Granted Patent B2

US 12,461,708 · App. 18/247,620 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Inventor: Kurt Thomas Soto (Ventura, CA)

Assignee: Sonos, Inc.

G06F3/165H04R29/004H04R2430/01

Abstract

Claims (61)

1 . A playback device comprising:

at least one audio transducer;

at least one processor; and

data storage having instructions stored thereon that are executed by the at least one processor to cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving input representing one or more environmental characteristics of a real-world environment;

determining at least one change in the one or more environmental characteristics based on the input, wherein the one or more environmental characteristics are representative of at least one of a proximity of at least one person to the playback device and a detected sound;

when the determining step determines a proximity of a single person to the playback device and detects a sound;

increasing an output volume of the playback device; and

reducing a keyword detection threshold for the playback device; and

when the determining step determines a proximity of at least two people to the playback device and detects a sound:

decreasing the output volume of the playback device; and

increasing the keyword detection threshold for the playback device.

2 . The playback device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one microphone, wherein:

the input is an input sound data stream from the at least one microphone; and

the determining a change in the one or more environmental characteristics comprises analyzing the input sound data stream.

3 . The playback device of claim 2 , wherein the operations further comprise:

when the determining a change in the one or more environmental characteristics comprises classifying the input sound data stream as background speech:

decreasing the output volume of the playback device.

4 . The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the playback device is one of a plurality of playback devices of a playback system, the playback device further comprising, a wireless network interface, wherein:

the input comprises wireless signal strength data of wireless signals received via the network interface from at least one other of the plurality of playback devices of the playback system; and

the determining a change in the one or more environmental characteristics comprises determining a proximity of at least one person based on the wireless signal strength data.

5 . The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the playback device is part of a playback system comprising a plurality of other playback devices, and wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a volume adjustment command to at least one of the plurality of other playback devices.

6 . A method performed by a playback device, comprising:

receiving a first input representing one or more first environmental characteristics of a real-world environment;

determining at least one change in the one or more first environmental characteristics, wherein the one or more first environmental characteristics are representative of a proximity a single person to a playback device and a detected sound; and

based on determining the proximity of the single person to the playback device and detecting the sound:

adjusting an output volume of the playback device; and

reducing a keyword detection threshold for the playback device;

receiving a second input representing one or more second environmental characteristics of a real-world environment;

determining at least one change in the one or more second environmental characteristics, wherein the one or more second environmental characteristics are representative of a proximity of at least two people to the playback device and a detected sound; and

based on determining the proximity of at least two people to the playback device and detecting the sound:

decreasing the output volume of the playback device; and

increasing the keyword detection threshold for the playback device.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the first input is an input sound data stream from at least one microphone of the playback device; and

the determining a change in the one or more environmental characteristics comprises analyzing the input sound data stream.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the determining a change in the one or more second environmental characteristics comprises classifying the input sound data stream as background speech.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the playback device is one of a plurality of playback devices of a playback system, wherein:

the first input comprises wireless signal strength data of wireless signals received via a network interface of the playback device from at least one other of the plurality of playback devices of the playback system; and

the determining a change in the one or more first environmental characteristics comprises determining a proximity of at least one person based on the wireless signal strength data.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the playback device is part of a playback system comprising a plurality of other playback devices, and wherein method further comprises transmitting a volume adjustment command to at least one of the plurality of other playback devices.

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

receiving an input representing one or more environmental characteristics of a real-world environment;

determining at least one change in the one or more environmental characteristics, wherein the one or more environmental characteristics are representative of at least one of a proximity of at least one person to a playback device and a detected sound; and

when the determining step determines a proximity of a single person to the playback device and detects a sound:

increasing an output volume of the playback device; and

reducing a keyword detection threshold for the playback device; and

when the determining step determines a proximity of at least two people to the playback device and detects a sound:

decreasing an output volume of the playback device; and

increasing a keyword detection threshold for the playback device.

12 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein:

the input is an input sound data stream from at least one microphone of the playback device; and

the determining a change in the one or more environmental characteristics comprises analyzing the input sound data stream.

13 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein:

the playback device is one of a plurality of playback devices of a playback system;

the input comprises wireless signal strength data of wireless signals received via a network interface of the playback device from at least one other of the plurality of playback devices of the playback system; and

the determining a change in the one or more environmental characteristics comprises determining a proximity of at least one person based on the wireless signal strength data.

14 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the playback device is part of a playback system comprising a plurality of other playback devices, and wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a volume adjustment command to at least one of the plurality of other playback devices.

15 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise, when the determining a change in the one or more environmental characteristics comprises classifying the input sound data stream as background speech:

decreasing the output volume of the playback device.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (72)