# US 2021/0241757 A1 · Voice control of a media playback system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241757 A1 - Document ID: US20210241757A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/236,559 - Filed: 2021-04-21 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-22 - Assignees: Sonos, Inc. - Applicants: Sonos, Inc. - Inventors: Nicholas A.J. Millington; Keith Corbin; Mark Plagge - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241757A1 ## CPC - G10L 15/1822: {Parsing for meaning understanding} - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G10L 15/22: Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue - G10L 15/30: Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications - 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) - G10L 2015/088: {Word spotting} - G10L 2015/223: {Execution procedure of a spoken command} - H04R 2227/003: Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet - H04R 2227/005: Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - 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) ## Abstract An example system is configured to cause a first playback device in a first playback zone to operate in a given playback state including play back of media items identified in a playback queue associated with the first playback zone. The system is also configured to, while the first playback device is operating in the given playback state, (i) receive data corresponding to a detected voice input including an indication of (a) a command word and (b) one or more zone variable instances and (ii) determine, based on the command word and the one or more zone variable instances, an intent to transfer the given playback state to a second playback zone. The system is also configured to transfer the given playback state to the second playback zone, thereby causing a second playback device in the second playback zone to play back the media items identified in the playback queue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: at least one processor; at least one microphone; at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to: cause a first playback device to play back a media item; while the first playback device is playing back the media item: capture, via the at least one microphone, a voice input comprising (i) a command word and (ii) one or more zone variable instances; and determine, based on the command word and the one or more zone variable instances, a command to transfer playback of the media item to a second playback device; and after determining the command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device, cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that (i) the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item and the second playback device begins playing back the media item or (ii) the first playback device continues playing back the media item and coordinates with the second playback device to begin playing back the media item in synchrony with the second playback device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the media item is identified in a playback queue. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the playback queue is stored on a remote computing device associated with a cloud-based computing system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the determined command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device comprises a command for the second playback device to assume playback responsibility for the playback queue. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the command word is associated with a media playback system command to transfer playback of the media item, at a current playback position, to one or more other playback devices, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that (i) the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item at the current playback position and the second playback device begins playing back the media item at the current playback position or (ii) the first playback continues playing back the media item and coordinates with the second playback device to begin playing back the media item in synchrony with the second playback device at the current playback position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the zone variable instance corresponds to a playback zone that includes at least two playback devices, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the playback zone such that the first playback device continues playing back the media item and coordinates with one or more playback devices in the playback zone to begin playing back the media item in synchrony with each playback device in the playback zone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to determine, based on the command word and the one or more zone variable instances, the command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to: convert the captured voice input from speech to text; and parse the text to identify the command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item before the second playback device begins playing back the media item. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item after the second playback device begins playing back the media item. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item after the first playback device coordinates with the second playback device such that the second playback device begins playing back the media item in synchrony with the first playback device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that the first playback device coordinates with the second playback device such that the second playback device begins playing back the media item in synchrony with the first playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to transmit (i) audio information corresponding to the media item and (ii) playback timing information to the second playback device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that the first playback device coordinates with the second playback device such that the second playback device begins playing back the media item in synchrony with the first playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to receive, from the second playback device, (i) audio information corresponding to the media item and (ii) playback timing information. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that system is configured to cause the second playback device to receive an instruction from at least one of the first playback device or a remote computing device, thereby causing the second playback device to play back the media item. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein one of the first playback device and the second playback device comprises the at least one processor, the at least one microphone, and the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a third playback device, wherein the third playback device comprises the at least one processor, the at least one microphone, and the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium. ### Claim 16 A system comprising: a first playback device configured to communicate over at least one data network, wherein the first playback device comprises: at least one processor; at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to play back a media item; and at least one computing device configured to communicate over the at least one data network, wherein the at least one computing device comprises: at least one processor; at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor of the at least one computing device such that the at least one computing device is configured to: while the first playback device is playing back the media item: receive data corresponding to a detected voice input, wherein the data comprises an indication within the voice input of (i) a command word and (ii) one or more zone variable instances; and determine, based on the command word and the one or more zone variable instances, a command to transfer playback of the media item to a second playback device; and after determining the command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device, cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that one (i) the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item and the second playback device begins playing back the media item or (ii) the first playback device continues playing back the media item and coordinates with the second playback device to begin playing back the media item in synchrony with the second playback device. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a first playback device configured to communicate over at least one data network, wherein the first playback device comprises: at least one processor; at least one microphone; at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to: play back a media item; while the first playback device is playing back the media item: capture, via the at least one microphone, a voice input comprising (i) a command word and (ii) one or more zone variable instances; determine, based on the command word and the one or more zone variable instances, a command to transfer playback of the media item to a second playback device; and after determining the command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device, cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that (i) the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item and the second playback device begins playing back the media item or (ii) the first playback device continues playing back the media item and coordinates with the second playback device to begin playing back the media item in synchrony with the second playback device; and the second playback device configured to communicate over the at least one data network, wherein the second playback device comprises: at least one processor; at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of the second playback device that are executable by the at least one processor such that the second playback device is configured to begin playing back the media item. ### Claim 18 A first playback device comprising: at least one processor; at least one microphone; at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to: play back a media item; while the first playback device is playing back the media item: capture, via the at least one microphone, a voice input comprising (i) a command word and (ii) one or more zone variable instances; and determine, based on the command word and the one or more zone variable instances, a command to transfer playback of the media item to a second playback device; and after determining the command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device, cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that (i) the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item and the second playback device begins playing back the media item or (ii) the first playback device continues playing back the media item and coordinates with the second playback device to begin playing back the media item in synchrony with the second playback device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the media item is identified in a playback queue. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The first playback device of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the playback queue is stored on a remote computing device associated with a cloud-based computing system. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The first playback device of claim 19, wherein the determined command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device comprises a command for the second playback device to assume playback responsibility for the playback queue. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the command word is associated with a media playback system command to transfer playback of the media item, at a current playback position, to one or more other playback devices, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that (i) the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item at the current playback position and the second playback device begins playing back the media item at the current playback position or (ii) the first playback device continues playing back the media item and coordinates with the second playback device to begin playing back the media item in synchrony with the second playback device at the current playback position. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the zone variable instance corresponds to a playback zone that includes at least two playback devices, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the playback zone such that the first playback device continues playing back the media item and coordinates with one or more playback devices in the playback zone to begin playing back the media item in synchrony with each playback device in the playback zone. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to determine, based on the command word and the one or more zone variable instances, the command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to: transmit data corresponding to the captured voice input to a remote computing device over at least one data network; and receive, from the remote computing device, an indication of the command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device such that one of either (i) the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item and the second playback device begins playing back the media item or (ii) the first playback device continues playing back the media item and coordinates with the second playback device to begin playing back the media item in synchrony with the second playback device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to determine, based on the command word and the one or more zone variable instances, the command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to: convert the captured voice input from speech to text; and parse the text to identify the command to transfer playback of the media item to the second playback device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item before the second playback device begins playing back the media item. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item after the second playback device begins playing back the media item. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that the first playback device discontinues playing back the media item after the first playback device coordinates with the second playback device such that the second playback device begins playing back the media item in synchrony with the first playback device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 18) The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that the first playback device coordinates with the second playback device such that the second playback device begins playing back the media item in synchrony with the first playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to transmit (i) audio information corresponding to the media item and (ii) playback timing information to the second playback device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 18) The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to cause playback of the media item to be transferred to the second playback device such that the first playback device coordinates with the second playback device such that the second playback device begins playing back the media item in synchrony with the first playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first playback device is configured to receive, from the second playback device, (i) audio information corresponding to the media item and (ii) playback timing information.