IP Library Granted Patent US 12,636,397
Granted Patent B2
US 12,636,397 · App. 18/096,423 · Granted May 26, 2026

Scent diffusing system

Inventor: Adam Kumpf (Delaware, OH)
Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
A61L9/035A61L2209/11A61L2209/133
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,636,397
App. No.
18/096,423
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example techniques described herein involve a scent diffusing system. The system can include scent diffusing device(s), playback device(s), and controller device(s). The controller device may display on a graphical interface a representation of a first scent diffusing device and receive one or more inputs selecting the representation of the first scent diffusing device and a particular scent for the first scent diffusing device to release. At least one setting for the particular scent may be displayed which may include a scent release time. A selection of the at least one setting may be received, and the controller device may send a message to the first scent diffusing device including information indicating the scent to release and the selected at least one setting. The controller device can cause the first scent diffusing device to release the particular scent at the release time.

Claims (157)

1 . A controller device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

receive an input to initiate creation of a scent scene for activation by a combined scent-diffusing and media-playback system;

display one or more representations of scent diffusing devices;

receive input, via selection of a first representation of the one or more representations of scent diffusing devices, that indicates a selection of a first scent diffusing device for the scent scene;

receive input selecting a particular scent for the first scent diffusing device to release for the scent scene;

display one or more representations of playback devices;

receive input, via selection of a first representation of the one or more representations of playback devices, that indicates a selection of a first playback device for the scent scene;

receive input selecting particular media content for the first playback device to play back for the scent scene;

cause information defining the scent scene to be stored in a computing system remote to the controller device;

receive input selecting the scent scene for activation; and

in response to receiving the input selecting the scent scene for activation:

based on the information defining the scent scene, send, to the first scent diffusing device, a message comprising information indicating the particular scent to release;

cause the first scent diffusing device to release the particular scent;

based on the information defining the scent scene, send, to the first playback device, a message comprising information indicating the particular media content; and

cause the first playback device to play back the particular media content.

2 . The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

receive, via the first scent diffusing device, canister information indicating one or more canisters containing scented oil for diffusion, the canister information comprising a name for each canister;

receive a selection of a scent recipe creation option;

display the name for each of the one or more canisters;

receive one or more inputs selecting a first canister and a second canister of the one or more canisters to include in a recipe for the particular scent; and

cause the recipe to be stored in a computing system remote to the controller device.

3 . The controller device of claim 1 ,

wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to display one or more representations of scent diffusing devices comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

display representations of the first scent diffusing device and a second scent diffusing device; and

wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

receive input selecting the second scent diffusing device for the scent scene;

obtain information indicating scents available for diffusion;

display a name of the particular scent and a name of a second scent;

receive input indicating a name for the scent scene; and

associate the first scent diffusing device, the second scent diffusing device, and the particular scent.

4 . The controller device of claim 3 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

in response to receiving the input selecting the scent scene:

based on the information defining the scent scene, send, to the second scent diffusing device, the message comprising information indicating the particular scent to release; and

wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to cause the first scent diffusing device to release the particular scent comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

cause the first scent diffusing device and the second scent diffusing device to concurrently release the particular scent.

5 . The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

receive a selection of an option to create a set of routines, the set comprising a first routine and a second routine;

display representations of the first scent diffusing device and a second scent diffusing device;

receive one or more first inputs indicating the first scent diffusing device and the second scent diffusing device as one or more diffusing devices for the first routine;

obtain information identifying scents available for diffusion;

based on the obtained information, display a name of the particular scent and a name of the second scent;

receive a selection of the particular scent as a scent for the first routine;

associate the first scent diffusing device, the second scent diffusing device, and the particular scent with the first routine;

receive an input specifying an execution time for the first routine; and

store the first routine in association with the set of routines.

6 . The controller device of claim 5 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

receive one or more second inputs indicating the first scent diffusing device and the second scent diffusing device as one or more diffusing devices for the second routine;

based on the obtained information, display a name of the particular scent and a name of the second scent;

receive a selection of the second scent as a scent for the second routine;

associate the first scent diffusing device, the second scent diffusing device, and the second scent with the second routine;

receive an input specifying an execution time for the second routine; and

store the second routine in association with the set of routines.

7 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by at least one processor such that a controller device is configured to:

receive an input to initiate creation of a scent scene for activation by a combined scent-diffusing and media-playback system;

display-one or more representations of scent diffusing devices;

receive input, via selection of a first representation of the one or more representations of scent diffusing devices, that indicates a selection of a first scent diffusing device for the scent scene;

receive input selecting a particular scent for the first scent diffusing device to release for the scent scene;

display one or more representations of playback devices;

receive input, via selection of a first representation of the one or more representations of playback devices, that indicates a selection of a first playback device for the scent scene;

receive input selecting particular media content for the first playback device to play back for the scent scene;

cause information defining the scent scene to be stored in a computing system remote to the controller device;

receive input selecting the scent scene for activation; and

in response to receiving the input selecting the scent scene for activation:

based on the information defining the scent scene, send, to the first scent diffusing device, a message comprising information indicating the particular scent to release;

cause the first scent diffusing device to release the particular scent;

based on the information defining the scent scene, send, to the first playback device, a message comprising information indicating the particular media content; and

cause the first playback device to play back the particular media content.

8 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

receive, via the first scent diffusing device, canister information indicating one or more canisters containing scented oil for diffusion, the canister information comprising a name for each canister;

receive a selection of a scent recipe creation option;

display the name for each of the one or more canisters;

receive one or more inputs selecting a first canister and a second canister of the one or more canisters to include in a recipe for the particular scent; and

cause the recipe to be stored in a computing system remote to the controller device.

