Default playback device designation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9826306-B2
Application number	US-201615098867-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 14, 2016
Priority date	Feb 22, 2016
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods discussed herein involve designating a default playback device in a local playback network. One method may involve determining that a networked microphone device is available for assignment to one or more playback zones within a local playback network, displaying a prompt to indicate at least one playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned, receiving an input indicating a particular playback zone in the local playback system to which the network microphone device is to be assigned, and storing data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone.

First claim

I claim:

1. A computing device comprising:
a processor; and
memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the computing device to perform functions comprising:
determining that a network microphone device is available for assignment to one of a plurality of playback zones within a local playback network;
displaying a prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned, wherein assigning the given playback zone to the network microphone device comprises configuring the playback device of the given playback zone to be a default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device;
receiving an input indicating a selection of a particular playback zone of the plurality of playback zones; and
causing to be stored data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the particular playback zone comprises two or more playback devices, and wherein the input indicating the selection of the particular playback zone in the media playback system comprises an input indicating a particular playback device of the two or more playback devices in the particular playback zone to be the default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone comprises:
transmitting to a server, a message to cause the server to store the data indicating the assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein displaying the prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned comprises:
displaying on the interface, for each playback zone in the media playback system, a corresponding representation; and
displaying on the interface, a prompt to select a representation corresponding to the given playback zone.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein displaying the prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned comprises:
displaying on the interface, a prompt to press a button on a playback device in the given playback zone.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the particular playback zone comprises two or more playback devices, and wherein the functions further comprise:
displaying on the interface, a prompt to indicate a particular playback device in the particular playback zone to be the default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device.

7. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the local playback network is a first network, and wherein determining that a networked microphone device is available for assignment to one of a plurality of playback zones within the local playback network comprises:
establishing communication with the network microphone device over a second network; and
receiving from the network microphone device, a message indicating that the network microphone is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback devices within the local playback network.

8. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the local playback network is a first network, and wherein determining that a networked microphone device is available for assignment to one of a plurality of playback zones within the local playback network comprises:
establishing communication with the network microphone device over a second network;
transmitting to the network microphone device over the second network, data indicating parameters for joining the first network; and
after transmitting to the network microphone device, the data indicating parameters for joining the first network, receiving a message indicating that the network microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within the first network.

9. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein receiving the message indicating that the network microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within the first network comprises:
receiving a message from the network microphone device over the first network.

10. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein receiving the message indicating that the network microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within the first network comprises:
receiving from a playback device via the first network, data indicating that the network microphone device is connected to the first network.

11. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the second network is a local area network (LAN).

12. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the second network is a personal area network (PAN).

13. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the PAN is facilitated according to a Bluetooth wireless technology standard.

14. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the network microphone device corresponds to an unique identifier, and wherein causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone comprises:
causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the unique identifier to the particular playback zone.

15. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured as a controller device for the local playback network.

16. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the network microphone device is a component of the computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the network microphone device is a component of a playback device in the local playback network.

18. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the particular playback zone is a first playback zone, wherein the functions further comprises:
receiving an input indicating a second playback zone in the local playback network; and
causing to be stored, data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the second playback zone such that the network microphone device is assigned to both the first playback zone and the second playback zone.

19. A method comprising:
determining that a network microphone device is available for assignment to one of the plurality of playback zones within a local playback network;
displaying a prompt to select among the plurality of playback zones, a given playback zone to which the network microphone device is to be assigned, wherein assigning the given playback zone to the network microphone device comprises configuring the playback device of the given playback zone to be a default output device in response to voice inputs received via the network microphone device;
receiving an input indicating a selection of a particular playback zone of the plurality of playback zones; and
causing to be stored data indicating an assignment of the network microphone device to the particular playback zone.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the playback zone comprises two or more playback devices, and wherein the input indicating the selection of the particular playback zone in the media playback system comprises an input indicating a particular playback device of the two or more playback devices in the particular playback zone to be the default output device in respons

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Lang Jonathan P

Classifications

• H04R2227/003

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

• H04S7/301

  Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

  Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use · CPC title

• H04W8/24

  Transfer of terminal data · CPC title

• H04S7/303

  Tracking of listener position or orientation · CPC title