Sonos, Inc.

Luis R Vega-Zayas

Paul Andrew Bates

Ted M Lin

Andrej Sarkic

Romi Kadri

Simon Jarvis

Nicholas A J Millington

Jonathan P Lang

Abhishek Kumar

Keith Corbin

Mark Plagge

Yean-Nian W Chen

Lee Keyser-Allen

Kristen Johansen

Thomas Higdon

Christopher D Butts

Lucas Pylypczak

Rich Lean

Jim Dolan

Jonathon Reilly

Zivthan Dubrovsky

Jason Heffernan

Nicholas Salzman

Adrian Eiben

Neil W Griffiths

Bob Dizon

Chistopher Butts

A control device of media playback system receives a user command to initiate playback of video content and associated audio content and transmits a BLUETOOTH message based on the command to a video playback device. The video playback device receives the BLUETOOTH message, obtains the media content via a local area network (LAN), and determines an indication of when to begin playback of the media content. The video playback device transmits the indication to an audio playback device via the LAN and outputs the video content in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the audio playback device. While outputting the video content in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the audio playback device, the video playback device transmits timing information via the LAN to the audio playback device to maintain lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the audio playback device.

Synchronization of content between networked devices

Multiple aspects of systems and methods for voice control and related features and functionality for various embodiments of media playback devices, networked microphone devices, microphone-equipped media playback devices, and speaker-equipped networked microphone devices are disclosed and described herein, including but not limited to designating and managing default networked devices, audio response playback, room-corrected voice detection, content mixing, music service selection, metadata exchange between networked playback systems and networked microphone systems, handling loss of pairing between networked devices, actions based on user identification, and other voice control of networked devices.

Voice control of a media playback system

Systems and methods disclosed herein include: (i) forming a synchrony playback group including a first and second playback device, (ii) causing the first and second playback devices to play back audio content in synchrony, (iii) while the first and second playback devices are playing back the audio content in synchrony, determining that the first playback device has received a voice input via a microphone, (iv) based on the voice input, determining that a requirement exists to output a system response to the voice input, (v) determining a sound pressure level (SPL) measurement associated with the voice input, (vi) based on the SPL measurement, determining a system response volume, (vii) causing the first and second playback devices to reduce an audio playback volume of the audio content, and (viii) causing the first and/or the second playback device to output the system response at the system response volume.

Dynamic computation of system response volume

In one aspect, a first playback device is configured to: (i) play back first audio content in synchrony with a second playback device, (ii) receive, via a network interface, a message indicating second audio content to be output by the first playback device, and (iii) in response to receiving the message indicating the second audio content: (a) cease playing back the first audio content in synchrony with the second playback device; (b) play back the second audio content while the second playback device plays back the first audio content; and (c) after playing back the second audio content, resume playing back the first audio content in synchrony with the second playback device.

Content mixing

An example first playback device includes programming to perform functions including receiving a first request to associate with a first playback queue that is stored remotely from, and persists unassociated with, any playback device of the media playback system. The functions also include associating with the first playback queue and designating the first playback queue as an active queue of the first playback device. The functions also include receiving a second request to enter into a group with a second playback device that is associated with a second playback queue, entering into the group with the second playback device, associating with the second playback queue, and designating the second playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device. The functions also include receiving a third request to leave the group, and after receiving the third request, de-designating the second playback queue as its active queue.

Associating playback devices with playback queues

Systems and methods disclosed herein include, determining that a requirement exists to output a system response. In response to determining that a requirement exists to output a system response, (i) setting a system response volume for a first speaker associated with a first networked device and (ii) outputting a system response at the set system response volume via the first speaker associated with the first networked device.

A playback device may be communicatively connected to a network device at a demonstration location. After connecting to the network device, the playback device may receive from the network device, a message indicating media content for playback by the playback device. In response to receiving the message, the playback device may play the media content, where playing the media content comprises modifying a default configuration of a demonstration mode. After receiving the message, the playback device may be disconnected from the network device. After disconnecting from the network device, the playback device may return to the default configuration of the demonstration mode.

Temporary access to a media playback system

Systems and methods disclosed herein include, determining that a requirement exists to output a system response. In response to determining that a requirement exists to output a system response, (i) setting a system response volume for a first speaker associated with the first networked device and (ii) outputting a system response at the set system response volume via the first speaker associated with the first networked device.

A first zone player engages in synchronous playback of given audio content by obtaining the given audio content, generating and placing representative audio frames into a buffer, and transmitting the audio frames to a second zone player to play the given audio content in synchrony with the second zone player. After receiving a command to pause the synchronous playback, the first zone player prepares for a fast-resume by identifying a location in the given audio content and retaining some of the audio frames in the buffer for use during the fast-resume. The first zone player then initiates the fast-resume by determining a future resume time, transmitting an instruction to the second zone player to resume playback at the future resume time, and at the future resume time, resuming use of the audio frames in the buffer, starting at the identified location, to play the given audio content in synchrony.

Fast-resume audio playback

Playback device demonstration

A first zone player engages in synchronous playback of given audio content by obtaining the given audio content, generating and placing representative audio frames into a buffer, and transmitting the audio frames to a second zone player to play the given audio content in synchrony with the second zone player. After receiving a command to pause the synchronous playback, the first zone player prepares for a fast-resume by identifying a given audio frame and retaining at least some of the audio frames in the buffer for use during the fast-resume. The first zone player then initiates the fast-resume by determining a future resume time, transmitting an instruction to the second zone player to resume playback at the future resume time, and at the future resume time, resuming use of the audio frames in the buffer, starting with the given audio frame, to play the given audio content in synchrony.

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, MA, United States of America

Luis R Vega-Zayas