Playback based on number of listeners

Tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a playback device to perform functions comprising:

• detecting, at a first time, a first number of listeners in a listening area, wherein detecting the first number of listeners comprises receiving, via a network interface of one or more location sensors, network packets transmitted from a mobile device associated with a first listener, wherein the detected first number of listeners is one, and the playback device comprises a housing carrying the one or more location sensors;
• determining a first audio characteristic that adjusts a sound field generated by one or more speakers of the playback device to create a first sweet spot that includes a location of the first listener relative to the playback device;
• processing, via a digital signal processor of the playback device, an audio signal for playback according to the first audio characteristic, wherein the housing carries the digital signal processor;
• while processing the audio signal for playback according to the first audio characteristic, detecting, at a second time, a second number of listeners in the listening area, wherein detecting the second number of listeners comprises receiving, via the network interface of the one or more location sensors, network packets transmitted from respective mobile devices associated with two or more second listeners, and wherein the detected second number of listeners is greater than one;
• determining a second audio characteristic that adjusts the sound field generated by the one or more speakers to create a second sweet spot that includes respective locations of the two or more second listeners;
• after determining the second audio characteristic, processing, via the digital signal processor, the audio signal for playback according to the second audio characteristic;
• and
• playing the processed audio signal via one or more speakers and at least one amplifier according to the second audio characteristic, wherein the housing carries the one or more speakers and the at least one amplifier.

A method to be performed by a playback device, the method comprising

• detecting, at a first time, a first number of listeners in a listening area, wherein detecting the first number of listeners comprises receiving, via a network interface of one or more location sensors, network packets transmitted from a mobile device associated with a first listener, wherein the detected first number of listeners is one, and the playback device comprises a housing carrying the one or more location sensors;
• determining a first audio characteristic that adjusts a sound field generated by one or more speakers to create a first sweet spot that includes a location of the first listener relative to the playback device;
• processing, via a digital signal processor of the playback device, an audio signal for playback according to the first audio characteristic, wherein the housing carries the digital signal processor;
• while processing the audio signal for playback according to the first audio characteristic, detecting, at a second time, a second number of listeners in the listening area, wherein detecting the second number of listeners comprises receiving, via the network interface of the one or more location sensors, network packets transmitted from respective mobile devices associated with two or more second listeners, and wherein the detected second number of listeners is greater than one;
• determining, via the playback device, a second audio characteristic that adjusts the sound field generated by the one or more speakers to create a second sweet spot that includes respective locations of the two or more second listeners;
• after determining the second audio characteristic, processing, via the digital signal processor of the playback device, the audio signal for playback according to the second audio characteristic;
• and
• playing the processed audio signal via one or more speakers and at least one amplifier according to the second audio characteristic, wherein the housing carries the one or more speakers and the at least one amplifier.