System and method for issuing commands in a media playback system

• US 9,965,244 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Reichert, Stefan, Amaranto, David John McCaffree
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US15/087,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20160216935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/04 in untuned amplifiers
• 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: H03G 3/3089 Control of digital or coded signals
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Embodiments are described herein that provide a dedicated command device that is bonded to a zone player or zone to perform adjustments to the zone player or zone. In an example implementation, a command device receives an instruction to pair with a first playback device that is associated with a group of playback devices that includes the first playback device and at least one additional playback device. The group of playback devices is associated with at least one group variable controlling playback by the playback devices of the group. The command device receives an input to adjust a first group variable of the at least one group variable and transmits, via a wireless communications interface, a command that causes an adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.

Claims

1. A command device for a media playback system, the command device comprising:

a screen-less touch control interface;

a wireless communications interface;

a processor;

memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the command device to perform functions comprising;

receiving, via the wireless communications interface from a control device associated with the media playback system, an instruction to pair the command device with a first playback device of the media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises a group of playback devices consisting of the first playback device and at least one additional playback device, wherein the group of playback devices is associated with a playback queue identifying one or more media items for playback by the group, and wherein the group of playback devices is associated with at least one group variable controlling playback by the playback devices of the group;

in response to the received instruction, pairing the command device with the first playback device, wherein, after the command device is paired with the first playback device, the command device is configured to control only the first playback device and the at least one additional playback device;

after pairing the command device with the first playback device, receiving, via the screen-less touch control interface, an input to adjust a first group variable of the at least one group variable; and

in response to receiving the input to adjust the first group variable, transmitting, via the wireless communications interface, a command that causes an adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.

2. The command device of claim 1, wherein the first group variable is a play variable, and wherein the command causes the first playback device to retrieve the one or more media items for playback by the group of playback devices from a content source different than the command device.

3. The command device of claim 2, wherein the command causes the first playback device to play the one or more media items in synchrony with the at least one additional playback device.

4. The command device of claim 1, wherein the playback queue is stored on the first playback device.

5. The command device of claim 1, wherein the screen-less touch control interface comprises at least one of a dial, a button, or a knob.

6. The command device of claim 5,

wherein the media playback system further comprises a second playback device that is separate and distinct from the first playback device and the at least one additional playback device.

7. The command device of claim 1, wherein the group of playback devices comprises a bonded zone, wherein, in the bonded zone, each playback device of the group of playback devices is configured to playback a respective channel of audio content.

8. The command device of claim 1, wherein transmitting the command comprises:

transmitting, to the control device associated with the group of playback devices via the wireless communications interface, the command, wherein the command causes the control device to cause the adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.

9. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a command device cause a command device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via a wireless communications interface from a control device associated with a media playback system, an instruction to pair the command device with a first playback device of the media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises a group of playback devices consisting of the first playback device and at least one additional playback device, wherein the group of playback devices is associated with a playback queue identifying one or more media items for playback by the group, and wherein the group of playback devices is associated with at least one group variable controlling playback by the playback devices of the group;

in response to the received instruction, pairing the command device with the first playback device, wherein, after the command device is paired with the first playback device, the command device is configured to control only the first playback device and the at least one additional playback device;

after pairing the command device with the first playback device, receiving, via a screen-less touch control interface, an input to adjust a first group variable of the at least one group variable; and

in response to receiving the input to adjust the first group variable, transmitting, via a wireless communications interface of the command device, a command that causes an adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.

10. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first group variable is a play variable, and wherein the command causes the first playback device to retrieve the one or more media items for playback by the group of playback devices from a content source different than the command device.

11. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the command causes the first playback device to play the one or more media items in synchrony with the at least one additional playback device.

12. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the playback queue is stored on the first playback device.

13. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the screen-less touch control interface comprises at least one of a dial, a button, or a knob.

14. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9,

wherein the media playback system further comprises a second playback device that is separate and distinct from the first playback device and the at least one additional playback device.

15. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the group of playback devices comprises a bonded zone, wherein, in the bonded zone, each playback device of the group of playback devices is configured to playback a respective channel of audio content.

16. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein transmitting the command comprises:

transmitting, to the control device associated with the group of playback devices via the wireless communications interface, the command, wherein the command causes the control device to cause the adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving, via a wireless communications interface of a command device from a control device associated with a media playback system, an instruction to pair the command device with a first playback device of the media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises a group of playback devices consisting of the first playback device and at least one additional playback device, wherein the group of playback devices is associated with a playback queue identifying one or more media items for playback by the group, and wherein the group of playback devices is associated with at least one group variable controlling playback by the playback devices of the group;

in response to the received instruction, pairing the command device with the first playback device, wherein, after the command device is paired with the first playback device, the command device is configured to control only the first playback device and the at least one additional playback device;

after pairing the command device with the first playback device, receiving, via a screen-less touch control interface of the command device, an input to adjust a first group variable of the at least one group variable; and

in response to receiving the input to adjust the first group variable, transmitting, via the wireless communications interface of the command device, a command that causes an adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first group variable is a play variable, and wherein the command causes the first playback device to retrieve the one or more media items for playback by the group of playback devices from a content source different than the command device and to play the one or more media items in synchrony with the at least one additional playback device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the screen-less touch control interface comprises at least one of a dial, a button, or a knob.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein transmitting the command comprises:

transmitting, via the wireless communications interface of the command device to the control device associated with the group of playback devices, the command, wherein the command causes the control device to cause the adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.