US-20260129387-A1 - INTELLIGENT AMPLIFIER ACTIVATION

US20260129387A1US 20260129387 A1US20260129387 A1US 20260129387A1US-20260129387-A1

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for intelligently activating an amplifier in a playback device based on proximity detection. The playback device may be in a quasi-idle state when the playback device is not rendering media content. The quasi-idle state of the playback device may involve an amplifier in the playback device being inactive, while some other components or modules of the playback devices remain active. The playback device may include a proximity sensor configured to detect movement relative to the playback device. If movement is detected indicating that a user input to cause the playback device to render media content is anticipated, the amplifier may be pre-emptively activated such that the playback device enters an active state from the quasi-idle state. In some cases, the playback device may send a message to one or more other playback devices to cause the other playback devices to enter an active state.

Inventors

Jonathon Reilly
Jonathan Lang

Assignees

SONOS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251006

Claims (20)

1 . A playback device comprising: at least one physical hardware component; a housing carrying the at least one physical hardware component; and at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: detect, via at least one sensor, an indication that a user has entered a first range of proximity to the playback device, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect that the user has entered the first range of proximity to the playback device before the user touches the housing of the playback device; detect, via the at least one sensor, an indication that the user has entered a second range of proximity to the playback device, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect that the user has entered the second range of proximity to the playback device before the user touches the housing of the playback device; and based on detection of the indication that the user has entered (i) the first range of proximity to the playback device and (ii) the second range of proximity to the playback device, switch the playback device from an inactive state to an active state, wherein the playback device is configured to start playback more quickly in the active state relative to the inactive state; and play back media content via the at least one physical hardware component from the active state.
2 . The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: switch the at least one physical hardware component from a first power mode to a second power mode, wherein the at least one physical hardware component is configured to consume less power in the first power mode relative to the second power mode.
3 . The playback device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one physical hardware component comprises a wireless network interface, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: switch the wireless network interface from the first power mode to the second power mode.
4 . The playback device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one physical hardware component comprises an audio amplifier, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: switch the audio amplifier from the first power mode to the second power mode.
5 . The playback device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one physical hardware component comprises a processor, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: switch the processor from the first power mode to the second power mode.
6 . The playback device of claim 2 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: pre-buffer media content via a network interface.
7 . The playback device of claim 6 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: switch the at least one physical hardware component from the first power mode to the second power mode in response to detection of the indication that the user has entered the first range of proximity to the playback device; and pre-buffer the media content via the network interface in response to detection of the indication that the user has entered the second range of proximity to the playback device.
8 . The playback device of claim 2 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: switch the at least one physical hardware component from the first power mode to the second power mode in response to detection of the indication that the user has entered both the first range of proximity to the playback device and the second range of proximity to the playback device.
9 . The playback device of claim 1 , wherein: the at least one sensor comprises a first sensor and a second sensor; wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect the indication that the user has entered the first range of proximity to the playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect, via the first sensor, the indication that the user has entered the first range of proximity to the playback device; and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect the indication that the user has entered the second range of proximity to the playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect, via the second sensor, the indication that the user has entered the second range of proximity to the playback device.
10 . The playback device of claim 9 , wherein: the first sensor comprises an imaging sensor; and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect the indication that the user has entered the first range of proximity to the playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect, via the imaging sensor, presence of the user within the first range of proximity to the playback device.
11 . The playback device of claim 9 , wherein: the second sensor comprises a wireless communications interface; and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect the indication that the user has entered the second range of proximity to the playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect, via the wireless communications interface, an establishment of a wireless connection between the wireless communications interface and a remote control of the playback device.
12 . The playback device of claim 9 , wherein: the first sensor comprises a proximity sensor comprising one of (a) an infrared sensor or (b) a capacitive sensor; and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect the indication that the user has entered the second range of proximity to the playback device comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to detect, via the proximity sensor, movement in proximity to the housing of the playback device.
13 . The playback device of claim 1 , wherein the media content comprises audio and video.
14 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that a playback device is configured to: detect, via at least one sensor, an indication that a user has entered a first range of proximity to the playback device, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect that the user has entered the first range of proximity to the playback device before the user touches a housing of the playback device; detect, via the at least one sensor, an indication that the user has entered a second range of proximity to the playback device, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect that the user has entered the second range of proximity to the playback device before the user touches the housing of the playback device; and based on detection of the indication that the user has entered (i) the first range of proximity to the playback device and (ii) the second range of proximity to the playback device, switch the playback device from an inactive state to an active state, wherein the playback device is configured to start playback more quickly in the active state relative to the inactive state; and play back media content via at least one physical hardware component from the active state.
