Sonos, Inc.

Won So

Robert Andrew Lambourne

Jodi Vautrin

Nathan Fish

Daniel Casimiro

Frank Charlton

Ted M Lin

Jeffrey M Peters

Ryan Kitson

Michael Sheldon

Brandon Wright

Derek W Erdmann

A first playback device is configured to: operate as part of a synchrony group that comprises the first playback device and a second playback device; obtain a first version of audio content that is encoded according to a first encoding format; determine that the first version of the audio content is unsuitable for playback by the second playback device; based on the determination, (i) decode the first version of the audio content and (ii) re-encode a second version of the audio content according to a second encoding format; transmit the second version of the audio content to the second playback device for playback; cause the second playback device to play back the second version of the audio content; and play back the first version of the audio content in synchrony with the playback of the second version of the audio content by the second playback device.

Dynamic transcoding for enhancing audio playback

A command to update a volume level of a group comprising a first and a second playback device to a requested group volume level is detected, the requested group volume level indicating respective requested volume levels for the first and second playback devices. Based on the command, (i) a first volume state variable of the first playback device is determined to be adjusted based on a first maximum volume state variable and (ii) a second volume state variable of the second playback device is determined to be adjusted based on a second maximum volume state variable. Based on the first and second maximum volume state variables, the volume level of the playback group is adjusted to an alternate group volume level different from the requested group volume level. An indication that the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested group volume level is provided.

Media playback system with maximum volume setting

A first playback device is configured to obtain audio content from a cloud-based media service, the audio content encrypted according to a first encryption scheme. The first playback device is configured to communicate with a cloud-based license service to obtain information for decrypting the audio content and use the obtained information to decrypt the audio content. The first playback device is also configured to re-encrypt the decrypted audio content in accordance with a second encryption scheme and transmit the re-encrypted audio content to at least a second playback device that is grouped with the first playback device for synchronous audio playback. The first playback device is also configured to play back the audio content in synchrony with playback of the audio content by the second playback device.

Audio encryption in a media playback system

An example first playback device is configured to: while the first playback device is in a synchrony group with a second playback device, play back a first version of audio content in synchrony with the second playback device; in response to identifying that a quality of a connection between the second playback device and a network device is below a threshold criterion, cause the second playback device to play back a second version of the audio content in synchrony with the first version of the audio content playing back by the first playback device; and in response to detecting a change in the quality of the connection between the second playback device and the network device such that the quality of the connection meets the threshold criterion, cause the second playback device to play back the first version of the audio content in synchrony with the first playback device.

Managing content quality and related characteristics of a media playback system

Systems and methods for vocal guidance for playback devices are disclosed. A playback device can include a first wireless transceiver for communication via a first data network and a second wireless transceiver for communication via a second data network. The device includes one or more processors and is configured to maintain a library that includes one or more source device names and corresponding audio content, the audio content configured to be played back via an amplifier to indicate association of a particular source device with the playback device via the first data network. The device receives, via the second data network, information from one or more remote computing devices, and based on the information, updates the library by: (i) adding at least one new source device name and corresponding audio content; (ii) changing at least one source device name or its corresponding audio content; or both (i) and (ii).

Vocal guidance engines for playback devices

In one example, a zone player may include a network interface, at least one processor, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that may be executable by the at least one processor such that the zone player is configured to receive an instruction to change a volume setting of the zone player to a requested volume level; in response to receiving the instruction to change the volume setting of the zone player to the requested volume level, adjust the volume setting of the zone player to an adapted volume level that is lower than the requested volume level; and after adjusting the volume setting of the zone player to the adapted volume level, send an indication that the volume setting of the zone player has been adjusted to the requested volume level rather than the adapted volume level.

Disclosed herein are embodiments for adjusting playback volume in a media playback system that utilizes a maximum volume feature. In one embodiment, when a playback device receives an instruction to change its playback volume to a requested volume level, the playback device will not necessarily set its playback volume state variable to the requested volume level, but rather will calculate a new (typically lower) alternate volume level based on the maximum volume state variable and instead set its playback volume state variable to that alternate volume level. Moreover, when a playback device shares certain of its state variables among the other devices of the media playback system, the playback device will not necessarily share its actual playback volume state variable, but rather will calculate a new (typically higher) representative volume level and instead share that representative volume level.

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Boston, MA, United States of America

Won So