IP Library Granted Patent US 10,853,023
Granted Patent B2
US 10,853,023 · App. 16/166,518 · Granted Dec 1, 2020

Networked playback device

Inventors: Nicholas A. J. Millington (Santa Barbara, CA); Tom Cullen (Santa Barbara, CA); Robert Reimann (Santa Barbara, CA); Brent Lehman (Santa Barbara, CA)
Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
G06F3/165G06F3/162G11B27/10H02B1/00H03G3/10H03G3/3026H04R3/00H04R3/12H04R27/00H04R2227/005
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,853,023
App. No.
16/166,518
Granted
Dec 1, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example playback device includes a first interface for receiving a first audio signal from a first audio source; a second interface for receiving a second audio signal from a second audio source; and a processor configured to: cause the playback device to playback the second audio signal; determine that the first audio signal is present at the first interface; in response to determining that the first audio signal is present at the first interface, (i) cease playback of the second audio signal being played by the playback device and (ii) cause the playback device to playback the first audio signal; receive an instruction to stop the playback device from playing the first audio signal while the first audio signal is still present at the first interface; and arm the playback device such that a subsequent presence of the first audio signal at the first interface causes the playback device to play the first audio signal.

Claims (36)

1. A playback device comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer readable memory comprising instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the playback device to perform a method comprising:

arming the playback device so that receipt of a first type of media content preempts playback of a second type of media content;

after arming the playback device, playing the second type of media content;

while playing the second type of media content, determining that the playback device is receiving the first type of media content via a line-in connector;

in response to determining that playback device is receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the second type of media content and playing the first type of media content;

determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content; and

in response to determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the first type of media content and rearming the playback device so that subsequent receipt of the first type of media content preempts playback of the second type of media content.

2. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content via at least one of a wireless or a wired network interface.

3. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises playing the second type of media content in synchrony with a second playback device.

4. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content from an Internet-accessible media source.

5. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises transmitting at least a portion of the second type of media content to a third playback device.

6. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein playing the first type of media content comprises transmitting at least a portion of the first type of media content to at least one of a second playback device or a third playback device.

7. The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first type of media content comprises media content received from a video device.

8. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by a playback device, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

arming the playback device so that receipt of a first type of media content preempts playback of a second type of media content;

after arming the playback device, playing the second type of media content;

while playing the second type of media content, determining that the playback device is receiving the first type of media content via a line-in connector;

in response to determining that playback device is receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the second type of media content and playing the first type of media content;

determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content; and

in response to determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the first type of media content and rearming the playback device so that subsequent receipt of the first type of media content preempts playback of the second type of media content.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content via at least one of a wireless or a wired network interface.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content from an Internet-accessible media source.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises transmitting at least a portion of the second type of media content to a third playback device.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein playing the first type of media content comprises transmitting at least a portion of the first type of media content to at least one of a second playback device or a third playback device.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first type of media content comprises media content received from a video device.

14. A method performed by a playback device, the method comprising:

arming the playback device so that receipt of a first type of media content preempts playback of a second type of media content; after arming the playback device, playing the second type of media content;

while playing the second type of media content, determining that the playback device is receiving the first type of media content via a line-in connector;

in response to determining that playback device is receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the second type of media content and playing the first type of media content;

determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content; and

in response to determining that the playback device is no longer receiving the first type of media content, ceasing playback of the first type of media content and rearming the playback device so that subsequent receipt of the first type of media content preempts playback of the second type of media content.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content via at least one of a wireless or a wired network interface.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises playing the second type of media content in synchrony with a second playback device.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein playing the second type of media content comprises receiving the second type of media content from an Internet-accessible media source.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2022
From: MILLINGTON, NICHOLAS A.J.; CULLEN, TOM; REIMANN, ROBERT; LEHMAN, BRENT
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061497/0762 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2021
From: SONOS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058123/0206 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15583553 · May 1, 2017
Continuation 14628999 · Feb 23, 2015
Continuation 14561421 · Dec 5, 2014
Continuation 13089167 · Apr 18, 2011
Related Publication 20190121604A1 · Apr 25, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,535,987 US 12,578,919