IP Library Granted Patent US 12,593,192
Granted Patent B2
US 12,593,192 · App. 19/029,744 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Media playback based on sensor data

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
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,593,192
App. No.
19/029,744
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example techniques relate to playback based on acoustic signals in a system including a first network device and a second network device. A first network device may detect a presence of a user using a camera and/or infrared sensors. The first network device sends, in response to detecting the presence of the user, a particular signal via the first network interface. The second network device receives data corresponding to the particular signal and plays back an audio output corresponding to the particular signal.

Claims (82)

1 . A media playback system comprising:

a first playback device comprising a network interface and one or more first audio transducers carried in a first housing;

a second playback device comprising one or more second audio transducers carried in a second housing;

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

receive, via the network interface of the first playback device, audio content comprising a first audio portion and a second audio portion;

determine, via a location component of the first playback device, a location of a wearable playback device with respect to the first playback device and the second playback device;

adjust, based on the determined location of the wearable playback device with respect to the first playback device and the second playback device, (i) a first set of one or more parameters associated with the first playback device, and (ii) a second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to adjust the second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

cause, via the network interface, the second playback device to adjust the second set of one or more parameters; and

output a sound field corresponding to the received audio content, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to output the sound field comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

cause, via the network interface, playback of the first audio portion via the one or more first audio transducers of the first playback device according to the adjusted first set of one or more parameters in substantial synchrony with playback of the second audio portion via the one or more second audio transducers of the second playback device according to the adjusted second set of one or more parameters.

2 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable playback device comprises a headphone.

3 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable playback device comprises a control device of the media playback system.

4 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable playback device comprises a display.

5 . The media playback system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

provide, via the display of the wearable playback device, information corresponding to activity of at least one of: the first playback device and the second playback device.

6 . The media playback system of claim 3 , wherein the wearable playback device comprises an input interface.

7 . The media playback system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

receive, prior to output of the sound field, a command via the input interface of the wearable playback device, the command corresponding to an operational control of at least one of: the first playback device and the second playback device.

8 . The media playback system of claim 7 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to receive the command via the input interface of the wearable playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

receive, via the input interface, data representing a gesture.

9 . The media playback system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one of:

a camera;

a microphone;

an infrared receiver; and

a data packet receiver.

10 . The media playback system of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to determine the location of the wearable playback device with respect to the first playback device and the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

determine the location of the wearable playback device with respect to the first playback device and the second playback device based on data received via at least one of the one or more sensors.

11 . The media playback system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors are included in at least one of the first playback device and the second playback device.

12 . The media playback system of claim 9 , wherein the wearable playback device comprises at least one of the one or more sensors.

13 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to adjust the first set of parameters comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

adjust at least one of: volume level; audio frequency response; and sound direction.

14 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

receiving, from the wearable playback device via the network interface, one or more control signals to adjust the sound field.

15 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to adjust (i) the first set of one or more parameters associated with the first playback device, and (ii) the second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

define a sweet spot that tracks locations of the wearable playback device.

16 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to adjust (i) the first set of one or more parameters associated with the first playback device, and (ii) the second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

adjust (i) the first set of one or more parameters associated with the first playback device, and (ii) the second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device based on a pre-determined audio profile associated with a listener.

17 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the received audio content is first audio, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to output the sound field comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

cause the first playback device and second playback to play back the first audio portion and the second audio portion of the first audio while the wearable playback device plays back second audio.

18 . The media playback system of claim 17 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to receive the audio content comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

receive the first audio via a first content source, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

receive the second audio via a second content source.

19 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

monitor the location of the wearable playback device with respect to first playback device and the second playback device; and

periodically update the determined location of the wearable playback device.

20 . The media playback system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

receive, prior to output of the sound field, a gesture associated with a playback command.

