Patents by Inventor Arthur Coburn, IV
Arthur Coburn, IV has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Publication number: 20230336813Abstract: A first network device is configured to (i) receive, using a first communication protocol, first media content from a second network device, (ii) transmit, using a second communication protocol, the first media content to a third network device, (iii) cause the third network device to play back the first media content, (iv) receive second media content from a fourth network device, (v) receive, via a microphone, microphone data, (vi) while transmitting the first media content to the third network device and causing the third network device to play back the first media content, play back the second media content via an audio transducer, and (vii) while transmitting the first media content to the third network device and causing the third network device to play back the first media content, transmit, to the fourth network device, audio content corresponding to the received microphone data.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Patent number: 11743534Abstract: A control device is configured to (i) display transport controls to control playback by the control device, (ii) after connecting to a LAN, determine that one or more playback devices are connected to the LAN, (iii) detect input(s) to transfer playback to a particular playback device connected to the LAN, (iv) cause playback to be transferred to the particular playback device, including: (a) causing first cloud server(s) to transmit, to the particular playback device, resource locator(s) maintained in a shared playback queue, the resource locator(s) corresponding to respective locations of media content at second cloud server(s) of a streaming content service, (b) causing playback at the control device to be stopped, and (c) modifying the transport controls to control playback by the particular playback device, and (v) cause the particular playback device to retrieve the media content from second cloud server(s) of a streaming content service and play back the retrieved media content.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Sonos, IncInventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Publication number: 20230179813Abstract: Example techniques related to polices for media playback systems. An example implementation involves a computing system receiving data representing a request to play back first audio tracks on one or more first playback devices of a first media playback system. The first media playback system is associated with a first subscriber to a streaming media service and the first media playback system is physically located in a first commercial establishment. The computing system determines that the first subscriber is associated with one or more first subscriber policies of the streaming media service and sends instructions to play back the first audio tracks on the one or more first playback devices according to the one or more first subscriber policies of the streaming media service.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2022Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Ron Kuper, Ted M. Lin, Sherwin W. Liu, Luis Vega
-
Publication number: 20230105464Abstract: A control device is configured to (i) display transport controls to control playback by the control device, (ii) after connecting to a LAN, determine that one or more playback devices are connected to the LAN, (iii) detect input(s) to transfer playback to a particular playback device connected to the LAN, (iv) cause playback to be transferred to the particular playback device, including: (a) causing first cloud server(s) to transmit, to the particular playback device, resource locator(s) maintained in a shared playback queue, the resource locator(s) corresponding to respective locations of media content at second cloud server(s) of a streaming content service, (b) causing playback at the control device to be stopped, and (c) modifying the transport controls to control playback by the particular playback device, and (v) cause the particular playback device to retrieve the media content from second cloud server(s) of a streaming content service and play back the retrieved media content.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Patent number: 11528522Abstract: Example techniques related to polices for media playback systems. An example implementation involves a computing system receiving data representing a request to play back first audio tracks on one or more first playback devices of a first media playback system. The first media playback system is associated with a first subscriber to a streaming media service and the first media playback system is physically located in a first commercial establishment. The computing system determines that the first subscriber is associated with one or more first subscriber policies of the streaming media service and sends instructions to play back the first audio tracks on the one or more first playback devices according to the one or more first subscriber policies of the streaming media service.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2019Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Ron Kuper, Ted M. Lin, Sherwin Liu, Luis Vega
-
Publication number: 20220224971Abstract: A network device is configured to perform functions including (i) operating in a first playback-control mode including retrieving, via a first network interface, first media in a playback queue and streaming, via a second network interface to a headphone, the first media (ii) while streaming the first media to the headphone, displaying a representation of one or more playback devices in a media playback system, (iii) receiving input indicating a selection of a given playback device, (iv) based on the input, causing the given playback device to obtain data indicating the second media in the playback queue, use the obtained data to retrieve the second media, and play back the retrieved second media, and (v) after receiving the input, stopping streaming the retrieved first media and transitioning from operating in the first playback-control mode to operating in a second playback-control mode to control the given playback device's playback of the second media.