IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,631,017
Granted Patent B2
US 10,631,017 · App. 16/215,013 · Granted Apr 21, 2020

Grouping in a system with multiple media playback protocols

Inventors: Arthur L. Coburn, IV (Lexington, MA); Jeffrey Torgerson (Seattle, WA); Robert A. Lambourne (Santa Barbara, CA)
Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
H04N21/21805G06F3/165H04L12/1822H04L12/2803H04L65/4069H04L65/4092H04L69/08H04L69/18H04N21/2181H04N21/2381H04N21/2668H04N21/4307H04N21/4363H04N21/43615H04N21/8113H04L65/1069H04L65/608H04L67/16H04L2012/2849H04R27/00H04R2227/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,631,017
App. No.
16/215,013
Granted
Apr 21, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A network media system forms a group comprising a first networked device and a second networked device using a first media playback protocol. The network media system includes the first networked device and the second networked device. The network media system determines a group coordinator for the group using the first media playback protocol. The network media system transmits, to a media source device, a group network identity using a second media playback protocol. The media source device and one of the first networked device and the second networked device are configured to use the first media playback protocol and the second media playback protocol. The first media playback protocol and the second media playback protocol are incompatible.

Claims (57)

1. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a first playback device to perform a method comprising:

receiving, via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting;

receiving, via the first media playback protocol, a command to form a group with a second playback device for synchronous media playback, wherein the first playback device is configured to use the first media playback protocol;

forming, via the first media playback protocol, the group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device;

receiving, via a second media playback protocol from a media source device, a first media stream comprising audio data for playback, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to use the second media playback protocol, wherein the first media playback protocol and the second media playback protocol are incompatible;

determining that the particular playback setting is enabled and that the group comprises the first playback device and the second playback device; and

based on determining that the particular playback setting is enabled and that the group comprises the first playback device and the second playback device, (i) generating a second media stream based on the received first media stream, wherein the second media stream comprises information for synchronous playback with the first playback device, and (ii) transmitting, to the second playback device, the second media stream using the second media playback protocol.

2. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein receiving, via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting comprises:

in response to receiving the command to enable the particular playback setting, configuring the first playback device to transmit a media stream received via the second media playback protocol using the first media playback protocol, wherein the media stream is received via the first media playback protocol.

3. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, to the media source device via the second media playback protocol, a group network identity comprising the first playback device and the second playback device.

4. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein receiving, via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting comprises:

receiving, from the media source device via the first media playback protocol, the command to enable the particular playback setting.

5. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein receiving, via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting comprises:

receiving, from a computing device via the first media playback protocol, the command to enable the particular playback setting, wherein the computing device is configured to use the first media playback protocol.

6. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein receiving, via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting comprises:

receiving, from a computing device via the first media playback protocol, the command to enable the particular playback setting, wherein the computing device is configured to use the first media playback protocol.

7. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein receiving, via the first media playback protocol, a command to form a group with a second playback device for synchronous media playback comprises:

receiving, from the media source device via the first media playback protocol, the command to form the group with the second playback device for synchronous media playback.

8. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , further comprising:

causing the second playback device to play back the second media stream in synchrony with the first playback device using the second media playback protocol.

9. A first playback device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting;

receiving, via the first media playback protocol, a command to form a group with a second playback device for synchronous media playback, wherein the first playback device is configured to use the first media playback protocol;

forming, via the first media playback protocol, the group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device;

receiving, via a second media playback protocol from a media source device, a first media stream comprising audio data for playback, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to use the second media playback protocol, wherein the first media playback protocol and the second media playback protocol are incompatible;

determining that the particular playback setting is enabled and that the group comprises the first playback device and the second playback device; and

based on determining that the particular playback setting is enabled and that the group comprises the first playback device and the second playback device, (i) generating a second media stream based on the received first media stream, wherein the second media stream comprises information for synchronous playback with the first playback device, and (ii) transmitting, to the second playback device, the second media stream using the second media playback protocol.

10. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein receiving, via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting comprises:

in response to receiving the command to enable the particular playback setting, configuring the first playback device to transmit a media stream received via the second media playback protocol using the first media playback protocol, wherein the media stream is received via the first media playback protocol.

11. The first playback device of claim 9 , further comprising:

transmitting, to the media source device via the second media playback protocol, a group network identity comprising the first playback device and the second playback device.

12. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein receiving, via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting comprises:

receiving, from the media source device via the first media playback protocol, the command to enable the particular playback setting.

13. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein receiving, via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting comprises:

receiving, from a computing device via the first media playback protocol, the command to enable the particular playback setting, wherein the computing device is configured to use the first media playback protocol.

14. The first playback device of claim 9 , further comprising:

causing the second playback device to play back the second media stream in synchrony with the first playback device using the second media playback protocol.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first playback device via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting;

receiving, by the first playback device via the first media playback protocol, a command to form a group with a second playback device for synchronous media playback, wherein the first playback device is configured to use the first media playback protocol;

forming, by the first playback device via the first media playback protocol, the group comprising the first playback device and the second playback device;

receiving, by the first playback device via a second media playback protocol from a media source device, a first media stream comprising audio data for playback, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device are configured to use the second media playback protocol, wherein the first media playback protocol and the second media playback protocol are incompatible;

determining, by the first playback device, that the particular playback setting is enabled and that the group comprises the first playback device and the second playback device; and

based on determining that the particular playback setting is enabled and that the group comprises the first playback device and the second playback device, (i) generating a second media stream based on the received first media stream, wherein the second media stream comprises information for synchronous playback with the first playback device, and (ii) transmitting, by the first playback device to the second playback device, the audio data in a second media stream using the second media playback protocol.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving, by the first playback device via the first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting comprises:

in response to receiving the command to enable the particular playback setting, configuring the first playback device to transmit a media stream received via the second media playback protocol using the first media playback protocol, wherein the media stream is received via the first media playback protocol.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the first playback device to the media source device via the second media playback protocol, a group network identity comprising the first playback device and the second playback device.

18. The method claim 15 , wherein receiving, via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting comprises:

receiving, by the first playback device from the media source device via the first media playback protocol, the command to enable the particular playback setting.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving, by the first playback device via a first media playback protocol, a command to enable a particular playback setting comprises:

receiving, by the first playback device from a computing device via the first media playback protocol, the command to enable the particular playback setting, wherein the computing device is configured to use the first media playback protocol.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

causing the second playback device to play back the second media stream in synchrony with the first playback device using the second media playback protocol.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2021
From: SONOS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058123/0206 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2018
From: COBURN, ARTHUR L., IV; TORGERSON, JEFFREY; LAMBOURNE, ROBERT A.
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047730/0634 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15714950 · Sep 25, 2017
Provisional Application 62554566 · Sep 5, 2017
Related Publication 20190109929A1 · Apr 11, 2019