Granted Patent B2

US 12,450,025 · App. 18/657,019 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Inventors: Dayn Wilberding (Portland, OR); Sein Woo (Somerville, MA)

Assignee: Sonos, Inc.

G06F3/162G06F3/165H04S7/301H04S7/305

Abstract

Claims (77)

1. At least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by at least one processor such that a computing device is configured to:

configure a first playback device and a second playback device into a playback configuration, wherein the playback configuration is configured to output multiple audio channels via the first playback device and the second playback device;

detect that a third playback device is available to add to the playback configuration;

based on the detection that the third playback device is available, cause a graphical display to display one or more controls selectable to add the third playback device to the playback configuration;

receive, via the one or more controls, input data representing a command to add the third playback device to the playback configuration; and

according to the input data, perform a calibration that adds the third playback device to the playback configuration, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to perform the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

cause the graphical display to display a graphic guide to the calibration;

cause one or more microphones of the first playback device to capture calibration audio played back by the second playback device and the third playback device;

determine calibration settings based on the relative positioning of the first playback device, the second playback device and the third playback device to a particular listening location as represented in the captured calibration audio; and

display, within the graphic guide to the calibration, a graphical representation of respective distances between the particular listening location and the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device; and

configure the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device into a modified playback configuration, wherein the modified playback configuration is configured to output the multiple audio channels via the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device according to the determined calibration settings.

2. The at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the graphic guide comprises one or more first interfaces and one or more second interfaces, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to cause the graphical display to display the graphic guide to the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

cause the graphical display to display the one or more first interfaces during a first portion of the calibration and the one or more second interfaces during a second portion of the calibration, wherein the one or more second interfaces comprise the graphical representation of the respective distances between the particular listening location and the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device.

3. The at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to cause the graphical display to display the graphic guide to the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

cause the graphical display to display a prompt to place the third playback device where it will be used in the modified playback configuration, wherein the one or more first interfaces comprise the prompt to place the third playback device where it will be used in the modified playback configuration.

4. The at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to cause the graphical display to display the graphic guide to the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

while the one or more microphones of the first playback device are capturing the audio played back by the second playback device and the third playback device, cause the graphical display to display an indication that audio is being captured, wherein the one or more first interfaces comprise the indication that audio is being captured.

5. The at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to cause the graphical display to display the graphic guide to the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

after performing the calibration, cause the graphical display to display an indication that the calibration was successful, wherein the one or more second interfaces comprise the indication that the calibration was successful.

6. The at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to configure the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device into the modified playback configuration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

configure the modified playback configuration to output the multiple audio channels and one or more additional audio channels relative to the playback configuration before modification.

7. The at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to configure the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device into the modified playback configuration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to:

configure the third playback device to output additional bass frequency components in the modified playback configuration relative to bass frequency components output by the first playback device.

8. The at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first playback device is integral to a television, 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 computing device is configured to:

receive television audio from the television; and

cause the modified playback configuration to play back the television audio.

9. A first playback device comprising:

one or more microphones;

at least one processor; and

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

configure the first playback device and a second playback device into a playback configuration, wherein the playback configuration is configured to output multiple audio channels via the first playback device and the second playback device;

detect that a third playback device is available to add to the playback configuration;

based on the detection that the third playback device is available, cause a graphical display to display one or more controls selectable to add the third playback device to the playback configuration;

receive, via the one or more controls, input data representing a command to add the third playback device to the playback configuration; and

according to the input data, perform a calibration that adds the third playback device to the playback configuration, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to perform the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:

cause the graphical display to display a graphic guide to the calibration;

capture, via the one or more microphones, calibration audio played back by the second playback device and the third playback device;

determine calibration settings based on the relative positioning of the first playback device, the second playback device and the third playback device to a particular listening location as represented in the captured calibration audio;

display, within the graphic guide to the calibration, a graphical representation of respective distances between the particular listening location and the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device; and

configure the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device into a modified playback configuration, wherein the modified playback configuration is configured to output the multiple audio channels via the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device according to the determined calibration settings.

10. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein the graphic guide comprises one or more first interfaces and one or more second interfaces, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause the graphical display to display the graphic guide to the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:

cause the graphical display to display the one or more first interfaces during a first portion of the calibration and the one or more second interfaces during a second portion of the calibration, wherein the one or more second interfaces comprise the graphical representation of the respective distances between the particular listening location and the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device.

11. The first playback device of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause the graphical display to display the graphic guide to the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:

cause the graphical display to display a prompt to place the third playback device where it will be used in the modified playback configuration, wherein the one or more first interfaces comprise the prompt to place the third playback device where it will be used in the modified playback configuration.

12. The first playback device of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause the graphical display to display the graphic guide to the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:

while the one or more microphones of the first playback device are capturing the audio played back by the second playback device and the third playback device, cause the graphical display to display an indication that audio is being captured, wherein the one or more first interfaces comprise the indication that audio is being captured.

13. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to configure the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device into the modified playback configuration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:

configure the modified playback configuration to output the multiple audio channels and one or more additional audio channels relative to the playback configuration before modification.

14. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to configure the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device into the modified playback configuration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:

configure the third playback device to output additional bass frequency components in the modified playback configuration relative to bass frequency components output by the first playback device.

15. The first playback device of claim 9 , wherein the first playback device is integral to a television, 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 first playback device is configured to:

receive television audio from the television; and

cause the modified playback configuration to play back the television audio.

16. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

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

configure a first playback device and a second playback device into a playback configuration, wherein the playback configuration is configured to output multiple audio channels via the first playback device and the second playback device;

detect that a third playback device is available to add to the playback configuration;

based on the detection that the third playback device is available, cause a graphical display to display one or more controls selectable to add the third playback device to the playback configuration;

receive, via the one or more controls, input data representing a command to add the third playback device to the playback configuration; and

according to the input data, perform a calibration that adds the third playback device to the playback configuration, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to perform the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

cause the graphical display to display a graphic guide to the calibration;

cause one or more microphones of the first playback device to capture calibration audio played back by the second playback device and the third playback device;

determine calibration settings based on the relative positioning of the first playback device, the second playback device and the third playback device to a particular listening location as represented in the captured calibration audio;

display, within the graphic guide to the calibration, a graphical representation of respective distances between the particular listening location and the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device; and

configure the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device into a modified playback configuration, wherein the modified playback configuration is configured to output the multiple audio channels via the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device according to the determined calibration settings.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to configure the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device into the modified playback configuration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

configure the third playback device to output additional bass frequency components in the modified playback configuration relative to bass frequency components output by the first playback device.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first playback device is integral to a television, 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 system is configured to:

receive television audio from the television; and

cause the modified playback configuration to play back the television audio.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the graphic guide comprises one or more first interfaces and one or more second interfaces, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause the graphical display to display the graphic guide to the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

cause the graphical display to display the one or more first interfaces during a first portion of the calibration and the one or more second interfaces during a second portion of the calibration, wherein the one or more second interfaces comprise the graphical representation of the respective distances between the particular listening location and the first playback device, the second playback device, and the third playback device.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause the graphical display to display the graphic guide to the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

cause the graphical display to display a prompt to place the third playback device where it will be used in the modified playback configuration, wherein the one or more first interfaces comprise the prompt to place the third playback device where it will be used in the modified playback configuration.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause the graphical display to display the graphic guide to the calibration comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:

while the one or more microphones of the first playback device are capturing the audio played back by the second playback device and the third playback device, cause the graphical display to display an indication that audio is being captured, wherein the one or more first interfaces comprise the indication that audio is being captured.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (400)