Providing media for playback

• US 10,740,061 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2018
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Griffiths, Neil, Reilly, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Elbin, Jesse A
• Application Number:
  US16/141,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20190065139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 715716, 715727
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10657 Cache memories for random data access, e.g. buffers wherein the data output is controlled by a priority parameter other than retention time
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/102 Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26258 for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• 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 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• 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 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

Embodiments are disclosed for providing play/pause content. An example method includes receiving a command to play audio from a zone, the zone including one or more playback devices, wherein the zone is configured to play items from a playback queue responsive to the command to play audio. The example method also includes determining that the playback queue includes no playable items. The example method also includes automatically placing information identifying at least one playable item in the playback queue. The example method also includes, responsive to the command to play audio, causing to play the at least one playable item by the zone.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a playback device configured to play items from a playback queue associated with the playback device;

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform functions comprising;

receiving, via the playback device, a command to resume playback of previously paused audio;

determining that the playback queue includes no playable items;

in response to determining that the playback queue includes no playable items, placing, without user input, at least one playable item in the playback queue, wherein the at least one playable item is based on content information corresponding to the previously paused audio; and

in response to the command to resume playback of previously paused audio, causing the at least one playable item to be played via the playback device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the playback device comprises a control interface, and wherein receiving the command comprises receiving the command via the control interface of the playback device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control interface comprises at least one of a touch sensor, a button, and a microphone.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining that the playback queue includes no playable items further comprises determining there are no items in the playback queue.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein determining that the playback queue includes no playable items further comprises:

determining that an item is in the playback queue; and

determining that the item is unplayable because audio data corresponding to the item is not retrievable for playback by the playback device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one playable item comprises a playable item previously included in the playback queue associated with the playback device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one playable item comprises a playable item provided by a third party media service that identifies the playable item based on an input from the playback device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein receiving the command comprises receiving the command via a control device that is associated with the playback device, the functions further comprising:

in response to determining that the playback queue includes no playable items, causing an indication that the playback queue includes no playable items to be displayed on a graphical display of the control device.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via a playback device, a command to resume playback of previously paused audio, wherein the playback device is configured to play items from a playback queue associated with the playback device;

determining that the playback queue includes no playable items;

in response to determining that the playback queue includes no playable items, placing, without user input, at least one playable item in the playback queue, wherein the at least one playable item is based on content information corresponding to the previously paused audio; and

in response to the command to resume playback of previously paused audio, causing the at least one playable item to be played via the playback device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the playback device comprises a control interface, and wherein receiving the command comprises receiving the command via the control interface of the playback device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the control interface comprises at least one of a touch sensor, a button, and a microphone.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the determining that the playback queue includes no playable items further comprises determining there are no items in the playback queue.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining that the playback queue includes no playable items further comprises:

determining that an item is in the playback queue; and

determining that the item is unplayable because audio data corresponding to the item is not retrievable for playback by the playback device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least one playable item comprises a playable item previously included in the playback queue associated with the playback device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least one playable item comprises a playable item provided by a third party media service that identifies the playable item based on an input from the playback device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein receiving the command comprises receiving the command via a control device that is associated with the playback device, the functions further comprising:

in response to determining that the playback queue includes no playable items, causing an indication that the playback queue includes no playable items to be displayed on a graphical display of the control device.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, via a playback device, a command to resume playback of previously paused audio, wherein the playback device is configured to play items from a playback queue associated with the playback device;

determining that the playback queue includes no playable items;

in response to determining that the playback queue includes no playable items, placing, without user input, at least one playable item in the playback queue, wherein the at least one playable item is based on content information corresponding to the previously paused audio; and

in response to the command to resume playback of previously paused audio, causing the at least one playable item to be played via the playback device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining that the playback queue includes no playable items further comprises determining there are no items in the playback queue.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein determining that the playback queue includes no playable items further comprises:

determining that an item is in the playback queue; and

determining that the item is unplayable because audio data corresponding to the item is not retrievable for playback by the playback device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one playable item comprises a playable item previously included in the playback queue associated with the playback device.