Zone scene management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10897679-B2
Application number	US-201916422160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2019
Priority date	Sep 12, 2006
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A computing device capable of controlling a networked media playback system receives data identifying a first zone player, a second zone player, and a zone scene including a predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and the second zone player. The computing device displays a representation of available zone players in the networked media playback system including a first selectable indication of the first zone player, a second selectable indication of the second zone player, and a third selectable indication of the zone scene that, when selected, causes the zone scene to be invoked such that the predefined grouping of zone players becomes configured for synchronous playback of media. While displaying the representation, the computing device receives a user input indicating that the zone scene has been selected to be invoked. Based on the user input, the computing device causes the zone scene to be invoked.

First claim

I claim:

1. A computing device capable of controlling a networked media playback system, the computing device comprising:
a wireless network interface configured to communicatively couple the computing device to one or more wireless data networks;
a user interface;
one or more processors;
a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:
receiving, via the wireless network interface, data identifying at least (i) a first zone player in the networked media playback system, (ii) a second zone player in the networked media playback system, and (iii) a zone scene comprising a predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and the second zone player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the zone scene is invoked, wherein the zone scene has previously been defined based on a user request to create the zone scene;
using the received data identifying the first zone player, the second zone player, and the zone scene to display, via the user interface, a representation of available zone players in the networked media playback system that includes at least:
(i) a first selectable indication of the first zone player that, when selected, causes the first zone player to become configured for individual playback of media,
(ii) a second selectable indication of the second zone player that, when selected, causes the second zone player to become configured for individual playback of media, and
(iii) a third selectable indication of the zone scene that, when selected, causes the zone scene to be invoked such that the predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and the second zone player becomes configured for synchronous playback of media;

while displaying the representation of available zone players in the networked media playback system and while the first zone player is configured for individual playback of media, receiving, via the user interface, a user input indicating that the zone scene has been selected to be invoked; and
based on at least the user input indicating that the zone scene has been selected to be invoked, causing the first zone player to transition from being configured for individual playback of media to being configured, in accordance with the zone scene, to coordinate with at least the second zone player in the predefined grouping of zone players in order to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player in the predefined groupings of zone players.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform the functions comprising:
before displaying the representation of available zone players in the networked media playback system, receiving, via the user interface, one or more user inputs that cause the computing device to display the representation of available zone players in the networked media playback system.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the zone scene further comprises a predefined media to be played when the zone scene is invoked, and wherein the computing device further comprises program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer- readable medium that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:
based on at least the user input indicating that the zone scene has been selected to be invoked, causing the first zone player to coordinate with at least the second zone player to output the predefined media in synchrony with output of the predefined media by at least the second zone player.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform the functions comprising:
before receiving the data identifying the zone scene, receiving the user request to create the zone scene; and
based on the user request to create the zone scene, i) causing creation of the zone scene, and ii) causing storage of the zone scene.

5. The computing device of claim 4 , wherein causing storage of the zone scene comprises causing storage of the zone scene at a location other than the computing device.

6. The computing device of claim 5 , wherein the location other than the computing device comprises one of the first zone player or the second zone player.

7. The computing device of claim 4 , wherein receiving the user request to create the zone scene comprises receiving, via the user interface, one or more user inputs indicating that the first zone player and the second zone player have been selected to be included in the zone scene.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform the functions comprising:
based on the one or more user inputs indicating that the first zone player and the second zone player have been selected to be included in the zone scene, displaying, via the user interface, a first check mark indication to indicate that the first zone player has been selected and a second check mark indication to indicate that the second zone player has been selected.

9. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the zone scene is a first zone scene, wherein the received data further identifies (iv) a third zone player in the networked media playback system, and (v) a second zone scene comprising a predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and the third zone player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the second zone scene is invoked, and wherein the representation of available zone players in the networked media playback system further includes (iv) a fourth selectable indication of the third zone player that, when selected, causes the third zone player to become configured for individual playback of media and (v) a fifth selectable indication of the second zone scene that, when selected, causes the second zone scene to be invoked such that the predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and the third zone player becomes configured for synchronous playback of media.

10. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the zone scene has previously been defined by another computing device capable of controlling the networked media playback system.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non- transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that are executable to cause a computing device capable of controlling a networked media playback system to perform functions comprising:
receiving, via a wireless network interface, data identifying at least (i) a first zone player in the networked media playback system, (ii) a second zone player in the networked media playback system, and (iii) a zone scene comprising a predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and the second zone player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the zone scene is invoked, wherein the zone scene has previously been defined based on a user request to create the zone scene;
using the received data identifying the first zone player, the second zone player, and the zone sc

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Lambourne Robert A

Classifications

• H04N21/43615 Primary

  Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805) · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

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

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• H03G1/02

  Remote control of amplification, tone or bandwidth (combined with remote tuning or selection of resonant circuits H03J) · CPC title

• G06F3/165

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title