Playback device group volume control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10840867-B2
Application number	US-201916653516-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2019
Priority date	Jun 5, 2013
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

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

The invention claimed is:

1. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a first playback device configured to play back audio synchronously with a second playback device in a device group to perform functions comprising:
receiving input indicating a volume adjustment;
determining whether the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device; and
(i) 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
(ii) if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, transmitting, to the second playback device, an information packet, wherein the information packet includes the input indicating volume adjustment.

2. 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:
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.

3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2 , wherein adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:
adjusting respective audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the respective adjusted audio data to the second playback device and a third playback device for playback.

4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2 , wherein adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:
adjusting respective audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the respective adjusted audio data to the second playback device and a third playback device, and a fourth playback device for playback.

5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein 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.

6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein 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.

7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device comprises:
determining that synchronous playback of audio by the first playback device and the second playback device is in a paused state.

8. 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, determining whether the input indicating the volume adjustment is included in an information packet from the second playback device, and
if the input indicating the volume adjustment is not included in an information packet from the second playback device, determining that the input indicating the volume adjustment was received at the first playback device via a user interface associated with the first playback device.

9. A first playback device configured to play back audio synchronously with a second playback device in a device group, the first playback device comprising:
a processor; and
a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:
receiving input indicating a volume adjustment;
determining whether the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device; and
(i) 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
(ii) if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, transmitting, to the second playback device, an information packet, wherein the information packet includes the input indicating volume adjustment.

10. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein the first playback device is configured to be a full-frequency playback device, and wherein the functions further comprise:
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.

11. The first playback device of claim 10 , wherein adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:
adjusting respective audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the respective adjusted audio data to the second playback device and a third playback device for playback.

12. The first playback device of claim 10 , wherein adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:
adjusting respective audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the respective adjusted audio data to the second playback device and a third playback device, and a fourth playback device for playback.

13. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein 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 9 , wherein 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. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein determining that the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device comprises:
determining that synchronous playback of audio by the first playback device and the second playback device is in a paused state.

16. A method comprising:
receiving, by a first playback device configured to play back audio synchronously with a second playback device in a device group, input indicating a volume adjustment;
determining, by the first playback device, whether the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device; and
(i) if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting, by the first playback device, audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting, by the first playback device, the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback; and
(ii) if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Dizon Bob
• Griffiths Neil
• Vega Zayas Luis R

Classifications

• H03G3/3005 Primary

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

• H04N21/4852

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

• H03G3/02

  Manually-operated control {(H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence)} · CPC title

• H03G3/3089

  Control of digital or coded signals · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title