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US-20260129115-A1 - Do Not Disturb Feature for Audio Notifications

US20260129115A1US 20260129115 A1US20260129115 A1US 20260129115A1US-20260129115-A1

Abstract

Systems and methods for actuating a Do Not Disturb (DND) feature of a playback device that is configured to play back alert notifications from a plurality of network-enabled devices include (i) a mobile device receiving input data representing a selection of the playback device; (ii) the mobile device receiving input data representing a selection of a DND time period; and (iii) responsive to receiving the input data representing the selections of the playback device and the DND time period, sending an instruction to the selected playback device that causes the selected playback device to enter a DND mode for the duration of the selected DND time period, during which the selected playback device is instructed to not play back alert notifications when the alert notifications are received from at least one network-enabled device of the plurality of network-enabled devices.

Inventors

  • Robert A. Lambourne
  • Nathan Fish

Assignees

  • SONOS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251003

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A computing device comprising: at least one processor; at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: following (i) reception of data indicating a do not disturb (DND) status for one or more playback devices in a media playback system, wherein the data indicating the DND status indicates at least one first playback device which is operating in a DND mode and at least one second playback device which is operating outside of the DND mode, wherein, while operating outside the DND mode, the one or more playback devices are allowed to play back notifications from one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, wherein, while operating in the DND mode, the one or more playback devices are not allowed to play back notifications from the one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, and further following (ii) reception, from a network enabled device of the one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, of a message corresponding to a notification to be played back by the media playback system: cause the at least one second playback device to play back an alert notification associated with the message without causing the at least one first playback device to play back the alert notification associated with the message.
  2. 2 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a media playback system control server.
  3. 3 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a server affiliated with the one or more playback devices in the media playback system.
  4. 4 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to: receive the data indicating the DND status for the one or more playback devices in the media playback system.
  5. 5 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to: receive, from the network enabled device of the one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, the message corresponding to the notification to be played back by the media playback system.
  6. 6 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the data indicating the DND status for the one or more playback devices in the media playback system is received from a control device of the media playback system.
  7. 7 . The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first playback device and the at least one second playback device are grouped in a synchrony group for synchronous playback of media content.
  8. 8 . The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to: following reception of a playback instruction to cause the synchrony group to play back a media item, cause, based on the playback instruction, the at least one first playback device and the at least one second playback device to play back the media item in synchrony.
  9. 9 . Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having program instructions stored therein, wherein the program instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing device to perform functions comprising: following (i) reception of data indicating a do not disturb (DND) status for one or more playback devices in a media playback system, wherein the data indicating the DND status indicates at least one first playback device which is operating in a DND mode and at least one second playback device which is operating outside of the DND mode, wherein, while operating outside the DND mode, the one or more playback devices are allowed to play back notifications from one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, wherein, while operating in the DND mode, the one or more playback devices are not allowed to play back notifications from the one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, and further following (ii) reception, from a network enabled device of the one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, of a message corresponding to a notification to be played back by the media playback system: causing the at least one second playback device to play back an alert notification associated with the message without causing the at least one first playback device to play back the alert notification associated with the message.
  10. 10 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the computing device comprises a media playback system control server.
  11. 11 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the computing device comprises a server affiliated with the one or more playback devices in the media playback system.
  12. 12 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the functions further comprise: receiving the data indicating the DND status for the one or more playback devices in the media playback system.
  13. 13 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the functions further comprise: receiving, from the network enabled device of the one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, the message corresponding to the notification to be played back by the media playback system.
  14. 14 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the data indicating the DND status for the one or more playback devices in the media playback system is received from a control device of the media playback system.
  15. 15 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the at least one first playback device and the at least one second playback device are grouped in a synchrony group for synchronous playback of media content.
