US 12,681,680 B2Granted

Playback system with device base

AssigneeSonos, Inc.

InventorsJonathan P. Lang, Christopher D. Butts

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Example techniques relate to changing a playback device mode based on a device base. In an example implementation, a first playback device operates in a first mode where it is connected to a first network and plays back audio content while in the first mode. The playback device detects connection of the first playback device to a device base and while the first playback device is on the device base, detects connection to a second network. The first playback device switches from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode. The first playback device forms a stereo pair configuration with a second playback device over the second network in the second mode. While in the second mode, the first playback device plays back a first channel of audio content in synchrony with the second playback device playing back a second channel of the audio content.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A first playback device comprising:

one or more processors;
and
tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising program instructions executable by the one or more processors such that the first playback device is configured to:
after detecting placement of the first playback device onto a device base associated with a media playback system, start operating in a stereo pair configuration with a second playback device associated with the media playback system, wherein while operating in the stereo pair configuration with the second playback device, the first playback device is configured to play a first channel of stereo audio content in synchrony with the second playback device playing a second channel of the stereo audio content;
and
after detecting removal of the first playback device from the device base, start operating in a particular zone configuration with the second playback device, wherein while operating in the particular zone configuration, the first playback device is configured to play the first channel and the second channel of the stereo audio content in synchrony with the second playback device playing the first channel and the second channel of the stereo audio content.

3 more elements

Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a first playback device to perform functions comprising:

after detecting placement of the first playback device onto a device base associated with a media playback system, starting to operate in a stereo pair configuration with a second playback device associated with the media playback system, wherein while operating in the stereo pair configuration with the second playback device, the first playback device is configured to play a first channel of stereo audio content in synchrony with the second playback device playing a second channel of the stereo audio content;
and
after detecting removal of the first playback device from the device base, starting to operate in a particular zone configuration with the second playback device, wherein while operating in the particular zone configuration, the first playback device is configured to play the first channel and the second channel of the stereo audio content in synchrony with the second playback device playing the first channel and the second channel of the stereo audio content.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/329,034Filed 5 Jun 2023 · continuation
Priority: 3 Sep 2015
Published: US 2024/0143270 A12 May 2024
Granted: 14 Jul 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

G06F 3/165
Sound input; Sound output: management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
H04L 41/0893
Configuration management of networks or network elements: assignment of logical groups to network elements
H04R 5/04
Stereophonic arrangements: circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker…
H04R 27/00
Public address systems

Family

Application14/844,253Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Sep 2015
Application16/011,273Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Jun 2018
US 10,001,965 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Jun 2018
Application16/693,560Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Nov 2019
US 10,489,108 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Nov 2019
Application17/228,114Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Apr 2021
US 10,976,992 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Apr 2021
Application17/548,878Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Dec 2021
US 11,200,024 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Dec 2021
US 2024/0143270 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 May 2024
US 11,669,299 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2018/0357039 A1Published application
US 2020/0097250 A1Published application
US 2021/0334063 A1Published application
US 2022/0291895 A1Published application
US 12,681,680 B2This patent

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