US 10,649,718 B2 · Interoperability of native media playback system with virtual line-in

Abstract

Example systems and techniques disclosed herein facilitate interoperability between different media playback systems referred to herein as a virtual line-in (VLI) media playback system and a native playback system. When a VLI session is created by a VLI sender, a first native playback device can join a VLI group as a VLI receiver. As a VLI receiver, the first native playback device receives audio content and playback commands from the VLI sender to facilitate synchronous playback with other VLI receivers. At the same time, this native playback device can concurrently operate as a native domain group coordinator of a native domain synchrony group. As the native domain group coordinator, the native playback device translates VLI domain audio, control, and timing signals into the native domain and distributes such signals to native domain group members. In this way, the native domain group members can synchronize their playback with the VLI group.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising a first native playback device configured as a first Virtual Line-In (VLI) receiver of a VLI group, wherein the VLI group is configured to (i) receive, via an input interface of a first VLI device configured as a VLI sender of the VLI group, user input to perform a mute operation, the mute operation corresponding to a first VLI domain mute command to set volume level to a pre-defined inaudible volume level and (ii) send, via a network interface of the first VLI device, the first VLI domain mute command, and wherein the first native playback device is configured to perform functions as the first VLI receiver of the VLI group, the functions comprising:

receiving, via a network interface of the first native playback device, the first VLI domain mute command;
translating the first VLI domain mute command to one or more corresponding first native domain mute commands, wherein the one or more corresponding first native domain mute commands comprise:
(i) enabling a native domain mute state on the first native playback device, (ii) storing a current native domain volume level of the first native playback device, and (iii) setting the native domain volume level to zero;
and
in response to receiving the first VLI domain mute command, carrying out the one or more corresponding first native domain mute commands to perform the mute operation on the first VLI receiver.

2 more elements

A method to be performed by a first native playback device configured to perform the method as a first Virtual Line-In (VLI) receiver of a VLI group, wherein the VLI group is configured to (i) receive, via an input interface of a first VLI device configured as a VLI sender of the VLI group, user input to perform a mute operation, the mute operation corresponding to a first VLI domain mute command to set volume level to a pre-defined inaudible volume level and (ii) send, via a network interface of the first VLI device, the first VLI domain mute command, and wherein the method comprises:

receiving, via a network interface of the first native playback device, the first VLI domain mute command;
translating the first VLI domain mute command to one or more corresponding first native domain mute commands, wherein the one or more corresponding first native domain mute commands comprise:
(i) enabling a native domain mute state on the first native playback device, (ii) storing a current native domain volume level of the first native playback device, and (iii) setting the native domain volume level to zero;
and
in response to receiving the first VLI domain mute command, carrying out the one or more corresponding first native domain mute commands to perform the mute operation on the first VLI receiver.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interoperability of native media playback system with virtual line-in

Life of this patent

Interoperability of native media playback system with virtual line-in

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20