Network identification of portable electronic devices while changing power states

1. A method carried out by a system configured to maintain knowledge of a network identity of a network-connected playback device while the network-connected playback device changes power states, the method comprising:

maintaining a power state on a playback device, where the power state is at least one of: active, standby, or sleep;

broadcasting a MAC address associated with the playback device at a first predetermined time interval when the playback device is in the active power state;

broadcasting the MAC address associated with the playback device at a second predetermined time interval when the playback device is in the standby power state;

determining that the playback device is entering the sleep state;

based on determining that the playback device is entering the sleep state, sending state information from the playback device to a central data repository over a network, where the state information comprises the MAC address of the playback device;

ceasing broadcasting the MAC address when the playback device enters the sleep state;

receiving the state information at a waking device from the central data repository;

waking the playback device periodically at predetermined time intervals while in the sleep state to listen for messages addressed to the MAC address of the playback device;

receiving a wake-up message at the playback device from the waking device; and

based on receiving the wake-up message, changing the playback device from the sleep state to the active state.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

reducing power to at least one electrical component of the playback device when the playback device transitions from the active power state to the standby power state; and

increasing power to the at least one electrical component of the playback device when the playback device transitions from the standby power state to the active power state.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the central data repository is provided via a cloud network.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising sending a request for the state information from the waking device to the cloud network, where the request for the state information includes an identifier of the playback device.

5. The method of claim 1 , where the playback device is not connected to an external power source.

6. The method of claim 1 , where the state information includes status of whether the playback device is in a state that cannot receive or respond to a magic frame.

7. The method of claim 1 , where the wake-up message is unicast addressed to the playback device.

8. The method of claim 1 , where the wake-up message is broadcast on a network to which the playback device is connected.

9. The method of claim 1 , where the waking device is another member of a group acting as group controller requesting MAC addresses of all devices in the group.

10. The method of claim 1 , where the second predetermined time interval is longer than the first predetermined time interval.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the state information from the playback device to the central data repository over the network comprises sending the state information from the playback device to the central data repository over the network when the playback device enters the sleep state from standby state.

12. A system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

maintain a power state on a playback device, where the power state is at least one of: active, standby, or sleep;

broadcast a MAC address associated with the playback device at a first predetermined time interval when the playback device is in the active power state;

broadcast the MAC address associated with the playback device at a second predetermined time interval when the playback device is in the standby power state;

determine that the playback device is entering the sleep state;

based on determining that the playback device is entering the sleep state, send state information from the playback device to a central data repository over a network, where the state information comprises the MAC address of the playback device;

cease broadcasting the MAC address when the playback device enters the sleep state;

receive the state information at a waking device from the central data repository;

wake the playback device periodically at predetermined time intervals while in the sleep state to listen for messages addressed to the MAC address of the playback device;

receive a wake-up message at the playback device from the waking device; and

based on receiving the wake-up message, change the playback device from the sleep state to the active state.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising program instructions stored on the at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

reduce power to at least one electrical component of the playback device when the playback device transitions from the active power state to the standby power state; and

increase power to the at least one electrical component of the playback device when the playback device transitions from the standby power state to the active power state.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the central data repository is provided via a cloud network.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising program instructions stored on the at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

send a request for the state information from the waking device to the cloud network, where the request for the state information includes an identifier of the playback device.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the playback device is not connected to an external power source.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the state information includes a status of whether the playback device is in a state that cannot receive or respond to a magic frame.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the wake-up message is unicast addressed to the playback device.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the waking device is another member of a group acting as group controller requesting MAC addresses of all devices in the group.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second predetermined time interval is longer than the first predetermined time interval.