Immersive audio in a media playback system
Embodiments described herein involve an auxiliary zone contributing audio to a primary zone. In an example implementation, a network media system determines that a first zone in the network media system is playing back a first type of audio content and that a second zone in the network media system is not playing back audio content. While the first zone is playing back the first type of audio content and the second zone is not playing back audio content, the network media system forms a temporarily playback configuration. In the temporary playback configuration, the first zone plays back primary audio content including full frequency range audio content and the second playback device of the second zone plays back auxiliary audio content including low frequency range audio content.
1. A method to be performed by a playback device in a network media system, the method comprising:
receiving, via an audio/video input interface, audio data from an audio/video source for playback, wherein the audio/video input interface of the playback device is (i) configured to receive signals representing audio and video or audio, and (ii) connected to (a) an output port of a display device or (b) an output port of a media player device that outputs audio and video, and wherein a first zone of the network media system comprises the playback device;
based on receiving the audio data from an audio/video source, identifying a second zone in the network media system to operate as an auxiliary zone in a temporary playback configuration, wherein identifying the second zone comprises determining that the second zone is not currently playing back audio;
while playing back the audio data from the audio/video source, forming a first temporary playback configuration with the identified second zone, wherein, in the first temporary playback configuration, the playback device plays back a first portion of the audio data and the identified second zone plays back a second portion of the audio data, wherein the first zone and the identified second zone are each configured to play back audio content individually before forming the first temporary playback configuration;
detecting a change in audio source from the audio/video input interface to a network interface; and
based on detecting the change in audio source, ending the first temporary playback configuration such that the first zone is configured to play back audio content individually of the second zone.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via the network interface from a control device, data representing a set of playback devices that are available to form a temporary playback configuration, wherein identifying the second zone further comprises:
selecting the second zone from the set of playback devices that are available to form a temporary playback configuration.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the second zone further comprises:
determining that one or more particular zones are in audible range of the playback device, and
selecting the second zone from the one or more particular zones that are determined to be in audible range of the playback device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audio data from an audio/video source comprises a multi-channel audio track, wherein the first portion of the audio data comprises a center channel audio track and wherein the second portion of the audio data comprises one or more surround audio tracks.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the audio data comprises a full-range audio content and wherein the second portion of the audio data comprises bass frequency audio content.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the first temporary playback configuration comprises temporality forming a bonded zone that includes playback devices of the first zone and playback devices of the second zone, and wherein ending the temporary playback configuration comprises re-forming the first zone and the second zone based on detecting the change in audio source.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based on receiving audio data from the network interface, identifying a third zone in the network media system to operate as an auxiliary zone in another temporary playback configuration; and
while playing back the audio data from the network interface, forming a second temporary playback configuration with the identified third zone, wherein, in the second temporary playback configuration, the playback device plays back a first portion of the audio data from the network interface and the identified third zone plays back a second portion of the audio data from the network interface, wherein the first zone and the identified third zone are each configured to play back audio content individually before forming the second temporary playback configuration.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
based on the third zone receiving data representing instructions to play back other audio content, ending the second temporary playback configuration.
9. A playback device comprising:
a network interface;
an audio/video input interface;
one or more processors; and
data storage storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
receiving, via the audio/video input interface, audio data from an audio/video source for playback, wherein the audio/video input interface of the playback device is (i) configured to receive signals representing audio and video or audio, and (ii) connected to (a) an output port of a display device or (b) an output port of a media player device that outputs audio and video, and wherein a first zone of a network media system comprises the playback device;
based on receiving the audio data from an audio/video source, identifying a second zone in the network media system to operate as an auxiliary zone in a temporary playback configuration, wherein identifying the second zone comprises determining that the second zone is not currently playing back audio;
while playing back the audio data from the audio/video source, forming a first temporary playback configuration with the identified second zone, wherein, in the first temporary playback configuration, the playback device plays back a first portion of the audio data and the identified second zone plays back a second portion of the audio data, wherein the first zone and the identified second zone are each configured to play back audio content individually before forming the first temporary playback configuration;
detecting a change in audio source from the audio/video input interface to the network interface; and
based on detecting the change in audio source, ending the first temporary playback configuration such that the first zone is configured to play back audio content individually of the second zone.
