# US 9,438,193 B2 · Satellite volume control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,193 B2 - Document ID: US9438193B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/910,608 - Filed: 2013-06-05 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-05 - Assignees: Sonos, Inc. - Applicants: Sonos, Inc. - Inventors: Bob Dizon; Neil Griffiths; Luis R Vega-Zayas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438193B2 ## CPC - H03G 1/02: Remote control of amplification, tone or bandwidth (combined with remote tuning or selection of resonant circuits H03J) - H03G 3/02: Manually-operated control {(H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence)} - H03G 3/3005: {in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers (H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence)} - H03G 3/3089: {Control of digital or coded signals} - H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)} - H04N 21/4852: {for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo} - H04L 12/282: {based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204)} - H04N 21/42204: {User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205)} - H04N 21/47: End-user applications - H04R 2227/005: Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - 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 Embodiments are provided for satellite volume control. An example method includes receiving an input at a playback device to adjust a volume for a plurality of playback devices that are grouped for synchronous playback of audio content, wherein the plurality of playback devices includes the playback device. The method also includes sending a first message over a network from the playback device to a device associated with the plurality of playback devices, the first message including information based on the input, wherein the information is used to adjust the volume of the plurality of playback devices. The method also includes receiving a second message at the playback device over the network, the second message including information for the volume of the playback device, wherein the volume is based on the adjusted volume of the plurality of playback devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, at a first playback device having a first volume level, an input to adjust a volume for a plurality of playback devices that are grouped for synchronous playback of audio content comprising a set of channels, wherein the plurality of playback devices are grouped such that each of the plurality of playback devices is configured to play different channels of the set of channels, wherein the plurality of playback devices includes the first playback device; determining, at the first playback device, that the first playback device is configured to play at least a first channel of the set of channels different from channels of other playback devices of the plurality of playback devices; responsive to determining that the first playback device is configured to play at least the first channel, sending, while the first playback device has the first volume level, a first message over a network from the first playback device to a primary device associated with the plurality of playback devices, the first message including volume adjustment information for the plurality of playback devices based on the input; after sending the first message, receiving a second message at the first playback device over the network, the second message including information for controlling the volume of the first playback device; and based on the received second message, adjusting the first volume level of the first playback device to a second volume level, wherein the second volume level of the first playback device is based on the information for controlling the volume of the first playback device included in the second message. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the input comprises receiving a user input via an interface on the first playback device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information for controlling the volume of the first playback device comprises volume adjusted audio content. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information for controlling the volume of the first playback device comprises a gain value, and wherein the first playback device uses the gain value in the playback of audio content. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the volume of the plurality of playback devices is based on a volume of each playback device in the plurality of playback devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein based on the adjusted volume of the plurality of playback devices, the second volume level of the first playback device is different than a volume level of another playback device in the plurality of playback devices. ### Claim 7 A system comprising: a plurality of playback devices that are grouped for synchronous playback of audio content comprising a set of channels, wherein the plurality of playback devices are grouped such that each of the plurality of playback devices is configured to play different channels of the set of channels, wherein the plurality of playback devices includes the first playback device; one or more processors; and memory storing instructions, that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to: receive, at the first playback device having a first volume level, an input to adjust a volume for the plurality of playback devices; determine, at the first playback device, that the first playback device is configured to play at least a first channel of the set of channels different from channels of other playback devices of the plurality of playback devices; responsive to determining that the first playback device is configured to play at least the first channel, send a first message over a network from the first playback device to a primary device associated with the plurality of playback devices, the first message to include volume adjustment information for the plurality of playback devices based on the input, and wherein the first playback device remains at the first volume level; after sending the first message, receive a second message at the first playback device over the network, the second message to include information for controlling the volume of the first playback device; and based on the received second message, adjust the first volume level of the first playback device to a second volume level, wherein the second volume level of the first playback device is based on the information for controlling the volume of the first playback device included in the second message. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein receiving the input further comprises instructions that are to cause the processor to receive a user input via an interface on the first playback device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the information for controlling the volume of the first playback device is to comprise volume adjusted audio content. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the information for controlling the volume of the first playback device comprises a gain value, and wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to use the gain value in the playback of audio content at the first playback device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the volume of the plurality of playback devices is based on a volume of each playback device in the plurality of playback devices. ### Claim 12 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising: receiving, at a first playback device having a first volume level, an input to adjust a volume for a plurality of playback devices that are grouped for synchronous playback of audio content comprising a set of channels, wherein the plurality of playback devices are grouped such that each of the plurality of playback devices is configured to play different channels of the set of channels, wherein the plurality of playback devices includes the first playback device; determining, at the first playback device, that the first playback device is configured to play at least a first channel of the set of channels different from channels of other playback devices of the plurality of playback devices; responsive to determining that the first playback device is configured to play at least the first channel, sending a first message over a network from the first playback device to a primary device associated with the plurality of playback devices, the first message including volume adjustment information for the plurality of playback devices based on the input, and wherein the first playback device remains at the first volume level; after sending the first message, receiving a second message at the first playback device over the network, the second message including information for controlling the volume of the first playback device; and based on the received second message, adjusting the first volume level of the first playback device to a second volume level, wherein the second volume level of the first playback device is based on the information for controlling the volume of the first playback device included in the second message. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the volume of the plurality of playback devices is based on a volume of each playback device in the plurality of playback devices. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein based on the adjusted volume of the plurality of playback devices, the second volume level of the first playback device is different than a volume level of another playback device in the plurality of playback devices. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining, at the first playback device, that the first playback device is configured to play the first channel of the set of channels different from the channels of other playback devices of the plurality of playback devices comprises: determining, at the first playback device, that the first playback device is configured to play the first channel of the set of channels instead of a full range of audio. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of devices forms a bonded zone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein a second plurality of devices forms a zone group of playback devices grouped for synchronous playback of audio content, each of the second plurality of devices being configured to play a full range of audio, and wherein the method further comprises: receiving, at the first playback device having a third volume level, instructions to leave the bonded zone and join the zone group; receiving, at the first playback device, a second input to adjust a volume for the zone group; determining, at the first playback device, that the first playback device is a not a member of the bonded zone; and responsive to determining that the first playback device is not a member of the bonded zone and responsive to the second input, adjusting the third volume level of the first playback device to a fourth volume level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: after adjusting the first playback device to the fourth volume level, transmitting, to an other playback device of the second plurality of devices, a third message including information for controlling volume of the other playback device of the second plurality of playback devices. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first playback device is paired with a second playback device of the plurality of playback devices, and wherein the method further comprises: determining that the first playback device is paired with the second playback device and that the first playback device is a primary device associated with the pairing with the second playback device; and responsive to receiving the second message, transmitting, to the second playback device, a third message comprising information for controlling the volume of the second playback device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary device is a second playback device of the plurality of devices.