Source: http://patents.com/us-9864572.html
Timestamp: 2019-02-18 18:14:21
Document Index: 536449491

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 13809601', 'Application No. 13809601', 'Application No. 201380044594', 'Application No. 13809601', 'Application No. 2016', 'Application No. 2016']

US Patent # 9,864,572. Playback configuration based on connection to portable playback device - Patents.com
United States Patent 9,864,572
Kusano January 9, 2018
Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate playback of multimedia content are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a network interface configured to receive first audio content and second audio content over a playback network. A processor comprises instructions, which when executed, cause the processor to play first audio content when grouped with a portable playback device. The processor is to detect that the portable playback device is not connected to the playback network. Based on detecting that the portable playback device is not connected to the playback network, the processor is to play second audio content.
Kusano; Mieko (Santa Barbara, CA)
Family ID: 1000003051650
14/976,981
US 20160112744 A1 Apr 21, 2016
13534404 Jun 27, 2012
Current CPC Class: G06F 3/165 (20130101); G05B 15/02 (20130101); H04N 21/41407 (20130101); H04N 21/44209 (20130101); H04N 21/44227 (20130101); H04N 21/8113 (20130101); H04N 21/43637 (20130101); H04R 2227/005 (20130101)
Current International Class: G06F 15/173 (20060101); G06F 3/16 (20060101); H04N 21/414 (20110101); H04N 21/81 (20110101); H04N 21/442 (20110101); H04N 21/4363 (20110101); G05B 15/02 (20060101)
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This disclosure claims the benefit of priority, as a continuation, to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/534,404 filed Jun. 27, 2012 entitled "Systems and Methods for Mobile Music Zones", the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
1. A first playback device comprising: a network interface configured to receive first audio content and second audio content over a playback network; a processor comprising instructions, which when executed, cause the processor to: automatically group with a portable playback device when the portable playback device connects to the playback network; play at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device while the portable playback device plays at least one second channel of audio associated with the first audio content in synchrony with the portable playback device, wherein the at least one first channel of audio played by the first playback device and the at least one second channel of audio played by the portable playback device are each a subset of a full range of audio associated with the first audio content; detect that the portable playback device has moved from within a range of the playback network to outside the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device; and in response to detecting that the portable playback device has moved outside of the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device, automatically (i) remove the grouping between the portable playback device and the first playback device; and (ii) change playback from the at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device to playback of a full range of audio associated with the second audio content when the grouping is removed.
2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the grouping with a portable playback device forms a stereo pair with the portable playback device.
3. The first playback device of claim 2, wherein the instructions for playing the at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content comprises the first playback device playing a portion of a full range of an audio track.
4. The first playback device of claim 3, wherein the portion is a channel of the audio track.
5. The first playback device of claim 3, wherein the instructions for playing the full range of audio associated with the second audio content comprises the first playback device playing a full range of the audio track.
6. The first playback device of claim 1, further comprising instructions for adjusting one or more of a volume, equalization, or frequency associated with playback of the full range of audio associated with the second audio content.
7. The first playback device of claim 1, further comprising instructions for updating, by the first playback device, a state variable to indicate that the portable playback device is not connected to the playback network.
8. A method comprising: automatically grouping, by a first playback device, with a portable playback device when the portable playback device connects to a playback network; playing, by the first playback device, audio associated with first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device while the portable playback device plays at least one second channel of audio associated with the first audio content in synchrony with the portable playback device, wherein the at least one first channel of audio played by the first playback device and the at least one second channel of audio played by the portable playback device are each a subset of a full range of audio associated with the first audio content; detecting, by the first playback device, that the portable playback device has moved from within a range of the playback network to outside the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device; and in response to detecting that the portable playback device has moved outside of the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device, automatically (i) removing the grouping between the portable playback device and the first playback device; and (ii) changing playback from the at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device to play back of a full range of audio associated with second audio content by the first playback device when the grouping is removed.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the grouping with a portable playback forms a stereo pair with the portable playback device.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein playing the at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content by the first playback device comprises the first playback device playing a portion of a full range of an audio track.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the portion is a channel of the audio track.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein playing the full range of audio associated with the second audio content by the first playback device comprises the first playback device playing a full range of the audio track.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting one or more of a volume, equalization, or frequency associated with playback of the full range of audio associated with the second audio content.
