IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,282,707
Granted Patent B2
US 12,282,707 · App. 18/503,136 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Techniques for extending the lifespan of playback devices

Inventor: John Lynch (Malden, MA)
Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
G06F3/165H04L43/16H04L67/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,282,707
App. No.
18/503,136
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

While operating in a first mode, a computing device transmits, to playback devices of a synchrony group, (i) media content and (ii) respective playback timing information for synchronous playback of the media content. After a first playback device with a different capability than at least one other playback device of the synchrony group has joined the synchrony group, the computing device begins to operate in a second mode for causing one or more of the playback devices of the synchrony group to modify playback of the media content based on a respective playback device capability. While operating in the second mode, the computing device (i) determines a modified sample rate for the first playback device to maintain synchrony of playback of the media content between the playback devices of the synchrony group, and (ii) causes the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate.

Claims (49)

1. A computing device comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

operate in a first mode wherein the computing device is responsible for transmitting, to each playback device of a synchrony group, (i) media content and (ii) respective playback timing information for synchronous playback of the media content between playback devices of the synchrony group;

after a first playback device with a different capability than at least one other playback device of the synchrony group has joined the synchrony group, begin to operate in a second mode wherein the computing device is responsible for causing one or more of the playback devices of the synchrony group to modify playback of the media content based on a respective playback device capability in order to maintain synchrony of playback of the media content between the playback devices of the synchrony group; and

while operating in the second mode, (i) determine a modified sample rate at which the first playback device is to play back the media content to maintain synchrony of playback of the media content between the playback devices of the synchrony group, and (ii) cause the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to (i) communicate with playback devices of a media playback system comprising the playback devices of the synchrony group but (ii) not play back media content in synchrony with the playback devices of the synchrony group.

3. The computing device of claim 2 , wherein the computing device is a remote computing device.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is a playback device of the synchrony group, the computing device further comprising program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

play back media content in synchrony with the playback devices of the synchrony group.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein:

the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to cause the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate further comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

receive, from each playback device of the synchrony group, respective playback rate information indicating a rate of playback of the media content by the playback device; and

based on the respective playback rates, identify a variance between a first playback rate of the first playback device and a second playback rate of a second playback device of the synchrony group, wherein the second playback rate matches a reference playback rate; and

the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to determine the modified sample rate at which the first playback device is to play back the media content comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

determine the modified sample rate of the media content for the first playback device based on the respective playback rate information of the first and second playback devices and the reference playback rate.

6. The computing device of claim 5 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to cause the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

modify the sampling rate of the media content based on the modified sample rate; and

transmit the media content with the modified sample rate to the first playback device.

7. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to cause the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

determine a computational capability of the first playback device; and

cause the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate based on the determined computational capability of the first playback device.

8. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to cause the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

transmit the media content and an indication of the modified sample rate to the first playback device.

9. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the modified sample rate of the media content is not an integer multiple of an initial sample rate of the media content.

10. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the respective playback device capability of the first playback device of the synchrony group indicates that a bandwidth of the first playback device has dropped below a threshold level.

11. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the capability of the first playback device of the synchrony group indicates that a computational capability of the first playback device has dropped below a threshold level.

12. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computing device to:

operate in a first mode wherein the computing device is responsible for transmitting, to each playback device of a synchrony group, (i) media content and (ii) respective playback timing information for synchronous playback of the media content between playback devices of the synchrony group;

after a first playback device with a different capability than at least one other playback device of the synchrony group has joined the synchrony group, begin to operate in a second mode wherein the computing device is responsible for causing one or more of the playback devices of the synchrony group to modify playback of the media content based on a respective playback device capability in order to maintain synchrony of playback of the media content between the playback devices of the synchrony group; and

while operating in the second mode, (i) determine a modified sample rate at which the first playback device is to play back the media content to maintain synchrony of playback of the media content between the playback devices of the synchrony group, and (ii) cause the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate.

13. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the computing device is configured to (i) communicate with playback devices of a media playback system comprising the playback devices of the synchrony group but (ii) not play back media content in synchrony with the playback devices of the synchrony group.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is a remote computing device.

15. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the computing device is a playback device of the synchrony group, and wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing device to:

play back media content in synchrony with the playback devices of the synchrony group.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein:

the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing device to cause the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate further comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing device to:

receive, from each playback device of the synchrony group, respective playback rate information indicating a rate of playback of the media content by the playback device; and

based on the respective playback rates, identify a variance between a first playback rate of the first playback device and a second playback rate of a second playback device of the synchrony group, wherein the second playback rate matches a reference playback rate; and

the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing device to determine the modified sample rate at which the first playback device is to play back the media content comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the computing device to:

determine the modified sample rate of the media content for the first playback device based on the respective playback rate information of the first and second playback devices and the reference playback rate.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the respective playback device capability of the first playback device of the synchrony group indicates that a bandwidth of the first playback device has dropped below a threshold level.

18. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the respective playback device capability of the first playback device of the synchrony group indicates that a computational capability of the first playback device has dropped below a threshold level.

19. A method carried out by a computing device, the method comprising:

operating in a first mode wherein the computing device is responsible for transmitting, to each playback device of a synchrony group, (i) media content and (ii) respective playback timing information for synchronous playback of the media content between playback devices of the synchrony group;

after a first playback device with a different capability than at least one other playback device of the synchrony group has joined the synchrony group, beginning to operate in a second mode wherein the computing device is responsible for causing one or more of the playback devices of the synchrony group to modify playback of the media content based on a respective playback device capability in order to maintain synchrony of playback of the media content between the playback devices of the synchrony group; and

while operating in the second mode, (i) determining a modified sample rate at which the first playback device is to play back the media content to maintain synchrony of playback of the media content between the playback devices of the synchrony group, and (ii) cause the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the computing device is configured to (i) communicate with playback devices of a media playback system comprising the playback device of the synchrony group but (ii) not play back media content in synchrony with the playback devices of the synchrony group.

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 Jan 6, 2025
From: LYNCH, JOHN
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069761/0128 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17471388 · Sep 10, 2021
Provisional Application 63077372 · Sep 11, 2020
Related Publication 20240069853A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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