# US 10,484,807 B2 · Zone scene management

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- Number: US 10,484,807 B2
- Document ID: US10484807B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/383,561
- Filed: 2019-04-12
- Published: 2019-08-01
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2006-09-12
- Assignees: Sonos, Inc.
- Applicants: Sonos, Inc.
- Inventors: Robert A. Lambourne
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484807B2

## CPC

- H04R 27/00: Public address systems (circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; {monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007}; amplifiers H03F)
- G05B 15/02: electric
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 3/16: Sound input; Sound output (speech processing G10L)
- G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path}
- H03G 1/02: Remote control of amplification, tone or bandwidth (combined with remote tuning or selection of resonant circuits H03J)
- H03G 7/00: Volume compression or expansion in amplifiers {(frequency dependent H03G9/025)}
- H04H 60/80: characterised by transmission among terminal devices
- 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)}
- H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)}
- H04R 2227/005: Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
- H04R 2430/01: Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
- 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)
- 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)
- H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION
- H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An example playback device in a first zone of a media playback system receives a first indication that the first zone has been added to a first zone scene including a first preconfigured grouping of zones including the first zone and a second zone. The playback device receives a second indication that the first zone has been added to a second zone scene including a second preconfigured grouping of zones including the first zone and a third zone. After a given one of the first and second zone scenes has been selected for invocation, the playback device receives an instruction to operate in accordance with the given zone scene, and based on the instruction, begins operating in accordance with the given zone scene such that the playback device is configured to play back audio in synchrony with one or more other playback devices in the media playback system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A first zone player comprising:
a network interface that is configured to communicatively couple the first zone player to at least one data network;
one or more processors;
a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first zone player to perform functions comprising:
while operating in a standalone mode in which the first zone player is configured to play back media individually in a networked media playback system comprising the first zone player and at least two other zone players:
(i) receiving, from a network device over a data network, a first indication that the first zone player has been added to a first zone scene comprising a first predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and a second zone player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the first zone scene is invoked; and
(ii) receiving, from the network device over the data network, a second indication that the first zone player has been added to a second zone scene comprising a second predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and a third zone player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the second zone scene is invoked, wherein the second zone player is different than the third zone player;
after receiving the first and second indications, continuing to operate in the standalone mode until a given one of the first and second zone scenes has been selected for invocation;
after the given one of the first and second zone scenes has been selected for invocation, receiving, from the network device over the data network, an instruction to operate in accordance with a given one of the first and second zone scenes respectively comprising a given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players; and
based on the instruction, transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least one other zone player in the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players over a data network in order to output media in synchrony with output of media by the at least one other zone player in the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The first zone player of claim 1, wherein the instruction to operate in accordance with the given one of the first and second zone scenes comprises an instruction to operate in accordance with the first zone scene, and
wherein transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players comprises transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the second zone player to play back output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The first zone player of claim 2, wherein the instruction is a first instruction, and wherein the first zone player further comprises program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first zone player to perform functions comprising:
while operating in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players, receiving, from the network device over the data network, a second instruction to operate in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players; and
based on the second instruction, (a) ceasing to operate in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is no longer configured to coordinate with at least the second zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player and (b) beginning to operate in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the third zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the third zone player.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The first zone player of claim 2, wherein the first zone scene
further comprises an indication of predetermined media to be played when the first zone scene is invoked, and wherein the first zone player further comprises program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first zone player to perform functions comprising:
based on the instruction, coordinating with at least the second zone player to output the predetermined media in synchrony with output of the predetermined media with at least the second zone player.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The first zone player of claim 1, wherein the instruction to operate in accordance with the given one of the first and second zone scenes comprises an instruction to operate in accordance with the second zone scene, and wherein transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players comprises transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the third zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the third zone player.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The first zone player of claim 5, wherein the instruction is a first instruction, and wherein the first zone player further comprises program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first zone player to perform functions comprising:
while operating in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players, receiving, from the network device over the data network, a second instruction to operate in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players; and
based on the second instruction, (a) ceasing to operate in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is no longer configured to coordinate with at least the third zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the third zone player and (b) beginning to operate in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the second zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The first zone player of claim 1, wherein the first predefined grouping of zone players does not include the third zone player, and wherein the second predefined grouping of zone players does not include the second zone player.

