Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include playback devices with multiple antennas and a switching control circuit. The switching control circuit provides capabilities to enable selective switching between communication ports of a wireless radio and all possible combinations of available antennas to provide improved opportunity for achieving signal diversity. In some embodiments, the wireless radio is configured to generate a first control signal at a first rate for control of the switching circuit to select one or more antennas from a subset of the available antennas for coupling to at least one of the communication ports. In some embodiments, a processor is configured to generate a second control signal at a second rate for control of the switching circuit to select the subset of the antennas.

Abstract: Example techniques may provide volume enhancements to a media playback system. An example implementation involves a first playback device in a first playback configuration playing audio at a first volume level and storing the first volume level in association with the first playback configuration. The first playback device receives instructions to change to a second playback configuration. Based on receiving the instructions, the first playback device joins a synchrony group with a second zone and adjusts the first playback device to play audio at a second volume level which is based on a volume level of a second playback device in the second zone. While in the second playback configuration, the first playback device receives instructions to change to the first playback configuration and, based on the instructions, leaves the synchrony group and adjusts the first playback device to play audio content at the stored first volume level.

Abstract: Headphone playback devices can include a cable assembly including a plurality of conductors extending between a first earpiece and a second earpiece. The cable assembly includes a jacket, a power conductor disposed within the jacket and coupled between a power source in the first earpiece and a wireless transceiver in the second earpiece. The cable assembly further includes a microphone conductor at least partially disposed within the jacket and coupled to a microphone in one of the earpieces. A shield is at least partially disposed between the power conductor and the microphone conductor to reduce electromagnetic interference between the two.

Abstract: In one aspect, a playback device includes a command-keyword engine having a local natural language unit (NLU). The playback device detects, via the command-keyword engine, a first command keyword in voice input of sound detected by one or more microphones of the playback device. The playback device determines whether the sound input data includes a keyword from a first predetermined library of keywords via a local natural language unit (NLU). The playback device transmits the input sound data to a second playback device over a local area network, the second playback device employing a second local NLU with a second predetermined library of keywords. The playback device receives a response from the second playback device and performs an action based on an intent determined by at least one of the first NLU or the second NLU according to the keywords in the voice input.

Abstract: Examples involve a control device using a social networking service to facilitate registration of a streaming media service with a media playback system. An example implementation receives (i) data indicating login credentials for a given account of a social networking service, and (ii) input data to configure streaming media services with a media playback system. Based on receiving the input data to configure the media playback system, the implementation queries the social networking service for streaming media services associated with the given account, and in response to the query, receives data indicating a first streaming media service associated with the given account. The implementation configures the media playback system to playback audio content from the first streaming media service that is associated with the given account and causes the media playback system to playback audio content from the first streaming media service.

Abstract: A playback device may be communicatively connected to a network device at a demonstration location. After connecting to the network device, the playback device may receive from the network device, a message indicating media content for playback by the playback device. In response to receiving the message, the playback device may play the media content, where playing the media content comprises modifying a default configuration of a demonstration mode. After receiving the message, the playback device may be disconnected from the network device. After disconnecting from the network device, the playback device may return to the default configuration of the demonstration mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and configuring passive speakers within a playback system using a graphical user interface are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of for detecting and configuration passive speakers in a playback system using a mobile device includes deriving speaker identification data concerning one or more passive speakers connected to an audio device in a playback system based upon at least an electrical signal sent to and returned from the one or more passive speakers, where the electrical signal is sent by the audio device including an audio stage comprising one or more amplifiers, and where the speaker identification data comprises information identifying a type of speaker, and displaying a graphical user interface screen on a mobile device based upon the identified type of speaker, where the displayed information and selectable options are dependent upon the identified type of speaker.

Abstract: Example implementations may involve using a prompt to prevent inadvertent control or playback of audio content. When a mobile device receives input data indicating a command to play back audio content on a first playback device, the mobile device determines whether the mobile device is in proximity to the first playback device. If the mobile device determines that the mobile device within a given proximity to the first playback device, the mobile device transmits, via the network interface, one or more commands to instruct the first playback device to play back the audio content. However, if the mobile device determines that the mobile device outside the proximity, the mobile device displays a prompt indicating that the mobile device is the outside the given proximity to the first playback device and a selectable control that, when selected, transmits the one or more commands to play back the audio content.

Abstract: Example techniques relate to transferring playback between playback devices within a network media system. In an example, while a first playback device is playing a first audio track of a playlist, a device displays a representation of metadata for the first audio track, transport controls to control playback, a volume control to control playback volume, and a selectable control that, when selected, causes display of a zone selection interface. The device receives input data representing a selection of the selectable control and modifies the control interface to display the zone selection interface, which includes indications of second playback devices and respective second selectable controls. The device receives input data representing selections of one or more second selectable controls, which correspond to one or more particular second playback devices and then transfers playback to the one or more particular second playback devices.

