Communication based on operation mode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10324685-B2
Application number	US-201815973267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2018
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for utilizing communication routes based operation mode. In an example implementation, while operating in a normal power mode, a playback device maintains information in a network table, the information includes first information associated with a second playback device of the networked media system and second information associated with a third playback device of the networked media system. The playback device determines that the first playback device is to enter a low power mode to draw less power from a battery of the first playback device relative to the normal power mode, and responsive to the determination, foregoing maintaining of the second information in the network table. Thereafter, the playback device determines that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode; and, and in response, synchronizes with the second playback device based at least in part on the first information for playback of audio content.

First claim

I claim:

1. A first playback device of a networked media system, the first playback device comprising:
a battery configured to power the first playback device;
one or more processors; and
tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the one or more processors, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:
while operating in a normal power mode, maintaining information in a network table, wherein the information comprises (i) first information associated with a second playback device of the networked media system and (ii) second information associated with a third playback device of the networked media system;
determining that the first playback device is to enter a low power mode to draw less power from the battery relative to the normal power mode;
responsive to the determination, foregoing maintaining of the second information in the network table while continuing to maintain the first information;
after foregoing the maintaining the of the second information, determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode; and
in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode, synchronizing with the second playback device based at least in part on the first information for playback of audio content.

2. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:
probing for other playback devices in the networked media system while operating in the normal power mode; and
ceasing to probe for other playback devices in the networked media system in response to determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode.

3. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise ceasing to subsequently update the second information in response to determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode.

4. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise updating the second information in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to the normal power mode.

5. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the second information comprises a network address of the third playback device in the networked media system.

6. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the second information further comprises an identification of a routing protocol for communicating with the third playback device over the networked media system.

7. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode comprises determining that a battery power level of the first playback device is below a predetermined threshold value.

8. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the network table is a first network table, and wherein synchronizing with the second playback device based at least in part on the first information for playback of audio content comprises synchronizing at least a portion of the first network table with a second network table maintained by the second playback device.

9. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:
receiving, via a network interface over a network defined by the network table, data representing the audio content; and
playing back the audio content via one or more speakers.

10. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein receiving the data representing the audio content comprises:
receiving the audio content via one of the first playback device or the second playback device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a first playback device of a networked media system to perform functions comprising:
while operating in a normal power mode, maintaining information in a network table, wherein the information comprises (i) first information associated with a second playback device of the networked media system and (ii) second information associated with a third playback device of the networked media system;
determining that the first playback device is to enter a low power mode to draw less power from a battery of the first playback device relative to the normal power mode;
responsive to the determination, foregoing maintaining of the second information in the network table while continuing to maintain the first information;
after foregoing the maintaining the of the second information, determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode; and
in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode, synchronizing with the second playback device based at least in part on the first information for playback of audio content.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the functions further comprise:
probing for other playback devices in the networked media system while operating in the normal power mode; and
ceasing to probe for other playback devices in the networked media system in response to determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the functions further comprise ceasing to subsequently update the second information in response to determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the functions further comprise updating the second information in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to the normal power mode.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the second information comprises a network address of the third playback device in the networked media system.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the second information further comprises an identification of a routing protocol for communicating with the third playback device over the networked media system.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein determining that the first playback device is to enter the low power mode comprises determining that a battery power level of the first playback device is below a predetermined threshold value.

18. A method comprising:
while operating in a normal power mode, maintaining, via a first playback device of a networked media system, information in a network table, wherein the information comprises (i) first information associated with a second playback device of the networked media system and (ii) second information associated with a third playback device of the networked media system;
determining that the first playback device is to enter a low power mode to draw less power from a battery of the first playback device relative to the normal power mode;
responsive to the determination, foregoing maintaining of the second information in the network table while continuing to maintain the first information;
after foregoing the maintaining the of the second information, determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode; and
in response to determining that the first playback device is to return to normal power mode, synchronizing with the second playback device based at least in part on the first information for playback of audio content.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
probing for other playback devices in the networked media system while operat

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Gossain Hrishikesh

Classifications

• H04W84/18

  Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks · CPC title

• H04W52/46

  in multi-hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks · CPC title

• H04W52/0251

  using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity · CPC title

• H04W52/0219

  where the power saving management affects multiple terminals · CPC title

• H04W40/02

  Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing · CPC title