Cloud queue synchronization protocol

• US 9,942,215 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Coburn, IV, Arthur L., Beckhardt, Steven, Schulert, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US15/297,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/638 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 : Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 : involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 : for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/4627 : Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 : using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 : Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 : involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 : Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• 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

Abstract

An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system over the network interface, a request to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at a first media item. The computing system assigns a playhead pointer to a position within the particular cloud queue that corresponds to the first media item and transmits, to the media playback system over the network interface, an instruction that causes one or more playback devices of the media playback system to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at the first media item. While the one or more playback devices play back the particular cloud queue, the computing system updates the assigned position of the playhead pointer to indicate the currently playing media item of the particular cloud queue.

Claims

1. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause a playback device to perform a method comprising:

causing a currently playing media item to change from corresponding to a first media item to corresponding to a second media item;

after causing the currently playing media item to change, transmitting, to a computing system over a network interface, (i) a request for an indication of media items from a cloud queue of media items stored remote from the playback device, wherein the computing system is remote from the playback device and (ii) an indication of the second media item;

receiving, from the computing system over the network interface, information identifying two or more media items from the cloud queue of media items, wherein the two or more media items comprise the second media item; and

incorporating at least one of the two or more media items in a local queue of media items stored on the playback device.

2. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from a control device, a command to change the currently playing media item, and

wherein causing the currently playing media item to change comprises;

responsive to receiving the command to change the currently playing media item, causing the currently playing media item to change from corresponding to the first media item to corresponding to the second media item.

3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein receiving the command to change the currently playing media item comprises:

receiving, via an interface of the playback device, a command to change the currently playing media item, and

wherein causing the currently playing media item to change comprises;

responsive to receiving the command to change the currently playing media item, causing the currently playing media item to change from corresponding to the first media item to corresponding to the second media item.

4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

causing playback of the currently playing media item, wherein the currently playing media item corresponds to the first media item.

5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein causing the currently playing media item to change comprises:

upon finishing playback of the first media item, causing the currently playing media item to change from corresponding to the first media item to corresponding to the second media item.

6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein receiving the information identifying the two or more media items from the cloud queue of media items comprises:

receiving a sequence of two or more media items from the cloud queue, wherein the sequence comprises the second media item.

7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein transmitting the request for the indication of media items from the cloud queue of media items comprises:

transmitting a request for an indication of a number of media items from the cloud queue of media items, and

wherein receiving the information identifying the two or more media items from the cloud queue of media items comprises;

receiving information identifying media items in sequential order within the number of media items of the second media item, wherein the media items in sequential order comprises the second media item.

8. A playback device, comprising:

a network interface;

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the playback device to perform a method comprising;

causing a currently playing media item to change from corresponding to a first media item to corresponding to a second media item;

after causing the currently playing media item to change, transmitting, to a computing system over a network interface, (i) a request for an indication of media items from a cloud queue of media items stored remote from the playback device, wherein the computing system is remote from the playback device and (ii) an indication of the second media item;

receiving, from the computing system over the network interface, information identifying two or more media items from the cloud queue of media items, wherein the two or more media items comprise the second media item; and

incorporating at least one of the two or more media items in a local queue of media items stored on the playback device.

9. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from a control device, a command to change the currently playing media item, and

wherein causing the currently playing media item to change comprises;

responsive to receiving the command to change the currently playing media item, causing the currently playing media item to change from corresponding to the first media item to corresponding to the second media item.

10. The playback device of claim 9, wherein receiving the command to change the currently playing media item comprises:

receiving, via an interface of the playback device, a command to change the currently playing media item, and

wherein causing the currently playing media item to change comprises;

responsive to receiving the command to change the currently playing media item, causing the currently playing media item to change from corresponding to the first media item to corresponding to the second media item.

11. The playback device of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

causing playback of the currently playing media item, wherein the currently playing media item corresponds to the first media item.

12. The playback device of claim 11, wherein causing the currently playing media item to change comprises:

upon finishing playback of the first media item, causing the currently playing media item to change from corresponding to the first media item to corresponding to the second media item.

13. The playback device of claim 8, wherein receiving the information identifying the two or more media items from the cloud queue of media items comprises:

receiving a sequence of two or more media items from the cloud queue, wherein the sequence comprises the second media item.

14. The playback device of claim 8, wherein transmitting the request for the indication of media items from the cloud queue of media items comprises:

transmitting a request for an indication of a number of media items from the cloud queue of media items, and

wherein receiving the information identifying the two or more media items from the cloud queue of media items comprises;

receiving information identifying media items in sequential order within the number of media items of the second media item, wherein the media items in sequential order comprises the second media item.

15. A method, comprising:

causing, via a playback device, a currently playing media item to change from corresponding to a first media item to corresponding to a second media item;

after causing the currently playing media item to change, transmitting, via the playback device to a computing system over a network interface, (i) a request for an indication of media items from a cloud queue of media items stored remote from the playback device, wherein the computing system is remote from the playback device and (ii) an indication of the second media item;

receiving, via the playback device from the computing system over the network interface, information identifying two or more media items from the cloud queue of media items, wherein the two or more media items comprise the second media item; and

incorporating, via the playback device, at least one of the two or more media items in a local queue of media items stored on the playback device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, via the playback device from a control device, a command to change the currently playing media item, and

wherein causing the currently playing media item to change comprises;

responsive to receiving the command to change the currently playing media item, causing the currently playing media item to change from corresponding to the first media item to corresponding to the second media item.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, via an interface of the playback device, a command to change the currently playing media item, and

wherein causing the currently playing media item to change comprises;

responsive to receiving the command to change the currently playing media item, causing the currently playing media item to change from corresponding to the first media item to corresponding to the second media item.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

causing playback of the currently playing media item, wherein the currently playing media item corresponds to the first media item.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein causing the currently playing media item to change comprises:

upon finishing playback of the first media item, causing the currently playing media item to change from corresponding to the first media item to corresponding to the second media item.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the information identifying the two or more media items from the cloud queue of media items comprises:

receiving a sequence of two or more media items from the cloud queue, wherein the sequence comprises the second media item.