IP Library Granted Patent US 12,591,615
Granted Patent B2
US 12,591,615 · App. 19/088,129 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Generative control of playback devices

Inventors: Dayn Wilberding (Portland, OR); Gregory McAllister (London, GB); Ryan Michael Bello (Sammamish, WA); Christopher D. Butts (Wilmette, IL)
Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
G06F16/41G06F3/165H04N21/26258H04N21/42201H04N21/43615H04N21/44218H04N21/835
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,591,615
App. No.
19/088,129
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Generative media content (e.g., generative audio) can be dynamically generated based on various inputs, which can include blockchain data. A playback device accesses blockchain data stored via a distributed ledger and generates media content based at least in part on the blockchain data. The playback device can access a library of pre-existing media segments and arrange a selection of pre-existing media segments from the library for playback according to a generative media content model and based at least in part on the blockchain data. The generated media content can then be played back via the playback device.

Claims (87)

1 . A system comprising:

a first device comprising:

a first network interface;

one or more first processors; and

first memory storing first instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the first device to perform first operations comprising:

receiving an input parameter, wherein the input parameter corresponds to an identifier associated with a digital wallet;

generating, via a first generative module, a first output, wherein the generating is based on the input parameter; and

sending, via the first network interface, the first output; and

a second device comprising:

a second network interface;

one or more second processors; and

second memory storing second instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the second device to perform second operations comprising:

receiving, via the second network interface, the first output;

generating, via a second generative module, a second output at least partially based on the first output from the first generative module;

causing, based on the second output, the second device to perform an action; and

sending, via the second network interface, first data corresponding to the second output to a network address associated with a distributed ledger.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the input parameter to the first generative module comprises at least one of: (i) media content and (ii) sensor data.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein generating the second output via the second generative module comprises generating the second output based on sensor data associated with the second device.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second output comprises media content, and wherein the action performed by the second device comprises playing back the media content.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the action comprises controlling a playback parameter of media played back by the second device.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the action comprises generating a control signal for another device.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first data corresponds to parameters of at least one of the first generative module and the second generative module.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the action performed by the second device is synchronized with an action performed by one or more other devices based on timing information generated via the system.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first generative module and the second generative module comprise different generative content models.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first data represents ownership or rights associated with the first output, and wherein the second generative module utilizes this data in generating the second output.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first data indicates a version history of at least one of the first output and the second output.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the network address associated with the distributed ledger corresponds to one or more smart contracts stored on a blockchain.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the network address associated with the distributed ledger corresponds to a digital wallet.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the identifier associated with the digital wallet identifies a specific user, and wherein the first generative module generates the first output based at least in part on user-specific data associated with the identified user.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the digital wallet stores one or more non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and wherein the input parameter comprises data from at least one of the NFTs stored in the digital wallet.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein receiving the input parameter comprises receiving authorization from the digital wallet to access blockchain data associated with the digital wallet, and wherein the first generative module generates the first output only after receiving the authorization.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein receiving the identifier associated with the digital wallet enables access to the first generative module.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the digital wallet comprises at least one token corresponding to a real-world asset.

19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the digital wallet comprises a plurality of tokens including at least one fungible token and at least one non-fungible token, and wherein the first generative module generates the first output based on a combination of data from both the fungible token and the non-fungible token.

20 . A system comprising:

a first device comprising:

a first network interface;

one or more first processors; and

first memory storing first instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the first device to perform first operations comprising:

receiving an input parameter;

generating, via a first generative module, a first output wherein the generating is based on the input parameter, and

sending, via the first network interface, the first output; and

a second device comprising:

a second network interface;

one or more second processors; and

second memory storing second instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the second device to perform second operations comprising:

receiving, via the second network interface, the first output:

generating, via a second generative module, a second output at least partially based on the first output from the first generative module;

causing, based on the second output, the second device to perform an action; and

sending, via the second network interface, first data corresponding to the second output to a network address associated with a distributed ledger, wherein the distributed ledger is a first distributed ledger, and wherein receiving the input parameter comprises receiving, via the first network interface, second data from a second distributed ledger.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the first distributed ledger is the same as the second distributed ledger.

22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the first distributed ledger is a public blockchain and the second distributed ledger is a private blockchain.

23 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the second data from the second distributed ledger provides user authentication data while the first data sent to the first distributed ledger records the second output for public verification.

24 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the first distributed ledger operates as a layer-1 blockchain and the second distributed ledger operates as a layer-2 blockchain that interacts with the first distributed ledger, and wherein the layer-2 blockchain provides faster transaction processing for receiving the input parameter.

25 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the second distributed ledger provides contextual data for generating the second output and the first distributed ledger records transaction data associated with playback of the second output, and wherein the contextual data comprises at least one of user preference data, listening history data, or generative content model parameters.

26 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the first distributed ledger handles currency transactions associated with the second output and the second distributed ledger manages smart contracts that control access to generative media content, and wherein the input parameter is received from the second distributed ledger only upon successful execution of a smart contract stored thereon.

27 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the first distributed ledger is a first type of distributed ledger and the second distributed ledger is a second type of distributed ledger.

28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the first type of distributed ledger is a directed acyclic graph, and wherein the second type of distributed ledger is a blockchain.

29 . A method comprising:

receiving, at a first device, an input parameter,

generating, via a first generative module of the first device, a first output, wherein the first output is generated by a first generative module based on the input parameter;

sending, via the first device, the first output to a second device;

generating, via a second generative module of the second device, a second output at least partially based on the first output;

based on the second output, performing an action via the second device; and

sending, via the second device, first data corresponding to the second output to a network address associated with a distributed ledger;

wherein the distributed ledger is a first distributed ledger, and wherein receiving the input parameter comprises receiving, via the first device, second data from a second distributed ledger.

