Sonos, Inc.

Vermeer Technologies, Inc.

Arthur L Coburn, Iv

Andrew J Schulert

Robert Andrew Lambourne

Ron Kuper

Sherwin Liu

Abhishek Kumar

Joni Rafalski Hoadley

Steven R Beckhardt

Jeffrey Michael Torgerson

Emilio Arce

Chris Kotowski

John Meyer

Mike Delaney

Lee Keyser-Allen

Nicholas A J Millington

Jonathan P Lang

Arvin Faruque

Paul Wren

Ted M Lin

Luis Vega

Michael Agerbak

Nikit Waghela

Seth David Goldstein

Greg Ramsperger

Jillian Garber

Andy Mellors

Hrishikesh Gossain

Keith Corbin

Steve Beckhardt

Thomas P Blumer

Randy J Forgaard

Peter R Amstein

Ted Stefanik

Robert J Mauceri

In one aspect, a computing device is configured to, while operating as a control device of a networked media playback system that includes a first set of network devices and a second set of network devices, (i) transmit a first message to each network device in the first set of network devices, wherein the first message comprises a command to, at a first time, temporarily disconnect from the computing device via a particular communication protocol, (ii) transmit a second message to each network device in the second set of network devices, wherein the second message comprises a command for the network device in the second set of network devices to, at a second time, test connectivity with the computing device; and (iii) after the second time, determine whether each network device in the second set of network devices was connected to the computing device.

Simulation of device removal

Example techniques relate to a playback device that facilitates queue identification. In an example implementation, a playback device receives, from a first controller, instructions representing a command to populate a playback queue with one or more first media items; the instructions are associated with a first application identifier corresponding to the first controller. Based on the received instructions, the playback device populates the playback queue with the one or more first media items and forms an association between the playback queue and the first application identifier. The playback device receives, from a second controller, instructions representing one or more first commands to access the playback queue; the instructions are associated with a second application identifier corresponding to the second controller. The playback device determines that the second application identifier is different from the first application identifier and denies the one or more first commands to access the playback queue.

Queue identification

A first networked device may perform operations including receiving, from a media source device, a first media stream and a first media stream identifier. The first networked device may receive the first media stream via a wireless network connection. Operations may further include receiving, from a second networked device, a second media stream identifier that corresponds to a second media stream the second networked device is receiving from the media source device. Operations may further include determining a common stream characteristic between the first media stream and the second media stream and, in response to determining the common stream characteristic, grouping the second networked device with the first networked device. Operations may further include transmitting, to a controller device, an indication that the first networked device and second networked device are grouped.

Networked device group information in a system with multiple media playback protocols

Example systems and techniques disclosed herein facilitate interoperability between different media playback systems referred to herein as a virtual line-in (VLI) media playback system and a native playback system. When a VLI session is created by a VLI sender, a first native playback device can join a VLI group as a VLI receiver. As a VLI receiver, the first native playback device receives audio content and playback commands from the VLI sender to facilitate synchronous playback with other VLI receivers. At the same time, this native playback device can concurrently operate as a native domain group coordinator of a native domain synchrony group. As the native domain group coordinator, the native playback device translates VLI domain audio, control, and timing signals into the native domain and distributes such signals to native domain group members. In this way, the native domain group members can synchronize their playback with the VLI group.

Media playback system with virtual line-in

Embodiments are provided for updating a playlist that has been added to a playback queue in response to changes to the playback queue. The playback queue may be associated with a zone of a network media system such that items in the playback queue are to be rendered by the zone. The playlist may include one or more items playable by the zone, and may be stored separately from where the playback queue is maintained. Embodiments are also provided for updating a playback queue in response to modifications to a playlist included in the playback queue.

Playback queue collaboration and notification

A network device is configured to (i) play back a media item indicated by a remote playback queue provided by a cloud-based computing system, (ii) receive an indication that a playback device is available for playback, (iii) display a now playing screen including (a) information identifying the media item, and (b) an icon that indicates that the network device is not in a connected state with any other network device, (iv) receive a first input selecting the icon, (v) in response to the first input, display a list of one or more available network devices including the playback device, (vi) receive a second input selecting the playback device from the list (vii) after receiving the second input, update the list to indicate that the playback device is selected for playback of the remote playback queue, and (viii) transfer playback of the remote playback queue from the network device to the playback device.

