# US 10,871,938 B2 · Playback device using standby mode in a media playback system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,938 B2 - Document ID: US10871938B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/042,551 - Filed: 2018-07-23 - Published: 2018-12-06 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-30 - Assignees: Sonos, Inc. - Applicants: Sonos, Inc. - Inventors: Hrishikesh Gossain; Benjamin Ari Tober - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871938B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - G06F 1/3206: Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality - G06F 1/3209: Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections - G06F 16/951: Indexing; Web crawling techniques - H04L 12/12: Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof - H04L 2101/622: Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses - Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Example embodiments involve a standby mode of a playback device. An example implementation involves a first playback device receiving, while an audio processing component of the first playback device is in a standby mode, a first packet over a network. The audio processing component consumes relatively less power in standby mode compared with an active mode. In response to receiving the first packet, the first playback device exits the standby mode, and enters the active mode. Entering the active mode enables the audio processing component of the first playback device. The first playback device also broadcasts over the network a second packet comprising a payload that is associated with a destination address. After receiving the first packet, the first playback device forwards packets to a second playback device. Once the first playback device is no longer forwarding the packets, the first playback device enters the standby mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A first playback device comprising: one or more processors; tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the first playback device, cause the first playback device to perform a method comprising: receiving, while an audio processing component of the first playback device is in a standby mode, a first packet over a network, wherein the audio processing component consumes less power in standby mode than the audio processing component consumes in an active mode; in response to receiving the first packet, (i) exiting the standby mode, and entering the active mode, wherein entering the active mode comprises enabling the audio processing component of the first playback device and (ii) broadcasting a second packet over the network, wherein the second packet comprises a payload that is associated with a destination address; and after receiving the first packet, (i) forwarding packets over the network to a second playback device, (ii) after forwarding the packets, determining that the first playback device is no longer forwarding the packets, and (iii) in response to the determination, exiting the active mode and entering the standby mode, wherein exiting the active mode and entering the standby mode comprises causing, to enter a low-power mode, at least one of (a) a digital signal processor, (b) a digital-to-analog converter, (c) an audio preprocessing component, or (d) an audio enhancement component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The first playback device of claim 1, wherein enabling the audio processing component of the first playback device comprises causing, to exit the low-power mode, at least one of (a) a digital signal processor, (b) a digital-to-analog converter, (c) an audio preprocessing component, or (d) an audio enhancement component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The first playback device of claim 1, wherein broadcasting the second packet that includes the payload that is associated with the destination address comprises transmitting the second packet to the second playback device to cause an audio processing component of the second playback device to exit the standby mode and enter the active mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The first playback device of claim 3, wherein the first packet includes a payload that is associated with the destination address. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The first playback device of claim 3, wherein the destination address is a MAC broadcast address. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The first playback device of claim 1, wherein determining that the first playback device is no longer forwarding the packets comprises determining over a period of time whether a number of packets received by the first playback device exceeds a threshold number of packets. ### Claim 7 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution by one or more processors, the set of instructions, when executed, cause a first playback device to: receive, while an audio processing component of the first playback device is in a standby mode, a first packet over a network, wherein the audio processing component consumes less power in standby mode than the audio processing component consumes in an active mode; in response to receiving the first packet, (i) exit the standby mode, and enter the active mode, wherein entering the active mode comprises enabling the audio processing component of the first playback device and (ii) broadcast a second packet over the network, wherein the second packet comprises a payload that is associated with a destination address; and after receiving the first packet, (i) forward packets over the network to a second playback device, (ii) after forwarding the packets, determine that the first playback device is no longer forwarding the packets, and (iii) in response to the determination, exit the active mode and enter the standby mode, wherein exiting the active mode and entering the standby mode comprises causing, to enter a low-power mode, at least one of (a) a digital signal processor, (b) a digital-to-analog converter, (c) an audio preprocessing component, or (d) an audio enhancement component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein enabling the audio processing component of the first playback device comprises causing, to exit the low-power mode, at least one of (a) a digital signal processor, (b) a digital-to-analog converter, (c) an audio preprocessing component, or (d) an audio enhancement component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein broadcasting the second packet that includes the payload that is associated with the destination address comprises transmitting the second packet to the second playback device to cause the second playback device to cause an audio processing component of the second playback device to exit the standby mode and enter the active mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first packet includes a payload that is associated with the destination address. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the destination address is a MAC broadcast address. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein determining that the first playback device is no longer forwarding the packets comprises determining over a period of time whether a number of packets received by the first playback device exceeds a threshold number of packets. ### Claim 13 A method comprising: receiving, while an audio processing component of a first playback device is in a standby mode, a first packet over a network, wherein the audio processing component consumes less power in standby mode than the audio processing component consumes in an active mode; in response to receiving the first packet, (i) exiting the standby mode, and entering the active mode, wherein entering the active mode comprises enabling the audio processing component of the first playback device and (ii) broadcasting a second packet over the network, wherein the second packet comprises a payload that is associated with a destination address; and after receiving the first packet, (i) forwarding packets over the network to a second playback device, (ii) after forwarding the packets, determining that the first playback device is no longer forwarding the packets, and (iii) in response to the determination, exiting the active mode and entering the standby mode, wherein exiting the active mode and entering the standby mode comprises causing, to enter a low-power mode, at least one of (a) a digital signal processor, (b) a digital-to-analog converter, (c) an audio preprocessing component, or (d) an audio enhancement component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein enabling the audio processing component of the first playback device comprises causing, to exit the low-power mode, at least one of (a) a digital signal processor, (b) a digital-to-analog converter, (c) an audio preprocessing component, or (d) an audio enhancement component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein broadcasting the second packet that includes the payload that is associated with the destination address comprises transmitting the second packet to the second playback device to cause an audio processing component of the second playback device to exit the standby mode and enter the active mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first packet includes a payload that is associated with the destination address. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein determining that the first playback device is no longer forwarding the packets comprises determining over a period of time whether a number of packets received by the first playback device exceeds a threshold number of packets.