# US 12,003,558 B2 · Device discovery for social playback > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,558 B2 - Document ID: US12003558B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/186,825 - Filed: 2023-03-20 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-06 - Assignees: Spotify AB - Applicants: Spotify AB - Inventors: Mikael Ragnhult; Rifat Ordulu; Aron Manucheri; Kenny Christer Öberg Falguera; Cecilia Humlelu; Gustav Mattias Over Bergstöm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003558B2 ## CPC - H04L 65/60: Network streaming of media packets - H04N 21/43637: {involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth®, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] (arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114)} - H04N 21/4104: {Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices} - H04N 21/4852: {for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A system for device discovery for social playback is disclosed. The system operates to connect a host media playback device to a media output device and broadcast a social playback session to guest media playback devices. Upon joining a social playback session, a guest media playback device may control the media playback at the host media playback device. Where the media output for the social playback session is provided by the media output device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for connecting a guest to a social playback session, the method comprising: initiating a social playback session at a first media playback device, the first media playback device being logged into a first user account; broadcasting a message for the social playback session from the first media playback device, to permit a second media playback device being logged into a second user account to automatically join the social playback session when the second media playback device is in proximity to the first media playback device and the first user account is linked with the second user account; and receiving one or more playback control commands from the second media playback device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first media playback device is connected to a media output device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the message for the social playback session includes information about the media output device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the information about the media output device includes a name of the media output device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the second media playback device is prompted to connect with the media output device upon the first media playback device disconnecting from the media output device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the message includes a session ID. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first user account is linked with the second user account when the first user account and the second user account are friends with each other on a media delivery service platform. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first user account is linked with the second user account when the first user account follows the second user account on a media delivery service platform. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more playback control commands adjusts the social playback session. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein upon the first media playback device disconnecting from the social playback session a server maintains the social playback session. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein upon the first media playback device disconnecting from a media output device, the second media playback device is prompted to connect with the media output device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first media playback device receives a media content item as part of the social playback session from a media delivery system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein to permit the second media playback device to automatically join the social playback session is further based on the first media playback device and the second media playback device being connected to the same network. ### Claim 14 A media playback device comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory device storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor cause the media playback device to: log the media playback device into a first user account of a media delivery service; initiate a social playback session; broadcast a message for the social playback session to permit a second media playback device being logged into a second user account of the media delivery service to automatically join the social playback session when the second media playback device is in proximity to the media playback device and the first user account is linked with the second user account; and receive one or more playback control commands from the second media playback device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The media playback device of claim 14, wherein the media playback device is connected to a media output device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The media playback device of claim 15, wherein the media playback device is connected to the media output device via a Bluetooth connection. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The media playback device of claim 15, wherein the message includes a session ID and a media output device ID. ### Claim 18 A method of joining to a social playback, the method comprising: detecting, at a second media playback device, a message for a social playback session, the message being broadcasted from a first media playback device, wherein the first media playback device is logged into a first user account and the second media playback device is logged into a second user account; automatically joining the social playback session based on the second media playback device being in proximity to the first media playback device and the first user account being linked with the second user account; and sending one or more playback control commands to the first media playback device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the message includes information about a media output device connected to the first media playback device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the message is detected by the second media playback device scanning for one or more Bluetooth broadcasting devices.