9 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 ,

wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to display one or more representations of scent diffusing devices comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

display representations of the first scent diffusing device and a second scent diffusing device; and

wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

receive input selecting the second scent diffusing device for the scent scene;

obtain information indicating scents available for diffusion;

display a name of the particular scent and a name of a second scent;

receive input indicating a name for the scent scene; and

associate the first scent diffusing device, the second scent diffusing device, and the particular scent.

10 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

in response to receiving the input selecting the scent scene:

based on the information defining the scent scene, send, to the second scent diffusing device, the message comprising information indicating the particular scent to release; and

wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to cause the first scent diffusing device to release the particular scent comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

cause the first scent diffusing device and the second scent diffusing device to concurrently release the particular scent.

11 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

receive a selection of an option to create a set of routines, the set comprising a first routine and a second routine;

display representations of the first scent diffusing device and a second scent diffusing device;

receive one or more first inputs indicating the first scent diffusing device and the second scent diffusing device as one or more diffusing devices for the first routine;

obtain information identifying scents available for diffusion;

based on the obtained information, display a name of the particular scent and a name of the second scent;

receive a selection of the particular scent as a scent for the first routine;

associate the first scent diffusing device, the second scent diffusing device, and the particular scent with the first routine;

receive an input specifying an execution time for the first routine; and

store the first routine in association with the set of routines.

12 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

receive one or more second inputs indicating the first scent diffusing device and the second scent diffusing device as one or more diffusing devices for the second routine;

based on the obtained information, display a name of the particular scent and a name of the second scent;

receive a selection of the second scent as a scent for the second routine;

associate the first scent diffusing device, the second scent diffusing device, and the second scent with the second routine;

receive an input specifying an execution time for the second routine; and

store the second routine in association with the set of routines.

13 . A method carried out by a controller device, the method comprising:

receiving an input to initiate creation of a scent scene for activation by a combined scent-diffusing and media-playback system;

displaying one or more representations of scent diffusing devices;

receiving input, via selection of a first representation of the one or more representations of scent diffusing devices, that indicates a selection of a first scent diffusing device for the scent scene;

receiving input selecting a particular scent for the first scent diffusing device to release for the scent scene;

displaying one or more representations of playback devices;

receiving input, via selection of a first representation of the one or more representations of playback devices, that indicates a selection of a first playback device for the scent scene;

receiving input selecting particular media content for the first playback device to play back for the scent scene;

causing information defining the scent scene to be stored in a computing system remote to the controller device;

receiving input selecting the scent scene for activation; and

in response to receiving the input selecting the scent scene for activation:

based on the information defining the scent scene, sending, to the first scent diffusing device, a message comprising information indicating the particular scent to release;

causing the first scent diffusing device to release the particular scent;

based on the information defining the scent scene, sending, to the first playback device, a message comprising information indicating the particular media content; and

causing the first playback device to play back the particular media content.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving, via the first scent diffusing device, canister information indicating one or more canisters containing scented oil for diffusion, the canister information comprising a name for each canister;

receiving a selection of a scent recipe creation option;

displaying the name for each of the one or more canisters;

receiving one or more inputs selecting a first canister and a second canister of the one or more canisters to include in a recipe for the particular scent; and

causing the recipe to be stored in a computing system remote to the controller device.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein displaying one or more representations of scent diffusing devices comprises displaying representations of the first scent diffusing device and a second scent diffusing device,

the method further comprising:

receiving input selecting the second scent diffusing device for the scent scene;

obtaining information indicating scents available for diffusion;

displaying a name of the particular scent and a name of a second scent;

receiving input indicating a name for the scent scene; and

associating the first scent diffusing device, the second scent diffusing device, and the particular scent.

16 . The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

display at least one setting for the particular scent; and

receive input selecting a first setting of the at least one setting for the scent scene,

wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to cause the information defining the scent scene to be stored in the computing system remote to the controller device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

cause the information defining the scent scene to be stored in the computing system remote to the controller device, the information comprising the first setting,

wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to send, to the first scent diffusing device, a message comprising information indicating the particular scent to release comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

based on the information defining the scent scene, send, to the first scent diffusing device, a message comprising information indicating the particular scent to release and the first setting, and

wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to cause the first scent diffusing device to release the particular scent comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

cause the first scent diffusing device to release the particular scent in accordance with the first setting.

17 . The controller device of claim 16 , wherein the at least one setting comprises at least one of a scent release time, a duration of scent release, or a scent strength setting.

18 . The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

in response to receiving the input selecting the scent scene for activation:

retrieve the information defining the scent scene from the computing system remote to the controller device.

19 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is further configured to:

display at least one setting for the particular scent; and

receive input selecting a first setting of the at least one setting for the scent scene,

wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to cause the information defining the scent scene to be stored in the computing system remote to the controller device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

cause the information defining the scent scene to be stored in the computing system remote to the controller device, the information comprising the first setting,

wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to send, to the first scent diffusing device, a message comprising information indicating the particular scent to release comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

based on the information defining the scent scene, send, to the first scent diffusing device, a message comprising information indicating the particular scent to release and the first setting, and

wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to cause the first scent diffusing device to release the particular scent comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the controller device is configured to:

cause the first scent diffusing device to release the particular scent in accordance with the first setting.

20 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the at least one setting comprises at least one of a scent release time, a duration of scent release, or a scent strength setting.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2026
From: SONOS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074533/0615 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2024
From: KUMPF, ADAM
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066812/0313 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63298887 · Jan 12, 2022
Related Publication 20230218795A1 · Jul 13, 2023
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