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2022Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Patent number: 11128913Abstract: An example system is configured to (i) cause a client station to operate in a first mode in which the client station is configured for playback of a remote playback queue provided by a cloud-based computing system associated with a cloud-based media service, (ii) cause a zone player to take over playback responsibility for the remote playback queue, (iii) cause the zone player to (a) communicate with the cloud-based computing system to obtain data identifying a next one or more media items in the remote playback queue, (b) use the obtained data to retrieve at least one media item in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service, and (c) play back the retrieved at least one media item, and (iv) cause the client station to transition from the first mode to a second mode in which the client station is configured to control the zone player's playback of the remote playback queue.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2021Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Publication number: 20210136445Abstract: An example system is configured to (i) cause a client station to operate in a first mode in which the client station is configured for playback of a remote playback queue provided by a cloud-based computing system associated with a cloud-based media service, (ii) cause a zone player to take over playback responsibility for the remote playback queue, (iii) cause the zone player to (a) communicate with the cloud-based computing system to obtain data identifying a next one or more media items in the remote playback queue, (b) use the obtained data to retrieve at least one media item in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service, and (c) play back the retrieved at least one media item, and (iv) cause the client station to transition from the first mode to a second mode in which the client station is configured to control the zone player's playback of the remote playback queue.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2021Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Patent number: 10945027Abstract: An example zone player is configured to receive, from a cloud-based computing system, (i) an instruction for the zone player to accept playback responsibility for a remote playback queue, and (ii) data for retrieving at least a first media item identified in the remote playback queue from a cloud-based media service. The zone player is also configured to retrieve, from the cloud-based media service, the first media item and begin to play back the first media item. The zone player is also configured to request at least one additional media item from the remote playback queue and then (i) receive, from the cloud-based computing system, data for retrieving at least a second media item identified in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service, (ii) retrieve from the cloud-based media service, the second media item, and (iii) begin to play back the second media item.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Publication number: 20200413128Abstract: An example zone player is configured to receive, from a cloud-based computing system, (i) an instruction for the zone player to accept playback responsibility for a remote playback queue, and (ii) data for retrieving at least a first media item identified in the remote playback queue from a cloud-based media service. The zone player is also configured to retrieve, from the cloud-based media service, the first media item and begin to play back the first media item. The zone player is also configured to request at least one additional media item from the remote playback queue and then (i) receive, from the cloud-based computing system, data for retrieving at least a second media item identified in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service, (ii) retrieve from the cloud-based media service, the second media item, and (iii) begin to play back the second media item.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Patent number: 10779033Abstract: An example computing device in a first mode is configured for playback of given audio content. While in the first mode, the computing device displays a representation of one or more playback devices in a media playback system that are available to accept playback responsibility for the given audio content and receives user input indicating a selection of a given playback device. The computing device transmits an instruction for playback responsibility to be transferred to the given playback device such that i) an identifier of the given audio content and a playback position for the given audio content are provided to the given playback device and ii) the given playback device becomes configured for playback of the given audio content. The computing device transitions from the first mode to a second mode in which the computing device is configured to control the given playback device's playback of the given audio content.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Patent number: 10757471Abstract: An example zone player is configured to play back a first media item identified in a remote playback queue provided by a computing system that is communicatively coupled to the zone player via at least a cloud-based network. The zone player is also configured to, while playing back the first media item, transmit a first indication that the zone player is ready for a next one or more media items identified in the remote playback queue and, after transmitting the first indication, (i) receive, from the computing system, data for retrieving at least a second media item identified in the remote playback queue from a cloud-based media service, and (ii) use the data for retrieving the second media item to retrieve the second media item from the cloud-based media service. The zone player is also configured to transition from playing back the first media item to playing back the second media item.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Publication number: 20200059682Abstract: Example techniques related to polices for media playback systems. An example implementation involves a computing system receiving data representing a request to play back first audio tracks on one or more first playback devices of a first media playback system. The first media playback system is associated with a first subscriber to a streaming media service and the first media playback system is physically located in a first commercial establishment. The computing system determines that the first subscriber is associated with one or more first subscriber policies of the streaming media service and sends instructions to play back the first audio tracks on the one or more first playback devices according to the one or more first subscriber policies of the streaming media service.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Ron Kuper, Ted M. Lin, Sherwin Liu, Luis Vega