14. The method of claim 8, further comprising updating, by the first playback device, a state variable to indicate that the portable playback device is not connected to the playback network.
15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method comprising: automatically grouping, by a first playback device, with a portable playback device when the portable playback device connects to a playback network; playing, by the first playback device, at least one first channel of audio associated with first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device while the portable playback device plays at least one second channel of audio associated with the first audio content in synchrony with the portable playback device, wherein the at least one first channel of audio played by the first playback device and the at least one second channel of audio played by the portable playback device are each a subset of a full range of audio associated with the first audio content; detecting, by the first playback device, that the portable playback device has moved from within a range of the playback network to outside the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device; and in response to detecting that the portable playback device has moved outside of the range of the playback network when grouped with the portable playback device, automatically (i) removing the grouping between the portable playback device and the first playback device; and (ii) changing playback from the at least one first channel of audio associated with the first audio content when grouped with the portable playback device to play back of a full range of audio associated with second audio content by the first playback device when the grouping is removed.
16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for updating, by the first playback device, a state variable to indicate that the portable playback device is not connected to the playback network.
FIG. 8 shows an internal functional block diagram of an example portable player;
FIG. 9 illustrates an example playback network configuration including a mobile device interfacing with one or more playback devices via a network; and
FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram for an example method for zone configuration and content playback via a portable playback device.
Wired, wireless, or both types of networks are used to connect one or more multimedia playback devices to establish a playback network in a home (e.g., a home audio system) or other location. For example, a network, such as an ad-hoc network, is established in a home to facilitate communications among a group of playback devices. Music and other types of multimedia content can be shared among the playback devices and/or groups of playback devices associated with a playback network. At least one of the playback devices may be removed from the ad-hoc network to be used to playback audio at a different location, such as, for example, at a beach, park, on a boat, or in a hotel room. Once finished, the at least one playback device may be rejoined to the ad-hoc network in a relatively seamless manner to the user.
Certain embodiments provide a method to provide portable playback of audio content regardless of network connection. The example method includes identifying, via a portable playback device, an available network for content playback. The example method includes automatically connecting the portable playback device to the available playback network. The example method includes facilitating control and playback of content on the playback network via the portable playback device. The example method includes establishing a mobile zone in an absence of an available playback network. The mobile zone is to facilitate local content playback in the mobile zone via the portable playback device. The example method includes automatically switching between an available playback network and the mobile zone to provide content playback via the portable playback device.
Certain embodiments provide an apparatus for portable playback of multimedia content, the apparatus portable by a user. The example apparatus includes a communication interface to send and receive data via a network connection, the data including multimedia content for playback. The example apparatus includes a memory to store instructions and data. The example apparatus includes a processor. The example processor is to search for an available playback network and, if available, automatically connect to the playback network. The example processor is to, in an absence of an available network, establish a mobile zone, the mobile zone to facilitate multimedia content playback via the mobile zone. The example processor is to automatically switch between the playback network and the mobile zone depending upon availability of the playback network to provide content playback via the portable playback device. The example processor is to facilitate control and playback of content on the playback network via the portable playback device.
Certain embodiments provide a tangible computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed by the processor, implementing a portable playback system. The example system is arranged to search for an available playback network and, if available, automatically connect to the playback network. The example system is arranged to, in an absence of an available network, establish a mobile zone, the mobile zone to facilitate multimedia content playback via the mobile zone. The example system is arranged to automatically switch between the playback network and the mobile zone depending upon availability of the playback network to provide content playback via the portable playback device. The example system is arranged to facilitate control and playback of content on the playback network via the portable playback device.
Many other embodiments are described herein to provide mobile music to a user.
FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show example types of zone players. Zone players 200, 202, and 204 of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively, can correspond to any of the zone players 102-124 of FIG. 1, for example. In some embodiments, audio is reproduced using only a single zone player, such as by a full-range player. In some embodiments, audio is reproduced using two or more zone players, such as by using a combination of full-range players or a combination of full-range and specialized players. In some embodiments, zone players 200-204 may also be referred to as a "smart speaker," because they contain processing capabilities beyond the reproduction of audio, more of which is described below.
FIG. 2C illustrates zone player 204 that does not include a built-in amplifier, but is configured to communicate an audio signal, received over a data network, to an audio (or "audio/video") receiver 214 with built-in amplification.
Referring back to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, one, some, or all of the zone players 102 to 124 can retrieve audio directly from a source. For example, a zone player may contain a playlist or queue of audio items to be played (also referred to herein as a "playback queue"). Each item in the queue may comprise a uniform resource identifier (URI) or some other identifier. The URI or identifier can point the zone player to the audio source. The source might be found on the Internet (e.g., the cloud), locally from another device over data network 128, the controller 130, stored on the zone player itself, or from an audio source communicating directly to the zone player. In some embodiments, the zone player can reproduce the audio itself, send it to another zone player for reproduction, or both where the audio is played by the zone player and one or more additional zone players in synchrony. In some embodiments, the zone player can play a first audio content (or not play at all), while sending a second, different audio content to another zone player(s) for reproduction.
By way of illustration, SONOS, Inc. of Santa Barbara, Calif. presently offers for sale zone players referred to as a "PLAY:5," "PLAY:3," "CONNECT:AMP," "CONNECT," and "SUB." Any other past, present, and/or future zone players can additionally or alternatively be used to implement the zone players of example embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, it is understood that a zone player is not limited to the particular examples illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C or to the SONOS product offerings. For example, a zone player may include a wired or wireless headphone. In yet another example, a zone player might include a sound bar for television. In yet another example, a zone player can include or interact with a docking station for an Apple IPOD.TM. or similar device.
In addition, an application running on any network-enabled portable device, such as an IPHONE.TM. IPAD.TM. ANDROID.TM. powered phone, or any other smart phone or network-enabled device can be used as controller 130. An application running on a laptop or desktop personal computer (PC) or Mac.TM. can also be used as controller 130. Such controllers may connect to system 100 through an interface with data network 128, a zone player, a wireless router, or using some other configured connection path. Example controllers offered by SONOS, Inc. of Santa Barbara, Calif. include a "Controller 200," "SONOS CONTROL," "SONOS.RTM. Controller for IPHONE.TM.," "SONOS.RTM. Controller for IPAD.TM.," "SONOS.RTM. Controller for ANDROID.TM., "SONOS.RTM. Controller for MAC.TM. or PC."
In some embodiments, connecting any of the zone players 102-124, or some other connecting device, to a broadband router, can create data network 128. Other zone players 102-124 can then be added wired or wirelessly to the data network 128. For example, a zone player (e.g., any of zone players 102-124) can be added to the system configuration 100 by simply pressing a button on the zone player itself (or perform some other action), which enables a connection to be made to data network 128. The broadband router can be connected to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), for example. The broadband router can be used to form another data network within the system configuration 100, which can be used in other applications (e.g., web surfing). Data network 128 can also be used in other applications, if so programmed. An example, second network may implement SONOSNET.TM. protocol, developed by SONOS, Inc. of Santa Barbara. SONOSNET.TM. represents a secure, AES-encrypted, peer-to-peer wireless mesh network. Alternatively, in certain embodiments, the data network 128 is the same network, such as a traditional wired or wireless network, used for other applications in the household.
A particular zone can contain one or more zone players. For example, the family room of FIG. 1 contains two zone players 106 and 108, while the kitchen is shown with one zone player 102. In another example, the home theater room contains additional zone players to play audio from a 5.1 channel or greater audio source (e.g., a movie encoded with 5.1 or greater audio channels). In some embodiments, one can position a zone player in a room or space and assign the zone player to a new or existing zone via controller 130. As such, zones may be created, combined with another zone, removed, and given a specific name (e.g., "Kitchen"), if so desired and programmed to do so with controller 130. Moreover, in some embodiments, zone configurations may be dynamically changed even after being configured using controller 130 or some other mechanism.
