Playback zone silent connect

• US 9,684,484 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2013
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Kumar, Abhishek, Schulert, Andrew, Lambourne, Robert Andrew, Coburn, IV, Arthur L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US13/904,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 340 442, 34082525, 709219, 709248, 709217, 709218, 709201, 709231, 341176, 725 78, 725 79, 725 80, 725 81
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/282 Hierarchical databases, e.g. IMS, LDAP data stores or Lotus Notes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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 21/41407 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 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

Embodiments provided herein involve connected states between a mobile device and one or more zones in a network media system and different interactions between the mobile device and the network media system involving the connected states. The connected states may be established between the mobile device and the one or more zones such that further actions taken on media items identified in the playlist on the mobile device may also be taken on corresponding media items in a playback queue associated with the one or more zones. The interface on the mobile device may display various graphical representations to indicate the different interactions involving the connected states, including when a connected state is established, when a connected state is lost, and when a reconnected state is reestablished. The interface may further provide selectable icons to allow a user to navigate among the different media playback options involving the connected states.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing communication between a mobile device and one or more playback devices; and

after establishing the communication,

(a) determining, via the mobile device, that, before establishing the communication, the mobile device was in a first connected state with the one or more playback devices, wherein in the first connected state (i) a playback queue associated with the one or more playback devices was populated with one or more first media items identified in a playlist on the mobile device and (ii) the one or more playback devices were configured to play the one or more first media items from the playback queue in accordance with commands received from the mobile device;

(b) based on determining that, before establishing the communication, the mobile device was in the first connected state with the one or more playback devices, receiving, via the mobile device from at least one of the one or more playback devices, information identifying one or more second media items currently in the playback queue and causing, via the mobile device, the playlist to identify the one or more second media items currently in the playback queue;

(c) displaying, via the mobile device, an indication of the one or more second media items identified by the information received from the at least one of the one or more playback devices; and

(d) establishing, via the mobile device, a second connected state between the mobile device and the one or more playback devices such that the one or more playback devices are configured to play the one or more second media items in accordance with commands received from the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, via a user interface of the mobile device, an indication that the second connected state between the mobile device and the one or more playback devices has been established.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the information identifying the one or more second media items, determining that the mobile device is not currently playing a media item.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to establishing the communication between the mobile device and the one or more playback devices, determining that the one or more playback devices are playing a particular media item of the one or more second media items.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

causing the mobile device to play the particular media item in synchrony with playback of the particular media item by the one or more playback devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in the first connected state the one or more playback devices were configured to perform one or more of:

(a) playing the one or more first media items, (b) pausing playback of the one or more first media items, (c) muting playback of the one or more first media items, (d) removing the one or more first media items from the playback queue, (e) adding a new media item to the playback queue, and (f) skipping a currently playing media item to play another media item in the playback queue.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more first media items is the same as at least one of the one or more second media items.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the playback queue is stored by a storage medium of a playback device of the one or more playback devices.

7. A method comprising:

establishing communication between a mobile device and one or more playback devices, wherein the mobile device is playing back a media item when the mobile device establishes the communication;

after establishing the communication,

(a) determining that, before establishing the communication, the mobile device was in a connected state with the one or more playback devices, wherein in the connected state (i) a playback queue associated with the one or more playback devices was populated with one or more media items identified in a playlist on the mobile device and (ii) the one or more playback devices were configured to play the one or more media items in accordance with commands received from the mobile device; and

(b) simultaneously displaying (i) an indication that the one or more playback devices were in the connected state with the mobile device and (ii) an indication that the media item is currently being played by the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more playback devices are one or more first playback devices, wherein the one or more media items are one or more first media items, and wherein the playback queue is a first playback queue, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile device, an input indicating a selection of one or more second playback devices, wherein the one or more second playback devices are associated with a second playback queue;

in response to receiving the input, causing the second playback queue to be populated with one or more second media items currently identified by the playlist on the mobile device; and

causing the one or more second playback devices to play the one or more second media items populated in the second playback queue in accordance with commands received from the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile device, an input indicating a selection of the one or more playback devices;

in response to receiving the input, causing the playback queue to be populated with one or more second media items currently identified by the playlist on the mobile device; and

causing the one or more playback devices to play the one or more second media items populated in the playback queue in accordance with commands received from the mobile device.

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

establishing communication between the mobile device and one or more playback devices; and

after establishing the communication,

(a) determining that, before establishing the communication, the mobile device was in a first connected state with the one or more playback devices, wherein in the first connected state (i) a playback queue associated with the one or more playback devices was populated with one or more first media items identified in a playlist on the mobile device and (ii) the one or more playback devices were configured to play the one or more first media items from the playback queue in accordance with commands received from the mobile device;

(b) based on determining that, before establishing the communication, the mobile device was in the first connected state with the one or more playback devices, receiving from at least one of the one or more playback devices, information identifying one or more second media items currently in the playback queue;

(c) displaying an indication of the one or more second media items identified by the information received from the at least one of the one or more playback devices; and

(d) establishing a second connected state between the mobile device and the one or more playback devices such that the one or more playback devices are configured to play the one or more second media items in accordance with commands received from the mobile device.

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

displaying, via a user interface of the mobile device, an indication that the second connected state between the mobile device and the one or more playback devices has been established.

