Software application and zones

• US 9,513,868 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Triplett, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYOU, YONAS A
• Application Number:
  US15/008,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20160139875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to a software application that is configured to operate as an add-on software component to audio-playback software on a playback device of a media playback system. One embodiment may involve transmitting, to a computing device, data indicating that a first add-on component installed on a playback device is active; receiving, from the computing device, a command to activate a second add-on component installed on a playback device; in response to receiving the command, activating the second add-on component on the playback device; and causing playback of audio using at least the second add-on component.

Claims

1. A playback device, comprising:

a network interface;

a processor;

memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the playback device to perform functions comprising;

transmitting, to a computing device, data indicating that a first add-on component installed on the playback device is activated, wherein the first add-on component causes a first modification of playback when activated;

receiving, from the computing device, a command to activate a second add-on component installed on the playback device;

in response to receiving the command, activating the second add-on component on the playback device, wherein the second add-on component causes a second modification of playback when activated; and

causing playback of audio using at least the second add-on component.

2. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, from the computing device, a playback command to initiate playback of a media item while the first add-on component is active; and

causing playback of the media item using at least the first add-on component.

3. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

in response to receiving the command, deactivating the first add-on component.

4. The playback device of claim 3, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting, to the computing device, data indicating that the first add-on component is inactive on the playback device.

5. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the second add-on component is associated with a media item, wherein causing playback of audio using at least the second add-on component comprises causing playback of the media item using at least the second add-on component, and wherein the functions further comprise in response to completing playback of the media item, disabling the second add-on component.

6. The playback device of claim 5, wherein the functions further comprise:

in response to receiving the command, deactivating the first add-on component; and

in response to completing playback of the media item, activating the first add-on component.

7. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, from the computing device, the second add-on component for installation on the playback device.

8. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, from a second computing device remote from the playback device, the second add-on component for installation on the playback device.

9. The playback device of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting, to the computing device, data indicating that the second add-on component is active on the playback device.

10. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors to cause an apparatus to perform functions comprising:

transmitting, to a computing device, data indicating that a first add-on component installed on the apparatus is activated, wherein the first add-on component causes a first modification of playback when activated;

receiving, from the computing device, a command to activate a second add-on component installed on the apparatus;

in response to receiving the command, activating the second add-on component on the apparatus, wherein the second add-on component causes a second modification of playback when activated; and

causing playback of audio using at least the second add-on component.

11. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, from the computing device, a playback command to initiate playback of a media item while the first add-on component is active; and

causing playback of the media item using the first add-on component.

12. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the functions further comprise:

in response to receiving the command, deactivating the first add-on component.

13. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, from a second computing device remote from the apparatus, the second add-on component for installation on the apparatus.

14. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting, to the computing device, data indicating that the second add-on component is active on the apparatus.

15. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the second add-on component is associated with a media item,

wherein causing playback of audio using at least the second add-on component comprises causing playback of the media item using at least the second add-on component, and

wherein the functions further comprise:

in response to completing playback of the media item, disabling the second add-on component;

in response to receiving the command, deactivating the first add-on component; and

in response to completing playback of the media item, activating the first add-on component.

16. A method, comprising:

transmitting, to a computing device, data indicating that a first add-on component installed on a playback device is activated, wherein the first add-on component causes a first modification of playback when activated;

receiving, from the computing device, a command to activate a second add-on component installed on a playback device;

in response to receiving the command, activating the second add-on component on the playback device, wherein the second add-on component causes a second modification of playback when activated; and

causing playback of audio using at least the second add-on component.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, from the computing device, a playback command to initiate playback of a media item while the first add-on component is active;

causing playback of the media item using the first add-on component; and

in response to receiving the command, deactivating the first add-on component.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second add-on component is associated with a media item,

wherein causing playback of audio using at least the second add-on component comprises causing playback of the media item using at least the second add-on component, and

wherein the method further comprises:

in response to completing playback of the media item, disabling the second add-on component;

in response to receiving the command, deactivating the first add-on component; and

in response to completing playback of the media item, activating the first add-on component.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, from a second computing device remote from the playback device, the second add-on component for installation on the playback device.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

transmit, to the computing device, data indicating that the second add-on component is active on the playback device.