Sources of audio content to be played by zone players 102-124 are numerous. In some embodiments, music on a zone player itself may be accessed and a played. In some embodiments, music from a personal library stored on a computer or networked-attached storage (NAS) may be accessed via the data network 128 and played. In some embodiments, Internet radio stations, shows, and podcasts can be accessed via the data network 128. Music or cloud services that let a user stream and/or download music and audio content can be accessed via the data network 128. Further, music can be obtained from traditional sources, such as a turntable or CD player, via a line-in connection to a zone player, for example. Audio content can also be accessed using a different protocol, such as AIRPLAY.TM., which is a wireless technology by Apple, Inc., for example. Audio content received from one or more sources can be shared amongst the zone players 102 to 124 via data network 128 and/or controller 130. The above-disclosed sources of audio content are referred to herein as network-based audio information sources. However, network-based audio information sources are not limited thereto.
In some embodiments, network interface 402 can include one or both of a wireless interface 404 and a wired interface 406. The wireless interface 404, also referred to as a radio frequency (RF) interface, provides network interface functions for the zone player 400 to wirelessly communicate with other devices (e.g., other zone player(s), speaker(s), receiver(s), component(s) associated with the data network 128, and so on) in accordance with a communication protocol (e.g., any wireless standards including IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, or 802.15). Wireless interface 404 may include one or more radios. To receive wireless signals and to provide the wireless signals to the wireless interface 404 and to transmit wireless signals, the zone player 400 includes one or more antennas 420. The wired interface 406 provides network interface functions for the zone player 400 to communicate over a wire with other devices in accordance with a communication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.3). In some embodiments, a zone player includes both of the interfaces 404 and 406. In some embodiments, a zone player 400 includes only the wireless interface 404 or the wired interface 406.
In some embodiments, the processor 408 is a clock-driven electronic device that is configured to process input data according to instructions stored in memory 410. The memory 410 is data storage that can be loaded with one or more software module(s) 414, which can be executed by the processor 408 to achieve certain tasks. In the illustrated embodiment, the memory 410 is a tangible machine-readable medium storing instructions that can be executed by the processor 408. In some embodiments, a task might be for the zone player 400 to retrieve audio data from another zone player or a device on a network (e.g., using a uniform resource locator (URL) or some other identifier). In some embodiments, a task may be for the zone player 400 to send audio data to another zone player or device on a network. In some embodiments, a task might be for the zone player 400 to synchronize playback of audio with one or more additional zone players. In some embodiments, a task might be to pair the zone player 400 with one or more zone players to create a multi-channel audio environment. Additional or alternative tasks can be achieved via the one or more software module(s) 414 and the processor 408.
It should be noted that other network-enabled devices such as an IPHONE.RTM., IPAD.RTM. or any other smart phone or network-enabled device (e.g., a networked computer such as a PC or Mac.RTM.) can also be used as a controller to interact or control zone players in a particular environment. In some embodiments, a software application or upgrade can be downloaded onto a network-enabled device to perform the functions described herein.
A user via the controller 500 can group zone players into a zone group by activating a "Link Zones" or "Add Zone" soft button, or de-group a zone group by activating an "Unlink Zones" or "Drop Zone" button. For example, one mechanism for `joining` zone players together for audio play back is to link a number of zone players together to form a group. To link a number of zone players together, a user can manually link each zone player or room one after the other. For example, assume that there is a multi-zone system that includes the following zones: Bathroom, Bedroom, Den, Dining Room, Family Room, and Foyer.
In certain embodiments, a set of zones can be dynamically linked together using a command to create a zone scene or theme (subsequent to first creating the zone scene). For instance, a "Morning" zone scene command can link the Bedroom, Office, and Kitchen zones together in one action. Without this single command, the user would manually and individually link each zone. The single command might include a mouse click, a double mouse click, a button press, a gesture, or some other programmed action. Other kinds of zone scenes can be programmed.
