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US 2016/0241983 A1Published application
Playback Device Grouping
AssigneeSonos, Inc.
InventorsRobert A. Lambourne, Nicholas A.J. Millington
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In general, user interfaces for controlling a plurality of multimedia players in groups are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a user interface is provided to allow a user to group some of the players according to a theme or scene, where each of the players is located in a zone. When the scene is activated, the players in the scene react in a synchronized manner. For example, the players in the scene are all caused to play a multimedia source or music in a playlist, wherein the multimedia source may be located anywhere on a network. The user interface is further configured to illustrate graphically a size of a group, the larger the group appears relatively, the more plays there are in the group.
Claims20
A computing device comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:
- displaying on a first user interface, a first plurality of graphical representations, wherein a first graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a first zone in a media playback system, and wherein a second graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a second zone in the media playback system;
- receiving via the first user interface, an input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone;
- after receiving the input to create the zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone, displaying on a second user interface, a second plurality of graphical representations, wherein a wherein a first graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the first zone, wherein a second graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the second zone, and wherein a third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the zone group;
- receiving via the second user interface, an input to cause the zone group to play audio content;
- and
- in response to the input to cause the zone group to play audio content, transmitting to at least one of the first and second zones, a command to play audio content as the zone group.
6 more elements
A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing device to perform functions comprising:
- displaying on a first user interface, a first plurality of graphical representations, wherein a first graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a first zone in a media playback system, and wherein a second graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a second zone in the media playback system;
- receiving via the first user interface, an input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone;
- after receiving the input to create the zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone, displaying on a second user interface, a second plurality of graphical representations, wherein a wherein a first graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the first zone, wherein a second graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the second zone, and wherein a third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the zone group;
- receiving via the second user interface, an input to cause the zone group to play audio content;
- and
- in response to the input to cause the zone group to play audio content, transmitting to at least one of the first and second zones, a command to play audio content as the zone group.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- displaying by a computing device on a first user interface, a first plurality of graphical representations, wherein a first graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a first zone in a media playback system, and wherein a second graphical representation of the first plurality of graphical representations corresponds to a second zone in the media playback system;
- receiving by the computing device via the first user interface, an input to create a zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone;
- after receiving the input to create the zone group comprising the first zone and the second zone, displaying by the computing device on a second user interface, a second plurality of graphical representations, wherein a wherein a first graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the first zone, wherein a second graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the second zone, and wherein a third graphical representation of the second plurality of graphical representations corresponds to the zone group;
- receiving by the computing device via the second user interface, an input to cause the zone group to play audio content;
- and
- in response to the input to cause the zone group to play audio content, transmitting by the computing device to at least one of the first and second zones, a command to play audio content as the zone group.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.