# US 10,872,194 B2 · Remote creation of a playback queue for a future event > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,872,194 B2 - Document ID: US10872194B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/516,767 - Filed: 2019-07-19 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-05 - Assignees: Sonos, Inc. - Applicants: Sonos, Inc. - Inventors: Jaime Munoz; Jonathan D. Garn; Michael Lemmon; Dave Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10872194B2 ## CPC - G06F 40/134: Hyperlinking - G06F 16/639: {using playlists} - G06F 40/169: Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes - H04N 21/26258: {for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list (retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40)} - H04N 21/2668: Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles {(information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063)} - H04N 21/4825: {using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Example embodiments involve remote creation of a playback queue for an event. An example implementation involves a computing device receiving, via a control interface, input data representing a request to create a playlist for an event at a particular future time and date and a designation of multiple invitees to the event and sending, via a network interface to a cloud computing system, instructions representing the request. The instructions cause the cloud server(s) to send, to multiple second mobile devices corresponding to the multiple invitees, one or more respective invitations to the event. Each invitation indicates: (i) a future time and date for the event and (ii) a link to a web interface including user interface controls to add audio tracks to the playlist for the event. During the event, the computing device causes the playlist to be queued in a queue of a media playback system for playback. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method to be performed by a computing device, the method comprising: receiving, via a control interface displayed on a graphical display, input data representing a request to create a playlist for an event at a particular future time and date and a designation of multiple invitees to the event; in response to receiving the input data, sending, via a network interface to a cloud computing system comprising one or more cloud servers, instructions representing the request to create the playlist for the event at the particular future time and date and the designation of multiple invitees to the event, wherein the instructions cause the one or more cloud servers to send, to multiple second mobile devices corresponding to the multiple invitees, one or more respective invitations to the event, wherein each invitation indicates: (i) a future time and date for the event and (ii) a link to a web interface, the web interface including user interface controls to add audio tracks from a media library of a streaming media service to the playlist for the event, wherein each second mobile device of the multiple second mobile devices comprises a display; before the event, receiving, via the network interface from the cloud computing system, data indicating that at least one invitee added audio tracks from the media library of the streaming media service to the playlist for the event; displaying, on the graphical display, a graphical indication of the at least one invitee that added audio tracks from the media library of the streaming media service to the playlist for the event; and during the event, causing, via the network interface, the playlist to be queued in a queue of a media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system, wherein each playback device of the one or more playback devices (i) excludes a display and (ii) comprise a respective amplifier to drive one or more speakers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein causing the playlist to be queued in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system comprises: sending, via the network interface to the cloud computing system, instructions to queue the playlist in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the network interface from the cloud computing system, data representing the playlist, wherein causing the playlist to be queued in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system comprises: sending, via the network interface to a given playback device of the one or more playback devices, instructions to queue the playlist in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the network interface from the cloud computing system, a message including a link to the web interface including user interface controls to add audio tracks from the media library of the streaming media service to the playlist for the event; receiving, via the web interface displayed on the graphical display, input data indicating one or more particular audio tracks selected via the web interface; and sending, via the network interface to the cloud computing system, instructions to add the particular audio tracks selected via the web interface to the playlist for the event. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the media playback system comprises multiple playback devices configured to play back the queue in synchrony in a party mode, wherein causing the playlist to be queued in the queue of the media playback system comprises causing the playlist to be queued in a local queue stored on at least one of the multiple playback devices for playback in synchrony by the multiple playback devices during the event, and wherein the multiple playback devices are interconnected via a local area network in a given household. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: during the event, displaying an updated web interface on the graphical display, the updated web interface including (i) an indication of the queue of the media playback system and (ii) an indication of a currently playing audio track of the queue. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: before sending the invitations to the event, receiving, via the control interface displayed on the graphical display, input data indicating one or more initial audio tracks selected via the control interface; and in response to receiving the input data indicating one or more initial audio tracks selected via the control interface, sending, via the network interface to the cloud computing system, instructions to add the one or more initial audio tracks selected via the control interface to the playlist. ### Claim 8 A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computing device to perform functions comprising: receiving, via a control interface displayed on a graphical display, input data representing a request to create a playlist for an event at a particular future time and date and a designation of multiple invitees to the event; in response to receiving the input data, sending, via a network interface to a cloud computing system comprising one or more cloud servers, instructions representing the request to create the playlist for the event at the particular future time and date and the designation of multiple invitees to the event, wherein the instructions cause the one or more cloud servers to send, to multiple second mobile devices corresponding to the multiple invitees, one or more respective invitations to the event, wherein each invitation indicates: (i) a future time and date for the event and (ii) a link to a web interface, the web interface including user interface controls to add audio tracks from a media library of a streaming media service to the playlist for the event, wherein each second mobile device of the multiple second mobile devices comprises a display; before the event, receiving, via the network interface from the cloud computing system, data indicating that at least one invitee added audio tracks from the media library of the streaming media service to the playlist for the event; displaying, on the graphical display, a graphical indication of