Network microphone devices with automatic do not disturb actuation capabilities

1. A first Networked Microphone Device (NMD) comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the first NMD to perform a method comprising:

while the first NMD is grouped with a second NMD, determining whether a Do Not Disturb (DND) feature should be activated, wherein determining whether a DND feature should be activated comprises at least one of (i) determining that one or more microphones of the first NMD has been deactivated or disconnected from power or (ii) determining that one or more microphones of the second NMD has been deactivated or disconnected from power; and

in response to determining that the DND feature should be activated, activating the DND feature on both the first NMD and the second NMD.

2. The first NMD of claim 1 , wherein determining whether a DND feature should be activated comprises at least one of (i) determining that a hard-kill switch of the first NMD has cut power to the one or more microphones of the first NMD, (ii) determining that a soft-kill switch of the first NMD has deactivated the one or more microphones of the first NMD, (iii) determining that a hard-kill switch of the second NMD has cut power to the one or more microphones of the second NMD, or (iv) determining that a soft-kill switch of the second NMD has deactivated the one or more microphones of the second NMD.

3. The first NMD of claim 1 , wherein determining whether a DND feature should be activated comprises receiving a voice command via one or more microphones of the first NMD to activate the DND feature.

4. The first NMD of claim 1 , wherein determining whether a DND feature should be activated comprises at least one of: (i) detecting whether the first NMD is playing audio content; (ii) detecting whether the first NMD is playing audio content associated with video content; (iii) detecting whether the first NMD is playing audio content from a playlist designated by a user to trigger activation of the DND feature; (iv) detecting whether the first NMD is playing audio content comprising one of an audio book or a podcast; or (v) detecting whether an interactive session between the user and a voice assistant servicer (VAS) via the first NMD is in process.

5. The first NMD of claim 1 , wherein the first NMD and the second NMD are at least one of (i) members of a room group, (ii) members of a zone group, (iii) members of a synchrony group, (iv) a bonded playback device, (v) a stereo pair of playback devices, or (vi) manufactured by different manufacturers.

6. The first NMD of claim 1 , wherein a user is associated with the first NMD, and wherein the method further comprises:

in response to activating the DND feature, notifying the user associated with the first NMD that the DND feature has been activated, wherein notifying the user associated with the first NMD that the DND feature has been activated comprises one or more of (i) sending one or more of a text message, app notification, or email to one or more computing devices associated with the user, (ii) playing an audio announcement via one or more speakers indicating that the DND feature is activated, (iii) activing a flashing light on the NMD, or (iv) causing a video screen associated with the first NMD to display an on-screen message indicating that the DND feature is activated.

7. The first NMD of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

in response to activating the DND feature, sending at least one of (i) a first indication to a first controller application that the DND feature has been activated, or (ii) a second indication to a second controller application that the DND feature has been activated.

8. The first NMD of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

while the DND feature is active, receiving a request to start a communication session from a computing device, wherein the communication session is one of (i) an intercom session, (ii) a communication session comprising one or both of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or video, or (iii) a telephone call;

in response to receiving the request to start the communication session, at least one of (i) notifying the computing device that the DND feature is activated on the first NMD, (ii) notifying the computing device of audio content that the NMD was playing when the NMD received the request to start the communication session, (iii) directing the request to start the communication session to a third NMD, (iv) directing the request to start the communication session to a mobile phone, (v) directing the request to start the communication session to a voice mailbox, (vi) sending an inaudible notification of the request to start the communication session to a user associated with the first NMD, or (vii) logging the request to start the communication session at one or more controller applications associated with the first NMD;

determining that the DND feature should be deactivated;

in response to determining that the DND feature should be deactivated, deactivating the DND feature on both the first NMD and the second NMD and at least one of (i) generating an audible notification of the request to start the communication session, (ii) generating an audible notification that the DND feature is no longer activated, (iii) sending a first indication to a first controller application that the DND feature is no longer activated, or (iv) sending a second indication to a second controller application that the DND feature is no longer activated.