Certain particular examples are now provided in connection with FIG. 6 to describe, for purposes of illustration, certain systems and methods to provide and facilitate connection to a playback network. FIG. 6 shows that there are three zone players 602, 604 and 606 and a controller 608 that form a network branch that is also referred to as an Ad-Hoc network 610. The network 610 may be wireless, wired, or a combination of wired and wireless. In general, an Ad-Hoc (or "spontaneous") network is a local area network or other small network in which there is generally no one access point for all traffic. With an established Ad-Hoc network 610, the devices 602, 604, 606 and 608 can all communicate with each other in a "peer-to-peer" style of communication, for example. Furthermore, devices may come/and go from the network 610, and the network 610 will automatically reconfigure itself without needing the user to reconfigure the network 610. While an Ad-Hoc network is referenced in FIG. 6, it is understood that a playback network may be based on a type of network that is completely or partially different from an Ad-Hoc network.
In certain embodiments, each HOUSEHOLD includes two types of network nodes: a control point (CP) and a zone player (ZP). The control point controls an overall network setup process and sequencing, including an automatic generation of required network parameters (e.g., WEP keys). In an embodiment, the CP also provides the user with a HOUSEHOLD configuration user interface. The CP function can be provided by a computer running a CP application module, or by a handheld controller (e.g., the controller 308) also running a CP application module, for example. The zone player is any other device on the network that is placed to participate in the automatic configuration process. The ZP, as a notation used herein, includes the controller 608 or a computing device, for example. In some embodiments, the functionality, or certain parts of the functionality, in both the CP and the ZP are combined at a single node (e.g., a ZP contains a CP or vice-versa).
In the example system such as the one shown in FIG. 1, 6, or 7 where a SONOS system including one or more playback devices and one or more controllers is connected together in a local area network (LAN), the ability to move the audio experience into and away from the home location in a seamless or substantially seamless fashion to the user may be valuable. For example, according to some embodiments, a portable playback device allows a user to move the audio experience from the home location to a location where the user goes, such as to the beach, park, hotel, friend's house, boat, car, or generally wherever the user decides to go. Further, the ability of a portable device to extend the audio experience from the home location to an on-the-go experience, such as going to the beach or park, walking, or jogging, in a seamless or substantially seamless fashion may be valuable.
A. Example Portable Playback Device
In an embodiment, a portable playback device includes a zone player described in FIGS. 2 and 4. In an embodiment, the portable playback device includes a broadband interface to connect directly to the Internet without first connecting to a LAN using the wireless or wired interface. In another embodiment, the portable playback device includes a Bluetooth or other wireless interface to be paired to a mobile device such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or laptop. In yet another embodiment, the portable playback device includes a battery pack so that the playback device does not need to be connected to a mains service to operate. In yet another embodiment, the portable playback device includes built-in control functionality of the controller described in FIGS. 3 and 5, such as a display screen and input interface to enable user configuration and control of the playback device or system of playback devices. In yet another embodiment, the portable playback device is designed to withstand certain weather and outdoor conditions.
Like the example zone player 400 of FIG. 4, the example portable player 800 of FIG. 8 includes a processor 408, memory 410, an audio processing component 412, a module 414, an audio amplifier 416, speakers 418, and one or more antenna(s) 420. These components are discussed in more detail above. More or less components may be included depending on the desired configuration. The example portable player 800 includes a network interface 802 including a wireless interface 404, wired interface 406, and broadband interface 804. The wireless interface 404 and wired interface 406 are discussed above. The broadband interface 804 provides broadband Internet access based on industry standards such as 3G or 4G or Bluetooth, for example. The example portable player 800 includes a battery pack 806 to provide power to the device when not using mains input. The battery pack may use a single battery or a collection of batteries and the batteries may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable. The control interface 808 includes a display screen 810 and an input interface 812. The display screen 800 may be an LCD screen, for example. The input interface 812 may be a touch panel interface, a hard button interface, a capacitive or resistive touch interface with corresponding soft keys that may or may not be present (e.g., visible) at all times, and so on.
