Apple Inc.

Elena Leyfman

Gregory R Chapman

Thomas M Alsina

Edward T Schmidt

Jonathan Anderson Bennett

Deepak R Iyer

Astrid Yi

David P Saracino

Adam A Sonnanstine

Shreyas Nandagudi Sreesha

Aparna S Akella

Johannes P Schmidt

Chendi Zhang

Vikrant Kasarabada

Gennadiy Shekhtman

Nicholas James Paulson

Szu-Wen Huang

Jason P Ketterman

Charles Magahern

Cody D Jorgensen

Andrew J Sinesio

Cesar De Camargo Barscevicius

Harry Simmonds

Keith G Henrickson

Owen Imholte

In some implementations a system can be configured to reduce the burden of pairing user devices with playback devices. For example, all users (or user devices) who commonly operate within a particular environment (e.g., a home) can be configured as authorized users of playback devices within the particular environment. When one of the authorized users pairs a user device with a playback device, all of the user devices for all authorized users can be automatically paired with the playback device as a result of the single pairing. Thus, only a single authorized user is burdened with the pairing process in order to pair all authorized users with the playback device.

Pairing devices by proxy

In some implementations, a first device can record a display screen of a second device remotely. For example, the first device (e.g., a remote computing device) can receive information identifying other computing devices on a network. The first device can receive a selection of one of the other computing devices (e.g., the second device) and send a message to the second device to initiate a recording of the display screen of the second device. In response to receiving the message, the second device can record video frames of images presented on the display of the second device. The second device can send the video frames to the first device for display and/or storage. While recording the images presented on the display screen, the second device can present indicia on the display screen of the second device indicating that a screen recording is in progress.

Screen recording from a remote device

In some implementations, a system can be configured to allow remote control devices to quietly obtain status information related to various audio/video playback devices. For example, a streaming device (e.g., a user device, phone, etc.) can establish a streaming connection to a playback device. The playback device can be configured to only accept a single streaming connection (i.e., master connection). A remote control device (e.g., a user device, phone, etc.) can quietly connect (i.e., control connection) to the playback device without interrupting the master connection to obtain status information related to the playback device and or the media being streamed to the playback device. The remote control device can provide commands through the control connection to adjust the playback of the streamed media at the playback device.

Remotely controlling playback devices

Techniques are disclosed for managing media playback among an ad hoc group of playback devices. Such techniques may involve building a session among the playback devices in which playback devices communicate information regarding their playback capabilities. Based on the playback capabilities of the devices, playback mode may be derived for the session. Playback operations may be synchronized among the devices that are members of the session, in which devices receive identification of asset(s) to be rendered pursuant to the playback operation and timing information of playback of the asset. The devices may stream the playback assets directly from media sources when they are capable of doing so. In this manner, communication resources are conserved.

Encapsulating and synchronizing state interactions between devices

In some implementations, a system can be configured to manage groups of playback devices. For example, playback devices can be dynamically grouped in a variety of ways. Each playback device can store attributes that define the group to which the playback device belongs. Each playback device can send its group attributes to remote control devices and the remote control devices can determine groups of playback devices based on the group attributes. The remote control devices can then configure and present graphical user interfaces that represent the various groups of playback devices. In some implementations, a group of playback devices can be configured as a persistent group. For example, a pair of playback devices (e.g., wireless speakers) can store and send attribute data indicating that the pair of playback devices is a persistent group so that remote control devices can present and control the persistent group as a single device.

Managing playback groups

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Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

Elena Leyfman