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

prior to receiving the information identifying the one or more second media items, determining that the mobile device is not currently playing a media item.

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

in response to establishing the communication between the mobile device and the one or more playback devices, determining that the one or more playback devices are playing a particular media item of the one or more second media items.

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

causing the mobile device to play the particular media item in synchrony with playback of the particular media item by the one or more playback devices.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein in the first connected state the one or more playback devices were configured to perform one or more of:

(a) playing the one or more first media items, (b) pausing playback of the one or more first media items, (c) muting playback of the one or more first media items, (d) removing the one or more first media items from the playback queue, (e) adding a new media item to the playback queue, and (f) skipping a currently playing media item to play another media item in the playback queue.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more first media items is the same as at least one of the one or more second media items.

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

establishing communication between the mobile device and one or more playback devices, wherein the mobile device is playing back a media item when the mobile device establishes the communication;

after establishing the communication,

(a) determining that, before establishing the communication, the mobile device was in a connected state with the one or more playback devices, wherein in the connected state (i) a playback queue associated with the one or more playback devices was populated with one or more media items identified in a playlist on the mobile device and (ii) the one or more playback devices were configured to play the one or more media items in accordance with commands received from the mobile device; and

(b) simultaneously displaying (i) an indication that the one or more playback devices were in the connected state with the mobile device and (ii) an indication that the media item is currently being played by the mobile device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more playback devices are one or more first playback devices, wherein the one or more media items are one or more first media items, wherein the playback queue is a first playback queue, and wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving, by the mobile device, an input indicating a selection of one or more second playback devices, wherein the one or more second playback devices are associated with a second playback queue;

in response to receiving the input, causing the second playback queue to be populated with one or more second media items currently identified by the playlist on the mobile device; and

causing the one or more second playback devices to play the one or more second media items populated in the second playback queue in accordance with commands received from the mobile device.

21. A mobile device comprising:

a processor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the mobile device to perform functions comprising;

establishing communication between the mobile device and one or more playback devices; and

after establishing the communication,

(a) determining that, before establishing the communication, the mobile device was in a first connected state with the one or more playback devices, wherein in the first connected state (i) a playback queue associated with the one or more playback devices was populated with one or more first media items identified in a playlist on the mobile device and (ii) the one or more playback devices were configured to play the one or more first media items from the playback queue in accordance with commands received from the mobile device;

(b) based on determining that, before establishing the communication, the mobile device was in the first connected state with the one or more playback devices, receiving from at least one of the one or more playback devices, information identifying one or more second media items currently in the playback queue and causing the playlist to identify the one or more second media items currently in the playback queue;

(c) displaying an indication of the one or more second media items identified by the information received from the at least one of the one or more playback devices; and

(d) establishing a second connected state between the mobile device and the one or more playback devices such that the one or more playback devices are configured to play the one or more second media items in accordance with commands received from the mobile device.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the functions further comprise:

displaying, via a user interface of the mobile device, an indication that the second connected state between the mobile device and the one or more playback devices has been established.

23. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the functions further comprise:

prior to receiving the information identifying the one or more second media items, determining that the mobile device is not currently playing a media item.

24. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the functions further comprise:

in response to establishing the communication between the mobile device and the one or more playback devices, determining that the one or more playback devices are playing a particular media item of the one or more second media items.

25. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein the functions further comprise:

causing the mobile device to play the particular media item in synchrony with playback of the particular media item by the one or more playback devices.

26. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein in the first connected state the one or more playback devices were configured to perform one or more of:

(a) playing the one or more first media items, (b) pausing playback of the one or more first media items, (c) muting playback of the one or more first media items, (d) removing the one or more first media items from the playback queue, (e) adding a new media item to the playback queue, and (f) skipping a currently playing media item to play another media item in the playback queue.

27. A mobile device comprising:

a processor; and

memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor to cause the mobile device to perform functions comprising;

establishing communication between the mobile device and one or more playback devices, wherein the mobile device is playing back a media item when the mobile device establishes the communication;

after establishing the communication,

(a) determining that, before establishing the communication, the mobile device was in a connected state with the one or more playback devices, wherein in the connected state (i) a playback queue associated with the one or more playback devices was populated with one or more media items identified in a playlist on the mobile device and (ii) the one or more playback devices were configured to play the one or more media items in accordance with commands received from the mobile device; and

(b) simultaneously displaying (i) an indication that the one or more playback devices were in the connected state with the mobile device and (ii) an indication that the media item is currently being played by the mobile device.

28. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the one or more playback devices are one or more first playback devices, wherein the one or more media items are one or more first media items, and wherein the playback queue is a first playback queue, and wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving an input indicating a selection of one or more second playback devices, wherein the one or more second playback devices are associated with a second playback queue;

in response to receiving the input, causing the second playback queue to be populated with one or more second media items currently identified by the playlist on the mobile device; and

causing the one or more second playback devices to play the one or more second media items populated in the second playback queue in accordance with commands received from the mobile device.

29. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the functions further comprise:

receiving an input indicating a selection of the one or more playback devices;

in response to receiving the input, causing the playback queue to be populated with one or more second media items currently identified by the playlist on the mobile device; and

causing the one or more playback devices to play the one or more second media items populated in the playback queue in accordance with commands received from the mobile device.