Google Inc.

Tomer Shekel

Kenneth John Mackay

Richard Francis Lyon

Ryan Michael Rifkin

Pascal Tom Getreuer

Chien-Jung Kung

Byungchul Kim

Tavis A Maclellan

Chet N Gnegy

Adam Glazier

Tuan Anh Nguyen

Kenneth Edward Mixter

Nikita Gupta

Kenneth MacKay

Raunaq Shah

A smart home device (e.g., a voice assistant device) includes an audio control system that determines a set of one or more audio devices to include nearby devices that are capable of providing audio streams that are audibly detected by a microphone of the smart home device. The audio control system initiates a voice-interaction mode for operating the smart home device to receive voice commands from a user and provide audio output in response to the voice commands. The audio control system transmits an audio control signal to nearby devices that configures each nearby device to implement one or more of: reducing a volume level associated with the audio streams generated by the nearby devices while the smart home device is operating in the voice-interaction mode; and transmitting, to the smart home device, audio stream data associated with a current audio stream generated for audible output by the nearby device.

Ducking and erasing audio from nearby devices

A first electronic device of a local group of connected electronic devices receives a first voice command including a request for a first operation assigns a first target device from among a local group of connected electronic devices as an in-focus device for performing the first operation, causes the first operation to be performed by the first target device via operation of a server-implemented common network service, receives a second voice command including a request for a second operation and based on a determination that the second voice command does not include an explicit designation of a second target device and a determination that the second operation can be performed by the first target device, assigning the first target device.

Focus session at a voice interface device

In a general aspect, a system for media playback can include a first media playback device configured to receive a media stream from a media casting device over a data network, the first media playback device being a member of the media playback group and a second media playback device configured to receive the media stream, the second media playback device being a member of the media playback group. The first media playback device and the second media playback device can be collectively configured to designate one of the first media playback device and the second media playback device as a leader playback device of the media playback group. The playback device not designated as the leader playback device can be designated as a follower playback device of the media playback group. The first media playback device and the second media playback device can be further collectively configured to determine a clock offset between the leader playback device and the follower playback device. The leader playback device can be configured to receive a broadcast of the media stream over the data network; play the media stream; and provide the media stream to the follower playback device. The follower playback device can be configured to play the media stream in synchronization with the leader playback device based on the clock offset.

Time-synchronized, multizone media streaming

A method is implemented on a casting device to enable a follow-me mode in which the casting device controls display of media content on an output device coupled to the casting device. The casting device detects a client device associated with the casting device, and determines a proximity of the client device. In accordance with a determination that the client device is within a proximity threshold of the casting device, the casting device receives content information associated with content recently accessed by the client device, obtains the content from a content source in accordance with the content information, and outputs the obtained content to an output device in accordance with the content information.

Methods and systems for controlling media display in a smart media display environment

A first electronic device of a local group of connected electronic devices receives a first voice command including a request for a first operation, assigns a first target device from among a local group of connected electronic devices as an in-focus device for performing the first operation, causes the first operation to be performed by the first target device via operation of a server-implemented common network service, receives a second voice command including a request for a second operation, and based on a determination that the second voice command does not include an explicit designation of a second target device and a determination that the second operation can be performed by the first target device, assigning the first target device as the in-focus device for performing the second operation.

A method at a first electronic device of a local group of connected electronic devices includes: receiving a first voice command including a request for a first operation; determining a first target device for the first operation from among the local group; establishing a focus session with respect to the first target device; causing the first operation to be performed by the first target device; receiving a second voice command including a request for a second operation; determining that the second voice command does not include an explicit designation of a second target device; determining that the second operation can be performed by the first target device; determining whether the second voice command satisfies one or more focus session maintenance criteria; and if the second voice command satisfies the focus session maintenance criteria, causing the second operation to be performed by the first target device.

Time-synchronized, multizone medial streaming

A method is implemented on a server system for initiating by voice display of closed captions (CC) for media content. The server system receives a voice message recorded by an electronic device, and determines that the voice message is a first CC initiation request including a user voice command to initiate closed captions and a user voice designation of a display device playing the media content for which closed captions are to be activated. The server system identifies in a device registry a cast device associated in a user domain with the electronic device and coupled to the designated display device, and sends a second CC initiation request to the cast device, thereby enabling the cast device to execute a media play application that controls the designated display device to turn on and display the closed captions of media content currently displayed on the designated display device.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Tomer Shekel