Playback device connection

• US 10,541,883 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2019
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Nicholas A. J., Hainsworth, Paul V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Madamba, Glenford J
• Application Number:
  US16/298,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20190207824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 709222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/28 Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 : Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 : Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

An example playback device includes programming to perform functions including detecting a triggering event that causes the playback device to transmit a first message indicating that the playback device is available for setup. The functions also include receiving a response to the first message that facilitates establishing an initial communication path with a computing device operating on a secure wireless local area network (WLAN), where the initial communication path is outside of the secure WLAN. The functions also include receiving, from the computing device via the initial communication path, a second message containing network configuration parameters for the secure WLAN including an identifier of, and a security key for, the secure WLAN. The functions also include using the network configuration parameters to connect to the secure WLAN and transitioning from communicating with the computing device via the initial communication path to communicating with the computing device via the secure WLAN.

Claims

1. A playback device comprising:

a network interface that is configured to provide an interconnection with at least one data network;

at least one processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

detecting a triggering event that causes the playback device to enter a setup mode in which the playback device transmits at least a first message indicating that the playback device is available for setup;

while in the setup mode, receiving a response to the first message that facilitates establishing an initial communication path with a computing device that is installed with an application for controlling the playback device, wherein the computing device is operating on a secure wireless local area network (WLAN) that is defined by an access point, wherein the initial communication path with the computing device does not traverse the access point;

receiving, from the computing device via the initial communication path, at least a second message containing network configuration parameters for the secure WLAN, wherein the network configuration parameters comprise an identifier of the secure WLAN and a security key for the secure WLAN;

using the network configuration parameters to connect to the secure WLAN that is defined by the access point; and

transitioning from communicating with the computing device via the initial communication path to communicating with the computing device via the secure WLAN that is defined by the access point.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the triggering event comprises one of (a) powering on the playback device or (b) receiving user input via a physical interface of the playback device.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a controller device of a networked audio system.

4. The playback device of claim 1, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

after receiving the second message, providing an indication that the playback device has successfully received the network configuration parameters for the secure WLAN.

5. The playback device of claim 4, wherein providing the indication comprises transmitting, to the computing device via the initial communication path, at least a third message indicating that the playback device has successfully received the network configuration parameters.

6. The playback device of claim 4, wherein providing the indication comprises providing an indication that the playback device has successfully connected to the secure WLAN using the network configuration parameters.

7. The playback device of claim 1, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

after connecting to the secure WLAN, establishing a new networked audio system on the secure WLAN.

8. The playback device of claim 1, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

after connecting to the secure WLAN, joining an existing networked audio system operating on the secure WLAN.

9. The playback device of claim 1, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, from the computing device, a command to assign a name to the playback device.

10. The playback device of claim 1, wherein communicating with the computing device via the secure WLAN comprises receiving a command related to playback of audio content.

11. The playback device of claim 10, wherein the command comprises a command to retrieve audio content for playback from an audio source that is accessible via a communication path that includes the secure WLAN, and wherein the playback device further comprises program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

in response to receiving the command, retrieving the audio content from the audio source via the communication path that includes the secure WLAN.

12. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the second message comprises a command for the playback device to adopt the network configuration parameters.

13. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

after transitioning to communicating with computing device via the secure WLAN, receiving, from the computing device, a command to form a group with at least a first playback device of a networked audio system such that the playback device is configured to play back audio content in synchrony with at least the first playback device.

14. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provisioned with program instructions that are executable to cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:

detecting a triggering event that causes the playback device to enter a setup mode in which the playback device transmits at least a first message indicating that the playback device is available for setup;

while in the setup mode, receiving a response to the first message that facilitates establishing an initial communication path with a computing device that is installed with an application for controlling the playback device, wherein the computing device is operating on a secure wireless local area network (WLAN) that is defined by an access point, wherein the initial communication path with the computing device does not traverse the access point;

receiving, from the computing device via the initial communication path, at least a second message containing network configuration parameters for the secure WLAN, wherein the network configuration parameters comprise an identifier of the secure WLAN and a security key for the secure WLAN;

using the network configuration parameters to connect to the secure WLAN that is defined by the access point; and

transitioning from communicating with the computing device via the initial communication path to communicating with the computing device via the secure WLAN that is defined by the access point.

15. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the triggering event comprises one of (a) powering on the playback device or (b) receiving user input via a physical interface of the playback device.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that are executable to cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

after receiving the second message, providing an indication that the playback device has successfully received the network configuration parameters for the secure WLAN.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein providing the indication comprises transmitting, to the computing device via the initial communication path, at least a third message indicating that the playback device has successfully received the network configuration parameters.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein providing the indication comprises providing an indication that the playback device has successfully connected to the secure WLAN using the network configuration parameters.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein communicating with the computing device via the secure WLAN comprises receiving a command to retrieve audio content for playback from an audio source that is accessible via a communication path that includes the secure WLAN, and wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that are executable to cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

in response to receiving the command, retrieving the audio content from the audio source via the communication path that includes the secure WLAN.

20. A method comprising:

detecting a triggering event that causes the playback device to enter a setup mode in which the playback device transmits at least a first message indicating that the playback device is available for setup;

while in the setup mode, receiving a response to the first message that facilitates establishing an initial communication path with a computing device that is installed with an application for controlling the playback device, wherein the computing device is operating on a secure wireless local area network (WLAN) that is defined by an access point, wherein the initial communication path with the computing device does not traverse the access point;

receiving, from the computing device via the initial communication path, at least a second message containing network configuration parameters for the secure WLAN, wherein the network configuration parameters comprise an identifier of the secure WLAN and a security key for the secure WLAN;

using the network configuration parameters to connect to the secure WLAN that is defined by the access point; and

transitioning from communicating with the computing device via the initial communication path to communicating with the computing device via the secure WLAN that is defined by the access point.