Media content based on playback zone awareness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12475516-B2
Application number	US-202418623501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2024
Priority date	Feb 21, 2014
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing media content based on playback zone awareness. In one aspect, a computing system receives, via a network interface, zone data from the media playback system, wherein the zone data includes an indication of a particular zone of the media playback system, and wherein the particular zone comprises at least one playback device. The computing system identifies audio content based on (i) the indication of the particular zone and (ii) contextual data associated with the particular zone, and provides, via the network interface, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A control device comprising:
a user interface; at least one communication interface; at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the control device is configured to:
receive, via the at least one communication interface and from a first playback device of a media playback system, first data indicating a group of playback devices of the media playback system, wherein the group of playback devices comprises at least one second playback device and excludes the first playback device;
receive, via the user interface, second data corresponding to a selection of media content for playback by the group of playback devices;
after receiving the second data, send, to a media content provider, a request for the media content for playback by the group of playback devices; and
based on the first data, cause the at least one second playback device to play back the media content without causing the first playback device to play back the media content, wherein the at least one second playback device is associated with a zone of the media playback system, and the media content is related to the zone.

2 . The control device of claim 1 , wherein the first data indicating the group of playback devices is received from the first playback device but not from the at least one second playback device.

3 . The control device of claim 1 , wherein:
the group of playback devices includes at least one third playback device; and causing the at least one second playback device to play back the media content based on the first data comprises causing the at least one second playback device and the at least one third playback device to play back the media content.

4 . The control device of claim 3 , wherein the first data indicating the group of playback devices is received from the first playback device but not from the at least one second playback device.

5 . The control device of claim 3 , wherein causing the at least one second playback device and the first at least one third playback device to play back the media content comprises causing the at least one second playback device and the first at least one third playback device to play back the media content in synchrony.

6 . The control device of claim 3 , wherein causing the at least one second playback device and the at least one third playback device to play back the media content comprises causing the at least one second playback device to play back a first channel of the media content and causing the at least one third playback device to play back a second channel of the media content.

7 . The control device of claim 1 , wherein the group of playback includes at least two second playback devices, and wherein the at least two second playback devices are configured to play back the media content in synchrony.

8 . The control device of claim 1 , wherein the second data includes contextual information corresponding to the selection of media content for playback.

9 . The control device of claim 1 , wherein the first data includes data corresponding to a room associated with the group of playback devices and wherein the media content corresponds to the room.

10 . The control device of claim 1 , wherein the media playback system is associated with the media content provider and at least one second media content provider.

11 . The control device of claim 10 , wherein the second data comprises an indication of the media content provider.

12 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a control device to perform functions comprising:
receiving, via at least one communication interface of the control device and from a first playback device of a media playback system, first data indicating a group of playback devices of the media playback system, wherein the group of playback devices comprises at least one second playback device and excludes the first playback device; receiving, via a user interface of the control device, second data corresponding to a selection of media content for playback by the group of playback devices; after receiving the second data, sending, to a media content provider, a request for the media content for playback by the group of playback devices; and based on the first data, causing the at least one second playback device to play back the media content without causing the first playback device to play back the media content, wherein the at least one second playback device is associated with a zone of the media playback system, and the media content is related to the zone.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the first data indicating the group of playback devices is received from the first playback device but not from the at least one second playback device.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein:
the group of playback devices includes at least one third playback device; and causing the at least one second playback device to play back the media content based on the first data comprises causing the at least one second playback device and the at least one third playback device to play back the media content.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the first data indicating the group of playback devices is received from the first playback device but not from the at least one second playback device.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein causing the at least one second playback device and the at least one third playback device to play back the media content comprises causing the at least one second playback device and the at least one third playback device to play back the media content in synchrony.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein causing the at least one second playback device and the at least one third playback device to play back the media content comprises causing the at least one second playback device to play back a first channel of the media content and causing the at least one third playback device to play back a second channel of the media content.

18 . A method to be performed by a control device, the method comprising:
receiving, via at least one communication interface of the control device and from a first playback device of a media playback system, first data indicating a group of playback devices of the media playback system, wherein the group of playback devices comprises at least one second playback device and excludes the first playback device; receiving, via a user interface of the control device, second data corresponding to a selection of media content for playback by the group of playback devices; after receiving the second data, sending, to a media content provider, a request for the media content for playback by the group of playback devices; and based on the first data, causing the at least one second playback device to play back the media content without causing the first playback device to play back the media content, wherein the at least one second playback device is associated with a zone of the media playback system, and the media content is related to the zone.

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Bender Kristen
• Kuper Ron

Classifications

• G06Q50/16

  Real estate · CPC title

• G06F3/165

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

• H04R29/007

  for public address systems (public address systems per se H04R27/00) · CPC title

• H04R3/12

  for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} · CPC title

• H04R2430/01

  Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems · CPC title