By way of illustration, a portable playback device might include a playback device capable of being carried around by a person (e.g., an existing SONOS PLAY:3 or PLAY:5 can be carried and may further be configured via software to operate as a portable playback device), a playback device designed for portability (e.g., one that is easily carried and/or battery powered), a playback device designed for outdoor use, a smart phone configured to operate such as described herein with speakers and/or an audio output, similarly, a tablet with speakers and/or an audio output, an existing zone player that is modified via hardware and/or software to operate as a portable playback device, and so on.
In some embodiments, the portable playback device provides an ambient sound solution. For example, the portable playback device may be used alone and/or in conjunction with one or more other playback devices to create a sound space. A sound space is an area that has a particular sound texture, for example. Rather than outputting sound to a large space, the portable playback device may shape or focus an output sound for listening in a portion of a room or other space. For example, an orientation, position, output parameter, and/or other setting of the portable playback device may be used to focus and/or otherwise shape sound output by the portable playback device into a surrounding space. In an embodiment, the portable playback device may be used to provide an ambient sound solution when connected to a home audio playback system, but otherwise used as a full-range or mostly full-range loudspeaker system.
In some embodiments, the portable playback device has multiple power modes. For example, in addition to normal powering mode, the portable player may operate in a low-power mode. This can be used, for example, when operating in mobile mode and/or when operating with a battery. In another example, the portable player may have on/off capability or a standby mode. For example, the portable player may have a user accessible button or other user interface to turn off and/or put the portable player into standby mode. In another example, the portable player has its own power management intelligence to shut down and/or go into standby mode.
In some embodiments, a portable playback device is added to a home network or HOUSEHOLD, such as described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 6, for example. Adding a zone player such as a portable playback device to a home network may be accomplished for example via minimum human intervention in which a button press on the device, or some other user action, subsequent to initiating a "join household" procedure on a controller enables the portable playback device to join the network (e.g., join a SONOSNET.TM. network). In some embodiments, other methods of joining the portable playback device to the home network may be employed.
In some embodiments, when a zone player such as a portable playback device joins a home network, it is provided with a globally unique system identifier (e.g., household ID or HHID) that identifies the playback network. The system identifier may be determined when the playback network is first established and all devices (e.g., zone players and controllers) in a playback network have the same system identifier.
Once the portable playback device joins the home network, it can be assigned to a room or zone and incorporated into the audio system. For instance, the portable playback device may be assigned to the kitchen and form a kitchen zone, if a kitchen zone is not already established. In another instance, the portable playback device may be assigned to a portable zone that is moved about the house without a fixed location. In another instance, the portable playback device may be configured to play with other players in an established zone group, such as in synchrony or in stereo pair with another player In yet another instance, the portable playback device is used to provide ambient sound. In another instance, the portable playback device is used to provide more directed sound.
Similar to other zone players in the example system, the portable playback device may be dynamically reconfigured to another zone or zone group. This may be done by a user using a user interface on a controller or player, or by some other mechanism. For example, the portable playback device might be moved from the kitchen zone to the family room zone. In one embodiment, the user can use a controller to make the system change by reassigning the portable player to the family room zone. In another embodiment, the portable playback device can be added to another zone without using the controller by using a button-press combination on the portable playback device and a zone player that is already part of that zone. In yet another embodiment, proximity detection may be used to automatically join the portable playback device to a zone or zone group.
In some embodiments, the playback system makes use of a state variable that maintains information about the playback system, for example, the identification of zone players on the home network, the zone group configurations, and other aspects may be stored in the state variable. The state variable is known, configured, or learned through communication between devices in a home network. The zone players automatically update the state variable when they join and/or disengage from the various zone groups to reflect the change in membership of the respective groups. The zone players may also update the state variable when a device, such as the portable playback device, leaves or comes back within the network range. The state variable may be provided, upon request or periodically, to a controller to notify the user of the current system configuration.
In some embodiments, when a portable playback device is powered off and power is subsequently restored to the device, the portable playback device is programmed to automatically rejoin the playback network. For example, when power is restored in a portable playback device that is part of a playback network, the device uses the state variable to identify the playback network to be re-joined. Once the device has joined the playback network, it can, in some embodiments, query a zone player or a controller in the network for system information and update the state variable accordingly.
