# US 11,122,382 B2 · Playback based on acoustic signals

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- Number: US 11,122,382 B2
- Document ID: US11122382B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/104,466
- Filed: 2020-11-25
- Published: 2021-03-18
- Granted: 2021-09-14
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-29
- Assignees: Sonos, Inc.
- Applicants: Sonos, Inc.
- Inventors: Jonathon Reilly; Niels Van Erven
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122382B2

## CPC

- H04S 7/303: {Tracking of listener position or orientation}
- G01S 3/023: {Monitoring or calibrating}
- G01S 3/80: using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
- G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path}
- H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- H04L 67/1042: using topology management mechanisms
- H04R 3/04: for correcting frequency response
- 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)
- H04R 29/001: {for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence)}
- H04R 29/008: {Visual indication of individual signal levels (visual indication of stereophonic sound image H04S7/40)}
- H04S 7/302: {Electronic adaptation of stereophonic sound system to listener position or orientation (H04S7/301 takes precedence)}
- H04R 2227/005: Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
- H04R 2430/01: Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
- H04S 7/301: {Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone}
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- 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)
- 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)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

Example techniques relate to playback based on acoustic signals in a system including a first playback device and a second playback device. A first playback device may detect a first acoustic signal. The first playback device sends, to a network device, data corresponding to the detected first acoustic signal. The network device may generate one or more instructions based on the sent data corresponding to the detected first acoustic signal and send data representing such instructions to the first playback device. Based on the instructions, the first playback device plays back audio content. Further, the second playback device may stop playing back audio content based on further instructions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising a first playback device and a second playback device, the first playback device comprising:
a microphone;
a first network interface;
at least one first processor;
at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
first program instructions stored on the at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one first processor, cause the first playback device to perform first functions comprising:
while the second playback device is playing back first audio content, detecting, via the microphone, a user-generated oratory signal;
sending, to a network device via the first network interface over a digital data network, data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal;
receiving, via the first network interface over the digital data network, one or more first commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal; and
playing back second audio content based on the one or more first commands, and
the second playback device comprising:
a second network interface;
at least one second processor;
at least one second tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
second program instructions stored on the at least one second tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one second processor, cause the second playback device to perform second functions comprising:
receiving, via the second network interface over the digital data network, one or more second commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal; and
after receiving the one or more second commands, stopping the playback of the first audio content based on the one or more second commands.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first functions further comprise:
before detecting the detected user-generated oratory signal, playing back the first audio content in synchrony with the playback of the first audio content via the second playback device in a group.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein stopping the playback of the first audio content based on the one or more second commands comprises removing the second playback device from the group.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first audio content and the second audio content each comprise different respective potions of the same audio content.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the first functions comprise playing back the first audio content before detecting the detected user-generated oratory signal, and wherein playing back the second audio content based on the one or more first commands comprises resuming playback of the same audio content.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second playback device comprises a microphone, and wherein the second functions further comprise:
while the second playback device is playing back the second audio content, detecting, via the microphone of the second playback device, an additional user-generated oratory signal;
sending, to the network device via the second network interface over the digital data network, data corresponding to the additional detected user-generated oratory signal;
receiving, via second network interface over the digital data network, one or more additional commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the additional detected user-generated oratory signal; and
playing back third audio content based on the one or more additional commands.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein playing back the second audio content based on the one or more first commands comprises playing back the second audio content in synchrony with playback of the second audio content via a third playback device in a group.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a third playback device, the third playback device comprising:
a third network interface;
at least one third processor;
at least one third tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
third program instructions stored on the at least one third tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one third processor, cause the third playback device to perform third functions comprising:
playing back the first audio content in synchrony with the playback of the first audio content in synchrony with the second playback device in a group;
receiving, via the third network interface over the digital data network, one or more third commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal; and
after receiving the one or more third commands, stopping the playback of the first audio content based on the one or more third commands.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the digital data network comprise a wide area network and a local area network, and wherein sending the data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal comprises sending, to the network device via the first network interface over the local area network and the wide area network, the data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein detecting the user-generated oratory signal comprises detecting, via the microphone, acoustic wave information representing the user-generated oratory signal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the network device comprises a controller device.

### Claim 12

A system comprising a first playback device, a second playback device, and a network device, the first playback device comprising:
a microphone;
a first network interface;
at least one first processor;
at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
first program instructions stored on the at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one first processor, cause the first playback device to perform first functions comprising:
while the second playback device is playing back first audio content, detecting, via the microphone, a user-generated oratory signal;
sending, to the network device via the first network interface over a digital data network, data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal;
receiving, via the first network interface over the digital data network, one or more first commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal; and
playing back second audio content based on the one or more first commands,
the second playback device comprising:
a second network interface;
at least one second processor;
at least one second tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
second program instructions stored on the at least one second tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one second processor, cause the second playback device to perform second functions comprising:
receiving, via the second network interface over the digital data network, one or more second commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal; and
after receiving the one or more second commands, stopping the playback of the first audio content based on the one or more second commands, and
the network device comprising:
a third network interface;
at least one third processor;
at least one third tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
third program instructions stored on the at least one third tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one third processor, cause the second playback device to perform third functions comprising:
determining the one or more first commands and one or more second commands based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal;
sending, to the first playback device via the second network interface over the digital data network, the one or more first commands; and
sending, to the second playback device via the second network interface over the digital data network, the one or more second commands.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the first functions further comprise:
before detecting the user-generated oratory signal, playing back the first audio content in synchrony with the playback of the first audio content via the second playback device in a group, wherein stopping the playback of the first audio content based on the one or more second commands comprises removing the second playback device from the group.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the first audio content and the second audio content each comprise different respective potions of the same audio content.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the first functions comprise playing back the first audio content before detecting the user-generated oratory signal, and wherein playing back the second audio content based on the one or more first commands comprises resuming playback of the same audio content.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the second playback device comprises a microphone, and wherein the second functions further comprise:
while the second playback device is playing back the second audio content, detecting, via the microphone of the second playback device, an additional user-generated oratory signal;
sending, to the network device via the second network interface over the digital data network, data corresponding to the additional detected user-generated oratory signal;
receiving, via second network interface over the digital data network, one or more additional commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the additional detected user-generated oratory signal; and
playing back third audio content based on the one or more additional commands.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein playing back the second audio content based on the one or more first commands comprises playing back the second audio content in synchrony with playback of the second audio content via a third playback device in a group.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein detecting the user-generated oratory signal comprises detecting, via the microphone, acoustic wave information representing the user-generated oratory signal.

