Playback device group volume control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11545948-B2
Application number	US-202017099253-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2020
Priority date	Jun 5, 2013
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

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 first playback device comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:
transmit audio content to a playback group comprising at least a second playback device and a third playback device;
play at least a portion of the audio content in synchrony with the playback group; and
after receiving a first volume adjustment message associated with a user input received at the second playback device while playing the at least a portion of the audio content in synchrony with the playback group, (i) adjust a playback volume at the first playback device based on the first volume adjustment message, and (ii) cause an adjustment of playback volume at each playback device in the playback group based on the first volume adjustment message.

2. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:
receive from the second playback device, the first volume adjustment message associated with the user input received at the second playback device.

3. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:
receive from a controller device separate from the playback group, the first volume adjustment message associated with the user input received at the second playback device.

4. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause an adjustment of playback volume at each playback device in the playback group based on the first volume adjustment message comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:
process the audio content to have an adjusted playback volume level based on the first volume adjustment message; and
transmit at least portions of the processed audio content to individual playback devices in the playback group for playback.

5. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause an adjustment of playback volume at each playback device in the playback group based on the first volume adjustment message comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:
transmit a second volume adjustment message to at least one of the second playback device or the third playback device.

6. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first volume adjustment message associated with a user input received at the second playback device comprises a first plurality of volume adjustment messages.

7. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first volume adjustment message associated with a user input received at the second playback device is based on a plurality of user inputs received at the second playback device.

8. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to transmit audio content to a playback group comprising at least a second playback device and a third playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:
transmit at least a first portion of the audio content to the second playback device; and
transmit at least a second portion of the audio content to the third playback device.

9. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first playback device comprises a sound bar, the second playback device comprises a rear speaker, and wherein the third playback device comprises a subwoofer.

10. The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the playback group comprises a bonded zone, wherein the first playback device is configured as a primary playback device of the bonded zone, and wherein the second playback device and third playback device are configured as secondary playback devices of the bonded zone.

11. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a first playback device to perform functions comprising:
transmitting audio content to a playback group comprising at least a second playback device and a third playback device;
playing at least a portion of the audio content in synchrony with the playback group; and
after receiving a first volume adjustment message associated with a user input received at the second playback device while playing the at least a portion of the audio content in synchrony with the playback group, (i) adjusting a playback volume at the first playback device based on the first volume adjustment message, and (ii) causing an adjustment of playback volume at each playback device in the playback group based on the first volume adjustment message.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the functions further comprise:
receiving from the second playback device, the first volume adjustment message associated with the user input received at the second playback device.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the functions further comprise:
receiving from a controller device separate from the playback group, the first volume adjustment message associated with the user input received at the second playback device.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , causing an adjustment of playback volume at each playback device in the playback group based on the first volume adjustment message comprises:
processing the audio content to have an adjusted playback volume level based on the first volume adjustment message; and
transmitting at least portions of the processed audio content to individual playback devices in the playback group for playback.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein causing an adjustment of playback volume at each playback device in the playback group based on the first volume adjustment message comprises:
transmitting a second volume adjustment message to at least one of the second playback device or the third playback device.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the first volume adjustment message associated with a user input received at the second playback device comprises a first plurality of volume adjustment messages.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the first volume adjustment message associated with a user input received at the second playback device is based on a plurality of user inputs received at the second playback device.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein transmitting audio content to a playback group comprising at least a second playback device and a third playback device comprises:
transmitting at least a first portion of the audio content to the second playback device; and
transmitting at

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Dizon Bob
• Griffiths Neil
• Vega Zayas Luis R

Classifications

• H04N21/47

  End-user applications · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H03G3/3005 Primary

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

• H03G3/02

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

• H04L12/282

  based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204) · CPC title