# US 10,771,909 B2 · Acoustic signatures in a playback system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,771,909 B2 - Document ID: US10771909B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/102,689 - Filed: 2018-08-13 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-07 - Assignees: Sonos, Inc. - Applicants: Sonos, Inc. - Inventors: Robert Reimann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771909B2 ## CPC - H04R 29/007: {for public address systems (public address systems per se H04R27/00)} - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G06F 16/60: of audio data - H03F 3/181: Low-frequency amplifiers, e.g. audio preamplifiers - H03G 5/165: {Equalizers; Volume or gain control in limited frequency bands} - H04N 21/42203: {sound input device, e.g. microphone} - 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 21/4852: {for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo} - 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) - G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) - H04N 21/4524: {involving the geographical location of the client (retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00)} - H04R 2227/003: Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet - H04R 2227/005: Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - 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) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H03F: AMPLIFIERS - H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Embodiments described herein provide for acoustic signatures in a playback system. As example implementation involves receiving from a microphone of the controller device, an audio signal played by a playback device, the audio signal indicating network information corresponding to the playback device. The example implementation further involves identifying the playback device based on the network information and responsively, modifying a user interface on the controller device based on the identification of the playback device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Tangible non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions executable by one or more processors, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a computing device to perform functions comprising: detecting a first acoustic signature within a first audio signal, wherein the first acoustic signature identifies a first set of one or more playback devices; detecting a second acoustic signature within a second audio signal, wherein the second acoustic signature identifies a second set of one or more playback devices; determining whether a received power of the first acoustic signature or the second acoustic signature is greater; in response to determining that the received power of the first acoustic signature is greater, modifying a graphical user interface to display a first screen comprising a first set of controls configured to control the first set of one or more playback devices; and in response to determining that the received power of the second acoustic signature is greater, modifying the graphical user interface to display a second screen comprising a second set of controls configured to control the second set of one or more playback devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tangible non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the functions further comprise: after determining that the computing device is closer to the first set of one or more playback devices and modifying the graphical user interface to display the first screen configured to control the first set of one or more playback devices, later determining that the computing device has moved closer to the second set of one or more playback devices than the first set of one or more playback devices; and in response to determining that the computing device has moved closer to the second set of one or more playback devices than the first set of one or more playback devices, modifying the graphical user interface from displaying the first screen configured to control the first set of one or more playback devices to displaying the second screen configured to control the second set of one or more playback devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tangible non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the functions further comprise: after modifying the graphical user interface from displaying the first screen configured to control the first set of one or more playback devices to displaying the second screen configured to control the second set of one or more playback devices, later determining that the computing device has moved back closer to the first set of one or more playback devices than the second set of one or more playback devices; and in response to determining that the computing device has moved back closer to the first set of one or more playback devices than the second set of one or more playback devices, modifying the graphical user interface from displaying the second screen configured to control the second set of one or more playback devices back to displaying the first screen configured to control the first set of one or more playback devices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tangible non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal comprises a frequency that is outside a frequency range detectable by a human. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tangible non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal comprises a frequency between about 20-40 Hz. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tangible non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic signature is one of a frequency modulated (FM) or amplitude modulated (AM) signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tangible non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic signature additionally identifies one or more configuration parameters of the first set of one or more playback devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tangible non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the first set of one or more playback devices comprises two playback devices configured to play audio content in synchrony with each other as a first synchrony group, and wherein the first audio signature identifies the first synchrony group comprising the two playback devices. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tangible non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the first audio signal is played back by at least one playback device of the first set of one or more playback devices at a given output level, and wherein the second audio signal is played back by at least one playback device of the second set of one or more playback devices at the given output level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tangible non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the first audio signal is played back by at least one playback device of the first set of one or more playback devices at a first output level, and wherein the second audio signal is played back by at least one playback device of the second set of one or more playback devices at a second output level. ### Claim 11 A method performed by a computing device, the method comprising: detecting a first acoustic signature within a first audio signal, wherein the first acoustic signature identifies a first set of one or more playback devices; detecting a second acoustic signature within a second audio signal, wherein the second acoustic signature identifies a second set of one or more playback devices; determining whether a received power of the first acoustic signature or the second acoustic signature is greater; in response to determining that the received power of the first acoustic signature is greater, modifying a graphical user interface to display a first screen comprising a first set of controls configured to control the first set of one or more playback devices; and in response to determining that the received power of the second acoustic signature is greater, modifying the graphical user interface to display a second screen comprising a second set of controls configured to control the second set of one or more playback devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: after determining that the computing device is closer to the first set of one or more playback devices and modifying the graphical user interface to display the first screen configured to control the first set of one or more playback devices, later determining that the computing device has moved closer to the second set of one or more playback devices than the first set of one or more playback devices; and in response to determining that the computing device has moved closer to the second set of one or more playback devices than the first set of one or more playback devices, modifying the graphical user interface from displaying the first screen configured to control the first set of one or more playback devices to displaying the second screen configured to control the second set of one or more playback devices. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: after modifying the graphical user interface from displaying the first screen configured to control the first set of one or more playback devices to displaying the second screen configured to control the second set of one or more playback devices, later determining that the computing device has moved back closer to the first set of one or more playback devices than the second set of one or more playback devices; and in response to determining that the computing device has moved back closer to the first set of one or more playback devices than the second set of one or more playback devices, modifying the graphical user interface from displaying the second screen configured to control the second set of one or more playback devices back to displaying the first screen configured to control the first set of one or more playback devices. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal comprises a frequency that is outside a frequency range detectable by a human. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal comprises a frequency between about 20-40 Hz. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first acoustic signature is one of a frequency modulated (FM) or amplitude modulated (AM) signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first acoustic signature additionally identifies one or more configuration parameters of the first set of one or more playback devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of one or more playback devices comprises two playback devices configured to play audio content in synchrony with each other as a first synchrony group, and wherein the first audio signature identifies the first synchrony group comprising the two playback devices. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio signal is played back by at least one playback device of the first set of one or more playback devices at a given output level, and wherein the second audio signal is played back by at least one playback device of the second set of one or more playback devices at the given output level. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first audio signal is played back by at least one playback device of the first set of one or more playback devices at a first output level, and wherein the second audio signal is played back by at least one playback device of the second set of one or more playback devices at a second output level.