US 11,080,008 B2Granted

Command dial in a media playback system

AssigneeSonos, Inc.

InventorsStefan Reichert, David John McCaffree Amaranto

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Embodiments are described herein that provide a dedicated command device that is bonded to a zone player or zone to perform adjustments to the zone player or zone. In an example implementation, a command device receives an instruction to pair with a first playback device that is associated with a group of playback devices that includes the first playback device and at least one additional playback device. The group of playback devices is associated with at least one group variable controlling playback by the playback devices of the group. The command device receives an input to adjust a first group variable of the at least one group variable and transmits, via a wireless communications interface, a command that causes an adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A command device for a media playback system, the command device comprising:

a display-less control interface comprising a physical dial to control volume;
a wireless communications interface;
a processor;
data storage storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the command device to perform functions comprising:
receiving, via the wireless communications interface from a mobile device, an instruction to pair the command device with a first zone of the media playback system, wherein the first zone comprises a first playback device;
based on the instruction to pair the command device, pairing the command device to the first zone such that the physical dial to control volume is configured to control playback by the first zone;
while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a first rotation of the physical dial;
and
in response to detecting the input data representing the first rotation of the physical dial, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to cause the first playback device to adjust a volume level of the first zone in proportion to the first rotation.

6 more elements

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a one or more processors to cause a command device of a media playback system to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via a wireless communications interface from a mobile device, an instruction to pair the command device with a first zone of the media playback system, wherein the first zone comprises a first playback device, and wherein the command device comprises a display-less control interface comprising a physical dial to control volume;
based on the instruction to pair the command device, pairing the command device to the first zone such that the physical dial to control volume is configured to control playback by the first zone;
while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a first rotation of the physical dial;
and
in response to detecting the input data representing the first rotation of the physical dial, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to cause the first playback device to adjust a volume level of the first zone in proportion to the first rotation.

2 more elements

A method to be performed by a command device of a media playback system, the method comprising:

receiving, via a wireless communications interface from a mobile device, an instruction to pair the command device with a first zone of the media playback system, wherein the first zone comprises a first playback device, and wherein the command device comprises a display-less control interface comprising a physical dial to control volume;
based on the instruction to pair the command device, pairing the command device to the first zone such that the physical dial to control volume is configured to control playback by the first zone;
while paired with the first zone of the media playback system, detecting, via the display-less control interface, input data representing a first rotation of the physical dial;
and
in response to detecting the input data representing the first rotation of the physical dial, sending, via the wireless communications interface, an instruction to cause the first playback device to adjust a volume level of the first zone in proportion to the first rotation.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/806,451Filed 2 Mar 2020 · continuation
Priority: 27 Sep 2013
Published: US 2020/0201597 A125 Jun 2020
Granted: 3 Aug 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G06F 3/165
Sound input; Sound output: management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
G08C 17/02
Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link: using a radio link
H03G 3/02
Gain control in amplifiers or frequency changers: manually-operated control
H03G 3/04
Manually-operated control: in untuned amplifiers

Family

Application14/040,068Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Sep 2013
Application15/087,404Parent of this continuation · filed 31 Mar 2016
US 9,355,555 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 31 May 2016
Application15/973,227Parent of this continuation · filed 7 May 2018
US 9,965,244 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 8 May 2018
US 2020/0201597 A1Pre-grant publication · published 25 Jun 2020
US 10,579,328 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2015/0091709 A1Published application
US 2016/0216935 A1Published application
US 2018/0349089 A1Published application
US 11,080,008 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.