IP Library Granted Patent US 11,985,376
Granted Patent B2
US 11,985,376 · App. 18/181,727 · Granted May 14, 2024

Playback of generative media content

Inventors: Nicholas D'Amato (Santa Barbara, CA); Dayn Wilberding (Portland, OR); Aurelio Ramos (Jamaica Plain, MA); Daniel Jones (London, GB); Steven Beckhardt (Boston, MA); Gregory McAllister (London, GB)
Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
H04N21/43076H04N21/436
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,985,376
App. No.
18/181,727
Granted
May 14, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Generative media content (e.g., generative audio) can be played back across multiple playback devices concurrently. A coordinator device can receive a multi-channel stream of media content, with at least some channels comprising generative media content. The coordinator device transmits each of the channels to a plurality of playback devices. A first playback device plays back a first subset of the channels according to first playback responsibilities and a second playback device plays back a second subset of the channels according to second playback responsibilities. The first and/or second playback responsibilities can be dynamically modified over time, for example in response to one or more input parameters.

Claims (56)

1. A generative media coordinator device comprising:

a network interface;

one or more processors; and

data storage having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the generative media coordinator device to perform operations comprising:

receiving one or more input parameters;

determining that a first playback device and a second playback device are grouped together for synchronous playback;

based at least in part on the one or more input parameters, generating, via a generative media module of the generative media coordinator device, a first media content stream and a second media content stream differing from the first, wherein the generative media module comprises one or more algorithms that automatically generate novel media output based on inputs that include at least the one or more input parameters;

transmitting, via the network interface, the first media content stream to the first playback device; and

transmitting, via the network interface, the second media content stream to the second playback device such that the first and second media content streams are played back concurrently via the first and second playback devices.

2. The generative media coordinator device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more input parameters comprises one or more of:

physiological sensor data;

networked device sensor data;

environmental data;

playback device capability data;

playback device state; or

user data.

3. The generative media coordinator device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting timing data from the generative media coordinator device to each of the first and second playback devices.

4. The generative media coordinator device of claim 3 , wherein the timing data comprises at least one of: clock data or one or more synchronization signals.

5. The generative media coordinator device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise dynamically modifying the generative media module.

6. The generative media coordinator device of claim 5 , wherein the dynamically modifying is responsive to user input via a controller device.

7. The generative media coordinator device of claim 1 , wherein generating the first and second media content streams comprises accessing a library storing pre-existing media segments, and arranging a selection of pre-existing media segments from the library for playback according to a generative media content model and based at least in part on the one or more input parameters.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, at a coordinator device, one or more input parameters;

determining that a first playback device and a second playback device are grouped together for synchronous playback;

based at least in part on the one or more input parameters, generating, via a generative media module of the coordinator device, a first media content stream and a second media content stream differing from the first, wherein the generative media module comprises one or more algorithms that automatically generate novel media output based on inputs that include at least the one or more input parameters;

transmitting, via the coordinator device, the first media content stream to the first playback device; and

transmitting, via the coordinator device, the second media content stream to the second playback device such that the first and second media content streams are played back concurrently via the first and second playback devices.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more input parameters comprises one or more of:

physiological sensor data;

networked device sensor data;

environmental data;

playback device capability data;

playback device state; or

user data.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising transmitting timing data from the coordinator device to each of the first and second playback devices.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the timing data comprises at least one of: clock data or one or more synchronization signals.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising dynamically modifying the generative media module.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the dynamically modifying is responsive to user input via a controller device.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the first and second media content streams comprises accessing a library storing pre-existing media segments, and arranging a selection of pre-existing media segments from the library for playback according to a generative media content model and based at least in part on the one or more input parameters.

15. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a coordinator device, cause the coordinator device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at the coordinator device, one or more input parameters;

determining that a first playback device and a second playback device are grouped together for synchronous playback;

based at least in part on the one or more input parameters, generating, via a generative media module of the coordinator device, a first media content stream and a second media content stream differing from the first, wherein the generative media module comprises one or more algorithms that automatically generate novel media output based on inputs that include at least the one or more input parameters;

transmitting, via the coordinator device, the first media content stream to the first playback device; and

transmitting, via the coordinator device, the second media content stream to the second playback device such that the first and second media content streams are played back concurrently via the first and second playback devices.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the one or more input parameters comprises one or more of:

physiological sensor data;

networked device sensor data;

environmental data;

playback device capability data;

playback device state; or

user data.

17. The computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting timing data from the coordinator device to each of the first and second playback devices.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 17 , wherein the timing data comprises at least one of: clock data or one or more synchronization signals.

19. The computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise dynamically modifying the generative media module.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 19 , wherein the dynamically modifying is responsive to user input via a controller device.

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 May 22, 2023
From: D'AMATO, NICHOLAS; WILBERDING, DAYN; RAMOS, AURELIO; JONES, DANIEL; BECKHARDT, STEVEN; MCALLISTER, GREGORY
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063719/0672 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation PCTUS2021072454 · Nov 17, 2021
Continuation In Part 17302690 · May 10, 2021
Provisional Application 63261893 · Sep 30, 2021
Provisional Application 63198866 · Nov 18, 2020
Related Publication 20230217059A1 · Jul 6, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,587,722