# US 9,521,454 B2 · Associating playback devices with playback queues > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,454 B2 - Document ID: US9521454B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/856,165 - Filed: 2015-09-16 - Published: 2016-01-07 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-17 - Assignees: Sonos, Inc. - Applicants: Sonos, Inc. - Inventors: Luis R. Vega-Zayas; Kristen Johansen; Paul Bates; Abhishek Kumar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521454B2 ## CPC - 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 21/26258: {for generating a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlist, or scheduling item distribution according to such list (retrieval of multimedia data based on playlists G06F16/40)} - H04N 21/4307: {Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen} - H04N 21/43076: {of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices} - H04N 21/43637: {involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth®, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] (arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114)} - H04N 21/439: Processing of audio elementary streams - H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection - H04N 21/4825: {using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists} - H04N 21/6175: {involving transmission via Internet (broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82)} - H04N 21/8113: {comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format} - H04R 2227/005: Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - 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 In an example implementation, a first playback device associates with a first playback queue that identifies items for playback by the first playback device. The first playback device receives an instruction to enter a playback group with a second playback device which is associated with a second playback queue that identifies one or more items for playback by the second playback device. The first playback device enters the playback group with the second playback device. The first playback device is configured to play items from the second playback queue in synchrony with the second playback device while in the playback group. The first playback device receives an instruction to leave the playback group and leaves the playback group. Leaving the playback group involves automatically associating the first playback device with a third playback queue that identifies items for playback by the first playback device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A first playback device comprising: one or more processors; and tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first playback device to perform a method comprising: associating the first playback device with a first playback queue that identifies one or more items for playback by the first playback device; receiving an instruction to enter a playback group with a second playback device, wherein the second playback device is associated with a second playback queue that identifies one or more items for playback by the second playback device; entering the playback group with the second playback device, wherein the playback group is associated with the second playback queue, wherein the first playback device is configured to play items from the second playback queue in synchrony with the second playback device while the first playback device and the second playback device are in the playback group; receiving an instruction to leave the playback group; and leaving the playback group, wherein leaving the playback group comprises automatically associating the first playback device with a third playback queue that identifies one or more items for playback by the first playback device, wherein the third playback queue persisted without association with a playback device from a time prior to being automatically associated with the first playback device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The playback device of claim 1, wherein the third playback queue is the first playback queue and automatically associating the first playback device with the third playback queue further comprises automatically reinstating the first playback queue for playback by the first playback device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The playback device of claim 2, wherein the first playback queue persists without association with a playback device for a time after the grouping and prior to the reinstating. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The playback device of claim 1, the method further comprising: cause the association of the first playback device with the first playback queue to be maintained upon the entering the playback group. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The playback device of claim 1, wherein the third playback queue is the first playback queue. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The playback device of claim 5, wherein automatically associating the first playback device with the first playback queue comprises remotely accessing the first playback queue. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The playback device of claim 1, the method further comprising: cause the first playback device to automatically play the third playback queue after automatically associating the first playback device with the first playback queue. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The playback device of claim 1, wherein the first playback queue resides on the second playback device, and wherein the second playback queue resides on the first playback device. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements a method, the method comprising: associating a first playback device with a first playback queue, the first playback queue identifying one or more items for playback by the first playback device; receiving an instruction to enter a playback group with a second playback device, wherein the second playback device is associated with a second playback queue that identifies one or more items for playback by the second playback device; entering the playback group with the second playback device, wherein the playback group is associated with the second playback queue, wherein the first playback device is configured to play items from the second playback queue in synchrony with the second playback device while the first playback device and the second playback device are in the playback group; receiving an instruction to leave the playback group; and leaving the playback group, wherein leaving the playback group comprises automatically associating the first playback device with a third playback queue that identifies one or more items for playback by the first playback device, wherein the third playback queue persisted without association with a playback device from a time prior to being automatically associated with the first playback device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the third playback queue is the first playback queue and automatically associating the first playback device with the third playback queue further comprises automatically reinstating the first playback queue for playback by the first playback device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first playback queue persists without association with a playback device for a time after the grouping and prior to the reinstating. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the method further comprising: cause the association of the first playback device with the first playback queue to be maintained upon the entering the playback group. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the third playback queue is the first playback queue. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein automatically associating the first playback device with the first playback queue comprises remotely accessing the first playback queue. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, the method further comprising: cause the first playback device to automatically play the third playback queue after automatically associating the first playback device with the first playback queue. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the first playback queue resides on the second playback device, and wherein the second playback queue resides on the first playback device. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: associating a first playback device with a first playback queue that identifies one or more items for playback by the first playback device; receiving an instruction to enter a playback group with a second playback device, wherein the second playback device is associated with a second playback queue that identifies one or more items for playback by the second playback device; entering the playback group with the second playback device, wherein the playback group is associated with the second playback queue, wherein the first playback device is configured to play items from the second playback queue in synchrony with the second playback device while the first playback device and the second playback device are in the playback group; receiving an instruction to leave the playback group; and leaving the playback group, wherein leaving the playback group comprises automatically associating the first playback device with a third playback queue that identifies one or more items for playback by the first playback device, wherein the third playback queue persisted without association with a playback device from a time prior to being automatically associated with the first playback device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the third playback queue is the first playback queue and automatically associating the first playback device with the third playback queue further comprises automatically reinstating the first playback queue for playback by the first playback device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the third playback queue is the first playback queue. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the first playback queue resides on the second playback device, and wherein the second playback queue resides on the first playback device.