### Claim 19

A system comprising a first playback device, a second playback device, and a controller device, the first playback device comprising:
a microphone;
a first network interface;
at least one first processor;
at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
first program instructions stored on the at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one first processor, cause the first playback device to perform first functions comprising:
while the second playback device is playing back first audio content, detecting, via the microphone, a user-generated oratory signal;
sending, to a network device via the first network interface over a digital data network, data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal;
receiving, via the first network interface over the digital data network, one or more first commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal; and
playing back second audio content based on the one or more first commands,
the second playback device comprising:
a second network interface;
at least one second processor;
at least one second tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
second program instructions stored on the at least one second tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one second processor, cause the second playback device to perform second functions comprising:
receiving, via the second network interface over the digital data network, one or more second commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal; and
after receiving the one or more second commands, stopping the playback of the first audio content based on the one or more second commands, and
the controller device comprising:
a third network interface;
at least one third processor;
at least one third tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
third program instructions stored on the at least one third tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one third processor, cause the controller device to perform third functions comprising:
sending, via the third network interface to the first playback device, one or more second instructions to cease playback of the second audio content.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the first functions further comprise:
before detecting the user-generated oratory signal, playing back the first audio content in synchrony with the playback of the first audio content via the second playback device in a group, wherein stopping the playback of the first audio content based on the one or more second commands comprises removing the second playback device from the group.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the first audio content and the second audio content each comprise different respective potions of the same audio content.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, wherein the first functions comprise playing back the first audio content before detecting the user-generated oratory signal, and wherein playing back the second audio content based on the one or more first commands comprises resuming playback of the same audio content.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the second playback device comprises a microphone, and wherein the second functions further comprise:
while the second playback device is playing back the second audio content, detecting, via the microphone of the second playback device, an additional user-generated oratory signal;
sending, to the network device via the second network interface over the digital data network, data corresponding to the additional detected user-generated oratory signal;
receiving, via second network interface over the digital data network, one or more additional commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the additional detected user-generated oratory signal; and
playing back third audio content based on the one or more additional commands.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein detecting the user-generated oratory signal comprises detecting, via the microphone, acoustic wave information representing the user-generated oratory signal.

### Claim 25

A system comprising a first playback device and a network device, the first playback device comprising:
a microphone;
a first network interface;
at least one first processor;
at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
first program instructions stored on the at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one first processor, cause the first playback device to perform first functions comprising:
while a second playback device is playing back first audio content, detecting, via the microphone, a user-generated oratory signal;
sending, to the network device via the first network interface over a digital data network, data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal;
receiving, via the first network interface over the digital data network, one or more first commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal; and
playing back second audio content based on the one or more first commands, and
the network device comprising:
a second network interface;
at least one second processor;
at least one second tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
second program instructions stored on the at least one second tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one second processor, cause the network device to perform second functions comprising:
determining the one or more first commands based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal;
sending, to the first playback device via the second network interface over the digital data network, the one or more first commands;
determining one or more second commands based on the sent data corresponding to the detected user-generated oratory signal, the one or more second commands instructing the second playback device to stop playback of the first audio content; and
sending, to the second playback device via the second network interface over the digital data network, the one or more second commands.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein the first functions further comprise:
before detecting the user-generated oratory signal, playing back the first audio content in synchrony with the playback of the first audio content via the second playback device in a group, wherein stopping the playback of the first audio content based on the one or more second commands comprises removing the second playback device from the group.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein the first audio content and the second audio content each comprise different respective potions of the same audio content.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27, wherein the first functions comprise playing back the first audio content before detecting the user-generated oratory signal, and wherein playing back the second audio content based on the one or more first commands comprises resuming playback of the same audio content.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein the second playback device comprises a microphone, and wherein the second functions further comprise:
while the second playback device is playing back the second audio content, detecting, via the microphone of the second playback device, an additional user-generated oratory signal;
sending, to the network device via the second network interface over the digital data network, data corresponding to the additional detected user-generated oratory signal;
receiving, via second network interface over the digital data network, one or more additional commands determined by the network device based on the sent data corresponding to the additional detected user-generated oratory signal; and
playing back third audio content based on the one or more additional commands.

### Claim 30 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25, wherein detecting the user-generated oratory signal comprises detecting, via the microphone, acoustic wave information representing the user-generated oratory signal.