Playback expansion

• US 9,965,243 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Fullerton, Benjamin, Holmung, Ingve
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tan X
• Application Number:
  US15/078,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20160246567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/049 Cassettes for special applications not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/00 Arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter synchronisation of generators of electric oscillations or pulses H03L7/00
• 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 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

Examples described herein involve expanding playback of a media item from one playback device to another playback device. In an example implementation, while a first playback device is part of a first zone, the first playback device identifies that a second playback device has moved to a location that is within a given physical proximity of the first playback device. The first playback device determines that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device, and responsively, joins the a second zone that comprises the second playback device and initiates playback of media in synchrony with the second playback device.

Claims

1. A first playback device comprising:

a processor; and

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

joining a first zone comprising at least one additional playback device, wherein joining the first zone configures the first playback device to synchronize audio playback with the at least one additional playback device, and wherein while the first playback device is part of the first zone, the first playback device is configured to play back first media in synchrony with playback of the first media by the at least one additional playback device;

while the first playback device is part of the first zone, identifying that a second playback device has entered a location that is within a given physical proximity of the first playback device;

while the first playback device is part of the first zone, determining that playback by the second playback device is to be expanded from the second playback device;

based on determining that the playback by the second playback device is to be expanded from the second playback device, determining to change a zone configuration of the first playback device from the first zone to a second zone that comprises the second playback device; and

responsively, (i) joining the second zone, wherein joining the second zone configures the first playback device to synchronize audio playback with the second playback device, wherein while part of the second zone, the first playback device is configured to play back second media in synchrony with playback of the second media by the second playback device and (ii) initiating playback of the second media in synchrony with the second playback device.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein determining that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device comprises:

determining that the second playback device is playing back a media item as part of the second zone, wherein the second zone is different from the first zone.

3. The first playback device of claim 2, wherein determining that the second playback device is playing the media item as part of the second zone comprises:

transmitting a request for information associated with the second playback device; and

receiving data indicating that the second playback device is a part of the second zone.

4. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein determining that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device comprises determining that the first playback device is not presently playing back media.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein determining that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device comprises determining that the second playback device has remained stationary at the location that is within a given physical proximity of the first playback device for a pre-determined duration of time.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein initiating playback of media in synchrony with the second playback device comprises gradually increasing playback volume to the same playback volume as the second playback device.

7. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

within a predetermined duration of time after joining the second zone, determining that the second playback device is moving; and

responsively, (i) exiting the second zone and (i) ceasing playback of media in synchrony with the second playback device.

21. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

in response to joining the second zone, updating a state variable stored on the first playback device to indicate that the first playback device is part of the second zone.

8. A method comprising:

joining, via a first playback device, a first zone comprising at least one additional playback device, wherein joining the first zone configures the first playback device to synchronize audio playback with the at least one additional playback device, and wherein while the first playback device is part of the first zone, the first playback device is configured to play back first media in synchrony with playback of the first media by the at least one additional playback device;

while the first playback device is part of the first zone, identifying, via the first playback device, that a second playback device has entered a location that is within a given physical proximity of the first playback device;

while the first playback device is part of the first zone, determining that playback by the second playback device is to be expanded from the second playback device;

based on determining that the playback by the second playback device is to be expanded from the second playback device, determining to change a zone configuration of the first playback device from the first zone to a second zone that comprises the second playback device; and

responsively, (i) joining the second zone, wherein joining the second zone configures the first playback device to synchronize audio playback with the second playback device, wherein while part of the second zone, the first playback device is configured to play back second media in synchrony with playback of the second media by the second playback device and (ii) initiating playback of the second media in synchrony with the second playback device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device comprises:

determining that the second playback device is playing back a media item as part of the second zone, wherein the second zone is different from the first zone.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining that the second playback device is playing the media item as part of the second zone comprises:

transmitting a request for information associated with the second playback device; and

receiving data indicating that the second playback device is a part of the second zone.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein determining that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device comprises determining that the first playback device is not presently playing back media.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device comprises determining that the second playback device has remained stationary at the location that is within a given physical proximity of the first playback device for a pre-determined duration of time.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein initiating playback of media in synchrony with the second playback device comprises gradually increasing playback volume to the same playback volume as the second playback device.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

within a predetermined duration of time after joining the second zone, determining that the second playback device is moving; and

responsively, (i) exiting the second zone and (i) ceasing playback of media in synchrony with the second playback device.

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

joining a first zone comprising at least one additional playback device, wherein joining the first zone configures the first playback device to synchronize audio playback with the at least one additional playback device, and wherein while the first playback device is part of the first zone, the first playback device is configured to play back first media in synchrony with playback of the first media by the at least one additional playback device;

while the first playback device is part of the first zone, identifying that a second playback device has entered a location that is within a given physical proximity of the first playback device;

while the first playback device is part of the first zone, determining that playback by the second playback device is to be expanded from the second playback device;

based on determining that the playback by the second playback device is to be expanded from the second playback device, determining to change a zone configuration of the first playback device from the first zone to a second zone that comprises the second playback device; and

responsively, (i) joining the second zone, wherein joining the second zone configures the first playback device to synchronize audio playback with the second playback device, wherein while part of the second zone, the first playback device is configured to play back second media in synchrony with playback of the second media by the second playback device and (ii) initiating playback of the second media in synchrony with the second playback device.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein determining that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device comprises:

determining that the second playback device is playing back a media item as part of the second zone, wherein the second zone is different from the first zone.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 16, wherein determining that the second playback device is playing the media item as part of the second zone comprises:

transmitting a request for information associated with the second playback device; and

receiving data indicating that the second playback device is a part of the second zone.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein determining that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device comprises determining that the first playback device is not presently playing back media.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein determining that playback is to be expanded from the second playback device comprises determining that the second playback device has remained stationary at the location that is within a given physical proximity of the first playback device for a pre-determined duration of time.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein initiating playback of media in synchrony with the second playback device comprises gradually increasing playback volume to the same playback volume as the second playback device.