Intelligent setup for playback devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12549945-B2
Application number	US-202117485252-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2021
Priority date	Sep 25, 2020
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

A playback device is configured to (i) transmit, via at least one wireless network interface and indication that the playback device is available for setup, (ii) establish a direct communication path with a computing device configured to operate on a secure wireless network, (iii) provide, outside the direct communication path, authentication information to the computing device, (iv) verify, via the direct communication path, the authentication information with the computing device, (v) after verifying the authentication information via the direct communication path, receive, from the computing device over the direct communication path, network configuration parameters for connecting to the secure wireless network, (vi) use the network configuration parameters to connect to the secure wireless network, and (vii) transition from communicating with the computing device over the direct communication path to communicating with the computing device over the secure wireless network.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A playback device comprising:
at least one processor; at least one wireless network interface; non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:
transmit, via the at least one wireless network interface, a set of one or more messages collectively indicating (i) that the playback device is available for setup and (ii) network connection capability of the playback device;
establish a direct communication path with a computing device configured to operate on a secure wireless network;
provide, outside both the direct communication path and the secure wireless network, authentication information to the computing device;
after providing, outside both the direct communication path and the secure wireless network, the authentication information to the computing device, (i) transmit, via the direct communication path, the authentication information to the computing device and (ii) receive, via the direct communication path, the authentication information from the computing device;
after (i) transmitting and (ii) receiving the authentication information via the direct communication path, receive, from the computing device over the direct communication path, (i) network configuration parameters for connecting to the secure wireless network and (ii) configuration information for joining a media playback system operating on the secure wireless network;
use the network configuration parameters to connect to the secure wireless network; and
after connecting to the secure wireless network:
transition from communicating with the computing device over the direct communication path to communicating with the computing device over the secure wireless network; and
use the configuration information to join the media playback system operating on the secure wireless network.

2 . The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wireless network interface comprises at least two wireless network interfaces, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to transmit the set of one or more messages comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to transmit the set of one or more messages via each of the at least two wireless network interfaces.

3 . The playback device of claim 2 , wherein the at least two wireless network interfaces comprise (i) a WiFi interface and (ii) a Bluetooth interface.

4 . The playback device of claim 2 , wherein the network connection capability of the playback device comprises an indication of each wireless network interface over which the set of one or more messages is transmitted.

5 . The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the authentication information comprises a PIN code, the playback device further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to:
based on establishing the direct communication path with the computing device, generate the PIN code.

6 . The playback device of claim 5 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to provide, outside both the direct communication path and the secure wireless network, the PIN code to the computing device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to transmit the PIN code to the computing device via near-field communications (NFC).

7 . The playback device of claim 5 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to provide, outside both the direct communication path and the secure wireless network, the PIN code to the computing device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to transmit the PIN code via ultrasonic audio modulation.

8 . The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the playback device is a first playback device, further comprising:
at least one microphone; and program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:
after using the configuration information to join the media playback system, detect, via the at least one microphone, an ultrasonic audio tone transmitted by a second playback device of the media playback system;
based on the detected audio tone, determine that the second playback device is located near the first playback device;
transmit, to the computing device, an indication that the second playback device is located near the first playback device; and
after transmitting the indication, receive, from the computing device a command to join the second playback device as a member of a bonded playback device group.

9 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a playback device to:
transmit, via at least one wireless network interface, a set of one or more messages collectively indicating (i) that the playback device is available for setup and (ii) network connection capability of the playback device; establish a direct communication path with a computing device configured to operate on a secure wireless network; provide, outside both the direct communication path and the secure wireless network, authentication information to the computing device; after providing, outside both the direct communication path and the secure wireless network, the authentication information to the computing device, (i) transmit, via the direct communication path, the authentication information to the computing device and (ii) receive, via the direct communication path, the authentication information from the computing device; after (i) transmitting and (ii) receiving the authentication information via the direct communication path, receive, from the computing device over the direct communication path, (i) network configuration parameters for connecting to the secure wireless network and (ii) configuration information for joining a media playback system operating on the secure wireless network; use the network configuration parameters to connect to the secure wireless network; and after connecting to the secure wireless network:
transition from communicating with the computing device over the direct communication path to communicating with the computing device over the secure wireless network; and
use the configuration information to join the media playback system operating on the secure wireless network.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the at least one wireless network interface comprises at least two wireless network interfaces, and wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the playback device to transmit the set of one or more messages comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the playback device to transmit the set of one or more messages via each of the at least two wireless network interfaces.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the at least two wireless

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Mcdevitt Jennifer
• Babu James
• Celentano Patrick
• Hutchings Kyle
• Bhangale Pratik
• Agerbak Michael
• Valente Daniel
• Shoesmith William
• Erdmann Derek W
• Walsh Conor
• Kutateli Nikolai
• Fristrom Carl
• Park Youngjoo

Classifications

• H04W4/08

  User group management · CPC title

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• H04W12/63

  Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04W76/14

  Direct-mode setup · CPC title