21 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by at least one processor such that a media playback system is configured to:

receive, via a network interface of a first playback device, audio content comprising a first audio portion and a second audio portion;

determine, via a location component of the first playback device, a location of a wearable playback device with respect to the first playback device of the media playback system and a second playback device of the media playback system;

adjust, based on the determined location of the wearable playback device with respect to the first playback device and the second playback device, (i) a first set of one or more parameters associated with the first playback device, and (ii) a second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to adjust the second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

cause, via the network interface, the second playback device to adjust the second set of one or more parameters; and

output a sound field corresponding to the received audio content, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to output the sound field comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

cause, via the network interface, playback of the first audio portion via one or more first audio transducers of the first playback device according to the adjusted first set of one or more parameters in substantial synchrony with playback of the second audio portion via one or more second audio transducers of the second playback device according to adjusted second set of one or more parameters.

22 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the wearable playback device comprises a control device of the media playback system, wherein the wearable playback device comprises an input interface, and wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the wearable playback device is configured to:

receive, prior to output of the sound field, a command via the input interface of the wearable playback device, the command corresponding to an operational control of at least one of: the first playback device and the second playback device.

23 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the wearable playback device is configured to adjust (i) the first set of one or more parameters associated with the first playback device, and (ii) the second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

define a sweet spot that tracks locations of the wearable playback device.

24 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the received audio content is first audio, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to cause the media playback system to output the sound field comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

cause the first playback device and second playback to play back the first audio portion and the second audio portion of the first audio while the wearable playback device plays back second audio.

25 . A network device comprising:

a network interface;

at least one processor; and

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

receive, via the network interface, audio content comprising a first audio portion and a second audio portion;

determine, via a location component, a location of a wearable playback device with respect to a first playback device of a media playback system and a second playback device of the media playback system, wherein the network device and the wearable playback device are connected via a network;

adjust, based on the determined location of the wearable playback device with respect to the first playback device and the second playback device, (i) a first set of one or more parameters associated with the first playback device, and (ii) a second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to adjust the second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

cause, via the network interface, the second playback device to adjust the second set of one or more parameters; and

cause the media playback system to output a sound field corresponding to the received audio content, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to output the sound field comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

cause, via the network interface, playback of the first audio portion via one or more first audio transducers of the first playback device according to the adjusted first set of one or more parameters in substantial synchrony with playback of the second audio portion via one or more second audio transducers of the second playback device according to adjusted second set of one or more parameters.

26 . The network device of claim 25 , wherein the network device comprises at least one speaker, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to output the sound field comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

play back a third audio portion of the audio content via the at least one speaker in substantial synchrony with playback of the first audio portion and the second audio portion.

27 . The network device of claim 25 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

receiving, from the wearable playback device via the network interface, one or more control signals to adjust the sound field.

28 . The network device of claim 27 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the network device is configured to:

monitor the location of the wearable playback device with respect to first playback device and the second playback device; and

periodically update the determined location of the wearable playback device.

29 . The network device of claim 25 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the network device is configured to adjust (i) the first set of one or more parameters associated with the first playback device, and (ii) the second set of one or more parameters associated with the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the network device is configured to:

define a sweet spot that tracks locations of the wearable playback device.

30 . The network device of claim 25 , wherein the received audio content is first audio, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to cause the media playback system to output the sound field comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the media playback system is configured to:

cause the first playback device and second playback to play back the first audio portion and the second audio portion of the first audio while the wearable playback device plays back second audio.

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 21, 2025
From: REILLY, JONATHON; VAN ERVEN, NIELS
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069943/0478 →
Continuity (11)
Continuation 18308065 · Apr 27, 2023
Continuation 17543014 · Dec 6, 2021
Continuation 17207640 · Mar 20, 2021
Continuation 17104466 · Nov 25, 2020
Continuation 16658896 · Oct 21, 2019
Continuation 15235598 · Aug 12, 2016
Continuation 15166241 · May 26, 2016
Continuation 15056553 · Feb 29, 2016
Continuation 14726921 · Jun 1, 2015
Continuation 13340126 · Dec 29, 2011
Related Publication 20250168585A1 · May 22, 2025
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