Playback device group volume control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10050594-B2
Application number	US-201715620324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2017
Priority date	Jun 5, 2013
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for satellite volume control. An example method includes receiving an input at a playback device to adjust a volume for a plurality of playback devices that are grouped for synchronous playback of audio content, wherein the plurality of playback devices includes the playback device. The method also includes sending a first message over a network from the playback device to a device associated with the plurality of playback devices, the first message including information based on the input, wherein the information is used to adjust the volume of the plurality of playback devices. The method also includes receiving a second message at the playback device over the network, the second message including information for the volume of the playback device, wherein the volume is based on the adjusted volume of the plurality of playback devices.

First claim

We claim:

1. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a first playback device to perform functions comprising:
receiving input indicating a volume adjustment;
in response to receiving the input, determining that the first playback device is in a playback device group comprising the first playback device and a second playback device, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to play back audio synchronously;
based on determining that the first playback device is in the playback device group, determining whether the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device;
if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback; and
if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting a volume of the first playback device based on the input.

2. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein receiving input indicating a volume adjustment comprises:
receiving, from the second playback device, an information packet comprising the input.

3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:
if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device and based on receiving the information packet comprising the input, transmitting, to the second playback device, the information packet.

4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first playback device is configured to be a full-frequency playback device, and wherein the functions further comprise:
joining the playback device group;
based on the first playback device being configured to be the full-frequency playback device, causing the first playback device to be a primary device and the second playback device to be a secondary device.

5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:
if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting respective audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the respective adjusted audio data to the second playback device, a third playback device, and a fourth playback device for playback.

6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:
transmitting volume-adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback.

7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:
transmitting a gain value for audio playback by the second playback device.

8. A first playback device, comprising:
a processor; and
a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:
receiving input indicating a volume adjustment;
in response to receiving the input, determining that the first playback device is in a playback device group comprising the first playback device and a second playback device, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to play back audio synchronously;
based on determining that the first playback device is in the playback device group, determining whether the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device;
if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback; and
if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting a volume of the first playback device based on the input.

9. The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein receiving input indicating a volume adjustment comprises:
receiving, from the second playback device, an information packet comprising the input.

10. The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein the functions further comprise:
if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device and based on receiving the information packet comprising the input, transmitting, to the second playback device, the information packet.

11. The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein the first playback device is configured to be a full-frequency playback device, and wherein the functions further comprise:
joining the playback device group;
based on the first playback device being configured to be the full-frequency playback device, causing the first playback device to be a primary device and the second playback device to be a secondary device.

12. The first playback device of claim 11 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:
if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting respective audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the respective adjusted audio data to the second playback device, a third playback device, and a fourth playback device for playback.

13. The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:
transmitting volume-adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback.

14. The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:
transmitting a gain value for audio playback by the second playback device.

15. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a first playback device, input indicating a volume adjustment;
in response to receiving the input, determining that the first playback device is in a playback device group comprising the first playback device and a second playback device, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to play back audio synchronously;
based on determining that the first playback device is in the playback device group, determining whether the first playback device is playing back audio sy

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Dizon Bob
• Griffiths Neil
• Vega Zayas Luis R

Classifications

• H03G1/02 Primary

  Remote control of amplification, tone or bandwidth (combined with remote tuning or selection of resonant circuits H03J) · CPC title

• H03G3/3089

  Control of digital or coded signals · CPC title

• H04N21/4852

  for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo · CPC title

• H04N21/43615

  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 title

• H03G3/3005 Primary

  in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers (H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence) · CPC title