### Claim 8

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is provisioned with program instructions that are executable to cause a first zone player to perform functions comprising:
while operating in a standalone mode in which the first zone player is configured to play back media individually in a networked media playback system comprising the first zone player and at least two other zone players:
(i) receiving, from a network device over a data network, a first indication that the first zone player has been added to a first zone scene comprising a first predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and a second zone player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the first zone scene is invoked; and
(ii) receiving, from the network device over the data network, a second indication that the first zone player has been added to a second zone scene comprising a second predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and a third zone player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the second zone scene is invoked, wherein the second zone player is different than the third zone player;
after receiving the first and second indications, continuing to operate in the standalone mode until a given one of the first and second zone scenes has been selected for invocation;
after the given one of the first and second zone scenes has been selected for invocation, receiving, from the network device over the data network, an instruction to operate in accordance with a given one of the first and second zone scenes respectively comprising a given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players; and
based on the instruction, transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least one other zone player in the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players over a data network in order to output media in synchrony with output of media by the at least one other zone player in the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instruction to operate in accordance with the given one of the first and second zone scenes comprises an instruction to operate in accordance with the first zone scene, and wherein transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players comprises transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the second zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instruction is a first instruction, and wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first zone player to perform functions comprising:
while operating in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players, receiving, from the network device over the data network, a second instruction to operate in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players; and
based on the second instruction, (a) ceasing to operate in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is no longer configured to coordinate with at least the second zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player and (b) beginning to operate in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the third zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the third zone player.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first zone scene further comprises an indication of predetermined media to be played when the first zone scene is invoked, and wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first zone player to perform functions comprising:
based on the instruction, coordinating with at least the second zone player to output the predetermined media in synchrony with output of the predetermined media by at least the second zone player.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instruction to operate in accordance with the given one of the first and second zone scenes comprises an instruction to operate in accordance with the second zone scene, and wherein transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players comprises transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the third zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the third zone player.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instruction is a first instruction, and wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is also provisioned with program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first zone player to perform functions comprising:
while operating in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players, receiving, from the network device over the data network, a second instruction to operate in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players; and
based on the second instruction, (a) ceasing to operate in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is no longer configured to coordinate with at least the third zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the third zone player and (b) beginning to operate in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the second zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first predefined grouping of zone players does not include the third zone player, and wherein the second predefined grouping of zone players does not include the second zone player.

### Claim 15

A method executed by a first zone player, the method comprising:
while operating in a standalone mode in which the first zone player is configured to play back media individually in a networked media playback system comprising the first zone player and at least two other zone players:
(i) receiving, from a network device over a data network, a first indication that the first zone player has been added to a first zone scene comprising a first predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and a second zone player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the first zone scene is invoked; and
(ii) receiving, from the network device over the data network, a second indication that the first zone player has been added to a second zone scene comprising a second predefined grouping of zone players including at least the first zone player and a third zone player that are to be configured for synchronous playback of media when the second zone scene is invoked, wherein the second zone player is different than the third zone player;
after receiving the first and second indications, continuing to operate in the standalone mode until a given one of the first and second zone scenes has been selected for invocation;
after the given one of the first and second zone scenes has been selected for invocation, receiving, from the network device over the data network, an instruction to operate in accordance with a given one of the first and second zone scenes respectively comprising a given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players; and
based on the instruction, transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least one other zone player in the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players over a data network in order to output media in synchrony with output of media by the at least one other zone player in the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the instruction to operate in accordance with the given one of the first and second zone scenes comprises an instruction to operate in accordance with the first zone scene, and wherein transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players comprises transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the second zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the instruction is a first instruction, the method further comprising:
while operating in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players, receiving, from the network device over the data network, a second instruction to operate in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players; and
based on the second instruction, (a) ceasing to operate in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is no longer configured to coordinate with at least the second zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player and (b) beginning to operate in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the third zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the third zone player.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the first zone scene further comprises an indication of predetermined media to be played when the first zone scene is invoked, the method further comprising:
based on the instruction, coordinating with at least the second zone player to output the predetermined media in synchrony with output of the predetermined media by at least the second zone player.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the instruction to operate in accordance with the given one of the first and second zone scenes comprises an instruction to operate in accordance with the second zone scene, and wherein transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the given one of the first and second predefined groupings of zone players comprises transitioning from operating in the standalone mode to operating in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the third zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the third zone player.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the instruction is a first instruction, the method further comprising:
while operating in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players, receiving, from the network device over the data network, a second instruction to operate in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players; and
based on the second instruction, (a) ceasing to operate in accordance with the second predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is no longer configured to coordinate with at least the third zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the third zone player and (b) beginning to operate in accordance with the first predefined grouping of zone players such that the first zone player is configured to coordinate with at least the second zone player to output media in synchrony with output of media by at least the second zone player.