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EP-3993448-B1 - DEVICE GROUPING

EP3993448B1EP 3993448 B1EP3993448 B1EP 3993448B1EP-3993448-B1

Inventors

  • MORGANSTERN, Mark
  • FERGUSON, Alec

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20150721

Claims (13)

  1. A method for a first playback device (200), the method comprising: receiving, at a control interface of the first playback device, an input, the first playback device forming at least part of a first zone of a media playback system (100), the media playback system comprising a plurality of playback zones, each playback zone comprising one or more playback devices; and in response to the input: determining and joining, by the first playback device, a particular zone of the plurality of playback zones comprising a second playback device that is playing back media when the input is received; and playing back the media in synchrony with at least the second playback device; wherein the input is a touch and hold input of a push button (512, 514, 516, 530, 532, 534, 536, 538) of the control interface, and wherein the push button is additionally configured to receive a push and release input to start, resume or pause playback of media by the first playback device.
  2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining and joining the particular zone comprises automatically determining the particular zone, and joining the particular zone, without receiving or detecting other inputs.
  3. A method for a first playback device (200), the method comprising: receiving, at a control interface of the first playback device, an input, the first playback device forming at least part of a first zone of a media playback system (100), the media playback system comprising a plurality of playback zones, each playback zone comprising one or more playback devices; and in response to the input: determining and joining, by the first playback device, a particular zone of the plurality of playback zones comprising a second playback device that is playing back media when the input is received; and playing back the media in synchrony with at least the second playback device; wherein determining and joining the particular zone comprises automatically determining the particular zone, and joining the particular zone, without receiving or detecting other inputs.
  4. The method of claim 3, wherein the input is received by a first area (526) of a touchscreen (520), and wherein a second area (524) of the touchscreen is configured to receive a second input to control playback of media by the first playback device.
  5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein when the input is received, the first playback device is not currently playing back media.
  6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the first playback device joins the particular zone without providing indications of multiple potential zones for the first playback device to join.
  7. The method of any preceding claim, wherein, before receiving the input, the first zone further comprises a third playback device, and the method further comprises: in response to the input, causing the third playback device to play back the media in synchrony with the first and second playback devices.
  8. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein: the first zone further comprises a third playback device; and in response to the detected input, the third playback device remains in the first zone.
  9. The method of claim 8, wherein before receiving the input the first playback device is a zone coordinator configured to control at least one playback device of the first zone, and the method further comprises: based on the input, causing the third playback device to become a zone coordinator of the first zone.
  10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises, before causing the third playback device to become the zone coordinator of the first zone, determining the third playback device to be the zone coordinator of the first zone based on respective signal strengths of playback devices of the first zone received from the third playback device.
  11. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising: prior to receiving the input, providing, by the control interface, an indication of the particular zone.
  12. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the particular zone is determined based on a signal strength of a zone coordinator of the zone.
  13. A playback device configured to perform the method of any preceding claim.

Description

The disclosure is related to consumer goods and, more particularly, to methods, systems, products, features, services, and other elements directed to media playback or some aspect thereof. BACKGROUND Options for accessing and listening to digital audio in an out-loud setting were limited until in 2003, when SONOS, Inc. filed for one of its first patent applications, entitled "Method for Synchronizing Audio Playback between Multiple Networked Devices," and began offering a media playback system for sale in 2005. The Sonos Wireless HiFi System enables people to experience music from many sources via one or more networked playback devices. Through a software control application installed on a smartphone, tablet, or computer, one can play what he or she wants in any room that has a networked playback device. Additionally, using the controller, for example, different songs can be streamed to each room with a playback device, rooms can be grouped together for synchronous playback, or the same song can be heard in all rooms synchronously. WO03/093950 describes sharing music within a cluster of audio devices. A unit can be added to a cluster by scanning for broadcasting units or by being brought into physical proximity with a broadcasting unit. Given the ever growing interest in digital media, there continues to be a need to develop consumer-accessible technologies to further enhance the listening experience. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method as defined in appended claim 1. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method as defined in appended claim 3. According to a third aspect there is provided a playback device as defined in appended claim 13. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Features, aspects, and advantages of the presently disclosed technology may be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: Figure 1 shows an example media playback system configuration in which certain embodiments may be practiced;Figure 2 shows a functional block diagram of an example playback device;Figure 3 shows a functional block diagram of an example control device;Figure 4 shows an example controller interface;Figure 5A shows an example flow diagram for an example method;Figure 5B shows an example control interface;Figure 5C shows another example control interface;Figure 5D shows yet another example control interface;Figure 6 shows example events and example devices;Figure 7 shows an example flow diagram for another example method; andFigure 8 shows an example bonded controller. The drawings are for the purpose of illustrating example embodiments, but it is understood that the inventions are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Overview In some situations, control of a media playback system that includes multiple playback devices may occur by way of a control device communicatively coupled to one or more of the playback devices. The control device could be, for example, a smart phone or a tablet computer that is arranged to control the playback devices. The control device may provide an interface for control or customization of playback of media by the playback devices in a variety of ways. For example, the control device may respectively associate several playback devices located in a user's home between first and second zones (or more zones) so that playback devices in the first zone (e.g., a living room) play back a first media in synchrony and playback devices in the second zone (e.g., a patio) play back a second media in synchrony. As another example, the control device may control playback volumes corresponding to playback devices of the first and second zones. However, control of the first playback device by way of a separate control device may in some respects or situations be inefficient or otherwise undesirable. As such, according to some examples described here, the first playback device may be controlled by way of input detected at a control interface of the first playback device. For example, one control action may involve having a first playback device (perhaps not currently playing back media) join an existing zone that includes a second playback device currently playing back media. For instance, the control interface of the first playback device may include one or more push-buttons. A push of such a push-button (or other such suitable input) at the control interface may cause the first playback device to form a "zone" with the second playback device that is currently playing back media. Such an input may also cause the first playback device to playback the media in synchrony with at least the second playback device. In other examples, the input detected at the control interface of the first playback device could also be used to control at least a third playback device. For instance, before the input is detected a