Networked music playback

• US 9,967,615 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Coburn, IV, Arthur, Hoadley, Joni
• Primary Examiner(s): Montoya, Oschat
• Application Number:
  US14/628,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20150172756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• 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 21/4307 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 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• 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 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 : Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 : Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 : for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to a multimedia playback network are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a first input including an identification of a playback device; detecting a second input including an identification of an item on a controller, wherein multimedia content associated with the item is retrievable from a content provider; detecting a trigger, wherein the trigger is not the first input or the second input; and sending, in response to detecting the trigger, information regarding the multimedia content from the controller to the playback device, wherein the information includes an identification of the multimedia content for playback by the playback device, and wherein the information causes (a) the playback device to retrieve, independent of the controller, the multimedia content from the content provider and (b) playback of the retrieved multimedia content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing, via a control device, a graphical interface to display a control interface including one or more transport controls to control playback by the control device;

after connecting to a local area network via a network interface, identifying, via the control device, playback devices connected to the local area network;

causing, via the control device, the graphical interface to display a selectable option for transferring playback from the control device;

detecting, via the control device, a set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to a particular playback device, wherein the set of inputs comprises;

(i) a selection of the selectable option for transferring playback from the control device and (ii) a selection of the particular playback device from the identified playback devices connected to the local area network;

after detecting the set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to the particular playback device, causing playback to be transferred from the control device to the particular playback device, wherein transferring playback from the control device to the particular playback device comprises;

(a) causing one or more first cloud servers to add multimedia content to a local playback queue on the particular playback device, wherein adding the multimedia content to the local playback queue comprises the one or more first cloud servers adding, to the local playback queue, one or more resource locators corresponding to respective locations of the multimedia content at one or more second cloud servers of a streaming content service;

(b) causing playback at the control device to be stopped; and

(c) modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the playback device; and

causing the particular playback device to play back the multimedia content, wherein the particular playback device playing back the multimedia content comprises the particular playback device retrieving the multimedia content from one or more second cloud servers of a streaming content service and playing back the retrieved multimedia content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to the particular playback device comprises detecting a set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to a particular zone of a media playback system that includes the particular playback device as a first channel of a stereo pair and an additional playback device as a second channel of the stereo pair, wherein modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the particular playback device comprises causing the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the particular playback device and the additional playback device, and wherein the particular playback device playing back the retrieved multimedia content comprises the particular playback device and the additional playback device playing back the multimedia content as the stereo pair.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to the particular playback device comprises detecting a set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to a particular zone group of a media particular playback system that includes a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone includes the particular playback device and the second zone includes at least one additional playback device, wherein modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the playback device comprises causing the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the particular playback device and the at least one additional playback device in synchrony, and wherein the particular playback device playing back the retrieved multimedia content comprises the particular playback device and the at least one additional playback device playing back the multimedia content in synchrony.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control interface is displayed by an application associated with the streaming content service, and wherein the set of inputs further comprises detecting an input to select a link in the application associated with the streaming content service and wherein selection of the link launches a second application to facilitate retrieving the multimedia content by the particular playback device from a particular source indicated by a resource locator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the control interface is displayed by an application associated with the streaming content service, and wherein the set of inputs further comprises detecting an input to select a link in the application associated with the streaming content service and wherein selection of the link causes the control device to transmit information to the one or more first cloud servers to add multimedia content to the local playback queue on the particular playback device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting, via the control device, a set of inputs to transfer playback from the playback device back to the control device, wherein transferring playback from the playback device back to the control device comprises:

causing playback at the playback device to be stopped; and

modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the control device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the graphical interface to display the control interface including one or more transport controls to control playback by the control device comprises causing the graphical interface to display a control interface that includes the one or more transport controls in a particular arrangement on the graphical interface, and wherein modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the particular playback device comprises causing the graphical interface to display the one or more transport controls to control playback by the particular playback device in the particular arrangement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the one or more first cloud servers to add multimedia content to the local playback queue comprises causing an identifier of the multimedia content to be added to the local playback queue, wherein the identifier indicates a particular source of the multimedia content at the one or more second cloud servers of the streaming content service, wherein the particular playback device receives the multimedia content from the particular source at the one or more second cloud servers of the streaming content service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein causing one or more first cloud servers to add the multimedia content to the local playback queue on the particular playback device comprises sending a message to the streaming content service that causes the one or more first cloud servers to add the multimedia content to the local playback queue on the particular playback device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the set of inputs comprises detecting a selection of the multimedia content.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the set of inputs comprises detecting an input that causes playback at the control device to be stopped.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the set of inputs comprises detecting selection of a button on the control interface.

13. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause a control device to implement a method comprising:

causing a graphical interface to display a control interface including one or more transport controls to control playback by the control device;

after connecting to a local area network via a network interface, identifying playback devices connected to the local area network;

causing the graphical interface to display a selectable option for transferring playback from the control device;

detecting a set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to a particular playback device, wherein the set of inputs comprises;

(i) a selection of the selectable option for transferring playback from the control device and (ii) a selection of the particular playback device from the identified playback devices connected to the local area network;

after detecting the set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to the particular playback device, causing playback to be transferred from the control device to the particular playback device, wherein transferring playback from the control device to the particular playback device comprises;

(a) causing one or more first cloud servers to add multimedia content to a local playback queue on the particular playback device, wherein adding the multimedia content to the local playback queue comprises the one or more first cloud servers adding, to the local playback queue, one or more resource locators corresponding to respective locations of the multimedia content at one or more second cloud servers of a streaming content service;

(b) causing playback at the control device to be stopped; and

(c) modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the playback device; and

causing the particular playback device to play back the multimedia content, wherein the particular playback device playing back the multimedia content comprises the particular playback device retrieving the multimedia content from one or more second cloud servers of a streaming content service and playing back the retrieved multimedia content.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein detecting the set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to the particular playback device comprises detecting a set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to a particular zone of a media playback system that includes the particular playback device as a first channel of a stereo pair and an additional playback device as a second channel of the stereo pair, wherein modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the particular playback device comprises causing the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the particular playback device and the additional playback device, and wherein the particular playback device playing back the retrieved multimedia content comprises the particular playback device and the additional playback device playing back the multimedia content as the stereo pair.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein detecting the set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to the particular playback device comprises detecting a set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to a particular zone group of a media particular playback system that includes a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone includes the particular playback device and the second zone includes at least one additional playback device, wherein modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the playback device comprises causing the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the particular playback device and the at least one additional playback device in synchrony, and wherein the particular playback device playing back the retrieved multimedia content comprises the particular playback device and the at least one additional playback device playing back the multimedia content in synchrony.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the control interface is displayed by an application associated with the streaming content service, and wherein the set of inputs further comprises detecting an input to select a link in the application associated with the streaming content service and wherein selection of the link launches a second application to facilitate retrieving the multimedia content by the particular playback device from a particular source indicated by a resource locator.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the control interface is displayed by an application associated with the streaming content service, and wherein the set of inputs further comprises detecting an input to select a link in the application associated with the streaming content service and wherein selection of the link causes the control device to transmit information to the one or more first cloud servers to add multimedia content to the local playback queue on the particular playback device.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises detecting a set of inputs to transfer playback from the playback device back to the control device, wherein transferring playback from the playback device back to the control device comprises:

causing playback at the playback device to be stopped; and

modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the control device.

19. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein causing the graphical interface to display the control interface including one or more transport controls to control playback by the control device comprises causing the graphical interface to display a control interface that includes the one or more transport controls in a particular arrangement on the graphical interface, and wherein modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the playback device comprises causing the graphical interface to display the one or more transport controls to control playback by the playback device in the particular arrangement.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein causing the one or more first cloud servers to add multimedia content to the local playback queue on the particular playback device comprises causing an identifier of the multimedia content to be added to the local playback queue, wherein the identifier indicates a particular source of the multimedia content at the one or more second cloud servers of the streaming content service, wherein the particular playback device receives the multimedia content from the particular source at the one or more second cloud servers of the streaming content service.

21. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein causing one or more first cloud servers to add the multimedia content to the local playback queue on the particular playback device comprises sending a message to the streaming content service that causes the one or more first cloud servers to add the multimedia content to the local playback queue on the particular playback device.

22. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein detecting the set of inputs comprises detecting a selection of the multimedia content.

23. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein detecting the set of inputs comprises detecting an input that causes playback at the control device to be stopped.

24. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein detecting the set of inputs comprises detecting selection of a button on the control interface.

25. A control device comprising:

a graphical interface;

a wireless communication interface to communicate with a playback device;

one or more processors;

tangible non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control device to perform functions comprising;

causing the graphical interface to display a control interface including one or more transport controls to control playback by the control device;

after connecting to a local area network via the wireless communication interface, identifying playback devices connected to the local area network;

causing the graphical interface to display a selectable option for transferring playback from the control device;

detecting a set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to a particular playback device, wherein the set of inputs comprises;

(i) a selection of the selectable option for transferring playback from the control device and (ii) a selection of the particular playback device from the identified playback devices connected to the local area network;

after detecting the set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to the particular playback device, causing playback to be transferred from the control device to the particular playback device, wherein transferring playback from the control device to the particular playback device comprises;

(a) causing one or more first cloud servers to add multimedia content to a local playback queue on the particular playback device, wherein adding the multimedia content to the local playback queue comprises the one or more first cloud servers adding, to the local playback queue, one or more resource locators corresponding to respective locations of the multimedia content at one or more second cloud servers of a streaming content service;

(b) causing playback at the control device to be stopped; and

(c) modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the playback device; and

causing the particular playback device to play back the multimedia content, wherein the particular playback device playing back the multimedia content comprises the particular playback device retrieving the multimedia content from one or more second cloud servers of a streaming content service and playing back the retrieved multimedia content.

26. The control device of claim 25, wherein detecting the set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to the particular playback device comprises detecting a set of inputs to transfer playback from the control device to a particular zone group of a media particular playback system that includes a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone includes the particular playback device and the second zone includes at least one additional playback device, wherein modifying the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the playback device comprises causing the one or more transport controls of the control interface to control playback by the particular playback device and the at least one additional playback device in synchrony, and wherein the particular playback device playing back the retrieved multimedia content comprises the particular playback device and the at least one additional playback device playing back the multimedia content in synchrony.

27. The control device of claim 25, wherein detecting the set of inputs comprises detecting a selection of the multimedia content.

28. The control device of claim 25, wherein detecting the set of inputs comprises detecting an input that causes playback at the control device to be stopped.

29. The control device of claim 25, wherein detecting the set of inputs comprises detecting selection of a button on the control interface.