Contextualization of voice inputs

A first playback device of a first zone of a media playback system, the first playback device comprising:

• a microphone array;
• a network interface;
• one or more processors;
• and
• computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:
• recording, via the microphone array, first audio data indicating a voice command, wherein a second playback device of a second zone of the media playback system records, via a microphone array of the second playback device, second audio data indicating the voice command;
• identifying, based on the recorded first audio data, a first characteristic of the voice command, the first characteristic comprising a sound pressure level of the voice command as detected by the microphone array of the first playback device;
• receiving, via the network interface, from the second playback device, contextual information, wherein the contextual information comprises a second characteristic of the voice command, the second characteristic comprising a sound pressure level of the voice command as detected by the microphone array of the second playback device;
• based on the contextual information, determining that the sound pressure level of the voice command as detected by the microphone array of the first playback device is greater than the sound pressure level of the voice command as detected by the microphone array of the second playback device;
• in response to the determining, querying one or more servers of a voice assistant service with the voice command;
• receiving, via the network interface in response to the query, a playback command corresponding to the voice command;
• and
• playing back audio content according to the playback command via one or more amplifiers configured to drive one or more speakers.

A method comprising:

• recording, via a microphone array of a first playback device of a first zone of a media playback system, first audio data indicating a voice command, wherein a second playback device of a second zone of the media playback system records, via a microphone array of the second playback device, second audio data indicating the voice command;
• identifying, based on the recorded first audio data, a first characteristic of the voice command, the first characteristic comprising a sound pressure level of the voice command as detected by the microphone array of the first playback device;
• receiving, via a network interface of the first playback device from the second playback device, contextual information, wherein the contextual information comprises a second characteristic of the voice command, the second characteristic comprising a sound pressure level of the voice command as detected by the microphone array of the second playback device;
• based on the contextual information, determining that the sound pressure level of the voice command as detected by the microphone array of the first playback device is greater than the sound pressure level of the voice command as detected by the microphone array of the second playback device;
• in response to the determining, querying one or more servers of a voice assistant service with the voice command;
• receiving, via the network interface in response to the query, a playback command corresponding to the voice command;
• and
• playing back audio content according to the playback command via one or more amplifiers configured to drive one or more speakers.