Playback configuration based on connection to portable playback device

• US 9,864,572 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kusano, Mieko
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahman, Sm
• Application Number:
  US14/976,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20160112744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 709224
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate playback of multimedia content are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a network interface configured to receive first audio content and second audio content over a playback network. A processor comprises instructions, which when executed, cause the processor to play first audio content when grouped with a portable playback device. The processor is to detect that the portable playback device is not connected to the playback network. Based on detecting that the portable playback device is not connected to the playback network, the processor is to play second audio content.

Claims

1. A first playback device comprising:

a network interface configured to receive first audio content and second audio content over a playback network;

a processor comprising instructions, which when executed, cause the processor to;

automatically group with a portable playback device when the portable playback device connects to the playback network;

play at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device while the portable playback device plays at least one second channel of audio associated with the first audio content in synchrony with the portable playback device, wherein the at least one first channel of audio played by the first playback device and the at least one second channel of audio played by the portable playback device are each a subset of a full range of audio associated with the first audio content;

detect that the portable playback device has moved from within a range of the playback network to outside the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device; and

in response to detecting that the portable playback device has moved outside of the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device, automatically (i) remove the grouping between the portable playback device and the first playback device; and

(ii) change playback from the at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device to playback of a full range of audio associated with the second audio content when the grouping is removed.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the grouping with a portable playback device forms a stereo pair with the portable playback device.

3. The first playback device of claim 2, wherein the instructions for playing the at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content comprises the first playback device playing a portion of a full range of an audio track.

4. The first playback device of claim 3, wherein the portion is a channel of the audio track.

5. The first playback device of claim 3, wherein the instructions for playing the full range of audio associated with the second audio content comprises the first playback device playing a full range of the audio track.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, further comprising instructions for adjusting one or more of a volume, equalization, or frequency associated with playback of the full range of audio associated with the second audio content.

7. The first playback device of claim 1, further comprising instructions for updating, by the first playback device, a state variable to indicate that the portable playback device is not connected to the playback network.

8. A method comprising:

automatically grouping, by a first playback device, with a portable playback device when the portable playback device connects to a playback network;

playing, by the first playback device, audio associated with first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device while the portable playback device plays at least one second channel of audio associated with the first audio content in synchrony with the portable playback device, wherein the at least one first channel of audio played by the first playback device and the at least one second channel of audio played by the portable playback device are each a subset of a full range of audio associated with the first audio content;

detecting, by the first playback device, that the portable playback device has moved from within a range of the playback network to outside the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device; and

in response to detecting that the portable playback device has moved outside of the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device, automatically (i) removing the grouping between the portable playback device and the first playback device; and

(ii) changing playback from the at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device to play back of a full range of audio associated with second audio content by the first playback device when the grouping is removed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the grouping with a portable playback forms a stereo pair with the portable playback device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein playing the at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content by the first playback device comprises the first playback device playing a portion of a full range of an audio track.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the portion is a channel of the audio track.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein playing the full range of audio associated with the second audio content by the first playback device comprises the first playback device playing a full range of the audio track.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting one or more of a volume, equalization, or frequency associated with playback of the full range of audio associated with the second audio content.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising updating, by the first playback device, a state variable to indicate that the portable playback device is not connected to the playback network.

15. 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:

automatically grouping, by a first playback device, with a portable playback device when the portable playback device connects to a playback network;

playing, by the first playback device, at least one first channel of audio associated with first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device while the portable playback device plays at least one second channel of audio associated with the first audio content in synchrony with the portable playback device, wherein the at least one first channel of audio played by the first playback device and the at least one second channel of audio played by the portable playback device are each a subset of a full range of audio associated with the first audio content;

detecting, by the first playback device, that the portable playback device has moved from within a range of the playback network to outside the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device; and

in response to detecting that the portable playback device has moved outside of the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device, automatically (i) removing the grouping between the portable playback device and the first playback device; and

(ii) changing playback from the at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device to play back of a full range of audio associated with second audio content by the first playback device when the grouping is removed.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for updating, by the first playback device, a state variable to indicate that the portable playback device is not connected to the playback network.