Selectively coordinated audio player system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9703471-B2
Application number	US-201214441047-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2012
Priority date	Nov 6, 2012
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A selectively coordinated audio playback system is disclosed. The audio playback system includes multiple audio players serving, receiving and rendering audio content audio content. A controller is in communication with the audio players and controls the audio content provided on each audio player. The controller includes a touchscreen user interface to receive user inputs and is configured to selectively coordinate the audio content from the multiple audio players according to gestures detected via the touchscreen interface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for arranging a plurality of networked audio players according to input from controller with a touch-sensitive display, the method comprising:
instructing the touch-sensitive display to portray a representation of at least a portion of the plurality of networked audio players;
receiving data indicative of a multi-touch gesture input involving two or more concurrent points of contact via the touch-sensitive display;
associating the received data with a gesture-indicated arrangement for audio playback from the plurality of networked audio players;
instructing the plurality of networked audio players to provide audio playback according to the gesture-indicated arrangement; and
instructing the touch-sensitive display to portray a representation of at least some of the plurality of networked audio players including an indication of the gesture-indicated arrangement,
wherein the data indicative of the multi-touch gesture input comprises data indicative of a splay gesture input that removes the plurality of networked audio players from a group, and a pinch gesture input or a squeeze gesture input that groups the plurality of networked audio players into the group.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the received data indicates that the multi-touch gesture includes a squeeze or pinch gesture, and wherein the controller instructs the networked audio players according to the gesture-indicated arrangement by: combining the plurality of networked audio players in a single group for coordinated audio playback; and synchronizing audio playback from the plurality of networked audio players.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising: following the synchronizing audio playback from the plurality of networked audio players, receiving data indicative of the splay gesture via the touch-sensitive display, and instructing the plurality of networked audio players to revert to providing audio playback according to a playback arrangement employed preceding the single group for coordinated audio playback.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the received data indicates that the multi-touch gesture includes a splay gesture, and wherein the controller instructs the networked audio players according to the multi-touch gesture-indicated arrangement by:
deleting pre-existing groups, if any, associating one or more of the plurality of networked audio players together for coordinated audio playback; and
ceasing audio playback from all of the plurality of networked audio players.

5. A method comprising:
detecting a multi-touch gesture involving two or more concurrent points of contact via a touch-sensitive display while the touch-sensitive display displays a representation of at least some of a plurality of networked audio players;
associating the detected multi-touch gesture with a gesture-indicated arrangement for audio playback from the plurality of networked audio players;
instructing the plurality of networked audio players to provide audio playback according to the gesture-indicated arrangement; and
displaying, via the touch-sensitive display, a representation of at least some of the plurality of networked audio players including an indication of the gesture-indicated arrangement,
wherein the data indicative of a gesture input comprises data indicative of a splay gesture input that removes the plurality of networked audio players from a group, a pinch gesture input or a squeeze gesture input that groups the plurality of networked audio players into the group.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the associating includes:
identifying the detected multi-touch gesture as a squeeze gesture including multiple points of contact with the touch-sensitive display moving together, and
wherein the instructing includes:
combining the plurality of networked audio players in a single group for coordinated audio playback; and
synchronizing audio playback from the plurality of networked audio players.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the associating includes:
identifying the detected multi-touch gesture as a splay gesture including multiple points of contact with the touch-sensitive display moving apart, and wherein the instructing includes:
deleting pre-existing groups, if any, associating one or more of the plurality of networked audio players together for coordinated audio playback; and
ceasing audio playback from all of the plurality of networked audio players.

8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the displayed representation includes a distinct region of the touch-sensitive display for each of the at least some of the plurality of networked audio players, and wherein a group associating two or more of the at least some of the plurality of networked audio players for coordinated audio playback is indicated by a visually apparent background surrounding only the two or more networked audio players included in the group.

9. A system comprising:
a plurality of networked audio players each configured to playback audio content according to network-delivered instructions; and
a controller including a user interface having a touch-sensitive display, wherein the controller is configured to:
detect a multi-touch gesture involving two or more concurrent points of contact via the touch-sensitive display while the touch-sensitive display portrays a representation of at least some of the plurality of networked audio players;
associate the detected multi-touch gesture with a gesture-indicated arrangement for audio playback from the plurality of networked audio players;
instruct the plurality of networked audio players to provide audio playback according to the gesture-indicated arrangement; and

display a representation of at least some of the plurality of networked audio players including an indication of the gesture-indicated arrangement for coordinated audio playback,
wherein the data indicative of the multi-touch gesture input comprises data indicative of a splay gesture input that removes the plurality of networked audio players from a group, a pinch gesture input or a squeeze gesture input that groups the plurality of networked audio players into the group.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
responsive to the gesture-indicated arrangement including forming or supplementing one or more groups for coordinated playback, synchronize audio playback from ones of the plurality of networked audio players associated together in the formed or supplemented one or more groups;
responsive to the gesture-indicated arrangement including removing networked audio players from pre-existing groups, cease playback from ones of the plurality of networked audio players removed from the pre-existing groups.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to synchronize audio playback from the first and second networked audio players by synchronously providing a source of audio content, if any, played on the first networked audio player prior to the detection of the gesture.

12. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
identify the detected multi-touch gesture as a squeeze gesture including multiple points of contact with the touch-sensitive display moving together, and wherein the controller instructs the networked audio players by:
combining the plurality of networked audio players in a single group for coordinated audio playback; and
synchronizing audio playback from the plurality of networked audio players.

13. A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when

Assignees

• D & M Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Wachter Martin Richard

Classifications

• G06F3/04845

  for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour · CPC title

• G06F3/14

  Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} · CPC title

• H04B1/202

  by remote control · CPC title

• G06F3/0488 Primary

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F2203/04808

  Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen · CPC title