Networked playback device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10853023-B2
Application number	US-201816166518-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2018
Priority date	Apr 18, 2011
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

An example playback device includes a first interface for receiving a first audio signal from a first audio source; a second interface for receiving a second audio signal from a second audio source; and a processor configured to: cause the playback device to playback the second audio signal; determine that the first audio signal is present at the first interface; in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the first interface, (i) cease playback of the second audio signal being played by the playback device and (ii) cause the playback device to playback the first audio signal; receive an instruction to stop the playback device from playing the first audio signal while the first audio signal is still present at the first interface; and arm the playback device such that a subsequent presence of the first audio signal at the first interface causes the playback device to play the first audio signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A playback device comprising:
one or more processors; and
tangible, non-transitory computer readable memory comprising instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the playback device to perform a method comprising:
arming the playback device so that receipt of a first type of media content preempts playback of a second type of media content;
after arming the playback device, playing the second type of media content;
while playing the second type of media content, determining that the playback device is receiving the first type of media content via a line-in connector;
in response to determining that playback device is receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the second type of media content and playing the first type of media content;
determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content; and
in response to determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the first type of media content and rearming the playback device so that subsequent receipt of the first type of media content preempts playback of the second type of media content.

2. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content via at least one of a wireless or a wired network interface.

3. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises playing the second type of media content in synchrony with a second playback device.

4. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content from an Internet-accessible media source.

5. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises transmitting at least a portion of the second type of media content to a third playback device.

6. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein playing the first type of media content comprises transmitting at least a portion of the first type of media content to at least one of a second playback device or a third playback device.

7. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first type of media content comprises media content received from a video device.

8. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by a playback device, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
arming the playback device so that receipt of a first type of media content preempts playback of a second type of media content;
after arming the playback device, playing the second type of media content;
while playing the second type of media content, determining that the playback device is receiving the first type of media content via a line-in connector;
in response to determining that playback device is receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the second type of media content and playing the first type of media content;
determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content; and
in response to determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the first type of media content and rearming the playback device so that subsequent receipt of the first type of media content preempts playback of the second type of media content.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content via at least one of a wireless or a wired network interface.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content from an Internet-accessible media source.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises transmitting at least a portion of the second type of media content to a third playback device.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein playing the first type of media content comprises transmitting at least a portion of the first type of media content to at least one of a second playback device or a third playback device.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first type of media content comprises media content received from a video device.

14. A method performed by a playback device, the method comprising:
arming the playback device so that receipt of a first type of media content preempts playback of a second type of media content; after arming the playback device, playing the second type of media content;
while playing the second type of media content, determining that the playback device is receiving the first type of media content via a line-in connector;
in response to determining that playback device is receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the second type of media content and playing the first type of media content;
determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content; and
in response to determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the first type of media content and rearming the playback device so that subsequent receipt of the first type of media content preempts playback of the second type of media content.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content via at least one of a wireless or a wired network interface.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises playing the second type of media content in synchrony with a second playback device.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content from an Internet-accessible media source.

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Millington Nicholas A J
• Cullen Tom
• Reimann Robert
• Lehman Brent

Classifications

• H03G3/10 Primary

  having semiconductor devices · CPC title

• H03G3/3026

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

• H04R27/00

  Public address systems (circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; {monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007}; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title

• H04R3/00

  Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

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