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the second playback zone such that the network microphone device is assigned to both the first playback zone and the second playback zone.

25. 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:

determining that a network microphone device is available for assignment to one of a plurality of playback zones within a local playback network;

displaying a prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned, wherein assigning the given playback zone to the network microphone device comprises configuring the playback device of the given playback zone to be a default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device;

receiving an input indicating a selection of a particular playback zone of the plurality of playback zones; and

causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the playback zone comprises two or more playback devices, and wherein the input indicating the selection of the particular playback zone in the media playback system comprises an input indicating a particular playback device of the two or more playback devices in the particular playback zone to be the default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein displaying the prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned comprises:

displaying on the interface, for each playback zone in the media playback system, a corresponding representation; and

displaying on the interface, a prompt to select a representation corresponding to the given playback zone.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the local playback network is a first network, and wherein determining that a networked microphone device is available for assignment to one of a plurality of playback zones within the local playback network comprises:

establishing communication with the network microphone device over a second network; and

receiving from the network microphone device, a message indicating that the network microphone is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback devices within the local playback network.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the local playback network is a first network, and wherein determining that a networked microphone device is available for assignment to one of a plurality of playback zones within the local playback network comprises:

establishing communication with the network microphone device over a second network;

transmitting to the network microphone device over the second network, data indicating parameters for joining the first network; and

after transmitting to the network microphone device, the data indicating parameters for joining the first network, receiving a message indicating that the network microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within the first network.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the particular playback zone is a first playback zone, the computer readable storage medium further comprising instructions for:

receiving an input indicating a second playback zone in the local playback network; and

causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the second playback zone such that the network microphone device is assigned to both the first playback zone and the second playback zone.