Systems and methods for networked music playback
First Claim
1. A first zone player comprising:
- a network interface that is configured to communicatively couple the first zone player to a cloud-based computing system via at least one data network;
at least one processor;
a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
program instructions stored on the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first zone player is configured to;
provide, via the network interface to the cloud-based computing system, an indication that the first zone player is available for media play back;
based in part on providing the indication, receive, via the network interface from the cloud-based computing system, (i) an instruction for the first zone player to accept playback responsibility for a remote playback queue that is provided between the first zone player and a client station installed with a media-playback application, wherein the remote playback queue comprises data identifying a set of one or more media items for play back, and (ii) data for retrieving at least a first media item identified in the remote playback queue from a cloud-based media service;
after receiving the instruction and the data for retrieving at least the first media item, (i) use the data for retrieving at least the first media item to retrieve, via the network interface from the cloud-based media service, the first media item, and (ii) begin to play back the first media item;
after beginning to play back the first media item, request at least one additional media item from the remote playback queue; and
after requesting the at least one additional media item from the remote playback queue, (i) receive, via the network interface from the cloud-based computing system, data for retrieving at least a second media item identified in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service, (ii) use the data for retrieving at least the second media item to retrieve, via the network interface from the cloud-based media service, the second media item, and (iii) begin to play back the second media item.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An example computing system is configured to receive a first indication that a zone player is available for media play back; transmit, to a client station installed with a media-playback application for a cloud-based media service, a second indication that the zone player is available for play back of media from the cloud-based media service; receive a third indication that the zone player has been selected to play back media from the cloud-based media service; provide a remote playback queue that is associated with the zone player and the client station, where the remote playback queue includes data identifying a set of one or more media items for play back; and based on receiving the third indication, transmit (i) an instruction for the zone player to accept playback responsibility for the remote playback queue and (ii) data for retrieving a first media item identified in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A first zone player comprising:
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a network interface that is configured to communicatively couple the first zone player to a cloud-based computing system via at least one data network; at least one processor; a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first zone player is configured to; provide, via the network interface to the cloud-based computing system, an indication that the first zone player is available for media play back; based in part on providing the indication, receive, via the network interface from the cloud-based computing system, (i) an instruction for the first zone player to accept playback responsibility for a remote playback queue that is provided between the first zone player and a client station installed with a media-playback application, wherein the remote playback queue comprises data identifying a set of one or more media items for play back, and (ii) data for retrieving at least a first media item identified in the remote playback queue from a cloud-based media service; after receiving the instruction and the data for retrieving at least the first media item, (i) use the data for retrieving at least the first media item to retrieve, via the network interface from the cloud-based media service, the first media item, and (ii) begin to play back the first media item; after beginning to play back the first media item, request at least one additional media item from the remote playback queue; and after requesting the at least one additional media item from the remote playback queue, (i) receive, via the network interface from the cloud-based computing system, data for retrieving at least a second media item identified in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service, (ii) use the data for retrieving at least the second media item to retrieve, via the network interface from the cloud-based media service, the second media item, and (iii) begin to play back the second media item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A client station comprising:
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a network interface that is configured to communicatively couple the client station to a cloud-based computing system via at least one data network; a user interface; at least one processor; a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and a media-playback application for a cloud-based media service stored on the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the media-playback application comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the client station is configured to; operate in a first mode in which the client station is configured to play back media from a local playback queue that is associated with the media-playback application for the cloud-based media service, wherein the local playback queue comprises data identifying one or more media items from the cloud-based media service that are queued for play back by the client station; while operating in the first mode, (i) receive, via the network interface from the cloud-based computing system, an indication that at least a first zone player is available for play back of media from the cloud-based media service, (ii) detect, via the user interface, a selection of a first indicator displayed while running the media-playback application that facilitates transfer of playback responsibility from the client station to any zone player that is available for playback of media from the cloud-based media service, and (iii) thereafter detect, via the user interface, a selection of a second indicator while running the media-playback application that represents the first zone player; in response to detecting the selection of the second indicator that represents the first zone player, (i) transition the client station from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode in which the client station is no longer configured to play back media from the local playback queue associated with the media-playback application for the cloud-based media service and is instead configured to control the first zone player'"'"'s playback of media from the cloud-based media service and (ii) cause, via the network interface and the cloud-based computing system, the first zone player to become configured to play back media from a remote playback queue that is provided between the client station and the first zone player and is synchronized with the local playback queue associated with the media-playback application for the cloud-based media service such that the remote playback queue comprises data identifying at least a portion of the one or more media items from the cloud-based media service that were identified in the local playback queue associated with the media-playback application. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computing system comprising:
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a network interface that is configured to communicatively couple the computing system to a first zone player via at least a cloud-based network; at least one processor; a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to; receive, via the network interface from the first zone player, a first indication that the first zone player is available for media play back; transmit, via the network interface to a client station installed with a media-playback application for a cloud-based media service, a second indication that at least the first zone player is available for play back of media from the cloud-based media service; receive, via the network interface from the client station, a third indication that at least the first zone player has been selected to play back media from the cloud-based media service; provide a remote playback queue that is associated with the first zone player and the client station, wherein the remote playback queue comprises data identifying a set of one or more media items for play back; and based on receiving the third indication, transmit, via the network interface to the first zone player, (i) an instruction for the first zone player to accept playback responsibility for the remote playback queue and (ii) data for retrieving at least a first media item identified in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification