Volume interactions for connected subwoofer device

• US 9,948,258 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Marino, Jr., Frank, Apodaca, Eduardo Ahumada, Lambourne, Robert Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US15/248,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20160365839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 381105, 381107, 381102, 381103, 381104, 381 98, 381120, 381 56, 381 58
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 11/00 Limiting amplitude; Limiting rate of change of amplitude ; Clipping in general
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/10 having semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for volume interactions for connected playback devices. In an example implementation, a first playback device applies a state variable update associated with a group of playback devices comprising the first playback device and one or more second playback devices. The state variable update indicates a limited volume range associated with the first playback device. The first playback device renders audio content in synchrony with the one or more second playback devices. Rendering the audio content involves a subwoofer speaker of the first playback device rendering a bass frequency component of the audio content. The first playback device receives input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the group of playback devices and adjusting a playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

Claims

1. A first playback device comprising:

a subwoofer speaker;

a processor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising;

applying a state variable update associated with a group of playback devices comprising the first playback device and one or more second playback devices, wherein the state variable update indicates a limited volume range associated with the first playback device;

rendering audio content in synchrony with the one or more second playback devices, wherein rendering the audio content comprises the subwoofer speaker rendering a bass frequency component of the audio content;

receiving input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the group of playback devices; and

adjusting a playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the limited volume range associated with the first playback device comprises a limited volume range of bass frequencies.

3. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein rendering the audio content in synchrony with the one or more second playback devices comprises the first playback device rendering the bass frequency component of the audio content while the one or more second playback devices render at least mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content.

4. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first playback device further comprises one or more additional speakers, and wherein rendering the audio content further comprises the one or more additional speakers rendering at least mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the state variable update further indicates one or more of (i) a playback device play mode associated with the limited volume range, and (ii) a time frame associated with the limited volume range.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the group volume adjustment indicates a volume level above the limited volume range, and wherein adjusting the playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range comprises adjusting at least mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content and not adjusting the bass frequency component of the audio content.

7. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein receiving input data indicating the group volume adjustment for the group of playback devices comprises receiving, via a network interface, a command from a controller device.

8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a first playback device to perform a method comprising:

applying a state variable update associated with a group of playback devices comprising the first playback device and one or more second playback devices, wherein the state variable update indicates a limited volume range associated with the first playback device;

rendering audio content in synchrony with the one or more second playback devices, wherein rendering the audio content comprises a subwoofer speaker of the first playback device rendering a bass frequency component of the audio content;

receiving input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the group of playback devices; and

adjusting a playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the limited volume range associated with the first playback device comprises a limited volume range of bass frequencies.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein rendering the audio content in synchrony with the one or more second playback devices comprises the first playback device rendering the bass frequency component of the audio content while the one or more second playback devices render at least mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first playback device further comprises one or more additional speakers, and wherein rendering the audio content further comprises the one or more additional speakers rendering at least mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the state variable update further indicates one or more of (i) a playback device play mode associated with the limited volume range, and (ii) a time frame associated with the limited volume range.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the group volume adjustment indicates a volume level above the limited volume range, and wherein adjusting the playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range comprises adjusting at least mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content and not adjusting the bass frequency component of the audio content.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein receiving input data indicating the group volume adjustment for the group of playback devices comprises receiving, via a network interface, a command from a controller device.

15. A method comprising:

applying, via a first playback device, a state variable update associated with a group of playback devices comprising the first playback device and one or more second playback devices, wherein the state variable update indicates a limited volume range associated with the first playback device;

rendering, via the first playback device, audio content in synchrony with the one or more second playback devices, wherein rendering the audio content comprises a subwoofer speaker of the first playback device rendering a bass frequency component of the audio content;

receiving, via the first playback device, input data indicating a group volume adjustment for the group of playback devices; and

adjusting, via the first playback device, a playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the limited volume range associated with the first playback device comprises a limited volume range of bass frequencies.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein rendering the audio content in synchrony with the one or more second playback devices comprises the first playback device rendering the bass frequency component of the audio content while the one or more second playback devices render at least mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first playback device further comprises one or more additional speakers, and wherein rendering the audio content further comprises the one or more additional speakers rendering at least mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the state variable update further indicates one or more of (i) a playback device play mode associated with the limited volume range, and (ii) a time frame associated with the limited volume range.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the group volume adjustment indicates a volume level above the limited volume range, and wherein adjusting the playback volume of the first playback device based on the group volume adjustment and the limited volume range comprises adjusting at least mid-range frequency and treble frequency components of the audio content and not adjusting the bass frequency component of the audio content.