Abstract: Examples described herein involve detecting known environmental conditions of using a neural network. An example implementation involves a playback device receiving data indicating a response of a listening environment to audio output of one or more playback devices as captured by a microphone and determining an input vector for a neural network. The playback device provides the determined input vector to the neural network, which includes an output layer comprising neurons that correspond to respective environmental conditions. The playback device detects that the input vector caused one or more neurons of the neural network to fire such that the neural network indicates that one or more particular environmental conditions are present in the listening environment. The playback device adjusts audio output of the one or more playback devices to at least partially offset the one or more particular environmental conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for audio processing include capturing first sound data via at least one microphone of a network microphone device (NMD) and determining, via a voice activity detection process, that the first sound data does not include voice activity. The first sound data is stored in a buffer, and the NMD forgoes spatial processing of the first sound data. The NMD can capture second sound data and determine, via the voice activity process, that the second sound data includes voice activity. The NMD spatially processes the sound data to produce filtered sound data. The NMD detects a wake word based on data in the buffer. After detecting the wake word, the NMD may determine an action to be performed based on the data in the buffer.

Abstract: Example techniques related to a sub-index of a media index. An example implementation may involve maintaining, on a mobile device, a first index of audio tracks associated with a particular user profile, the audio tracks indexed in the first index consisting of a particular subset of audio tracks that are indexed in a second index. Based on the receiving the input data indicating the search query, the mobile device searches, within the first index, for audio tracks corresponding to the search query. If the audio tracks corresponding to the search query are not found in the first index, the mobile device sends to one or more servers of the cloud service, a request to search the second index for audio tracks corresponding to the search query.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve an auxiliary zone contributing audio to a primary zone. In an example implementation, a network media system determines that a first zone in the network media system is playing back a first type of audio content and that a second zone in the network media system is not playing back audio content. While the first zone is playing back the first type of audio content and the second zone is not playing back audio content, the network media system forms a temporarily playback configuration. In the temporary playback configuration, the first zone plays back primary audio content including full frequency range audio content and the second playback device of the second zone plays back auxiliary audio content including low frequency range audio content.

Abstract: Example techniques involve systems with multiple acoustic echo cancellers. An example implementation captures first audio within an acoustic environment and detecting, within the captured first audio content, a wake-word. In response to the wake-word and before playing an acknowledgement tone, the implementation activates (a) a first sound canceller when one or more speakers are playing back audio content or (b) a second sound canceller when the one or more speakers are idle. In response to the wake-word and after activating either (a) the first sound canceller or (b) the second sound canceller, the implementation outputs the acknowledgement tone via the one or more speakers. The implementation captures second audio within the acoustic environment and cancelling the acoustic echo of the acknowledgement tone from the captured second audio using the activated sound canceller.

Abstract: An example method involves causing a control device to display a graphical user interface that comprises an indication of a first zone of a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises the first zone and a second zone, and wherein the graphical user interface does not comprise an indication of the second zone. The example method further involves detecting, by the control device, an input that indicates a command to cause the first zone to form a zone group with the second zone and play back a target media in synchrony with the second zone. The method further comprises, based on the detected input, causing the first zone to form a zone group with the second zone and play back the target media in synchrony with the second zone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for localizing individuals in a region using wireless signals in accordance with embodiments are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for localizing individuals in a region between wireless devices of a system. The method receives wireless signal strength data for signals transmitted along signal paths between several wireless playback devices transmitting on a wireless channel during synchronous playback of media content by the several wireless playback devices and determines a first signal strength for each of several portions of the wireless channel. The method calculates, for each signal path between each of the several wireless playback devices, a difference in the determined first signal strength from a second signal strength for each of the several subcarriers, and determines, based on the calculated differences, a state for a set of one or more individuals in the region.

Abstract: Some disclosed systems and methods include assigning channel streams to satellite playback devices, delaying initial transmission of surround sound content to satellite playback devices to accumulate audio samples for transmission in individual frames of surround sound content, and taking advantage of configured playback delays for different channels of surround sound content to prioritize transmission of channels of surround sound content having shorter configured playback delays over transmission of channels of surround sound content having longer configured playback delays.

Abstract: Playback devices can include touch sensor assemblies with one or more integrated antennas. Such touch sensor assemblies can be incorporated into a playback device such as a headphone device. The playback device can include an electrode comprising a first conductor, a second conductor, and a filter coupled between the first and second conductors, a capacitive-touch circuit coupled to the electrode, and a wireless radio coupled to the second conductor. The capacitive-touch circuit is configured to deliver a capacitive sensing signal to the electrode. The wireless radio is configured to facilitate communication over at least one wireless network via the second conductor.

Abstract: A first networked device may perform operations including receiving, from a media source device, a media stream. The first networked device may be configured to use a first media playback protocol and the media source device may be configured to use a second media playback protocol. The first media playback protocol and the second media playback protocol may be incompatible. Operations may further include transmitting, to a second networked device, the media stream. The first networked device and second networked device are configured to operate in a bonded zone.