IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,294,489
Granted Patent B2
US 12,294,489 · App. 17/234,064 · Granted May 6, 2025

Proximal playback devices

Inventor: Nick D'Amato (Santa Barbara, CA)
Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
H04L41/0816H04L12/2805H04L41/0813H04L41/0893H04L43/08H04W4/80H04W8/005H04L2012/2841H04L2012/2849H04L43/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,294,489
App. No.
17/234,064
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods disclosed herein include, determining a proximity of the first networked device to a second networked device, determining whether there is a wired network connection existing between the first networked device and the second networked device, and in response to determining the proximity and the existence of a wired network connection, reconfiguring one or more operational parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device.

Claims (63)

1. A first networked 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 first networked device is configured to:

determine that the first networked device is (a) in a stacked configuration with a second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device by:

determining a proximity between the first networked device and the second networked device based on a Bluetooth connection between the first networked device and the second networked device being above a threshold strength; or

determining that the first networked device and the second networked device are within a threshold distance using a near-field communication (NFC) protocol;

determine that there is a wired network connection between the first networked device and the second networked device; and

in response to (i) determining that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device and (ii) determining that there is a wired connection between the first networked device and the second networked device, reconfigure one or more operational parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device by modifying an audio amplifier output power of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device.

2. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to determine that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to:

compare a current radio signature of the first networked device with an expected radio signature for the first networked device.

3. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to determine that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to:

receive, by the first networked device, a message indicating that the second networked device is in proximity to the first networked device.

4. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to reconfigure the one or more operational parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to:

modify one or more wireless network configuration parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device.

5. The first networked device of claim 4 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to modify the one or more wireless network configuration parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to:

disable a wireless antenna of the first networked device; or

disable a wireless antenna of the second networked device.

6. The first networked device of claim 4 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to modify the one or more wireless network configuration parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to:

reduce an operating power for the first networked device; or

reduce an operating power for the second networked device.

7. The first networked device of claim 4 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to modify the one or more wireless network configuration parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to:

power off a wireless network interface of the first networked device; or

power off a wireless network interface of the second networked device.

8. The first networked device of claim 4 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to modify the one or more wireless network configuration parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to:

adjust a threshold temperature at which an operating power of the first networked device is reduced; or

adjust a threshold temperature at which an operating power of the second networked device is reduced.

9. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to determine that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first networked device is configured to:

determine that a proximity sensor of the first networked device detects a presence of the second networked device; or

determine that an orientation sensor of the first networked device indicates that the first networked device and the second networked device are in the stacked configuration.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a first networked device to:

determine that the first networked device is (a) in a stacked configuration with a second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device by:

determining a proximity between the first networked device and the second networked device based on a Bluetooth connection between the first networked device and the second networked device being above a threshold strength; or

determining that the first networked device and the second networked device are within a threshold distance using a near-field communication (NFC) protocol;

determine that there is a wired network connection between the first networked device and the second networked device; and

in response to (i) determining that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device and (ii) determining that there is a wired connection between the first networked device and the second networked device, reconfigure one or more operational parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device by modifying an audio amplifier output power of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first networked device to determine that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first networked device to:

compare a current radio signature of the first networked device with an expected radio signature for the first networked device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first networked device to determine that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first networked device to:

receive, by the first networked device, a message indicating that the second networked device is in proximity to the first networked device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first networked device to reconfigure the one or more operational parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first networked device to:

modify one or more wireless network configuration parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first networked device to modify the one or more wireless network configuration parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first networked device to:

disable a wireless antenna of the first networked device; or

disable a wireless antenna of the second networked device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first networked device to determine that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first networked device to:

determine that a proximity sensor of the first networked device detects a presence of the second networked device; or

determine that an orientation sensor of the first networked device indicates that the first networked device and the second networked device are in the stacked configuration.

16. A method carried out by a first networked device, the method comprising:

determining that the first networked device is (a) in a stacked configuration with a second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device by:

determining a proximity between the first networked device and the second networked device based on a Bluetooth connection between the first networked device and the second networked device being above a threshold strength; or

determining that the first networked device and the second networked device are within a threshold distance using a near-field communication (NFC) protocol;

determining that there is a wired network connection between the first networked device and the second networked device; and

in response to (i) determining that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device and (ii) determining that there is a wired connection between the first networked device and the second networked device, reconfiguring one or more operational parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device by modifying an audio amplifier output power of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein determining that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device comprises:

comparing a current radio signature of the first networked device with an expected radio signature for the first networked device.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein determining that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device comprises:

receiving, by the first networked device, a message indicating that the second networked device is in proximity to the first networked device.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein reconfiguring the one or more operational parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device comprises:

modifying one or more wireless network configuration parameters of one or both of the first networked device and the second networked device.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein determining that the first networked device is (a) in the stacked configuration with the second networked device or (b) positioned adjacent to the second networked device comprises:

determining that a proximity sensor of the first networked device detects a presence of the second networked device; or

determining that an orientation sensor of the first networked device indicates that the first networked device and the second networked device are in the stacked configuration.

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 Nov 10, 2021
From: D'AMATO, NICK
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058068/0289 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15717292 · Sep 27, 2017
Related Publication 20210314222A1 · Oct 7, 2021
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