Associating playback devices with playback queues

• US 10,820,044 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2019
• Issued: 10/27/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Vega-Zayas, Luis, Johansen, Kristen, Bates, Paul, Kumar, Abhishek
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US16/295,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20190208262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• 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 21/4307 Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• 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

Abstract

An example first playback device includes programming to perform functions including receiving a first request to associate with a first playback queue that is stored remotely from, and persists unassociated with, any playback device of the media playback system. The functions also include associating with the first playback queue and designating the first playback queue as an active queue of the first playback device. The functions also include receiving a second request to enter into a group with a second playback device that is associated with a second playback queue, entering into the group with the second playback device, associating with the second playback queue, and designating the second playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device. The functions also include receiving a third request to leave the group, and after receiving the third request, de-designating the second playback queue as its active queue.

Claims

1. A first playback device comprising:

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 first playback device to perform functions comprising;

while in a media playback system comprising a plurality of playback devices, receiving a first request to associate with a first playback queue that is stored remotely from, and persists unassociated with, any playback device of the media playback system;

after receiving the first request;

associating with the first playback queue; and

designating the first playback queue as an active queue of the first playback device;

after associating with the first, playback queue, receiving a second request to enter into a group with a second playback device that is associated with a second playback queue;

after receiving the second request;

entering into the group with the second playback device such that the first playback device is configured to receive (i) audio content and (ii) timing information from the second playback device such that the first playback device is configured to play back audio content in synchrony with the second playback device;

associating with the second playback queue;

maintaining an association with the first playback queue after entering into the group with the second playback device and after associating with the second playback queue;

designating the second playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device; and

de-designating the first playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device;

receiving a third request to leave the group with the second playback device; and

after receiving the third request, de-designating the second playback queue as its active queue.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein de-designating the second playback queue as its active queue further comprises disassociating from the second playback queue.

3. The first 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 first playback device to perform functions comprising:

after de-designating the second playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device, re-designating the first playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device.

4. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the third request to leave the group with the second playback device further comprises a request to enter into a group with a third playback device that is associated with a third playback queue.

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

after receiving the third request;

entering into the group with the third playback device such that the first playback device is configured to receive (i) audio content and (ii) timing information from the third playback device such that the first playback device is configured to play back audio content in synchrony with the third playback device;

associating with the third playback queue;

maintaining an association with the first playback queue after entering into the group with the third playback device and after associating with the third playback queue; and

designating the third playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a first playback device to perform functions comprising:

while in a media playback system comprising a plurality of playback devices, receiving a first request to associate with a first playback queue that is stored remotely from, and persists unassociated with, any playback device of the media playback system;

after receiving the first request;

associating with the first playback queue; and

designating the first playback queue as an active queue of the first playback device;

after associating with the first playback queue, receiving a second request to enter into a group with a second playback device that is associated with a second playback queue;

after receiving the second request;

entering into the group with the second playback device such that the first playback device is configured to receive (i) audio content and (ii) timing information from the second playback device such that the first playback device is configured to play back audio content in synchrony with the second playback device;

associating with the second playback queue;

maintaining an association with the first playback queue after entering into the group with the second playback device and after associating with the second playback queue;

designating the second playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device; and

de-designating the first playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device;

receiving a third request to leave the group with the second playback device; and

after receiving the third request, de-designating the second playback queue as its active queue.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein de-designating the second playback queue as its active queue further comprises disassociating from the second playback queue.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising program instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

after de-designating the second playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device, re-designating the first playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the third request to leave the group with the second playback device further comprises a request to enter into a group with a third playback device that is associated with a third playback queue.

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

after receiving the third request;

entering into the group with the third playback device such that the first playback device is configured to receive (i) audio content and (ii) timing information from the third playback device such that the first playback device is configured to play back audio content in synchrony with the third playback device;

associating with the third playback queue;

maintaining an association with the first playback queue after entering into the group with the third playback device and after associating with the third playback queue; and

designating the third playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device.

11. A method comprising:

while in a media playback system comprising a plurality of playback devices, receiving, by a first playback device, a first request to associate with a first playback queue that is stored remotely from, and persists unassociated with, any playback device of the media playback system;

after receiving the first request;

associating with the first playback queue; and

designating the first playback queue as an active queue of the first playback device;

after associating with the first playback queue, receiving, by the first playback device, a second request to enter into a group with a second playback device that is associated with a second playback queue;

after receiving the second request;

entering into the group with the second playback device such that the first playback device is configured to receive (i) audio content and (ii) timing information from the second playback device such that the first playback device is configured to play back audio content in synchrony with the second playback device;

associating with the second playback queue;

maintaining an association with the first playback queue after entering into the group with the second playback device and after associating with the second playback queue;

designating the second playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device; and

de-designating the first playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device;

receiving, by the first playback device, a third request to leave the group with the second playback device; and

after receiving the third request, de-designating the second playback queue as its active queue.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

after de-designating the second playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device, re-designating the first playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein de-designating the second playback queue as its active queue further comprises disassociating from the second playback queue.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the third request to leave the group with the second playback device further comprises a request to enter into a group with a third playback device that is associated with a third playback queue.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

after receiving the third request;

entering into the group with the third playback device such that the first playback device is configured to receive (i) audio content and (ii) timing information from the third playback device such that the first playback device is configured to play back audio content in, synchrony with the third playback device;

associating with the third playback queue;

maintaining an association with the first playback queue after entering into the group with the third playback device and after associating with the third playback queue; and

designating the third playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device.