When a portable playback device leaves the playback network, the system can detect without user input that the player is missing and therefore update the state variable accordingly. For example, if the portable playback device is powered off or carried outside of the network range, then the system determines that the playback device has left and communication with the portable player has stopped over the local network. In some embodiments, the user is notified via a controller that the portable playback device is no longer connected to the home playback network.
In some embodiments, the zone players of the home playback network automatically reconfigure themselves to account for the missing portable playback device. For example, upon detecting that a portable playback device is missing and the portable playback device was in stereo pair, the remaining player will temporarily remove the stereo pairing and play the full-range audio. When the portable playback device is returned to the home network, the stereo pairing may be automatically re-engaged and the two players will play in stereo pair (e.g., right and left channel or some other multi-channel audio). Other zone player configurations may be automatically modified to deal with a missing player, such as volume changes (e.g., increase the volume of remaining players to make up for a missing portable player), EQ changes, channel routing changes, frequency changes, and so on. When the portable player is returned, then the system may resort back to its previous settings.
When the portable playback device is moved outside of the range of the playback network and can no longer connect to an existing playback network (e.g., it falls outside of the wireless range), the portable playback device remains able to operate and play back content. In one embodiment, the state variable stored in the playback device may update to reflect that it is no longer part of the home network and must establish its own mechanism to get audio. As such, the portable playback device may be able to connect to, or establish, a playback network (such as in the home) and to connect to, or establish, a mobile zone to play multimedia content via the portable playback device (such as a location away from the home). For example, the portable playback device, when out of the range of the household playback network, can access music directly via cloud-based storage, via local storage (e.g., a mobile phone, tablet computer, and so on), via a streaming source (e.g., from a mobile phone, tablet computer, and so on), or some other means described herein.
In some embodiments, more than one portable playback device may be joined to the mobile zone. For example, a user may desire greater stereo separation and therefore add a second portable playback device to the mobile zone and stereo pair the two devices wirelessly. In another example, a user may wish to play two or more devices in synchrony while connected via the mobile zone. To do so, each playback device that is joined to the mobile zone may share a state variable indicating the configuration setup mobile network ID.
In some embodiments, at least two separate system IDs are maintained by the portable playback device. For instance, a Home Network System ID (HHID 1) and a mobile network ID (HHID 2) is maintained and stored at the portable playback device. In an embodiment, if a portable playback device can see devices from both systems (e.g., it detects a network from each of HHID 1 and HHID 2), then the device will join by default, for example, to the Home network system with system ID HHID 1. However, if a portable playback device can only recognize one system, then the device will join that system. In an embodiment, a controller, used to control both networks, is preferably updated to indicate what network the portable playback device is currently joined.
As described above, in some embodiments, when a user configures the playback network, such as to configure zone groups, establish a stereo pairing, establish a subwoofer pairing, and so on, a state variable that describes the system configuration is updated to reflect the change in configuration. The state variable may then be stored at one or more of the playback devices and retrieved by a controller when needed.
In some embodiments, when a portable playback device is part of the home network, the controller can display system and playback information of the home network to the user. When, the portable playback device is not part of the home network, the controller may likewise display the system and playback information of the home network to the user.
In some embodiments, the controller interface adapts depending on whether it is connected to the home network or whether the controller (like the portable playback device) is outside of the home network. For example, when the controller is connected to the home playback network, it may display all of the usual information associated with the home playback network like zones and zone groups. However, when the controller is away from the home playback network, but in communication with the portable playback device, it may alter its screen to show less information about the home network and more information about the portable playback device or mobile music zone (if additional portable playback devices are paired). For example, the controller might show a "mobile zone" or some other identifier. A user can interact with the mobile zone like he or she would with a zone at home.
In some embodiments, information about the home playback network is also displayed on the controller if the controller and/or portable playback device is connected to the cloud. For example, in an embodiment, the portable playback device may connect to the home playback network via the cloud and therefore become an extension to the home network. As such, the information about the home network may also be displayed on the controller interface. In certain embodiments, a user may manage the home network from afar via the cloud.
