Playback according to playback responsibility in group

• US 9,940,091 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Beckhardt, Steven, Lang, Jonathan Paul, Reilly, Jonathon
• Primary Examiner(s): Elbin, Jesse A
• Application Number:
  US14/808,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20150331663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 381 58, 381 59, 381 80, 381 81, 381 84, 381 85, 381123, 381394
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• 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 21/4425 Monitoring of client processing errors or hardware failure
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/05 Detection of connection of loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• 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 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/308 Electronic adaptation dependent on speaker or headphone connection

Abstract

An example implementation may involve a first playback device rendering audio content. The example implementation may also involve the first playback device detecting that a second playback device has been connected to a playback system. After detecting that the second playback device has been connected to the playback system, the first playback device may determine a playback responsibility associated with the second playback device. The determined playback responsibility may include a grouping with the first playback device. After determining the playback responsibility associated with the second playback device, the first playback device may direct the second playback device to render the audio content.

Claims

1. A first playback device comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising;

rendering audio content;

detecting that a second playback device has been connected to a playback system;

after detecting that the second playback device has been connected to the playback system, determining, via the first playback device, a playback responsibility associated with the second playback device, wherein determining the playback responsibility associated with the second playback device comprises receiving, from the second playback device, an indication of the playback responsibility, and wherein the determined playback responsibility comprises a grouping with the first playback device; and

after determining the playback responsibility associated with the second playback device, directing the second playback device to render the audio content.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the determined playback responsibility further comprises a prior playback responsibility that was associated with the second playback device before the second playback device was connected to the playback system.

3. The first playback device of claim 2, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

before detecting that the second playback device has been connected to the playback system, detecting that the second playback device has disconnected from the playback system.

4. The first playback device of claim 2, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

before detecting that the second playback device has disconnected from the playback system, storing, by the first playback device, an indication that the prior playback responsibility is associated with the second playback device.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

sending, to the second playback device, the audio content.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

adjusting a playback responsibility of the first playback device based on the determined playback responsibility of the second playback device; and

rendering the audio content according to the adjusted playback responsibility of the first playback device.

7. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

sending, to the second playback device, an instruction to join a group with the first playback device.

8. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the determined playback responsibility indicates a volume.

9. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the audio content comprises multiple audio channels and multiple audio frequency ranges, and wherein the playback responsibility indicates at least one of (a) one or more of the audio channels or (b) one or more of the audio frequency ranges.

10. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

sending, to a controller device over a local area network (LAN), an indication that the second playback device has connected to the playback system.

11. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

receiving the audio content, wherein the audio content comprises a first audio channel and a second audio channel, wherein the first audio channel is different from the second audio channel, and wherein rendering the audio content comprises rendering the first audio channel; and

sending the second audio channel to the second playback device.

12. The first playback device of claim 11, wherein directing the second playback device to render the audio content further comprises:

directing the second playback device to render the second audio channel in synchrony with the first audio channel rendered by the first playback device.

13. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a first playback device to perform functions comprising:

rendering audio content;

detecting that a second playback device has been connected to a playback system;

after detecting that the second playback device has been connected to the playback system, determining, via the first playback device, a playback responsibility associated with the second playback device, wherein determining the playback responsibility associated with the second playback device comprises receiving, from the second playback device, an indication of the playback responsibility, and wherein the determined playback responsibility comprises a grouping with the first playback device; and

after determining the playback responsibility associated with the second playback device, directing the second playback device to render the audio content.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the determined playback responsibility further comprises a prior playback responsibility that was associated with the second playback device before the second playback device was connected to the playback system.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

before detecting that the first playback device has been connected to the playback system, detecting that the second playback device has disconnected from the playback system.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

before detecting that the second playback device has disconnected from the playback system, storing, by the first playback device, an indication that the prior playback responsibility is associated with the second playback device.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

sending, to the second playback device, the audio content.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

adjusting a playback responsibility of the first playback device based on the determined playback responsibility of the second playback device; and

rendering the audio content according to the adjusted playback responsibility of the first playback device.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause the first playback device to perform functions further comprising:

sending, to the second playback device, an instruction to join a group with the first playback device.

20. A method comprising:

rendering, by a first playback device, audio content;

detecting, by the first playback device, that a second playback device has been connected to a playback system;

after detecting that the second playback device has been connected to the playback system, determining, via the first playback device, a playback responsibility associated with the second playback device, wherein determining the playback responsibility associated with the second playback device comprises receiving, from the second playback device, an indication of the playback responsibility, and wherein the determined playback responsibility comprises a grouping with the first playback device; and

after determining the playback responsibility associated with the second playback device, directing, by the first playback device, the second playback device to render the audio content.