IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,226,072
Granted Patent B2
US 9,226,072 · App. 14/186,924 · Granted Dec 29, 2015

Media content based on playback zone awareness

Inventors: Kristen Bender (Cambridge, MA); Ron Kuper (Arlington, MA)
Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
H04R3/12H04R5/04H04R27/00H04R29/00H04R29/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,226,072
App. No.
14/186,924
Granted
Dec 29, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing media content based on playback zone awareness. In one aspect a server associated with a service provider may be configured to receive zone data identifying a name of a zone associated with a playback device, identify, based on the zone data, media content based on the zone data, and provide the media content to the playback device. In another aspect, a playback device may be configured to associate the playback device with a zone, and provide to a service provider zone data identifying a name of the zone associated with the playback device. In yet another aspect, a controller device may be configured to receive an input identifying a playback zone, and sending to a service provider, a message including zone data identifying the playback zone.

Claims (51)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via a computing device associated with a service provider, zone data, wherein the zone data identifies a name of a zone associated with a playback device of a media playback system, and wherein the zone data indicates a selection of the zone associated with the playback device;

identifying, via the computing device, audio content based on the zone data, wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the name of the zone associated with the playback device indicates a particular type of room and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular type of room; and

providing, via the computing device, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the zone data indicates that the zone is a first zone of a particular zone group that comprises the first zone and one or more particular second zones, wherein the one or more particular second zones comprise at least one respective playback device and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of particular audio by the zone group and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio preferred when the first zone is in the particular zone group.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the zone data indicates that the zone is a given zone of a media playback system that comprises a plurality of zones in a party mode such that all zones of the media playback system are configured to play back audio in synchrony, wherein the plurality of zones comprise at least one respective playback device and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of particular audio in the party mode and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio preferred in the party mode.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of a particular genre of audio content in the particular type of room; and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular genre of audio content.

5. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining, based on audio preference data, that certain audio content is preferred in the particular type of room and identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content which is preferred in the particular type of room.

6. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises:

determining, based on audio preference data, that certain audio content is preferred in the particular type of room at respective times of day;

determining the current time of day in the zone; and

identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content which is preferred in the particular type of room at the current time of day.

7. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the particular type of room is associated with respective content ratings of audio items and identifying, based on the respective content ratings of audio items, audio content that has a content rating that exceeds a threshold rating.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system comprises sending, via one or more network interfaces, the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system comprises on or more of: (i) sending metadata indicating the identified audio content to one or more control devices of the media playback system or (ii) sending the identified audio content to at least the playback device of the media playback system.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computing system to perform operations comprising:

receiving, via one or more network interfaces, zone data, wherein the zone data identifies a name of a zone associated with a playback device of a media playback system, and wherein the zone data indicates a selection of the zone associated with the playback device;

identifying audio content based on the zone data, wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the name of the zone associated with the playback device indicates a particular type of room and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular type of room; and

providing, via one or more network interfaces, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the zone data indicates that the zone is a first zone of a particular zone group that comprises the first zone and one or more particular second zones, wherein the one or more particular second zones comprise at least one respective playback device, and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of particular audio by the zone group and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio preferred when the first zone is in the particular zone group.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the zone data indicates that the zone is a given zone of a media playback system that comprises a plurality of zones in a party mode such that all zones of the media playback system are configured to play back audio in synchrony, wherein the plurality of zones comprise at least one respective playback device and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of particular audio in the party mode and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio preferred in the party mode.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of a particular genre of audio content in the particular type of room; and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular genre of audio content.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining, based on audio preference data, that certain audio content is preferred in the particular type of room and identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content which is preferred in the particular type of room.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises:

determining, based on audio preference data, that certain audio content is preferred in the particular type of room at respective times of day;

determining the current time of day in the zone; and

identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content which is preferred in the particular type of room at the current time of day.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the particular type of room is associated with respective content ratings of audio items and identifying, based on the respective content ratings of audio items, audio content that has a content rating that exceeds a threshold rating.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein providing the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system comprises sending, via one or more network interfaces, the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein providing the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system comprises on or more of: (i) sending metadata indicating the identified audio content to one or more control devices of the media playback system or (ii) sending the identified audio content to at least the playback device of the media playback system.

19. A computing system configured to:

receive, via one or more network interfaces, zone data, wherein the zone data identifies a name of a zone associated with a playback device of a media playback system, and wherein the zone data indicates a selection of the zone associated with the playback device;

identify audio content based on the zone data, wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the name of the zone associated with the playback device indicates a particular type of room and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular type of room; and

provide, via one or more network interfaces, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

20. The computing system of claim 19 , wherein the zone data indicates that the zone is a first zone of a particular zone group that comprises the first zone and one or more particular second zones, wherein the one or more particular second zones comprise at least one respective playback device, and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of particular audio by the zone group and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio preferred when the first zone is in the particular zone group.

21. The computing system of claim 19 , wherein the zone data indicates that the zone is a given zone of a media playback system that comprises a plurality of zones in a party mode such that all zones of the media playback system are configured to play back audio in synchrony, wherein the plurality of zones comprise at least one respective playback device and wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of particular audio in the party mode and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular audio preferred in the party mode.

22. The computing system of claim 19 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the zone data indicates a preference for playback of a particular genre of audio content in the particular type of room; and identifying audio content corresponding to the particular genre of audio content.

23. The computing system of claim 19 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining, based on audio preference data, that certain audio content is preferred in the particular type of room and identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content which is preferred in the particular type of room.

24. The computing system of claim 19 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises:

determining, based on audio preference data, that certain audio content is preferred in the particular type of room at respective times of day;

determining the current time of day in the zone; and

identifying audio content that corresponds to the certain audio content which is preferred in the particular type of room at the current time of day.

25. The computing system of claim 19 , wherein identifying audio content based on the zone data comprises determining that the particular type of room is associated with respective content ratings of audio items and identifying, based on the respective content ratings of audio items, audio content that has a content rating that exceeds a threshold rating.

26. The computing system of claim 19 , wherein providing the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system comprises sending, via one or more network interfaces, the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

27. The computing system of claim 19 , wherein providing the indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system comprises on or more of: (i) sending metadata indicating the identified audio content to one or more control devices of the media playback system or (ii) sending the identified audio content to at least the playback device of the media playback system.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058213/0597 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 15, 2021
From: SONOS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058123/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2018
From: SONOS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 046991/0433 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2018
From: GORDON BROTHERS FINANCE COMPANY
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046625/0882 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2016
From: SONOS, INC.
To: GORDON BROTHERS FINANCE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 038329/0253 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2015
From: BENDER, KRISTEN; KUPER, RON
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035568/0128 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150245138A1 · Aug 27, 2015