D. Content Access
In some embodiments, audio content can come from the controller (e.g., a smart phone or some other computing device), another computing device with "Play to" the portable playback device functionality, a USB drive, a local storage drive, and the cloud. The cloud generally includes the Internet and any cloud based storage or service solutions.
In some embodiments, the controller, using account credentials, can get audio from the cloud and direct the content to the portable playback device.
In some embodiments, the portable playback device maintains account credentials; either from the home network or a guest credential, to retrieve audio content from the cloud.
In some embodiments, a portable playback device uses wireless communications to communicate with a controller and/or a network. For example, the portable playback device might contain similar wireless capabilities as a zone player, in addition to cellular capability. Such a portable playback device might implement 4G mobile communication standards or later, for example, to retrieve audio content. A portable playback device might also utilize the Bluetooth standards to get audio from the controller or computing device.
E. Example Network Illustrations
FIG. 9 illustrates an example playback network 900 configuration including a mobile device 910 configured to interface with one or more playback devices 930-931 via a network 920. The mobile device 910 can connect with an existing playback network 920 and/or can establish a mobile playback network to provide content to and/or retrieve content from one or more playback devices 930-931. The mobile device 910 is connected to the network 920 and allows the mobile device 910 to facilitate playback of content (e.g., audio content, such as music) via one or more of the playback devices 930-931 and/or the mobile device 910 forming part of the network. Through a connection to the network 920, the mobile device 910 may be used to control one or more playback devices 930-931, for example. Through a connection to the network 920, one or more playback devices 930-931 may be used to control the mobile device 910, for example. Through a connection to the network 920 facilitated by the mobile device 910, one or both of the mobile device 910 and one or more playback devices 930-931 may be used to browse content available for playback, for example.
F. Example Method Illustrations
FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram for an example method 1000 for zone configuration and content playback via a portable playback device.
At block 1005, the portable playback device looks for an available playback network. For example, a portable zone player looks for a household or other building playback network to which it can connect. At block 1010, if the portable playback device is within a playback network (e.g., a household playback network), the portable playback device connects to the existing playback network.
At block 1015, control of content playback over the playback network is facilitated via the portable playback device. For example, the portable playback device may be synchronized with one or more playback devices also connected to the playback network. For example, the portable playback device may synchronize with one or more zone players on a household network such that the one or more zone players may playback content at the command of the portable playback device.
At block 1020, playback of content is facilitated via the playback network. For example, content available on or via the portable playback device is browsed. Content may be browsed using the portable playback device, a separate controller, one or more other playback devices connected to the playback network, and so on. Content may be selected for playback. For example, a song may be selected from a menu at or available from the docked portable playback device. Selected content is then played back through one or more playback devices connected to the network. For example, a selected song from the portable playback device is played via one or more zone players on the playback network.
At block 1025, the portable playback device is removed from the playback network. For example, the portable playback device is carried out of range of the household playback network by a user. At block 1030, absence of a playback network is detected by the portable playback device. For example, the portable playback device detects when it can no longer communicate via the playback network to which it was connected.
At block 1035, the portable playback device searches for a mobile network. For example, after being disconnected or otherwise removed from the previous playback network, the portable playback device searches for another network to which it can connect. If the portable device detects an available network, the device attempts a connection, as described above.
At block 1040, however, if no available playback network is detected, a mobile network is established by the portable playback device. For example, the portable playback device establishes a mobile zone for playback of content via the portable playback device. The portable playback device can connect to a cloud-based storage, a streaming service, access data stored locally on the portable playback device and/or other user device such as a smart phone and so on, to provide content for playback over the mobile network/zone.
At block 1045, playback and control of content are facilitated via the mobile network by the portable playback device. For example, content, playlist, volume, timing, sound shaping, and so on may be configured and facilitated for the mobile zone via the portable playback device. Another playback device can connect to the mobile zone to provide content, receive content for playback, and so on. A dynamic mobile zone group configuration may be facilitated via the mobile, ad hoc network enabled by the portable playback device, for example.
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