Granted Patent B2

US 12,470,188 · App. 18/492,583 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Inventors: Frank Charlton (Seattle, WA); Jodi Vautrin (Boston, MA); Robert Lambourne (Santa Barbara, CA); Nathan Fish (Ventura, CA); Daniel Casimiro (Mansfield, MA); Won So (Boston, MA)

Assignee: Sonos, Inc.

H03G3/3026G06F3/165G06F3/167G06F9/546H03G3/02H04L51/224H04N21/43615H04N21/4825H04R2430/01

Abstract

Claims (79)

1 . A system comprising:

at least one network interface;

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 system is configured to:

maintain maximum volume state variable information relating to one or more playback devices of a media playback system;

detect a command to update a volume level of a playback group comprising a first playback device and a second playback device of the media playback system to a requested playback group volume level, wherein the requested playback group volume level indicates a respective requested volume level for each of the first and second playback devices;

based on the command, determine that a first volume state variable of the first playback device is to be adjusted based on a first maximum volume state variable;

based on the command, determine that a second volume state variable of the second playback device is to be adjusted based on a second maximum volume state variable;

based on the first and second maximum volume state variables, cause the volume level of the playback group to be adjusted to an alternate playback group volume level that is different from the requested playback group volume level; and

cause a computing device to provide an indication that the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first maximum volume state variable comprises a respective maximum volume state variable of the first playback device, and wherein the second maximum volume state variable comprises a respective maximum volume state variable of the second playback device that is different from the first maximum volume state variable.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first maximum volume state variable comprises a respective maximum volume state variable of the first playback device, and wherein the second maximum volume state variable comprises the first maximum volume state variable.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises user input that is received via an interface of the computing device.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the command comprises user input that is received via an interface of one of the first or second playback devices.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to determine that the first volume state variable of the first playback device is to be adjusted based on the first maximum volume state variable comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:

obtain the first maximum volume state variable from a cloud-based computing device that is configured to maintain the maximum volume state variable information relating to one or more playback devices of the media playback system; and

based on the first maximum volume state variable and the requested playback group volume level, derive a first alternate volume level for the first playback device;

the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to determine that the second volume state variable of the second playback device is to be adjusted based on the second maximum volume state variable comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:

obtain the second maximum volume state variable from the cloud-based computing device; and

based on the second maximum volume state variable and the requested playback group volume level, derive a second alternate volume level for the second playback device; and

the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause the volume level of the playback group to be adjusted to the alternate playback group volume level comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to:

adjust the first volume state variable of the first playback device based on the first alternate volume level instead of the respective requested volume level for the first playback device, wherein the first alternate volume level is different from the respective requested volume level for the first playback device; and

send an instruction for the second playback device to adjust the second volume state variable of the second playback device based on the second alternate volume level instead of the respective requested volume level for the second playback device, wherein the second alternate volume level is different from the respective requested volume level for the second playback device.

7 . The system of claim 6 , 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 first playback device is configured to:

after adjusting the first volume state variable of the first playback device based on the first alternate volume level and sending the instruction for the second playback device to adjust the second volume state variable of the second playback device based on the second alternate volume level:

send, to the computing device, a communication indicating that (i) the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level and that (ii) the first and second volume state variables have been adjusted to the respective requested volume levels for the first and second playback devices.

8 . The system of claim 7 , 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:

receive, from the first playback device, the communication indicating that (i) the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level and that (ii) the respective volume state variables of the first and second playback devices have been adjusted to the respective requested volume levels for the first and second playback devices; and

wherein the 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 system is configured to provide the indication that the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level comprise 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:

display, via an interface of the computing device, the indication that the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level, wherein the indication further indicates that respective volume levels of the first and second playback devices have been adjusted to the respective requested volume levels.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first playback device is part of a first zone group and the second playback device is part of a second zone group, and wherein at least one of the first or second maximum volume state variables is determined based on a respective zone scene associated with the first zone group or the second zone group.

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

maintain maximum volume state variable information relating to one or more playback devices of a media playback system;

detect a command to update a volume level of a playback group comprising a first playback device and a second playback device of the media playback system to a requested playback group volume level, wherein the requested playback group volume level indicates a respective requested volume level for each of the first and second playback devices;

based on the command, determine that a first volume state variable of the first playback device is to be adjusted based on a first maximum volume state variable;

based on the command, determine that a second volume state variable of the second playback device is to be adjusted based on a second maximum volume state variable;

based on the first and second maximum volume state variables, cause the volume level of the playback group to be adjusted to an alternate playback group volume level that is different from the requested playback group volume level; and

cause a computing device to provide an indication that the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level.

11 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the first maximum volume state variable comprises a respective maximum volume state variable of the first playback device, and wherein the second maximum volume state variable comprises a respective maximum volume state variable of the second playback device that is different from the first maximum volume state variable.

