Intelligent amplifier activation
First Claim
1. A playback device of a network media system, the playback device comprising:
- one or more processors;
a network interface;
one or more audio amplifiers; and
memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;
while the one or more audio amplifiers are in an inactive state, receiving, from a network device via the network interface, a request for a state variable corresponding to the playback device, wherein the request indicates that an application for controlling the network media system is open on the network device;
responsive to receiving the request for the state variable, (i) sending, via the network interface to the network device, the requested state variable, the state variable indicating a current state of the playback device and (ii) causing the one or more audio amplifiers to enter an active state such that the one or more audio amplifiers are configured to produce amplified audio signals; and
subsequently, receiving a command to play back audio content; and
responsive to the received command to play back audio content, playing back the audio content via the one or more audio amplifiers in the active state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments are provided for intelligently activating an amplifier in a playback device based on proximity detection. The playback device may be in a quasi-idle state when the playback device is not rendering media content. The quasi-idle state of the playback device may involve an amplifier in the playback device being inactive, while some other components or modules of the playback devices remain active. The playback device may include a proximity sensor configured to detect movement relative to the playback device. If movement is detected indicating that a user input to cause the playback device to render media content is anticipated, the amplifier may be pre-emptively activated such that the playback device enters an active state from the quasi-idle state. In some cases, the playback device may send a message to one or more other playback devices to cause the other playback devices to enter an active state.
93 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A playback device of a network media system, the playback device comprising:
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one or more processors; a network interface; one or more audio amplifiers; and memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising; while the one or more audio amplifiers are in an inactive state, receiving, from a network device via the network interface, a request for a state variable corresponding to the playback device, wherein the request indicates that an application for controlling the network media system is open on the network device; responsive to receiving the request for the state variable, (i) sending, via the network interface to the network device, the requested state variable, the state variable indicating a current state of the playback device and (ii) causing the one or more audio amplifiers to enter an active state such that the one or more audio amplifiers are configured to produce amplified audio signals; and subsequently, receiving a command to play back audio content; and responsive to the received command to play back audio content, playing back the audio content via the one or more audio amplifiers in the active state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method performed by a playback device in a network media system, the method comprising:
- while one or more audio amplifiers of the playback device are in an inactive state, receiving, via a network interface of the playback device from a network device, a request for a state variable corresponding to the playback device, wherein the request indicates that an application for controlling the network media system is open on the network device;
responsive to receiving the request for the state variable, (i) sending, via the network interface to the network device, the requested state variable, the state variable indicating a current state of the playback device and (ii) causing the one or more audio amplifiers to enter an active state such that the one or more audio amplifiers are configured to produce amplified audio signals; and
subsequently, receiving a command to play back audio content; and
responsive to the received command to play back audio content, playing back the audio content via the one or more audio amplifiers in the active state. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- while one or more audio amplifiers of the playback device are in an inactive state, receiving, via a network interface of the playback device from a network device, a request for a state variable corresponding to the playback device, wherein the request indicates that an application for controlling the network media system is open on the network device;
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16. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a playback device in a network media system, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
- while one or more audio amplifiers of the playback device are in an inactive state, receiving, from a network device via a network interface, a request for a state variable corresponding to the playback device, wherein the request indicates that an application for controlling the network media system is open on the network device;
responsive to receiving the request for the state variable, (i) sending, via the network interface to the network device, the requested state variable, the state variable indicating a current state of the playback device and (ii) causing the one or more audio amplifiers to enter an active state such that the one or more audio amplifiers are configured to produce amplified audio signals; and
subsequently, receiving a command to play back audio content; and
responsive to the received command to play back audio content, playing back the audio content via the one or more audio amplifiers in the active state. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
- while one or more audio amplifiers of the playback device are in an inactive state, receiving, from a network device via a network interface, a request for a state variable corresponding to the playback device, wherein the request indicates that an application for controlling the network media system is open on the network device;
Specification