  16. 16 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the functions further comprise: following reception of a playback instruction to cause the synchrony group to play back a media item, causing, based on the playback instruction, the at least one first playback device and the at least one second playback device to play back the media item in synchrony.
  17. 17 . A method performed by a computing device, comprising: following (i) reception of data indicating a do not disturb (DND) status for one or more playback devices in a media playback system, wherein the data indicating the DND status indicates at least one first playback device which is operating in a DND mode and at least one second playback device which is operating outside of the DND mode, wherein, while operating outside the DND mode, the one or more playback devices are allowed to play back notifications from one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, wherein, while operating in the DND mode, the one or more playback devices are not allowed to play back notifications from the one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, and further following (ii) reception, from a network enabled device of the one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, of a message corresponding to a notification to be played back by the media playback system: causing the at least one second playback device to play back an alert notification associated with the message without causing the at least one first playback device to play back the alert notification associated with the message.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the computing device comprises a media playback system control server.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising: receiving the data indicating the DND status for the one or more playback devices in the media playback system.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising: receiving, from the network enabled device of the one or more network enabled devices associated with the media playback system, the message corresponding to the notification to be played back by the media playback system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/649,847 titled “Do Not Disturb Feature for Audio Notifications,” filed Apr. 29, 2024, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 12,438,977 on Oct. 7, 2025; U.S. application Ser. No. 18/649,847 is continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/157,937 titled “Do Not Disturb Feature for Audio Notifications,” filed on Jan. 23, 2023, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,973,893 on Apr. 30, 2024; U.S. application Ser. No. 18/157,937 is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/385,542 titled “Do Not Disturb Feature for Audio Notifications,” filed on Jul. 26, 2021, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,563,842 on Jan. 24, 2023; U.S. application Ser. No. 17/385,542 is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/177,185 titled “Do Not Disturb Feature for Audio Notifications” filed on Oct. 31, 2018, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,076,035 on Jul. 27, 2021; U.S. application Ser. No. 16/177,185 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/148,879 titled “Audio Notifications” filed on Oct. 1, 2018, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,797,667 on Oct. 6, 2020; U.S. application Ser. Nos. 16/148,879 and 16/177,185 both claim the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. 62/723,942 titled “Playback Device Control” filed on Aug. 28, 2018 and now expired. The entire contents of U.S. application Ser. Nos. 18/649,847; 18/157,937; 17/385,542; 16/177,185; 16/148,879; and 62/723,942 are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present 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 2002, when SONOS, Inc. began development of a new type of playback system. Sonos then filed one of its first patent applications in 2003, entitled “Method for Synchronizing Audio Playback between Multiple Networked Devices,” and began offering its first media playback systems for sale in 2005. The Sonos Wireless Home Sound System enables people to experience music from many sources via one or more networked playback devices. Through a software control application installed on a controller (e.g., smartphone, tablet, computer, voice input device), one can play what she wants in any room having a networked playback device. Media content (e.g., songs, podcasts, video sound) can be streamed to playback devices such that each room with a playback device can play back corresponding different media content. In addition, rooms can be grouped together for synchronous playback of the same media content, and/or the same media content can be heard in all rooms synchronously. 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, as listed below. A person skilled in the relevant art will understand that the features shown in the drawings are for purposes of illustrations, and variations, including different and/or additional features and arrangements thereof, are possible. FIG. 1A is a partial cutaway view of an environment having a media playback system configured in accordance with aspects of the disclosed technology. FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the media playback system of FIG. 1A and one or more networks. FIG. 1C is a block diagram of a playback device. FIG. 1D is a block diagram of a playback device. FIG. 1E is a block diagram of a network microphone device. FIG. 1F is a block diagram of a network microphone device. FIG. 1G is a block diagram of a playback device. FIG. 1H is a partially schematic diagram of a control device. FIG. 2 is a diagram of a playback environment within which a playback device may output audio alerts from network-enabled devices. FIG. 3A is an example alert communication from a network-enabled device to a playback device. FIG. 3B is an example alert response communication from a playback device to a network-enabled device. FIG. 4A depicts an example graphical user interface (GUI) for actuating a DND feature of a playback device configured to output alert notifications from network-enabled devices. FIG. 4B depicts an example GUI for actuating a DND feature of a playback device configured to output alert notifications from network-enabled devices. FIG. 4C depicts an example GUI for actuating a DND feature of a playback device configured to output alert notifications from network-enabled devices. FIG. 4D depicts an example GUI for actuating a DND feature of a playback device configured to output alert notifications from network-enabled devices. FIG. 4E depicts an example GUI for actuating a DND feature of a playback device configured to output alert notifications from network-enabled devices. FIG. 4F depicts an example GUI for a