Sharing Access to a Media Service

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016149891-A1
Application number	US-201514606162-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 27, 2015
Priority date	Nov 21, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Examples provided herein are directed to a computing device and media playback system sharing access to a media service corresponding to a media application installed on the computing device. In one example, a media playback system may be configured to (i) receive from the computing device an authorization code that corresponds to a media application installed on the computing device that is authorized to access media from a media service, (ii) transmit to the media service an authorization request with the authorization code, (iii) receive from the media service an authorization token that facilitates obtaining media from the media service, and (iv) transmit to the media service a request for media for playback by the media playback system, where the request for media includes the authorization token.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A media playback system comprising:
a network interface; at least one processor; a 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 to cause the media playback system to:
receive from a computing device an authorization code, wherein the authorization code corresponds to a media application installed on the computing device that is authorized to access media from a media service;
transmit to the media service an authorization request comprising the authorization code;
receive from the media service an authorization token that facilitates obtaining media from the media service; and
transmit to the media service a request for media for playback by the media playback system, wherein the request for media comprises the authorization token.

2 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is a mobile device that is configured to control the media playback system.

3 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein receiving the authorization code comprises receiving from the computing device, via a LAN, the authorization code.

4 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the authorization request further comprises a media playback system identifier that is unique to the media playback system.

5 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the media playback system to:
after transmitting the request for media, receive media from the media service; and playback the received media.

6 . The media playback system of claim 5 , wherein the authorization token comprises a scope parameter, and wherein playing back the received media comprises playing back the received media according to the scope parameter.

7 . The media playback system of claim 5 , wherein the authorization token comprises an expiration, and wherein playing back the received media comprises playing back media prior to the expiration.

8 . The media playback system of claim 7 , wherein the expiration comprises one or more of a predetermined duration of time and a predetermined number of media items.

9 . The media playback system of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the media playback system to:
based on the authorization token expiring, transmit to the computing device a request for a new authorization code.

10 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the authorization code comprises a first authorization code, and wherein receiving the authorization code comprises periodically receiving authorization codes from the computing device.

11 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the media playback system to:
transmit to the media service a request for identification information corresponding to the authorization token.

12 . A media playback system comprising:
a network interface; at least one processor; a 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 to cause the media playback system to:
transmit to a media service a request for identification information corresponding to an authorization token, wherein the request comprises the authorization token that corresponds to a media application installed on a computing device that is authorized to access media from the media service;
receive identification information from the media service;
compare the received identification information with one or more media-service accounts associated with the media playback system; and
based on comparing the received identification information with the one or more media-service accounts associated with the media playback system, assign control permissions to the computing device, wherein the control permissions facilitate controlling the media playback system.

13 . The media playback system of claim 12 , wherein assigning control permissions to the computing device comprises assigning first-level control permissions equivalent to control permissions of a dedicated controller device of the media playback system.

14 . The media playback system of claim 12 , wherein assigning control permissions to the computing device comprises assigning second-level control permissions, wherein the second-level control permissions comprise a subset of control permissions of a dedicated controller device of the media playback system.

15 . The media playback system of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the media playback system to:
prior to comparing the received identification information with one or more media service accounts associated with the media playback system, maintain a database of tokens, wherein a given token corresponds to one of the one or more media-service accounts associated with the media playback system.

16 . The media playback system of claim 15 , wherein comparing the received identification information with the one or more media-service accounts associated with the media playback system comprises:
for each of the one or more media-service accounts, transmitting to a corresponding media service a request for identification information corresponding to each token associated with one of the one or more media-service accounts.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by a playback device of a media playback system to cause the playback device to:
receive from a computing device an authorization code, wherein the authorization code corresponds to a media application installed on the computing device that is authorized to access media from a media service; transmit to the media service an authorization request comprising the authorization code; receive from the media service an authorization token that facilitates obtaining media from the media service; and transmit to the media service a request for media for playback by the playback device, wherein the request for media comprises the authorization token.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the playback device to cause the playback device to:
after receiving the authorization token, transmit to the media service a request for identification information corresponding to the authorization token; and receive identification information from the media service.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the playback device to cause the playback device to:
after receiving the identification information and before transmitting the request for media, compare the received identification information with one or more media-service accounts associated with the media playback system; and based on a determination that either (i) the identification information corresponds to a shared media-service account or (ii) none of the one or more media-service accounts provide access to the media service, transmit to the media service the request for media for playback by the playback device.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Kuper Ron
• Liu Sherwin
• Arce Emilio
• Coburn Iv Arthur L

Classifications

• H04L63/083 Primary

  using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226) · CPC title

• H04N21/835

  Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates {(protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10)} · CPC title

• H04N21/25875

  involving end-user authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06) · CPC title

• H04N21/43615

  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

• H04N21/4753

  for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password (cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08) · CPC title