9. The first NMD of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises

while the DND feature is active, receiving a request to start a communication session, wherein the communication session is one of (i) an intercom session, (ii) a communication session comprising one or both of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or video, or (iii) a telephone call;

determining an origin of the request to start the communication session;

in response to receiving the request to start the communication session and determining that the request to start the communication session originated from a first computing device on a Local Area Network (LAN) which the first NMD is also on, generating an audible notification of at least one of (i) the request to start the communication session and (ii) the origin of the request to start the communication session; and

in response to receiving the request to start the communication session and determining that the request to start the communication session originated from a second computing device not on the same LAN as the first NMD, at least one of (i) notifying the second computing device that the DND feature is activated on the first NMD, (ii) notifying the second computing device of audio content that the first NMD was playing when the first NMD received the request to start the communication session, (iii) directing the request to start the communication session to a third NMD, (iv) directing the request to start the communication session to a mobile phone, (v) directing the request to start the communication session to a voice mailbox, (vi) sending an inaudible notification of the request to start the communication session to a user associated with the first NMD, or (vii) logging the request to start the communication session at one or more controller applications associated with the first NMD;

determining that the DND feature should be deactivated;

in response to determining that the DND feature should be deactivated, deactivating the DND feature on both the first NMD and the second NMD and at least one of (i) generating an audible notification of the request to start the communication session, (ii) generating an audible notification that the DND feature is no longer activated, (iii) sending a first indication to a first controller application that the DND feature is no longer activated, or (iv) sending a second indication to a second controller application that the DND feature is no longer activated.

10. The first NMD of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

playing audio content in synchrony with a playback device;

while the DND feature is active on the first NMD and the second NMD, and while the first NMD is playing audio content in synchrony with the playback device at a first volume level, receiving a request to start a communication session, wherein the communication session is one of (i) an intercom session, (ii) a communication session comprising one or both of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or video, or (iii) a telephone call; and

in response to receiving the request, the first NMD (i) ceasing playing the audio content in synchrony with the playback device, (ii) instructing the playback device to continue playing the audio content but at a second volume level that is lower than the first volume level, and (iii) wait to receive a command to accept the request or a command to reject the request;

in response to receiving the command to reject the request, the first NMD (i) instructing the playback device to continue playing the audio content but at the first volume level, and (ii) resuming playing the audio content in synchrony with the playback device at the first volume level;

in response to receiving the command to accept the request, the first NMD starting the communication session; and

after the communication session ends, the first NMD (i) determining audio content that the playback device is playing, (ii) playing the determined audio content in synchrony with the playback device at the first volume level, and (iii) instructing the playback device to set its volume to the first volume level.

11. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a first Networked Microphone Device (NMD) to perform a method comprising:

while the first NMD is grouped with a second NMD, determining whether a Do Not Disturb (DND) feature should be activated, wherein determining whether a DND feature should be activated comprises at least one of (i) determining that one or more microphones of the first NMD has been deactivated or disconnected from power or (ii) determining that one or more microphones of the second NMD has been deactivated or disconnected from power; and

in response to determining that the DND feature should be activated, activating the DND feature on both the first NMD and the second NMD.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein determining whether a DND feature should be activated comprises at least one of (i) determining that a hard-kill switch of the first NMD has cut power to the one or more microphones of the first NMD, (ii) determining that a soft-kill switch of the first NMD has deactivated the one or more microphones of the first NMD, (iii) determining that a hard-kill switch of the second NMD has cut power to the one or more microphones of the second NMD, or (iv) determining that a soft-kill switch of the second NMD has deactivated the one or more microphones of the second NMD.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein determining whether a DND feature should be activated comprises receiving a voice command via one or more microphones to activate the DND feature.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein determining whether a DND feature should be activated comprises at least one of: (i) detecting whether the first NMD is playing audio content; (ii) detecting whether the first NMD is playing audio content associated with video content; (iii) detecting whether the first NMD is playing audio content from a playlist designated by a user to trigger activation of the DND feature; (iv) detecting whether the first NMD is playing audio content comprising one of an audio book or a podcast; or (v) detecting whether an interactive session between the user and a voice assistant servicer (VAS) via the first NMD is in process.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the first NMD and the second NMD are on the same LAN, and wherein the first NMD and second NMD are at least one of (i) members of a room group, (ii) members of a zone group, (iii) members of a synchrony group, (iv) a bonded playback device, (v) a stereo pair of playback devices, or (vi) manufactured by different manufacturers.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein a user is associated with the first NMD, and wherein the method further comprises:

in response to activating the DND feature, notifying the user associated with the first NMD that the DND feature has been activated, wherein notifying the user associated with the first NMD that the DND feature has been activated comprises one or more of (i) sending one or more of a text message, app notification, or email to one or more computing devices associated with the user, (ii) playing an audio announcement via one or more speakers indicating that the DND feature is activated, (iii) activing a flashing light on the first NMD, or (iv) causing a video screen associated with the first NMD to display an on-screen message indicating that the DND feature is activated.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

in response to activating the DND feature, sending at least one of (i) a first indication to a first controller application that the DND feature has been activated, or (ii) a second indication to a second controller application that the DND feature has been activated.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

while the DND feature is active, receiving a request to start a communication session from a computing device, wherein the communication session is one of (i) an intercom session, (ii) a communication session comprising one or both of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or video, or (iii) a telephone call;

in response to receiving the request to start the communication session, at least one of (i) notifying the computing device that the DND feature is activated on the first NMD, (ii) notifying the computing device of audio content that the NMD was playing when the NMD received the request to start the communication session, (iii) directing the request to start the communication session to a third NMD, (iv) directing the request to start the communication session to a mobile phone, (v) directing the request to start the communication session to a voice mailbox, (vi) sending an inaudible notification of the request to start the communication session to a user associated with the first NMD, or (vii) logging the request to start the communication session at one or more controller applications associated with the first NMD;

determining that the DND feature should be deactivated;

in response to determining that the DND feature should be deactivated, deactivating the DND feature on both the first NMD and the second NMD and at least one of (i) generating an audible notification of the request to start the communication session, (ii) generating an audible notification that the DND feature is no longer activated, (iii) sending a first indication to a first controller application that the DND feature is no longer activated, or (iv) sending a second indication to a second controller application that the DND feature is no longer activated.

19. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises

while the DND feature is active, receiving a request to start a communication session, wherein the communication session is one of (i) an intercom session, (ii) a communication session comprising one or both of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or video, or (iii) a telephone call;

determining an origin of the request to start the communication session;

in response to receiving the request to start the communication session and determining that the request to start the communication session originated from a first computing device on a Local Area Network (LAN) which the first NMD is also on, generating an audible notification of at least one of (i) the request to start the communication session and (ii) the origin of the request to start the communication session; and

in response to receiving the request to start the communication session and determining that the request to start the communication session originated from a second computing device not on the same LAN as the first NMD, at least one of (i) notifying the second computing device that the DND feature is activated on the first NMD, (ii) notifying the second computing device of audio content that the NMD was playing when the NMD received the request to start the communication session, (iii) directing the request to start the communication session to a third NMD, (iv) directing the request to a mobile phone, (v) directing the request to start the communication session to a voice mailbox, (vi) sending an inaudible notification of the request to start the communication session to a user associated with the first NMD, or (vii) logging the request to start the communication session at one or more controller applications associated with the first NMD;

determining that the DND feature should be deactivated;

in response to determining that the DND feature should be deactivated, deactivating the DND feature on the first NMD and at least one of (i) generating an audible notification of the request to start the communication session, (ii) generating an audible notification that the DND feature is no longer activated, (iii) sending a first indication to a first controller application that the DND feature is no longer activated, or (iv) sending a second indication to a second controller application that the DND feature is no longer activated.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

playing audio content in synchrony with a playback device;

while the DND feature is active, and while the first NMD is playing audio content in synchrony with the playback device at a first volume level, receiving a request to start a communication session, wherein the communication session is one of (i) an intercom session, (ii) a communication session comprising one or both of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or video, or (iii) a telephone call; and

in response to receiving the request, the first NMD (i) ceasing playing the audio content in synchrony with the playback device, (ii) instructing the playback device to continue playing the audio content but at a second volume level that is lower than the first volume level, and (iii) wait to receive a command to accept the request or a command to reject the request;

in response to receiving the command to reject the request, the first NMD (i) instructing the playback device to continue playing the audio content but at the first volume level, and (ii) resuming playing the audio content in synchrony with the playback device at the first volume level;

in response to receiving the command to accept the request, the first NMD starting the communication session; and

after the communication session ends, the first NMD (i) determining audio content that the playback device is playing, (ii) playing the determined audio content in synchrony with the playback device at the first volume level, and (iii) instructing the playback device to set its volume to the first volume level.