Media content based on playback zone awareness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9226072-B2
Application number	US-201414186924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2014
Priority date	Feb 21, 2014
Publication date	Dec 29, 2015
Grant date	Dec 29, 2015

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing media content based on playback zone awareness. In one aspect a server associated with a service provider may be configured to receive zone data identifying a name of a zone associated with a playback device, identify, based on the zone data, media content based on the zone data, and provide the media content to the playback device. In another aspect, a playback device may be configured to associate the playback device with a zone, and provide to a service provider zone data identifying a name of the zone associated with the playback device. In yet another aspect, a controller device may be configured to receive an input identifying a playback zone, and sending to a service provider, a message including zone data identifying the playback zone.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, via a computing device associated with a service provider, zone data, wherein the zone data identifies a name of a zone associated with a playback device of a media playback system, and wherein the zone data indicates a selection of the zone associated with the playback device;
identifying, via the computing device, audio content based on the zone data, wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the name of the zone associated with the playback device indicates a particular type of room and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular type of room; and
providing, via the computing device, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the zone data indicates that the zone is a first zone of a particular zone group that comprises the first zone and one or more particular second zones, wherein the one or more particular second zones comprise at least one respective playback device and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of particular audio by the zone group and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio preferred when the first zone is in the particular zone group.

3. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the zone data indicates that the zone is a given zone of a media playback system that comprises a plurality of zones in a party mode such that all zones of the media playback system are configured to play back audio in synchrony, wherein the plurality of zones comprise at least one respective playback device and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of particular audio in the party mode and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio preferred in the party mode.

4. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of a particular genre of audio content in the particular type of room; and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular genre of audio content.

5. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining, based on audio preference data, that certain audio content is preferred in the particular type of room and identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content which is preferred in the particular type of room.

6. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises:
determining, based on audio preference data, that certain audio content is preferred in the particular type of room at respective times of day;
determining the current time of day in the zone; and
identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content which is preferred in the particular type of room at the current time of day.

7. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the particular type of room is associated with respective content ratings of audio items and identifying, based on the respective content ratings of audio items, audio content that has a content rating that exceeds a threshold rating.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system comprises sending, via one or more network interfaces, the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system comprises on or more of: (i) sending metadata indicating the identified audio content to one or more control devices of the media playback system or (ii) sending the identified audio content to at least the playback device of the media playback system.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computing system to perform operations comprising:
receiving, via one or more network interfaces, zone data, wherein the zone data identifies a name of a zone associated with a playback device of a media playback system, and wherein the zone data indicates a selection of the zone associated with the playback device;
identifying audio content based on the zone data, wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the name of the zone associated with the playback device indicates a particular type of room and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular type of room; and
providing, via one or more network interfaces, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the zone data indicates that the zone is a first zone of a particular zone group that comprises the first zone and one or more particular second zones, wherein the one or more particular second zones comprise at least one respective playback device, and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of particular audio by the zone group and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio preferred when the first zone is in the particular zone group.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the zone data indicates that the zone is a given zone of a media playback system that comprises a plurality of zones in a party mode such that all zones of the media playback system are configured to play back audio in synchrony, wherein the plurality of zones comprise at least one respective playback device and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of particular audio in the party mode and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio preferred in the party mode.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of a particular genre of audio content in the particular type of room; and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular genre of audio content.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining, based on audio preference data, that certain audio content is preferred in the particular type of room and identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content which is preferred in the particular type of room.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises:
determining, based on audio preference data, that certain audio content is preferred in the particular type of room at respective times of day;
determining the current time of day in the zone; and
identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content which is preferred in the particular type of room at the current time of day.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the particular type of room is associated with respective content rating

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Bender Kristen
• Kuper Ron

Classifications

• H04R3/12 Primary

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

• H04R5/04

  Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} · CPC title

• H04R29/00

  Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements {(for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308)} · CPC title

• H04R27/00

  Public address systems (circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; {monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007}; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title

• H04R29/001

  for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence) · CPC title