10. The playback device of claim 9 , wherein the functions further comprise:
receiving, via the network interface from a control device, data representing a set of playback devices that are available to form a temporary playback configuration, wherein identifying the second zone further comprises:
selecting the second zone from the set of playback devices that are available to form a temporary playback configuration.
11. The playback device of claim 9 , wherein identifying the second zone further comprises:
determining that one or more particular zones are in audible range of the playback device, and
selecting the second zone from the one or more particular zones that are determined to be in audible range of the playback device.
12. The playback device of claim 9 , wherein the audio data from an audio/video source comprises a multi-channel audio track, wherein the first portion of the audio data comprises a center channel audio track and wherein the second portion of the audio data comprises one or more surround audio tracks.
13. The playback device of claim 9 , wherein the first portion of the audio data comprises a full-range audio content and wherein the second portion of the audio data comprises bass frequency audio content.
14. The playback device of claim 9 , wherein forming the first temporary playback configuration comprises temporality forming a bonded zone that includes playback devices of the first zone and playback devices of the second zone, and wherein ending the temporary playback configuration comprises re-forming the first zone and the second zone based on detecting the change in audio source.
15. The playback device of claim 9 , wherein the functions further comprise:
based on receiving audio data from the network interface, identifying a third zone in the network media system to operate as an auxiliary zone in another temporary playback configuration; and
while playing back the audio data from the network interface, forming a second temporary playback configuration with the identified third zone, wherein, in the second temporary playback configuration, the playback device plays back a first portion of the audio data from the network interface and the identified third zone plays back a second portion of the audio data from the network interface, wherein the first zone and the identified third zone are each configured to play back audio content individually before forming the second temporary playback configuration.
16. The playback device of claim 15 , wherein the functions further comprise:
based on the third zone receiving data representing instructions to play back other audio content, ending the second temporary playback configuration.
17. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:
receiving, via an audio/video input interface, audio data from an audio/video source for playback, wherein the audio/video input interface of the playback device is (i) configured to receive signals representing audio and video or audio, and (ii) connected to (a) an output port of a display device or (b) an output port of a media player device that outputs audio and video, and wherein a first zone of a network media system comprises the playback device;
based on receiving the audio data from an audio/video source, identifying a second zone in the network media system to operate as an auxiliary zone in a temporary playback configuration, wherein identifying the second zone comprises determining that the second zone is not currently playing back audio;
while playing back the audio data from the audio/video source, forming a first temporary playback configuration with the identified second zone, wherein, in the first temporary playback configuration, the playback device plays back a first portion of the audio data and the identified second zone plays back a second portion of the audio data, wherein the first zone and the identified second zone are each configured to play back audio content individually before forming the first temporary playback configuration;
detecting a change in audio source from the audio/video input interface to a network interface; and
based on detecting the change in audio source, ending the first temporary playback configuration such that the first zone is configured to play back audio content individually of the second zone.
18. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the audio data from an audio/video source comprises a multi-channel audio track, wherein the first portion of the audio data comprises a center channel audio track and wherein the second portion of the audio data comprises one or more surround audio tracks.
19. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the first portion of the audio data comprises a full-range audio content and wherein the second portion of the audio data comprises bass frequency audio content.
20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the functions further comprise:
based on receiving audio data from the network interface, identifying a third zone in the network media system to operate as an auxiliary zone in another temporary playback configuration; and
while playing back the audio data from the network interface, forming a second temporary playback configuration with the identified third zone, wherein, in the second temporary playback configuration, the playback device plays back a first portion of the audio data from the network interface and the identified third zone plays back a second portion of the audio data from the network interface, wherein the first zone and the identified third zone are each configured to play back audio content individually before forming the second temporary playback configuration.