Transferring playback between devices

Embodiments are described herein that involve a media playback system playing back a playback queue according to a continuous-playback mode. In one aspect, a playback device is provided that includes a network interface, one or more media processing components, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium with program instructions stored thereon. The program instructions are executable by at least one processor to cause the media playback device to: add one or more items to a playback queue of the media playback device, where the one or more items include a continuous-playback item including at least one media item, play back the playback queue according to a continuous-playback mode, where playing back the playback queue according to the continuous-playback mode involves: detecting a continuous-playback trigger, and based on the detected continuous-playback trigger, adding at least one additional media item to the continuous-playback item.

Continuous playback queue

Systems and methods for controlling multi-site media playback systems include, among other features, a computing system (i) receiving, from a first media playback device connected to a first network, a first registration message, (ii) in response to receiving the first registration message, assigning a system identifier and a first subsystem identifier to the first media playback device, (iii) receiving, from a second media playback device connected to the first network, a second registration message, (iv) in response to receiving the second registration message, assigning the system identifier and the first subsystem identifier to the second media playback device, (v) determining that the second media playback device is disconnected from the first network and connected to a second network, and (vi) in response to determining that the second media playback device is connected to the second network, assigning a second subsystem identifier to the second media playback device.

Controlling multi-site media playback systems

Interoperability of native media playback system with virtual line-in

Example techniques relate to a loss of control of a playback queue. An example implementation involves a playback device receiving, from a native controller, an instruction to add audio tracks to a queue, where, in a first mode associated with the native controller, the playback device is configured to play back from the queue. While the audio tracks are in the queue, the playback device receives, from a media player application associated with a particular wireless protocol, an instruction to play back a media item. In response, the playback device is configured to play back in a second mode associated with the particular wireless protocol, where, in the second mode, the queue is not in use. While playing back the media item, the playback device detects a loss of control by the media player application and configures the playback device to play back in the first mode.

Zone group control

A first network device is configured to (i) receive, using a first communication protocol, first media content from a second network device, (ii) transmit, using a second communication protocol, the first media content to a third network device, (iii) cause the third network device to play back the first media content, (iv) receive second media content from a fourth network device, (v) receive, via a microphone, microphone data, (vi) while transmitting the first media content to the third network device and causing the third network device to play back the first media content, play back the second media content via an audio transducer, and (vii) while transmitting the first media content to the third network device and causing the third network device to play back the first media content, transmit, to the fourth network device, audio content corresponding to the received microphone data.

Systems and methods for networked media playback

Example techniques related to polices for media playback systems. An example implementation involves a computing system receiving data representing a request to play back first audio tracks on one or more first playback devices of a first media playback system. The first media playback system is associated with a first subscriber to a streaming media service and the first media playback system is physically located in a first commercial establishment. The computing system determines that the first subscriber is associated with one or more first subscriber policies of the streaming media service and sends instructions to play back the first audio tracks on the one or more first playback devices according to the one or more first subscriber policies of the streaming media service.

Policies for media playback

A network device is configured to perform functions including (i) operating in a first playback-control mode including retrieving, via a first network interface, first media in a playback queue and streaming, via a second network interface to a headphone, the first media (ii) while streaming the first media to the headphone, displaying a representation of one or more playback devices in a media playback system, (iii) receiving input indicating a selection of a given playback device, (iv) based on the input, causing the given playback device to obtain data indicating the second media in the playback queue, use the obtained data to retrieve the second media, and play back the retrieved second media, and (v) after receiving the input, stopping streaming the retrieved first media and transitioning from operating in the first playback-control mode to operating in a second playback-control mode to control the given playback device's playback of the second media.

Systems and methods for networked music playback

Based on a credential, an access level of a playback queue for a first control interface and a first subset and second subset of media items in the playback queue may be determined. Media items in the playback queue that were added via a second control interface may be included in the first subset. Media items that were added via a control interface different from the second control interface may be included in a second subset. Information may be provided which identifies the first subset of the media items in the playback queue and the second subset of the media items in the playback queue.

Playback device queue access levels

Example techniques involve identification of device groups. In an example implementation, a mobile device displays, via a control application, a synchrony group control including controls to select playback devices for a synchrony group. The mobile device receives input data representing a command to create a new synchrony group, the input data including input data representing selection of two or more playback devices for a new synchrony group. In response, the mobile device forms the synchrony group by receiving input data indicating a particular group identification for the new synchrony group, determining that the particular group identification is unique among other synchrony groups, and sending data representing instructions to the playback devices to form the new synchrony group with the particular group identification. In response to forming the new synchrony group, the mobile device updates an interface for the media playback system to indicate the new synchrony group.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, MA, United States of America

Arthur L Coburn, Iv