Granted Patent B2

US 12,574,697 · App. 18/308,065 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Inventors: Jonathon Reilly (Cambridge, MA); Niels Van Erven (Santa Barbara, CA)

Assignee: Sonos, Inc.

H04S7/303G01S3/023G01S3/80G06F3/165H04L41/22H04L67/1042H04R3/04H04R27/00H04R29/001H04R29/008H04S7/302H04R2227/005H04R2430/01H04S7/301

Abstract

Claims (68)

1 . A system comprising a first network device and a second network device, the first network device comprising:

a first network interface;

an audio transducer;

a radio frequency (RF) sensor;

at least one first processor;

a first housing carrying the first network interface, the audio transducer, the RF sensor, and the at least one first processor; and

at least one first non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the first network device is configured to perform first functions comprising:

receiving, via the RF sensor, one or more RF signals;

detecting, based on the received one or more RF signals, an indication of user movement;

adjusting, based on the detected indication of user movement, a sound field characteristic of the first network device; and

causing first data corresponding to the detected indication of user movement to be displayed via the second network device, wherein causing the first data to be displayed via the second network device comprises transmitting, via the first network interface, a signal associated with the first data, and

the second network device comprising:

a graphical display;

a second network interface;

at least one second processor;

a second housing carrying the graphical display, the second network interface, and the at least one second processor; and

at least one second non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that are executable by the at least one second processor such that the second network device is configured to perform second functions comprising:

receiving, via the second network interface, the signal associated with the first data; and

displaying, via the graphical display, the first data corresponding to the detected indication of user movement to be displayed.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the sound field characteristic based on the detected indication of user movement comprises ceasing audio output via the audio transducer.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the sound field characteristic based on the detected indication of user movement comprises decreasing a volume level of output via the audio transducer.

4 . The system of claim 1 , where adjusting the sound field characteristic based on the detected indication of user movement comprises causing, via the audio transducer, playback of audio content.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the audio content comprises an alarm.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the audio content comprises one or more audio files stored on the first network device.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first network device comprises a light-sensitive sensor, and wherein the first functions further comprise:

detecting, via the light-sensitive sensor, one or more signals indicating a change in luminance, wherein detecting the indication of user movement comprises detecting the indication of user movement based on the detected change in luminance.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first network device comprises a heat-sensitive sensor, and wherein the first functions further comprise:

detecting, via the heat-sensitive sensor, one or more signals indicating a change in heat characteristics, wherein detecting the indication of user movement comprises detecting the indication of user movement based on the detected change in heat characteristics.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first network device further comprises a light source.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprises a third network device, wherein the third network device comprises:

a third network interface;

one or more microphones;

at least one third processor; and

at least one third non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that are executable by the at least one third processor such that the third network device is configured to perform third functions comprising:

detect, via the one or more microphones, an acoustic signal; and

send, to a fourth network device via the third network interface over a digital data network, data corresponding to the detected acoustic signal, wherein the fourth network device causes the first network device to configure a preset alarm.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first network device further comprises a camera, and wherein the first functions further comprise:

receiving, via the camera, one or more image signals.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein detecting the indication of user movement comprises detecting the indication of the user movement based on the received one or more RF signals and the received one or more image signals.

13 . A first network device comprising:

an audio transducer;

a radio frequency (RF) sensor;

a network interface;

at least one processor; and

a first housing carrying the network interface, the audio transducer, the RF sensor, and the at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first network device is configured to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via the RF sensor, one or more RF signals;

detecting, based on the received one or more RF signals, an indication of user movement;

adjusting, based on the detected indication of user movement, a sound field characteristic of the first network device; and

causing first data corresponding to the detected indication of user movement to be displayed via a second network device, wherein causing the first data to be displayed via the second network device comprises transmitting, via the network interface, a signal associated with the first data, and wherein the second network device comprises a second enclosure.

14 . The first network device of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the sound field characteristic based on the detected indication of user movement comprises ceasing audio output via the audio transducer.

15 . The first network device of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the sound field characteristic based on the detected indication of user movement comprises decreasing a volume level of output via the audio transducer.

16 . The first network device of claim 13 , where adjusting the sound field characteristic based on the detected indication of user movement comprises causing, via the audio transducer, playback of audio content.

17 . The first network device of claim 16 , wherein the audio content comprises an alarm.

18 . The first network device of claim 16 , wherein the audio content comprises one or more audio files stored on the first network device.

19 . The first network device of claim 13 , further comprising a light-sensitive sensor, and wherein the functions further comprise:

detecting, via the light-sensitive sensor, one or more signals indicating a change in luminance, wherein detecting the indication of user movement comprises detecting the indication of user movement based on the detected change in luminance.

20 . The first network device of claim 13 , further comprising a heat-sensitive sensor, and wherein the functions further comprise:

detecting, via the heat-sensitive sensor, one or more signals indicating a change in heat characteristics, wherein detecting the indication of user movement comprises detecting the indication of user movement based on the detected change in heat characteristics.

21 . The first network device of claim 13 , wherein the first network device further comprises a light source.

22 . The first network device of claim 13 , wherein the first network device further comprises a camera, and wherein the first functions further comprise:

receiving, via the camera, one or more image signals.

23 . The first network device of claim 22 , wherein detecting the indication of user movement comprises detecting the indication of the user movement based on the received one or more RF signals and the received one or more image signals.

24 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by at least one processor to configure a first network device to:

receive, via an RF sensor, one or more RF signals, wherein the first network device comprises a first housing carrying the RF sensor, an audio transducer, and a network interface;

detect, based on the received one or more RF signals, an indication of user movement;

adjust, based on the detected indication of user movement, a sound field characteristic of the first network device; and

cause first data corresponding to the detected indication of user movement to be displayed via a second network device, wherein causing the first data to be displayed via the second network device comprises transmitting, via the network interface, a signal associated with the first data, wherein the second network device comprises a second housing.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (10)

References Cited (400)