IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,050,594

Granted Patent B2

US 10,050,594 · App. 15/620,324 · Granted Aug 14, 2018

Playback device group volume control

Inventors: Bob Dizon (Cambridge, MA); Neil Griffiths (Cambridge, MA); Luis R. Vega Zayas (Cambridge, MA)

Assignee: Sonos, Inc.

H03G1/02 H03G3/02 H03G3/3005 H03G3/3089 H04N21/43615 H04N21/4852 H04L12/282 H04N5/44582 H04R2227/005 H04R2420/07

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,050,594
App. No.: 15/620,324
Granted: Aug 14, 2018
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for satellite volume control. An example method includes receiving an input at a playback device to adjust a volume for a plurality of playback devices that are grouped for synchronous playback of audio content, wherein the plurality of playback devices includes the playback device. The method also includes sending a first message over a network from the playback device to a device associated with the plurality of playback devices, the first message including information based on the input, wherein the information is used to adjust the volume of the plurality of playback devices. The method also includes receiving a second message at the playback device over the network, the second message including information for the volume of the playback device, wherein the volume is based on the adjusted volume of the plurality of playback devices.

Claims (57)

1. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a first playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving input indicating a volume adjustment;

in response to receiving the input, determining that the first playback device is in a playback device group comprising the first playback device and a second playback device, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to play back audio synchronously;

based on determining that the first playback device is in the playback device group, determining whether the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device;

if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback; and

if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting a volume of the first playback device based on the input.

2. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein receiving input indicating a volume adjustment comprises:

receiving, from the second playback device, an information packet comprising the input.

3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:

if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device and based on receiving the information packet comprising the input, transmitting, to the second playback device, the information packet.

4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first playback device is configured to be a full-frequency playback device, and wherein the functions further comprise:

joining the playback device group;

based on the first playback device being configured to be the full-frequency playback device, causing the first playback device to be a primary device and the second playback device to be a secondary device.

5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:

if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting respective audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the respective adjusted audio data to the second playback device, a third playback device, and a fourth playback device for playback.

6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:

transmitting volume-adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback.

7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:

transmitting a gain value for audio playback by the second playback device.

8. A first playback device, comprising:

a processor; and

a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving input indicating a volume adjustment;

based on determining that the first playback device is in the playback device group, determining whether the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device;

if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting a volume of the first playback device based on the input.

9. The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein receiving input indicating a volume adjustment comprises:

receiving, from the second playback device, an information packet comprising the input.

10. The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein the functions further comprise:

11. The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein the first playback device is configured to be a full-frequency playback device, and wherein the functions further comprise:

joining the playback device group;

12. The first playback device of claim 11 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:

13. The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:

transmitting volume-adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback.

14. The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:

transmitting a gain value for audio playback by the second playback device.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a first playback device, input indicating a volume adjustment;

based on determining that the first playback device is in the playback device group, determining whether the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device;

if the first playback device is not playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting a volume of the first playback device based on the input.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving input indicating a volume adjustment comprises:

receiving, from the second playback device, an information packet comprising the input.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first playback device is configured to be a full-frequency playback device, and wherein the method further comprises:

joining the playback device group;

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein if the first playback device is playing back audio synchronously with the second playback device, adjusting audio data for playback based on the input and transmitting the adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback comprises:

transmitting volume-adjusted audio data to the second playback device for playback.

Assignments (4)

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2021

From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

To: SONOS, INC.

Reel/Frame 058213/0597 →

SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2021

From: SONOS, INC.

To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

Reel/Frame 058123/0206 →

SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2018

From: SONOS, INC.