-
Patent number: 10567831Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to a multimedia playback network are disclosed. An example method provides content to a local playback network. The example method includes identifying multimedia content from a content provider. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a local playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to a trigger. The example method includes facilitating play of the multimedia content via a local playback network associated with the local playback system.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Publication number: 20190377541Abstract: An example zone player is configured to play back a first media item identified in a remote playback queue provided by a computing system that is communicatively coupled to the zone player via at least a cloud-based network. The zone player is also configured to, while playing back the first media item, transmit a first indication that the zone player is ready for a next one or more media items identified in the remote playback queue and, after transmitting the first indication, (i) receive, from the computing system, data for retrieving at least a second media item identified in the remote playback queue from a cloud-based media service, and (ii) use the data for retrieving the second media item to retrieve the second media item from the cloud-based media service. The zone player is also configured to transition from playing back the first media item to playing back the second media item.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Publication number: 20190377542Abstract: An example computing system is configured to receive a first indication that a zone player is available for media play back; transmit, to a client station installed with a media-playback application for a cloud-based media service, a second indication that the zone player is available for play back of media from the cloud-based media service; receive a third indication that the zone player has been selected to play back media from the cloud-based media service; provide a remote playback queue that is associated with the zone player and the client station, where the remote playback queue includes data identifying a set of one or more media items for play back; and based on receiving the third indication, transmit (i) an instruction for the zone player to accept playback responsibility for the remote playback queue and (ii) data for retrieving a first media item identified in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Patent number: 10503465Abstract: An example computing system is configured to receive a first indication that a zone player is available for media play back; transmit, to a client station installed with a media-playback application for a cloud-based media service, a second indication that the zone player is available for play back of media from the cloud-based media service; receive a third indication that the zone player has been selected to play back media from the cloud-based media service; provide a remote playback queue that is associated with the zone player and the client station, where the remote playback queue includes data identifying a set of one or more media items for play back; and based on receiving the third indication, transmit (i) an instruction for the zone player to accept playback responsibility for the remote playback queue and (ii) data for retrieving a first media item identified in the remote playback queue from the cloud-based media service.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Publication number: 20190332349Abstract: An example computing device in a first mode is configured for playback of given audio content. While in the first mode, the computing device displays a representation of one or more playback devices in a media playback system that are available to accept playback responsibility for the given audio content and receives user input indicating a selection of a given playback device. The computing device transmits an instruction for playback responsibility to be transferred to the given playback device such that i) an identifier of the given audio content and a playback position for the given audio content are provided to the given playback device and ii) the given playback device becomes configured for playback of the given audio content. The computing device transitions from the first mode to a second mode in which the computing device is configured to control the given playback device's playback of the given audio content.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
-
Patent number: 10462505Abstract: Embodiments are described herein that help allow for applying policies during playback of media. In one aspect, a method is provided that involves a computing device of a media playback system (a) receiving a request to playback one or more media items that are from a playlist associated with a controller application, (b) applying to the one or more media items one or more playback policies that are associated with the controller application, where a given playback policy restricts at least one aspect of playback of at least one of the one or more media items, and (c) causing playback of the one or more media items in accordance with the one or more playback policies.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Ron Kuper, Ted M. Lin, Sherwin Liu, Luis Vega
-
Patent number: 10248376Abstract: The examples provided herein involve multiple groups in a playback system. An example method involves facilitating storage of a configuration of multiple zone groups as a multi-zone scene of a media playback system, the media playback system including at least a first zone group including at least two zone players and a second zone group, a user interface of a controller presenting at least an indication of (1) the first zone group, (2) the second zone group, and (3) a multi-zone group scene creation command.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: SONOS, INC.Inventors: Lee Keyser-Allen, Jillian Garber, Arthur Coburn, IV