Controlling and manipulating groupings in a multi-zone media system
View Patent ↗In general, techniques of controlling a plurality of multimedia players in groups are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a mechanism is provided to allow a user to group some of the players according to a theme or scene, where each of the players is located in a zone. When the scene is activated, the players in the scene react in a synchronized manner. For example, the players in the scene are all caused to play a multimedia source or music in a playlist, wherein the multimedia source may be located anywhere on a network.
1. In a network comprising a plurality of independent playback devices, a method comprising:
maintaining, by a first independent playback device, a zone configuration, the zone configuration characterizing one or more zone scenes each zone scene identifying a group configuration associated with two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices;
transmitting, by the first independent playback device via a network interface, the zone configuration to a controller device;
receiving, by the first independent playback device via the network interface, an instruction from the controller device to invoke a zone scene of the one or more zone scenes; and
causing, by the first independent playback device, two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices in the network to group in accordance with the received instruction to invoke the zone scene of the one or more zone scenes.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more zone scenes further identify one or more attributes associated with the independent playback devices.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more attributes comprises one or more of (i) a volume level for audio playback for each independent playback device in the one or more zone scenes, (ii) a mute or unmute setting for audio playback, (iii) a selection and play of specific music, (iv) a play mode setting, (v) an equalization setting for audio playback, and (vi) an audio alarm.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the audio alarm attribute includes a duration setting.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the attributes further comprise a name associated with each of the one or more zone scenes.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing, two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices in the network to group in accordance with the invoked zone scene comprises:
causing, by the first independent playback device, one or more independent playback device in a first zone group of a first zone scene to play a first multimedia content from a first multimedia source; and
causing, by the first independent playback device, one or more independent playback device in a second zone group of the first zone scene to play a second multimedia content from a second multimedia source.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing, two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices in the network to group in accordance with the invoked zone scene comprises:
transmitting, by the first independent playback device, the updated zone configuration to the plurality of independent playback devices.
8. A first independent playback device including a processor, the first independent playback device configured to:
maintain a zone configuration, the zone configuration characterizing one or more zone scenes, each zone scene identifying a group configuration associated with two or more of a plurality of independent playback devices;
transmit, via a network interface of the first independent playback device, the zone configuration to a controller device;
receive, via the network interface, an instruction from the controller device to invoke a zone scene of the one or more zone scenes; and
cause two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices in the network to group in accordance with the received instruction to invoke the zone scene of the one or more zone scenes.
9. The first independent playback device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more zone scenes further identify one or more attributes associated with the independent playback devices.
10. The first independent playback device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more attributes comprises one or more of (i) a volume level for audio playback for each independent playback device in the one or more zone scenes, (ii) a mute or unmute setting for audio playback, (iii) a selection and play of specific music, (iv) a play mode setting, (v) an equalization setting for audio playback, and (vi) an audio alarm.
11. The first independent playback device of claim 10 , wherein the audio alarm attribute includes a duration setting.
12. The first independent playback device of claim 10 , wherein the attributes further comprise a name associated with each of the one or more zone scenes.
13. The first independent playback device of claim 9 , wherein the first independent playback device is configured to:
cause one or more independent playback devices in a first zone group of a first zone scene to play a first multimedia content from a first multimedia source; and
cause one or more independent playback devices in a second zone group of the first zone scene to play a second multimedia content from a second multimedia source.
14. The first independent playback device of claim 9 , wherein the first independent playback device is configured to:
transmit an updated zone configuration to the plurality of independent playback devices.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution by a processor, the set of instructions, when executed, implement a first independent playback device configured to:
maintain a zone configuration, the zone configuration characterizing one or more zone scenes each zone scene identifying a group configuration associated with two or more of a plurality of independent playback devices;
transmit, via a network interface of the first independent playback device, the zone configuration to a controller device;
receive, via the network interface of the first independent playback device, an instruction from the controller device to invoke a zone scene of the one or more zone scenes; and
cause two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices in the network to group in accordance with the received instruction to invoke the zone scene of the one or more zone scenes.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more zone scenes further identify one or more attributes associated with the independent playback devices.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the one or more attributes comprises one or more of (i) a volume level for audio playback for each independent playback device in the one or more zone scenes, (ii) a mute or unmute setting for audio playback, (iii) a selection and play of specific music, (iv) a play mode setting, (v) an equalization setting for audio playback, and (vi) an audio alarm.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the audio alarm attribute includes a duration setting.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the attributes further comprise a name associated with each of the one or more zone scenes.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions that cause two or more of the plurality of independent playback devices in the network to group in accordance with the invoked zone scene comprise instructions that when executed:
cause one or more independent playback devices in a first zone group of a first zone scene to play a first multimedia content from a first multimedia source; and
cause one or more independent playback devices in a second zone group of the first zone scene to play a second multimedia content from a second multimedia source.