Media content based on playback zone awareness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9516445-B2
Application number	US-201615072060-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2016
Priority date	Feb 21, 2014
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing audio content based on playback zone awareness. In an example implementation, a computing system receives, from a media playback system, (i) zone data that identifies a particular zone of the media playback system and (ii) a request to identify audio content based on the zone data. In response to receiving the request to identify audio content, the computing device identifies audio content based on the zone data. The computing device sends, to the media playback system, an indication of the audio content identified based on the zone data, which may be played back by one or more playback devices of the media playback system.

First claim

We claim:

1. A computing device configured to perform a method comprising:
receiving, by the computing device from a media playback system, (i) zone data that identifies a particular zone of the media playback system and (ii) a request to identify audio content based on the zone data, wherein the particular zone comprises one or more playback devices;
in response to receiving the request to identify audio content, identifying, by the computing device, audio content based on the zone data; and
sending, by the computing device to the media playback system, an indication of the audio content identified based on the zone data.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein sending the indication of the audio content identified based on the zone data comprises sending metadata identifying one or more audio items identified based on the zone data.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein identifying the audio content based on the zone data comprises identifying one or more audio items based on the zone data, and wherein sending the indication of audio content identified based on the zone data comprises sending, to the media playback system, the one or more audio items identified based on the zone data.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein receiving, the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system comprises receiving the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system from a controller device of the media playback system.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein receiving the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system comprises receiving the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system from a playback device of the media playback system.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein receiving the request to identify audio content based on the zone data comprises receiving, from a given playback device that is associated with the particular zone, an indication that the particular zone received a command to initiate playback.

7. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein receiving the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system comprises receiving zone data that identifies a name of the particular zone, and wherein identifying the audio content based on the zone data comprises identifying audio content corresponding to a particular type of room that is indicated by the name of the particular zone.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein receiving the request to identify audio content based on the zone data comprises receiving a request to identify audio content corresponding to a particular genre of audio content that is preferred in the particular type of room.

9. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, from the media playback system, an indication of the current time of day in the particular zone, and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises identifying audio content that is preferred in the particular zone at the current time of day.

10. A method comprising:
receiving, by a computing device from a media playback system, (i) zone data that identifies a particular zone of the media playback system and (ii) a request to identify audio content based on the zone data, wherein the particular zone comprises one or more playback devices;
in response to receiving the request to identify audio content, identifying, by the computing device, audio content based on the zone data; and
sending, by the computing device to the media playback system, an indication of the audio content identified based on the zone data.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein sending the indication of the audio content identified based on the zone data comprises sending metadata identifying one or more audio items identified based on the zone data.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein identifying the audio content based on the zone data comprises identifying one or more audio items based on the zone data, and wherein sending the indication of audio content identified based on the zone data comprises sending, to the media playback system, the one or more audio items identified based on the zone data.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving, the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system comprises receiving the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system from a controller device of the media playback system.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system comprises receiving the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system from a playback device of the media playback system.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the request to identify audio content based on the zone data comprises receiving, from a given playback device that is associated with the particular zone, an indication that the particular zone received a command to initiate playback.

16. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing device to perform a method comprising:
receiving, from a media playback system, (i) zone data that identifies a particular zone of the media playback system and (ii) a request to identify audio content based on the zone data, wherein the particular zone comprises one or more playback devices;
in response to receiving the request to identify audio content, identifying audio content based on the zone data; and
sending, to the media playback system, an indication of the audio content identified based on the zone data.

17. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein sending the indication of the audio content identified based on the zone data comprises sending metadata identifying one or more audio items identified based on the zone data.

18. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein identifying the audio content based on the zone data comprises identifying one or more audio items based on the zone data, and wherein sending the indication of audio content identified based on the zone data comprises sending, to the media playback system, the one or more audio items identified based on the zone data.

19. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein receiving, the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system comprises receiving the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system from a controller device of the media playback system.

20. The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein receiving the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system comprises receiving the zone data that identifies the particular zone of the media playback system from a playback device of the media playback system.

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Bender Kristen
• Kuper Ron

Classifications

• H04R2227/003

  Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet · 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

• H04R2430/01

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

• H04R3/12

  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