Volume limit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10817254-B2
Application number	US-201916420541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2019
Priority date	Apr 24, 2015
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

An example playback device includes programming to perform functions including storing an active volume state variable in memory, where the active volume state variable corresponds to a current playback volume. The functions also include storing a volume limit state variable in memory, where the volume limit state variable corresponds to a playback volume limit of the playback device. The functions also include receiving, from a control device, a command to begin playback of media, and determining whether the control device is located in a second zone of the media playback system different from the first zone. Based on whether the control device is located in the second zone of the media playback system different from the first zone, the functions include selecting a startup playback volume to be one of the current playback volume or the playback volume limit, and then playing back media at the startup playback volume.

First claim

We claim:

1. A playback device located in a first zone of a media playback system, the playback device comprising:
a processor;
a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
storing an active volume state variable in memory, wherein the active volume state variable corresponds to a current playback volume;
storing a volume limit state variable in memory, wherein the volume limit state variable corresponds to a playback volume limit of the playback device;
while the playback device is not playing back any audio signal:
receiving, from a control device, a command to begin playback of media;
determining that the control device is located in a second zone of the media playback system different from the first zone; and
based on determining that the control device is located in the second zone of the media playback system different from the first zone, selecting a startup playback volume to be one of the current playback volume or the playback volume limit; and

beginning playback of media in the first zone at the startup playback volume.

2. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the volume limit state variable is a maximum volume state variable and the playback volume limit is a maximum playback volume, and wherein the playback device further comprises program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
determining that the active volume state variable is greater than the maximum volume state variable, wherein the selected startup playback volume is the maximum playback volume.

3. The playback device of claim 2 , wherein the playback device further comprises program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
updating the active volume state variable to correspond to the playback volume limit of the playback device.

4. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the volume limit state variable is a maximum volume state variable and the playback volume limit is a maximum playback volume, and wherein the playback device further comprises program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
determining that the active volume state variable is not greater than the maximum volume state variable, wherein the selected startup playback volume is the current playback volume.

5. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the command to begin playback of media is a command to resume playback of previously paused media.

6. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the playback device is a first playback device, and wherein the control device is a second playback device located in the second zone.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that are executable to cause a playback device located in a first zone of a media playback system to perform functions comprising:
storing an active volume state variable in memory, wherein the active volume state variable corresponds to a current playback volume;
storing a volume limit state variable in memory, wherein the volume limit state variable corresponds to a playback volume limit of the playback device;
while the playback device is not playing back any audio signal:
receiving, from a control device, a command to begin playback of media;
determining that the control device is located in a second zone of the media playback system different from the first zone; and
based on determining that the control device is located in the second zone of the media playback system different from the first zone, selecting a startup playback volume to be one of the current playback volume or the playback volume limit; and

beginning playback of media in the first zone at the startup playback volume.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the volume limit state variable is a maximum volume state variable and the playback volume limit is a maximum playback volume, the functions further comprising:
determining that the active volume state variable is greater than the maximum volume state variable, wherein the selected startup playback volume is the maximum playback volume.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , the functions further comprising:
updating the active volume state variable to correspond to the playback volume limit of the playback device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the volume limit state variable is a maximum volume state variable and the playback volume limit is a maximum playback volume, the functions further comprising:
determining that the active volume state variable is not greater than the maximum volume state variable, wherein the selected startup playback volume is the current playback volume.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the command to begin playback of media is a command to resume playback of previously paused media.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the playback device is a first playback device, and wherein the control device is a second playback device located in the second zone.

13. A method carried out by a playback device located in a first zone of a media playback system, the method comprising:
storing an active volume state variable in memory, wherein the active volume state variable corresponds to a current playback volume;
storing a volume limit state variable in memory, wherein the volume limit state variable corresponds to a playback volume limit of the playback device;
while the playback device is not playing back any audio signal:
receiving, from a control device, a command to begin playback of media;
determining that the control device is located in a second zone of the media playback system different from the first zone; and
based on determining that the control device is located in the second zone of the media playback system different from the first zone, selecting a startup playback volume to be one of the current playback volume or the playback volume limit; and

beginning playback of media in the first zone at the startup playback volume.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the volume limit state variable is a maximum volume state variable and the playback volume limit is a maximum playback volume, the method further comprising:
determining that the active volume state variable is greater than the maximum volume state variable, wherein the selected startup playback volume is the maximum playback volume.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
updating the active volume state variable to correspond to the playback volume limit of the playback device.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the volume limit state variable is a maximum volume state variable and the playback volume limit is a maximum playback volume, the method further comprising:
determining that the active volume state variable is not greater than the maximum volume state variable, wherein the selected startup playback volume is the current playback volume.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the command to begin playback of media i

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Bierbower Chris
• Maniskas Nicholas

Classifications

• G11B27/34 Primary

  Indicating arrangements  {(indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D)} · CPC title

• H03G7/002

  in untuned or low-frequency amplifiers, e.g. audio amplifiers (H03G7/007, H03G7/001, H03G7/008, H03G7/02, H03G7/06 take precedence) · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

  Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use · CPC title

• H03G3/3026

  the gain being discontinuously variable, e.g. controlled by switching · CPC title

• H03G3/04

  in untuned amplifiers · CPC title