# US 10,268,357 B2 · Playback modification based on proximity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,268,357 B2 - Document ID: US10268357B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/147,322 - Filed: 2016-05-05 - Published: 2016-08-25 - Granted: 2019-04-23 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-02 - Assignees: Sonos, Inc. - Applicants: Sonos, Inc. - Inventors: Luis Vega; Paul Bates; Jason Kendall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10268357B2 ## CPC - G11B 19/025: {'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]} - G05B 19/05: Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts - G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - G11B 27/34: Indicating arrangements {(indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D)} - H04N 21/2368: Multiplexing of audio and video streams - H04N 21/2387: Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play - H04N 21/43076: {of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices} - H04N 21/4325: {by playing back content from the storage medium (reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79)} - H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)} - H04N 21/439: Processing of audio elementary streams - H04N 21/47: End-user applications - H04N 21/47217: {for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks (specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312)} - H04N 21/4825: {using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists} - H04N 21/485: End-user interface for client configuration - H04N 21/8113: {comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format} - H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - G05B 2219/13135: Using audio and-or video playback - G05B 2219/13144: GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, OI operator interface - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Techniques described herein may involve modification of playback based on the proximity of a user to a playback device. An example technique involves a device determining that a listener is within a given proximity of a first playback device and based on determining that the listener is within the given proximity of the first playback device, causing the first playback device to begin playback of first media and causing a second playback device to modify playback of second media. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mobile device comprising: at least one processor; data storage; and a program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the at least one processor to perform functions comprising: causing a graphical user interface on the mobile device to display a first control interface comprising an indication of (i) an identifier of a first playback device and (ii) a characteristic of the first playback device, wherein the characteristic is an indication of at least one media item queued from the first playback device; determining that the mobile device is within a given proximity of a second playback device; and based on determining that the mobile device is within the given proximity of the second playback device: (a) causing the second playback device to begin playback of second media; (b) causing the first playback device to modify playback of first media; and (c) based on causing the second playback device to begin playback of the second media, transitioning the graphical user interface on the mobile device from displaying the first control interface to displaying a second control interface comprising an indication of (i) an identifier of the second playback device and (ii) a characteristic of the second playback device, wherein the characteristic is an indication of at least one media item queued from the second playback device, such that the graphical user interface ceases to display the (i) the identifier of the first playback device and (ii) the characteristic of the first playback device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, the functions further comprising: determining that the mobile device is not within a given proximity of the first playback device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, the functions further comprising: receiving, via a radio interface, a radio transmission indicating the second playback device, wherein determining that the mobile device is within the given proximity of the second playback device comprises determining that the mobile device is within the given proximity of the second playback device based on the received radio transmission. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein causing the first playback device to modify playback of the first media comprises causing the first playback device to stop playback of the first media. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein causing the first playback device to modify playback of the first media comprises causing the first playback device to reduce a volume of playback of the first media. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first media and the second media are the same media. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein causing the second playback device to begin playback of second media comprising causing a group of playback devices comprising the second playback device to begin playback of second media. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first control interface and the second control interface are substantially full-screen control interfaces. ### Claim 9 Tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a mobile device to perform a method comprising: causing a graphical user interface on the mobile device to display a first control interface comprising an indication of (i) an identifier of a first playback device and (ii) a characteristic of the first playback device, wherein the characteristic is an indication of at least one media item queued from the first playback device; determining that the mobile device is within a given proximity of a second playback device; and based on determining that the mobile device is within the given proximity of the second playback device: (a) causing the second playback device to begin playback of second media; (b) causing the first playback device to modify playback of first media; and (c) based on causing the second playback device to begin playback of the second media, transitioning the graphical user interface on the mobile device from displaying the first control interface to displaying a second control interface comprising an indication of (i) an identifier of the second playback device and (ii) a characteristic of the second playback device, wherein the characteristic is an indication of at least one media item queued from the second playback device, such that the graphical user interface ceases to display the (i) the identifier of the first playback device and (ii) the characteristic of the first playback device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 9, the method further comprising: receiving, via a radio interface, a radio transmission indicating the second playback device, wherein determining that the mobile device is within the given proximity of the second playback device comprises determining that the mobile device is within the given proximity of the second playback device based on the received radio transmission. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein causing the first playback device to modify playback of the first media comprises causing the first playback device to stop playback of the first media. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the first media and the second media are the same media. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the first control interface and the second control interface are substantially full-screen control interfaces. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein causing the first playback device to modify playback of the first media comprises: causing the first playback device to reduce a volume of playback of the first media. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: causing a graphical user interface on a mobile device to display a first control interface comprising an indication of (i) an identifier of a first playback device and (ii) a characteristic of the first playback device, wherein the characteristic is an indication of at least one media item queued from the first playback device; determining, via the mobile device, that the mobile device is within a given proximity of a second playback device; and based on determining that the mobile device is within the given proximity of the second playback device: (a) causing the second playback device to begin playback of second media; (b) causing the first playback device to modify playback of first media; and (c) based on causing the second playback device to begin playback of the second media, transitioning the graphical user interface on the mobile device from displaying the first control interface to displaying a second control interface comprising an indication of (i) an identifier of the second playback device and (ii) a characteristic of the second playback device, wherein the characteristic is an indication of at least one media item queued from the second playback device, such that the graphical user interface ceases to display the (i) the identifier of the first playback device and (ii) the characteristic of the first playback device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving, via a radio interface, a radio transmission indicating the second playback device, wherein determining that the mobile device is within the given proximity of the second playback device comprises determining that the mobile device is within the given proximity of the second playback device based on the received radio transmission. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein causing the first playback device to modify playback of the second media comprises causing the first playback device to stop playback of the first media. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first media and the second media are the same media. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first control interface and the second control interface are substantially full-screen control interfaces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein causing the first playback device to modify playback of the first media comprises: causing the first playback device to reduce a volume of playback of the first media.