Smart audio settings

• US 9,031,244 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Lang, Jonathan Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US13/539,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20140003623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 381/98, 381101-103, 381/56, 381/61, 381/63, 846/01, 846/04, 846/08, 846/09
• US Class Current: 381/56
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3089 Control of digital or coded signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/005 of digital signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/025 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 5/165 Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide for smart configuration of audio settings for a playback device. According to an embodiment, when a user adjusts the audio settings of a playback device during the playback of a song or track, the user is warned if the currently playing song is “atypical” relative to other audio content. According to another embodiment, audio settings for a playback device are dynamically adjusted based on an audio profile of the audio that is played. According to yet another embodiment, audio settings are replicated onto other playback devices on a playback network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a media playback device, a first audio profile for a plurality of songs;

receiving, by the media playback device, data indicating a command to adjust audio settings during playback of a song;

determining, by the media playback device, a second audio profile for the song;

determining, by the media playback device, whether the second audio profile matches the first audio profile; and

transmitting, by the media playback device, a message indicating that the song is not representative of the plurality of songs only if the second audio profile does not match the first audio profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first audio profile is based on the plurality of songs played over a time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first audio profile is based on a genre.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first audio profile is based on audio played by a particular zone.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, by the media playback device, the audio settings only if the second audio profile does not match the first audio profile.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the media playback device, whether the second audio profile matches a third audio profile only if the second audio profile does not match the first audio profile; and

automatically adjusting the audio settings based on the third audio profile only if the second audio profile matches the third audio profile.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically adjusting the audio settings based on the first audio profile only if the second audio profile matches the first audio profile.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a media playback device to cause the media playback device to perform functions comprising:

determining a first audio profile for a plurality of songs;

receiving data indicating a command to adjust audio settings during playback of a song;

determining a second audio profile for the song;

determining whether the second audio profile matches the first audio profile; and

transmitting a message indicating that the song is not representative of the plurality of songs only if the second audio profile does not match the first audio profile.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first audio profile is based on the plurality of songs played over a time.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first audio profile is based on a genre.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first audio profile is based on audio played by a particular zone.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

storing the audio settings only if the second audio profile does not match the first audio profile.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

determining whether the second audio profile matches a third audio profile only if the second audio profile does not match the first audio profile; and

automatically adjusting the audio settings based on the third audio profile only if the second audio profile matches the third audio profile.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

automatically adjusting the audio settings based on the first audio profile only if the second audio profile matches the first audio profile.

15. A media playback device comprising:

a network interface;

an audio processing component;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by at least one processor to cause the media playback device to;

determine a first audio profile for a plurality of songs;

receive data indicating a command to adjust audio settings during playback of a song;

determine a second audio profile for the song;

determine whether the second audio profile matches the first audio profile; and

transmit a message indicating that the song is not representative of the plurality of songs only if the second audio profile does not match the first audio profile.

16. The media playback device of claim 15, wherein the first audio profile is based on the plurality of songs played over a time.

17. The media playback device of claim 15, wherein the first audio profile is based on audio played by a particular zone.

18. The media playback device of claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable to cause the media playback device to:

store the audio settings only if the second audio profile does not match the first audio profile.

19. The media playback device of claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable to cause the media playback device to:

determine whether the second audio profile matches a third audio profile only if the second audio profile does not match the first audio profile; and

automatically adjusting the audio settings based on the third audio profile only if the second audio profile matches the third audio profile.

20. The media playback device of claim 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable to cause the media playback device to:

automatically adjusting the audio settings based on the first audio profile only if the second audio profile matches the first audio profile.