Sonos, Inc.

Michael Agerbak

Jeffrey M Peters

Steven R Beckhardt

Nicholas A J Millington

Arthur L Coburn, Iv

Hrishikesh Gossain

Nikit Waghela

Greg Ramsperger

Steve Beckhardt

Daniel Valente

Carl Fristrom

Jose Graziani

Jennifer McDevitt

William Shoesmith

Andy Mellors

Seth David Goldstein

Nicholas Aj Millington

Derek W Erdmann

Nicholas AJ Millington

Arthur L Coburn

Patrick Celentano

Kyle Hutchings

Youngjoo Park

Conor Walsh

James Babu

Pratik Bhangale

Nicholas A Millington

Nikolai Kutateli

An example playback device includes programming for executing functions including, while connected to both (i) a local area network and (ii) an audio playback network configured separately from the local area network and arranged for playback of media content via at least the playback device, receiving from a network device via the local area network, a request for the network device to connect to the audio playback network. The functions also include, in response to the request, transmitting to the network device via the local area network, a message indicating an identifier of the audio playback network and a password for accessing the audio playback network. The functions also include exchanging one or more messages with the network device via the audio playback network to authenticate the network device for the audio playback network and receiving an audio playback command from the network device via the audio playback network.

Audio playback network joining

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

Examples are disclosed and described to facilitate resolution of Internet Protocol address conflicts. An example method includes periodically broadcasting, by the playback device over the network, a probe message, detecting, by the playback device, a change in status associated with the connection, based on the detection, obtaining, by the playback device, a new Internet Protocol (IP) address; and based on the detection, including, by the playback device in at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection, an indication for other playback devices on the network to obtain a new IP address.

Facilitating the resolution of address conflicts in a networked media playback system

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to an audio playback network are disclosed. An example playback device includes a processor and memory. The memory has stored instructions executable by the processor. The playback device may perform functions including connecting to (a) a local area network and (b) an audio playback network and entering a connection phase. The playback device, while in the connection phase, may receive from a network device a request for the network device to connect to the audio playback network and in response to the request transmit to the network device a message indicating an identifier of the audio playback network and a password for accessing the audio playback network. The playback device may exchange one or more messages with the network device to authenticate the network device for the audio playback network; and after authenticating the network device for the audio playback network, receive an audio playback command from the network device.

An example method includes connecting, by wireless device, to a first network device, wherein the first network device provides a connection to a playback network; adding the connection via the first network device to a list of available network connections; sending, to a second network device via the first network device, command(s) to control playback by the second network device; identifying additional available connection(s) to the playback network within range of the wireless device, wherein the additional available connection(s) include a connection via the second network device; determining that the connection to the second network device is preferred over the connection via the first network device based on characteristic(s); based on the determination that the connection via the second network device is preferred, connecting to the playback network via the second network device; and sending, to the second network device, additional command(s) to control playback by the second network device.

Switching connection between network devices

Examples are disclosed and described to facilitate resolution of Internet Protocol address conflicts. An example method includes listening, by a first playback device having a first IP address, to a specified server port, receiving, by the first playback device from a second playback device via the specified server port, a message, wherein the message identifies a second IP address, wherein the second IP address has been assigned to the second playback device, determining, by the first playback device, whether the first IP address is the same as the second IP address, and when the first IP address is the same as the second IP address, obtaining, by the first playback device, a new IP address, wherein the new IP address is different from the first IP address and the second IP address.

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to a multimedia playback network are disclosed. An example wireless device includes a wireless communication interface to identify a first network within range of the wireless device available for connection and to facilitate connection of the wireless device to the first network. The example wireless device includes a processor to add the first network to a registry of networks for connection by the wireless device. The example wireless device includes a signal strength monitor to monitor one or more available networks from the network registry that are within range of the wireless device. The example processor is to evaluate the available network(s) to identify a preferred network for connection based on at least one network characteristic and facilitate a switch from connection of the wireless device to the first network if the preferred network is different from the first network.

Systems and methods for multi-network audio control

An example multimedia playback device is connected to a network that is configured to not provide an indicator of existence absent a command from the multimedia playback device. The example playback device is to initiate a connection phase for a device to connect to the hidden network based on a user action at the playback device. The example playback device is to reveal a network access point in a connection phase and authenticate the wireless device with the audio network for limited connectivity to the network during the connection phase. The example playback device is to disconnect the wireless device from the audio network and accept a connection of the wireless device to the audio network in an operational phase, the connection enabled using information provided to the wireless device during the connection phase and without the limited connectivity provided in the connection phase.

Systems and methods for connecting an audio controller to a hidden audio network

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Michael Agerbak