Systems and methods for connecting an audio controller to a hidden audio network

A multimedia playback device connected to a local multimedia playback network that is configured to not provide an indicator of existence absent a command from the multimedia playback device, the multimedia playback device to initiate a connection phase for a device to connect to the hidden network based on a user action at the multimedia playback device, the multimedia playback device to:

• reveal a network access point with a preset identifier to the wireless device to which the wireless device can connect using a predefined password valid during the connection phase;
• authenticate the wireless device with the audio network using the predefined password via the network access point and associating the wireless device with the audio network with limited connectivity to the audio network during the connection phase;
• disconnect the wireless device from the audio network;
• and
• accept a connection of the wireless to the audio network in an operational phase, the connection enabled using information provided to the wireless device during the connection phase and without the limited connectivity provided in the connection phase.

A computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method to connect a device to a playback network, the method comprising:

• detecting, via a multimedia playback device, a network connection request to an audio network, the audio network unspecified in the request and available but hidden at a location;
• triggering, via the multimedia playback device, a connection phase to connect the wireless device to the hidden audio network;
• revealing a network access point with a preset identifier to the wireless device to which the wireless device can connect using a predefined password valid during the connection phase;
• authenticating the wireless device with the audio network using the predefined password via the network access point and associating the wireless device with the audio network with limited connectivity to the audio network during the connection phase;
• disconnecting the wireless device from the audio network;
• and
• accepting a connection of the wireless to the audio network in an operational phase, the connection enabled using information provided to the wireless device during the connection phase and without the limited connectivity provided in the connection phase.