Playback device volume control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10754612-B2
Application number	US-201916459569-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2019
Priority date	Jul 28, 2003
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device's clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A method performed by a first zone player, the method comprising:
receiving a request to enter into a synchrony group with at least a second zone player that is communicatively coupled to the first zone player via at least one data network;
in response to receiving the request to enter into the synchrony group, entering into the synchrony group with the second zone player, wherein, while in the synchrony group, the first zone player is configured to:
receive, from a network device that is not a member of the synchrony group via the at least one data network, a control message indicating an adjustment to a playback volume of the synchrony group that has been requested by a user; and
in response to receiving the control message, cause the playback volume of the synchrony group to be adjusted by (1) adjusting an individual playback volume of the first zone player, and (2) transmitting, to the second zone player via the at least one data network, a command to adjust an individual playback volume of the second zone player.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
before receiving the request to enter into the synchrony group with at least the second zone player, operating as a standalone zone player that is configured to play back audio individually rather than in synchrony with another zone player.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control message indicating the adjustment to the playback volume of the synchrony group comprises a first control message, and wherein, in the synchrony group, the first zone player is further configured to:
receive, from the network device via the at least one data network, a second control message indicating an adjustment to the individual playback volume of the first zone player that has been requested by a user; and
in response to receiving the second control message, adjust the individual playback volume of the first zone player.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the synchrony group, the first zone player is further configured to:
obtain audio information that is representative of given audio content to be played back by the synchrony group;
generate playback timing information associated with the obtained audio information that is indicative of at least a first future time at which the first and second zone players are to initiate synchronous playback of the obtained audio information;
transmit the obtained audio information and the playback timing information to the second zone player via the at least one data network; and
engage in synchronous playback of the obtained audio information with the second zone player using the playback timing information.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control message includes an identification of one or both of the first zone player or the second zone player.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control message includes an indication of a level at which the individual playback volume of at least one of the first zone player or the second zone player is to be set.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network device comprises a controller device that is configured to control the first and second zone players.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synchrony group comprises a first synchrony group, and wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a request to enter into a second synchrony group with at least a third zone player that is communicatively coupled to the first zone player via the at least one data network;
in response to receiving the request to enter into the second synchrony group, entering into the second synchrony group with the third zone player, wherein, while in the second synchrony group, the first zone player is configured to:
receive, from the third zone player via the at least one data network, a command to adjust the individual playback volume of the first zone player as part of adjusting a playback volume of the second synchrony group.

9. A first zone player comprising:
a network interface that is configured to communicatively couple the first zone player to at least one data network;
at least one processor; and
tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising program instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first zone player to perform functions comprising:
receiving a request to enter into a synchrony group with at least a second zone player that is communicatively coupled to the first zone player via the at least one data network;
in response to receiving the request to enter into the synchrony group, entering into the synchrony group with the second zone player, wherein, while in the synchrony group, the first zone player is configured to:
receive, from a network device that is not a member of the synchrony group via the at least one data network, a control message indicating an adjustment to a playback volume of the synchrony group that has been requested by a user; and
in response to receiving the control message, cause the playback volume of the synchrony group to be adjusted by (1) adjusting an individual playback volume of the first zone player, and (2) transmitting, to the second zone player via the at least one data network, a command to adjust an individual playback volume of the second zone player.

10. The first zone player of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first zone player to perform functions further comprising:
before receiving the request to enter into the synchrony group with at least the second zone player, operating as a standalone zone player that is configured to play back audio individually rather than in synchrony with another zone player.

11. The first zone player of claim 9 , wherein the control message indicating the adjustment to the playback volume of the synchrony group comprises a first control message, and wherein, in the synchrony group, the first zone player is further configured to:
receive, from the network device via the at least one data network, a second control message indicating an adjustment to the individual playback volume of the first zone player that has been requested by a user; and
in response to receiving the second control message, adjust the individual playback volume of the first zone player.

12. The first zone player of claim 9 , wherein, in the synchrony group, the first zone player is further configured to:
obtain audio information that is representative of given audio content to be played back by the synchrony group;
generate playback timing information associated with the obtained audio information that is indicative of at least a first future time at which the first and second zone players are to initiate synchronous playback of the obtained audio information;
transmit the obtained audio information and the playback timing information to the second zone player via the at least one data network; and
engage in synchronous playback of the obtained audio information with the second zone player using the playback timing information.

13. The first zone player of claim 9 , wherein the control message includes an identification of one or both of the first zone player or the second zone player.

14. The first zone player of claim 9 , wherein the control message includes an indication of a level at which the individual playback volume of at least one of the first zone player or the second zone player is to be set.

15. The first zone player of claim 9 , wherein the network device comprises a c

Assignees

• Sonos Inc
• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Millington Nicholas A J

Classifications

• H04L65/75

  Media network packet handling · CPC title

• H04L65/613

  for the control of the source by the destination (control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637) · CPC title

• H04L65/61

  for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio · CPC title

• H04L67/55

  Push-based network services · CPC title

• H04L65/611

  for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) · CPC title