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: 20230336813
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Patent number: 11743534
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Publication number: 20230179813
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Ron Kuper, Ted M. Lin, Sherwin W. Liu, Luis Vega
  • Publication number: 20230105464
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Patent number: 11528522
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Ron Kuper, Ted M. Lin, Sherwin Liu, Luis Vega
  • Publication number: 20220224971
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Patent number: 11128913
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Publication number: 20210136445
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Patent number: 10945027
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Publication number: 20200413128
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Patent number: 10779033
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Patent number: 10757471
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Publication number: 20200059682
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Ron Kuper, Ted M. Lin, Sherwin Liu, Luis Vega
  • Patent number: 10567831
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Publication number: 20190377541
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Publication number: 20190377542
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Patent number: 10503465
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Publication number: 20190332349
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Joni Rafalski Hoadley
  • Patent number: 10462505
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Coburn, IV, Ron Kuper, Ted M. Lin, Sherwin Liu, Luis Vega
  • Patent number: 10248376
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SONOS, INC.
    Inventors: Lee Keyser-Allen, Jillian Garber, Arthur Coburn, IV