Volume enhancements in a multi-zone media playback system

• US 9,231,545 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Lang, Jonathan P., Agustin, Jerome, Triplett, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELBIN, JESSE A
• Application Number:
  US14/039,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20150092959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 715/727, 381/104, 381/107
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 2201/50 Gain control characterized by the means of gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/001 Digital control of analog signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3089 Control of digital or coded signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Embodiments are described herein that provide numerous volume enhancements to a media playback system, especially for use by a system that contains two or more zone players that are capable of being grouped to form a synchronous audio playback group.

Claims

1. A method for volume control in a multi-zone media playback system, the method comprising:

receiving a command to establish a synchronous audio playback group between a first zone player and a second zone player;

receiving a first volume level for the first zone player for audio playback in the synchronous audio playback group;

storing, in a data storage, the first volume level associated with the first zone player and the synchronous audio playback group;

receiving a command to remove the first zone player from the synchronous audio playback group;

subsequently receiving a new volume level for the first zone player, wherein the first zone player is no longer in the synchronous audio playback group;

receiving a command to regroup the first zone player with the second zone player; and

adjusting the first zone player to the stored first volume level responsive to a regrouping of the first and second zone players.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a volume level for the first zone player prior to the grouping, wherein the first zone player is configured to play audio according to the volume level; and

storing the volume level prior to grouping, wherein the volume level is used by the first zone player when the first zone player is removed from the synchronous audio playback group.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command to establish a synchronous audio playback group between the first zone player, the second zone player, and a third zone player;

receiving a second volume level for the first zone player while in the synchronous audio playback group comprising the first, second, and third zone players; and

storing the second volume level associated with the first zone player and the synchronous playback group comprising the first, second, and third zone players, wherein the stored second volume level is used by the first zone player in a subsequent grouping between the first, second, and third zone players.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the new volume level is a volume level for the first zone player prior to the grouping.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first volume level represents an absolute volume level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first volume level represents a volume level that is proportional to a volume level of the second zone player.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

adjusting the first volume level in proportion to a change in the volume level of the second zone player.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

adjusting the volume level of the second zone player in proportion to a change in the first volume level of the first zone player.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first volume level is determined based on a volume level of a group coordinator of the synchronous audio group.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a command to establish a synchronous audio playback group between a first zone player and a second zone player;

receiving a first volume level for the first zone player for audio playback in the synchronous audio playback group;

storing the first volume level associated with the first zone player and the synchronous audio playback group;

receiving a command to remove the first zone player from the synchronous audio playback group;

subsequently receiving a new volume level for the first zone player, wherein the first zone player is no longer in the synchronous audio playback group;

receiving a command to regroup the first zone player with the second zone player; and

adjusting the first zone player to the stored first volume level responsive to a regrouping of the first and second zone players.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a volume level for the first zone player prior to the grouping, wherein the first zone player is configured to play audio according to the volume level; and

storing the volume level prior to grouping, wherein the volume level is used by the first zone player when the first zone player is removed from the synchronous audio playback group.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a command to establish a synchronous audio playback group between the first zone player, the second zone player, and a third zone player;

receiving a second volume level for the first zone player while in the synchronous audio playback group comprising the first, second, and third zone players; and

storing the second volume level associated with the first zone player and the synchronous playback group comprising the first, second, and third zone players, wherein the stored second volume level is used by the first zone player in a subsequent grouping between the first, second, and third zone players.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the new volume level is a volume level for the first zone player prior to the grouping.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first volume level represents an absolute volume level.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first volume level represents a volume level that is proportional to a volume level of the second zone player.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computing device to perform functions comprising:

adjusting the first volume level in proportion to a change in the volume level of the second zone player.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computing device to perform functions comprising:

adjusting the volume level of the second zone player in proportion to a change in the first volume level of the first zone player.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first volume level is determined based on a volume level of a group coordinator of the synchronous audio group.

19. A first playback device comprising:

one or more processors;

a tangible data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the first playback device to perform operations comprising;

receiving a command to establish a synchronous audio playback group between the first playback device and a second playback device;

receiving a first volume level for the first playback device for audio playback in the synchronous audio playback group;

storing, in a data storage, the first volume level associated with the first playback device and the synchronous audio playback group;

receiving a command to remove the first playback device from the synchronous audio playback group;

subsequently receiving a new volume level for the first playback device, wherein the first playback device is no longer in the synchronous audio playback group;

receiving a command to regroup the first playback device with the second playback device; and

adjusting the first playback device to the stored first volume level responsive to a regrouping of the first playback device and second playback device.

20. The playback device of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a volume level for the first playback device prior to the grouping, wherein the first playback device is configured to play audio according to the volume level; and

storing the volume level prior to grouping, wherein the volume level is used by the first playback device when the first playback device is removed from the synchronous audio playback group.

21. The playback device of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a command to establish a synchronous audio playback group between the first playback device, the second playback device, and a third playback device;

receiving a second volume level for the first playback device while in the synchronous audio playback group comprising the first, second, and third playback devices; and

storing the second volume level associated with the first playback device and the synchronous playback group comprising the first, second, and third playback devices, wherein the stored second volume level is used by the first playback device in a subsequent grouping between the first, second, and third playback devices.

22. The playback device of claim 19, wherein the new volume level is a volume level for the first playback device prior to the grouping.

23. The playback device of claim 19, wherein the first volume level represents an absolute volume level.

24. The playback device of claim 19, wherein the first volume level represents a volume level that is proportional to a volume level of the second playback device.

25. The playback device of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise:

adjusting the first volume level in proportion to a change in the volume level of the second playback device.

26. The playback device of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise:

adjusting the volume level of the second playback device in proportion to a change in the first volume level of the first playback device.

27. The playback device of claim 19, wherein the first volume level is determined based on a volume level of a group coordinator of the synchronous audio group.