30 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising:

receiving, at the second device, sensor data; and

wherein generating the second output comprises generating the second output based on the sensor data.

31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the second output comprises media content, and wherein the action comprises playing back the media content.

32 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the action comprises controlling a playback parameter of media played back by the second device.

33 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the action comprises generating a control signal for another device.

34 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the action is synchronized with an action performed by one or more other devices based on timing information.

35 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the first data represents ownership or rights associated with the first output.

36 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the first data indicates a version history of at least one of the first output and the second output.

37 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the network address associated with the distributed ledger corresponds to one or more smart contracts stored on a blockchain.

38 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors a system comprising a first device and a second device, cause the system to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at the first device, an input parameter;

generating, via a first generative module of the first device, a first output, wherein the first output is generated by a first generative module based on the input parameter;

sending, via the first device, the first output to a second device;

generating, via a second generative module of the second device, a second output at least partially based on the first output;

based on the second output, performing an action via the second device; and

sending, via the second device, first data corresponding to the second output to a network address associated with a distributed ledger, wherein the distributed ledger is a first distributed ledger, and wherein receiving the input parameter comprises receiving, via the first device, second data from a second distributed ledger.

39 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38 , wherein the input parameter comprises at least one of: (i) media content or (ii) sensor data.

40 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38 , wherein the first data corresponds to parameters of at least one of the first generative module or the second generative module associated with the second device.

41 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38 , wherein the first data represents ownership or rights associated with the first output.

42 . The one or more computer-readable media of claim 38 , wherein the network address associated with the distributed ledger corresponds to one or more smart contracts stored on a blockchain.

Assignments (3)
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 Mar 25, 2025
From: WILBERDING, DAYN; MCALLISTER, GREGORY
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070618/0868 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2025
From: BELLO, RYAN MICHAEL; BUTTS, CHRISTOPHER D.
To: SONOS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070619/0103 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 18671824 · May 22, 2024
Continuation PCTUS2023066776 · May 9, 2023
Provisional Application 63364931 · May 18, 2022
Related Publication 20250225171A1 · Jul 10, 2025
References Cited (91)
US 9116928B1 · Maennel · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9122752B2 · Bill · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9167388B2 · Varoglu et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 10176309B2 · Tormasov et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 11063759B2 · Kocsis et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11076035B2 · Lambourne · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11197117B2 · Reilly et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11240563B1 · Samarthyam · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11403510B2 · Mathur et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11483361B2 · Scott et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11627412B2 · Filson · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11669296B2 · Cassidy et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11756541B1 · Mrani et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11924524B2 · Thompson · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 12259962B1 · Warnick et al. · 2025 [cited by applicant]
US 20020143643A1 · Catan · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030195851A1 · Ong · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 20080090524A1 · Lee · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20080130886A1 · Kocher · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20130086173A1 · Kim · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20160231981A1 · Lin et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170054778A1 · Tornielli · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180293553A1 · Dembo et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190155840A1 · O'konski et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190158552A1 · Robbin · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190174190A1 · Newell et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190370606A1 · Kehl et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200005284A1 · Vijayan · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200089720A1 · Dallara · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200160466A1 · Hori · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200168250A1 · Vijil et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200243055A1 · Grace · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200364703A1 · Joveski et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210144127A1 · Veeningen · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210165824A1 · Xu · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210208841A1 · Wilberding · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210224319A1 · Ingel et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210248213A1 · Balassanian et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210266637A1 · Punja et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210272017A1 · Singla et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210304200A1 · Doney · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210398336A1 · Jin et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220051129A1 · Malvankar et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220114479A1 · Zhao et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220148268A1 · Yilanci et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220159377A1 · Wilberding et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220197983A1 · Rios · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220253724A1 · Parchami et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220276940A1 · Wald · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220318793A1 · Meinzer · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220337898A1 · Dorogusker et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220351270A1 · Emmanuel et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220417660A1 · Wilberding et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230061896A1 · Davis et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230079195A1 · Matheson et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230093520A1 · Young et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230162179A1 · Deng · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230217059A1 · D'Amato et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230222091A1 · Janzen · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230296390A1 · Davis et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230298016A1 · Osborn et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230306412A1 · Gaur et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230315194A1 · D'amato et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230394287A1 · Zhou et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20240171413A1 · Dravneek et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240289863A1 · Smith Lewis et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240311416A1 · Wilberding et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240314379A1 · Wilberding et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240394010A1 · Smith-Aulie · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240428275A1 · Luus et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20250061143A1 · Wilberding et al. · 2025 [cited by applicant]
US 20250117422A1 · Wilberding et al. · 2025 [cited by applicant]
US 20250265287A1 · Butts et al. · 2025 [cited by applicant]
US 20250278429A1 · Wilberding et al. · 2025 [cited by applicant]
US 20250322007A1 · Wilberding et al. · 2025 [cited by applicant]
CN 113379875A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
EP 1876583A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020200127150A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020200127969A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020210004951A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020210129032A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019067783A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019004118A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020086771A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2023225448A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021163377A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
Canadian Patent Office, Canadian Examination Report mailed on May 23, 2025, issued in connection with Canadian Application No. 3254701, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Patent Office, Japanese Office Action mailed on Jun. 11, 2025, issued in connection with Japanese Application No. 2024-568610, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion mailed May 21, 2024; International Application No. PCT/US2023/066776; 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion mailed Oct. 21, 2024, International Application No. PCT/US2024/039870, 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
Xu, et al., Architecture for Blockchain Applications In: “Architecture for Blockchain Applications”, Mar. 15, 2019 (Mar. 15, 2019). [cited by applicant]