Systems and methods for networked music playback

• US 9,883,234 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Coburn, IV, Arthur, Hoadley, Joni Rafalski
• Primary Examiner(s): MONTOYA, OSCHTA I
• Application Number:
  US14/520,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20150040168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• 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 21/4307 Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• 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 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• 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 3/12 : for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to a multimedia playback network are disclosed. An example method provides content to a local playback network. The example method includes identifying multimedia content from a content provider. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a local playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to a trigger. The example method includes facilitating play of the multimedia content via a local playback network associated with the local playback system.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

a network interface;

one or more processors;

tangible computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform a method comprising;

receiving, via the network interface from one or more first cloud servers, an instruction to (1) add a particular multimedia content to a local playback queue on the playback device and (2) play back the multimedia content from the local playback queue beginning at a particular play position within the multimedia content corresponding to when a set of inputs for transferring playback of the multimedia content from a control device to a zone group was detected at a control interface of the control device, the zone group comprising a first zone and a second zone of a media playback system, the first zone comprising the playback device and the second zone comprising at least one additional playback device, wherein the control device is distinct from the playback device, and wherein receiving the instruction comprises receiving a resource locator indicating a particular source of the multimedia content at one or more second cloud servers of a streaming content service;

in response to the received instruction from the one or more first cloud servers;

adding the particular multimedia content to a local playback queue on the playback device; and

playing back the particular multimedia content beginning at the particular play position within the multimedia content in synchrony with the at least one additional playback device, wherein playing back the multimedia content comprises obtaining the multimedia content from the particular source of the multimedia content at the one or more second cloud servers of the streaming content service using the resource locator, wherein the particular source is outside of a local area network that communicatively couples the control device and the playback device.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content comprises one or more of:

an audio track of a streaming content service, a playlist of the streaming content service, a streaming radio station of the streaming content service, or a programmed radio station of the streaming content service.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the control device and the playback device are communicatively coupled to a local area network, wherein the method further comprises:

before receiving the instruction, sending, to the control device via the network interface, a message indicating that the playback device is present within the local area network.

4. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content comprises one or more of:

(i) audio content, (ii) video content, or (iii) audiovisual content.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the set of inputs consists of an input to transfer playback to the zone group.

6. A tangible non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a playback device to perform a method comprising:

receiving, via a network interface of the playback device from one or more first cloud servers, an instruction to (1) add a particular multimedia content to a local playback queue on the playback device and (2) play back the multimedia content from the local playback queue beginning at a particular play position within the multimedia content corresponding to when a set of inputs for transferring playback of the multimedia content from a control device to a zone group was detected at a control interface of the control device, the zone group comprising a first zone and a second zone of a media playback system, the first zone comprising the playback device and the second zone comprising at least one additional playback device, wherein the control device is distinct from the playback device, and wherein receiving the instruction comprises receiving a resource locator indicating a particular source of the multimedia content at one or more second cloud servers of a streaming content service;

in response to the received instruction from the one or more first cloud servers;

adding the particular multimedia content to a local playback queue on the playback device; and

playing back the particular multimedia content beginning at the particular play position within the multimedia content in synchrony with the at least one additional playback device via one or more speakers that are (a) mounted within a housing of the playback device or (b) physically coupled to the playback device, wherein playing back the multimedia content comprises obtaining the multimedia content from the particular source of the multimedia content at the one or more second cloud servers of the streaming content service using the resource locator, wherein the particular source is outside of a local area network that communicatively couples the control device and the playback device.

7. The tangible non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the multimedia content comprises one or more of:

an audio track of a streaming content service, a playlist of the streaming content service, a streaming radio station of the streaming content service, or a programmed radio station of the streaming content service.

8. The tangible non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the control device and the playback device are communicatively coupled to a local area network, wherein the method further comprises:

before receiving the instruction, sending, to the control device via the network interface, a message indicating that the playback device is present within the local area network.

9. The tangible non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the multimedia content comprises one or more of:

(i) audio content, (ii) video content, or (iii) audiovisual content.

10. The tangible non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the set of inputs consists of an input to transfer playback to the zone group.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, via a network interface of a playback device from one or more first cloud servers, an instruction to (1) add a particular multimedia content to a local playback queue on the playback device and (2) play back the multimedia content from the local playback queue beginning at a particular play position within the multimedia content corresponding to when a set of inputs for transferring playback of the multimedia content from a control device to a zone group was detected at a control interface of the control device, the zone group comprising a first zone and a second zone of a media playback system, the first zone comprising the playback device and the second zone comprising at least one additional playback device, wherein the control device is distinct from the playback device, and wherein receiving the instruction comprises receiving a resource locator indicating a particular source of the multimedia content at one or more second cloud servers of a streaming content service;

in response to the received instruction from the one or more first cloud servers, the playback device;

adding the particular multimedia content to a local playback queue on the playback device; and

playing back the particular multimedia content beginning at the particular play position within the multimedia content in synchrony with the at least one additional playback device via one or more speakers that are (a) mounted within a housing of the playback device or (b) physically coupled to the playback device, wherein playing back the multimedia content comprises obtaining the multimedia content from the particular source of the multimedia content at the one or more second cloud servers of the streaming content service using the resource locator, wherein the particular source is outside of a local area network that communicatively couples the control device and the playback device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the multimedia content comprises one or more of:

an audio track of a streaming content service, a playlist of the streaming content service, a streaming radio station of the streaming content service, or a programmed radio station of the streaming content service.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the control device and the playback device are communicatively coupled to a local area network, wherein the method further comprises:

before receiving the instruction, sending, to the control device via the network interface, a message indicating that the playback device is present within the local area network.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the multimedia content comprises one or more of:

(i) audio content, (ii) video content, or (iii) audiovisual content.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of inputs consists of an input to transfer playback to the zone group.