15 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: switch the at least one physical hardware component from a first power mode to a second power mode, wherein the at least one physical hardware component is configured to consume less power in the first power mode relative to the second power mode.
16 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least one physical hardware component comprises at least one of: a wireless network interface, an audio amplifier, and a processor.
17 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: pre-buffer media content via a network interface.
18 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: switch the at least one physical hardware component from the first power mode to the second power mode in response to detection of the indication that the user has entered the first range of proximity to the playback device; and pre-buffer the media content via the network interface in response to detection of the indication that the user has entered the second range of proximity to the playback device.
19 . The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to switch the playback from the inactive state to the active state comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the playback device is configured to: switch the at least one physical hardware component from the first power mode to the second power mode in response to detection of the indication that the user has entered both the first range of proximity to the playback device and the second range of proximity to the playback device.
20 . A method to be performed by a playback device, the method comprising: detecting, via at least one sensor, an indication that a user has entered a first range of proximity to the playback device, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect that the user has entered the first range of proximity to the playback device before the user touches a housing of the playback device; detecting, via the at least one sensor, an indication that the user has entered a second range of proximity to the playback device, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect that the user has entered the second range of proximity to the playback device before the user touches the housing of the playback device; and based on detecting the indication that the user has entered (i) the first range of proximity to the playback device and (ii) the second range of proximity to the playback device, switching the playback device from an inactive state to an active state, wherein the playback device is configured to start playback more quickly in the active state relative to the inactive state; and playing back media content via at least one physical hardware component from the active state.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/392,647, filed Dec. 21, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/804,353, filed May 27, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,863,944, which is a U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/939,318, filed Jul. 27, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,363,397, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/882,631, filed Jan. 29, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,728,681, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/338,931, filed Oct. 31, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,883,306, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/973,006, filed Dec. 17, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,516,441, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/925,367, filed Jun. 24, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,285,886, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure is related to consumer goods and, more particularly, to methods, systems, products, features, services, and other items directed to media playback or some aspect thereof. BACKGROUND Digital music has become readily available due in part to the development of consumer level technology that has allowed people to listen to digital music on a personal audio device. The consumer's increasing preference for digital audio has also resulted in the integration of personal audio devices into PDAs, cellular phones, and other mobile devices. The portability of these mobile devices has enabled people to take the music listening experience with them and outside of the home. People have become able to consume digital music, like digital music files or even Internet radio, in the home through the use of their computer or similar devices. Now there are many different ways to consume digital music, in addition to other digital content including digital video and photos, stimulated in many ways by high-speed Internet access at home, mobile broadband Internet access, and the consumer's hunger for digital media. Until recently, options for accessing and listening to digital audio in an out-loud setting were severely limited. In 2005, Sonos offered for sale its first digital audio system that enabled people to, among many other things, access virtually unlimited sources of audio via one or more networked connected zone players, dynamically group or ungroup zone players upon command, wirelessly send the audio over a local network amongst zone players, and play the digital audio out loud across multiple zone players in synchrony. The Sonos system can be controlled by software applications running on network capable mobile devices and computers. Given the insatiable appetite of consumers towards digital media, there continues to be a need to develop consumer technology that revolutionizes the way people access and consume digital media. 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: FIG. 1 shows an example configuration in which certain embodiments may be practiced; FIG. 2A shows an illustration of an example zone player having a built-in amplifier and transducers; FIG. 2B shows an illustration of an example zone player having a built-in amplifier and connected to external speakers; FIG. 2C shows an illustration of an example zone player connected to an A/V receiver and speakers; FIG. 3 shows an illustration of an example controller; FIG. 4 shows an internal functional block diagram of an example zone player; FIG. 5 shows an internal functional block diagram of an example controller; FIG. 6 shows an example playback queue configuration for a network media system; FIG. 7 shows an example ad-hoc playback network; FIG. 8 shows a system including a plurality of networks including a cloud-based network and at least one local playback network; FIG. 9 shows an example flow diagram for intelligently activating an amplifier in a playback device based on user proximity detection; FIG. 10A shows an example playback device with proximity sensing capabilities for intelligently activating an amplifier in the playback device based on user proximity detection; and FIG. 10B shows an example group of playback devices with proximity sensing capabilities for intelligently activating respective amplifiers in the playback devices based on proximity detection. In addition, 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 Embodiments described herein involve intelligent activation of an amplifier in a playback device based on proximity detection. In one example, a household of a user may include one or more playback devices configured as a network media system. E