the at least one invitee that added audio tracks from the media library of the streaming media service to the playlist for the event; and during the event, causing, via the network interface, the playlist to be queued in a queue of a media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system, wherein each playback device of the one or more playback devices (i) excludes a display and (ii) comprise a respective amplifier to drive one or more speakers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein causing the playlist to be queued in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system comprises: sending, via the network interface to the cloud computing system, instructions to queue the playlist in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise: receiving, via the network interface from the cloud computing system, data representing the playlist, wherein causing the playlist to be queued in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system comprises: sending, via the network interface to a given playback device of the one or more playback devices, instructions to queue the playlist in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise: receiving, via the network interface from the cloud computing system, a message including a link to the web interface including user interface controls to add audio tracks from the media library of the streaming media service to the playlist for the event; receiving, via the web interface displayed on the graphical display, input data indicating one or more particular audio tracks selected via the web interface; and sending, via the network interface to the cloud computing system, instructions to add the particular audio tracks selected via the web interface to the playlist for the event. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the media playback system comprises multiple playback devices configured to play back the queue in synchrony in a party mode, wherein causing the playlist to be queued in the queue of the media playback system comprises causing the playlist to be queued in a local queue stored on at least one of the multiple playback devices for playback in synchrony by the multiple playback devices during the event, and wherein the multiple playback devices are interconnected via a local area network in a given household. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise: during the event, displaying an updated web interface on the graphical display, the updated web interface including (i) an indication of the queue of the media playback system and (ii) an indication of a currently playing audio track of the queue. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise: before sending the invitations to the event, receiving, via the control interface displayed on the graphical display, input data indicating one or more initial audio tracks selected via the control interface; and in response to receiving the input data indicating one or more initial audio tracks selected via the control interface, sending, via the network interface to the cloud computing system, instructions to add the one or more initial audio tracks selected via the control interface to the playlist. ### Claim 15 A computing device comprising: at least one processor; a network interface; data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising: receiving, via a control interface displayed on a graphical display, input data representing a request to create a playlist for an event at a particular future time and date and a designation of multiple invitees to the event; in response to receiving the input data, sending, via the network interface to a cloud computing system comprising one or more cloud servers, instructions representing the request to create the playlist for the event at the particular future time and date and the designation of multiple invitees to the event, wherein the instructions cause the one or more cloud servers to send, to multiple second mobile devices corresponding to the multiple invitees, one or more respective invitations to the event, wherein each invitation indicates: (i) a future time and date for the event and (ii) a link to a web interface, the web interface including user interface controls to add audio tracks from a media library of a streaming media service to the playlist for the event, wherein each second mobile device of the multiple second mobile devices comprises a display; before the event, receiving, via the network interface from the cloud computing system, data indicating that at least one invitee added audio tracks from the media library of the streaming media service to the playlist for the event; displaying, on the graphical display, a graphical indication of the at least one invitee that added audio tracks from the media library of the streaming media service to the playlist for the event; and during the event, causing, via the network interface, the playlist to be queued in a queue of a media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system, wherein each playback device of the one or more playback devices (i) excludes a display and (ii) comprise a respective amplifier to drive one or more speakers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computing device of claim 15, wherein causing the playlist to be queued in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system comprises: sending, via the network interface to the cloud computing system, instructions to queue the playlist in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computing device of claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise: receiving, via the network interface from the cloud computing system, data representing the playlist, wherein causing the playlist to be queued in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system comprises: sending, via the network interface to a given playback device of the one or more playback devices, instructions to queue the playlist in the queue of the media playback system for playback by one or more playback devices of the media playback system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computing device of claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise: receiving, via the network interface from the cloud computing system, a message including a link to the web interface including user interface controls to add audio tracks from the media library of the streaming media service to the playlist for the event; receiving, via the web interface displayed on the graphical display, input data indicating one or more particular audio tracks selected via the web interface; and sending, via the network interface to the cloud computing system, instructions to add the particular audio tracks selected via the web interface to the playlist for the event. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computing device of claim 15, wherein the media playback system comprises multiple playback devices configured to play back the queue in synchrony in a party mode, wherein causing the playlist to be queued in the queue of the media playback system comprises causing the playlist to be queued in a local queue stored on at least one of the multiple playback devices for playback in synchrony by the multiple playback devices during the event, and wherein the multiple playback devices are interconnected via a local area network in a given household. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The computing device of claim 15, wherein the functions further comprise: before sending the invitations to the event, receiving, via the control interface displayed on the graphical display, input data indicating one or more initial audio tracks selected via the control interface; and in response to receiving the input data indicating one or more initial audio tracks selected via the control interface, sending, via the network interface to the cloud computing system, instructions to add the one or more initial audio tracks selected via the control interface to the playlist.