12 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the first maximum volume state variable comprises a respective maximum volume state variable of the first playback device, and wherein the second maximum volume state variable comprises the first maximum volume state variable.

13 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein:

the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the system to determine that the first volume state variable of the first playback device is to be adjusted based on the first maximum volume state variable comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first playback device to:

obtain the first maximum volume state variable from a cloud-based computing device that is configured to maintain the maximum volume state variable information relating to one or more playback devices of the media playback system; and

based on the first maximum volume state variable and the requested playback group volume level, derive a first alternate volume level for the first playback device;

the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the system to determine that the second volume state variable of the second playback device is to be adjusted based on the second maximum volume state variable comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first playback device to:

obtain the second maximum volume state variable from the cloud-based computing device; and

based on the second maximum volume state variable and the requested playback group volume level, derive a second alternate volume level for the second playback device; and

the program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the system to cause the volume level of the playback group to be adjusted to the alternate playback group volume level comprise program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first playback device to:

adjust the first volume state variable of the first playback device based on the first alternate volume level instead of the respective requested volume level for the first playback device, wherein the first alternate volume level is different from the respective requested volume level for the first playback device; and

send an instruction for the second playback device to adjust the second volume state variable of the second playback device based on the second alternate volume level instead of the respective requested volume level for the second playback device, wherein the second alternate volume level is different from the respective requested volume level for the second playback device.

14 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the first playback device to:

after adjusting the first volume state variable of the first playback device based on the first alternate volume level and sending the instruction for the second playback device to adjust the second volume state variable of the second playback device based on the second alternate volume level:

send, to the computing device, a communication indicating that (i) the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level and that (ii) the first and second volume state variables have been adjusted to the respective requested volume levels for the first and second playback devices.

15 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the computing device to:

receive, from the first playback device, the communication indicating that (i) the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level and that (ii) the respective volume state variables of the first and second playback devices have been adjusted to the respective requested volume levels for the first and second playback devices; and

wherein the program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the system to provide the indication that the volume level of the synchrony playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level comprise program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the computing device to:

display, via an interface of the computing device, the indication that the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level, wherein the indication further indicates that respective volume levels of the first and second playback devices have been adjusted to the respective requested volume levels.

16 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the first playback device is part of a first zone group and the second playback device is part of a second zone group, and wherein at least one of the first or second maximum volume state variables is determined based on a respective zone scene associated with the first zone group or the second zone group.

17 . A method carried out by a system, the method comprising:

maintaining maximum volume state variable information relating to one or more playback devices of a media playback system;

detecting a command to update a volume level of a playback group comprising a first playback device and a second playback device of the media playback system to a requested playback group volume level, wherein the requested playback group volume level indicates a respective requested volume level for each of the first and second playback devices;

based on the command, determining that a first volume state variable of the first playback device is to be adjusted based on a first maximum volume state variable;

based on the command, determining that a second volume state variable of the second playback device is to be adjusted based on a second maximum volume state variable;

based on the first and second maximum volume state variables, causing the volume level of the playback group to be adjusted to an alternate playback group volume level that is different from the requested playback group volume level; and

causing a computing device to provide an indication that the volume level of the playback group has been adjusted to the requested playback group volume level.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first maximum volume state variable comprises a respective maximum volume state variable of the first playback device, and wherein the second maximum volume state variable comprises a respective maximum volume state variable of the second playback device that is different from the first maximum volume state variable.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first maximum volume state variable comprises a respective maximum volume state variable of the first playback device, and wherein the second maximum volume state variable comprises the first maximum volume state variable.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:

determining that the first volume state variable of the first playback device is to be adjusted based on the first maximum volume state variable comprises:

obtaining the first maximum volume state variable from a cloud-based computing device that is configured to maintain the maximum volume state variable information relating to one or more playback devices of the media playback system; and

based on the first maximum volume state variable and the requested playback group volume level, deriving a first alternate volume level for the first playback device;

determining that the second volume state variable of the second playback device is to be adjusted based on the second maximum volume state variable comprises:

obtaining the second maximum volume state variable from the cloud-based computing device; and

based on the second maximum volume state variable and the requested playback group volume level, deriving a second alternate volume level for the second playback device; and

causing the volume level of the playback group to be adjusted to the alternate playback group volume level comprises:

adjusting the first volume state variable of the first playback device based on the first alternate volume level instead of the respective requested volume level for the first playback device, wherein the first alternate volume level is different from the respective requested volume level for the first playback device; and

sending an instruction for the second playback device to adjust the second volume state variable of the second playback device based on the second alternate volume level instead of the respective requested volume level for the second playback device, wherein the second alternate volume level is different from the respective requested volume level for the second playback device.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (80)