Sonos, Inc.

Robert Reimann

Mark W Triplett

Abhishek Kumar

Robert Andrew Lambourne

Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson

Christopher Kallai

David Duayne Taylor

Joni Rafalski Hoadley

Tom Cullen

Brent Lehman

Nicholas A J Millington

Paul Andrew Bates

Michael Darrell Ericson

Nicholas Millington

Embodiments described herein provide for extending media playback. In an example implementation, during playback of one or more first media items populated in a queue, a control system extends playback time of the queue. Extending playback time of the queue may involve determining when the one or more first media items will be finished playing; and before the first media items are finished playing, determining one or more second media items that correspond in substantial likeness to the one or more first media items and sending an instruction that causes the first playback device to insert the determined one or more second media items into the queue such that play time of the queue is extended.

Extending playback with corresponding media

Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. An example method includes receiving an audio signal containing a range of audio frequencies; amplifying, according to a gain parameter, the audio signal to be reproduced by at least one speaker. The example method includes automatically increasing the gain parameter to a higher gain parameter responsive to a determination that no more than a subset of the range of audio frequencies is to be reproduced by the at least one speaker. The example method includes amplifying, according to the higher gain parameter, the audio signal containing no more than the subset of the range of audio frequencies to be reproduced by the at least one speaker.

Playback device pairing

A first playback device comprising an amplifier and a speaker is configured to (i) display, via a touchscreen, respective indications of the first playback device and a second playback device, (ii) receive, via the touchscreen, at least one first input indicating a command to play back media content in a synchrony group with the second playback device, (iii) play back the media content in the synchrony group with the second playback device such that the amplifier drives the speaker by amplifying one or more audio signals that correspond to the media content, (iv) while playing back the media content in the synchrony group with the second payback device, determine, via a voice recognition system, at least one second input indicating a command to modify playback of the media content, and (v) based on the at least one second input, cause the playback of the media content to be modified.

Modification of media playback

Some embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods include displaying a graphical user interface comprising a first section and a second section, wherein the first section includes a first media icon corresponding to a first media item, and wherein the second section includes a first zone icon corresponding to a first zone comprising a first set of one or more playback devices; and in response to detecting a drag of the first media icon to the first zone icon, instructing at least one playback device in the first set of one or more playback devices to play the first media item corresponding to the first media icon.

Playback zone management

A system is configured to () receive data indicating a first command to present media content at a display device of a media playback system that comprises a playback device, () determine a playback condition comprising a user identity, () identify, from one or more user accounts associated with the playback device, a given user account corresponding to the user identity, () based at least on (i) the first command and (ii) at least one property of the given user account, identify a set of media items that are to be presented, () cause the set of media items to be presented at the display device, () receive data indicating a second command to play back at least one given media item from the set of media items presented at the display device, and () cause the playback device to play back the at least one given media item.

Media content display for playback

An example system is configured to: (i) receive data indicating a command to play back audio content, where the data indicating the command to play back audio content is received via a voice input that is detected by a first zone player, (ii) based on the data indicating the command, determine a playback condition comprising a particular zone player, (iii) identify a user account associated with the first zone player, (iv) based at least on (a) the command and (b) the identified user account, determine audio content for playback, and (v) play back the determined audio content via the particular zone player.

Audio content selection and playback

An example system is configured to: (i) receive data indicating a command to play back, via a playback device of a media playback system, media content; (ii) based on the data indicating the command, detect a first playback condition comprising a first user identity; (iii) identify, from one or more user accounts associated with the playback device, a first user account corresponding to the first user identity; (iv) based at least on (1) the command and (2) one or more properties of the first user account, determine first media content for playback by the playback device; and (v) cause the playback device to play back the first media content.

Audio track selection and playback

Example techniques relate to transferring playback between playback devices within a network media system. In an example, while a first playback device is playing a first audio track of a playlist, a device displays a representation of metadata for the first audio track, transport controls to control playback, a volume control to control playback volume, and a selectable control that, when selected, causes display of a zone selection interface. The device receives input data representing a selection of the selectable control and modifies the control interface to display the zone selection interface, which includes indications of second playback devices and respective second selectable controls. The device receives input data representing selections of one or more second selectable controls, which correspond to one or more particular second playback devices and then transfers playback to the one or more particular second playback devices.

Playback transfer in a media playback system

The present application discloses playback devices and networks, software for operating playback devices and playback device networks, and methods of operating playback devices and networks, where an individual network device is configured to switch between operating various operating modes comprising a non-paired mode and a paired mode, where the playback device is configured to output various channels of audio content within various audio frequency ranges while operating in the various operating modes.

A first computing device is configured to establish a communication path with a second computing device and receive, from the second computing device over the communication path, an indication to begin transmitting an audio tone comprising identifying information for the first computing device, where the audio tone, when detected by the second computing device, causes the second computing device to update a user interface of the second computing device. Based on the received indication, the first computing device begins transmitting the audio tone. The second computing device is configured to detect, via at least one microphone, the audio tone and then, based on the detected audio tone, update the user interface.

Acoustic signatures in a playback system

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide content to a playback network are disclosed. An example method includes displaying an indicator of multimedia content to a user via a graphical user interface. The example method includes enabling a multiselect state to allow the user to select multiple items from a browseable list of indicators associated with multimedia content. The example method includes providing a context-sensitive menu including a plurality of options associated with playback of selected items based on enablement of the multiselect state. The example method includes applying an option to each of the selected items based on user selection. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to user selection of the option.

Context-based user music menu systems and methods

An example playback device includes a first interface for receiving a first audio signal from a first audio source; a second interface for receiving a second audio signal from a second audio source; and a processor configured to: cause the playback device to playback the second audio signal; determine that the first audio signal is present at the first interface; in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the first interface, (i) cease playback of the second audio signal being played by the playback device and (ii) cause the playback device to playback the first audio signal; receive an instruction to stop the playback device from playing the first audio signal while the first audio signal is still present at the first interface; and arm the playback device such that a subsequent presence of the first audio signal at the first interface causes the playback device to play the first audio signal.

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Newton, MA, United States of America

Robert Reimann