Patents by Inventor Jonathan Lang

Jonathan Lang 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: 20220386058
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 11513761
    Abstract: In an example implementation, a computing device is configured to (i) transmit playback preference tracking information to a media service registered with a media playback system; and (ii) after transmitting the playback preference information: (a) determine a first time boundary corresponding to a beginning of a zone scene that causes a first playback device in a first zone of the media playback system to be configured for synchronous playback of media with a second playback device in a second zone of the media playback system, (b) determine a second time boundary corresponding to an end of the zone scene, and (c) transmit, to the media service registered with the media playback system, a request to remove playback preference tracking information received between the first time boundary and the second time boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20220360924
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathon Reilly, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 11481744
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to discovery and media control at a point-of-sale display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Lang, Deborah DuBois
  • Publication number: 20220329904
    Abstract: A first playback is configured to (i) determine that it is connected to a local data network using a first networking protocol, (ii) receive a command to join a second playback device in a group of playback devices that are configured for synchronous playback of audio content from an audio source, (iii) determine that the second playback device is connected to the local data network using a second networking protocol different from the first networking protocol, (iv) based on determining that the second playback device is connected to the local data network using a second networking protocol different from the first networking protocol, configure the first playback device as a group coordinator of the group of playback devices, and (v) while rendering the audio content, (a) receive the audio content from the audio source and (b) forward at least a portion of the received audio content to the second playback device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Hrishikesh Gossain, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 11418563
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20220248071
    Abstract: Example techniques describe may facilitate a playback device applying a determined audio setting. An example implementation involves a first playback device receiving, over an unsecure network, a message indicating that a second playback device is available to join a playback network, wherein the first playback device is connected to the playback network. Based on a pre-existing configuration table, the first playback device determines an audio setting corresponding to a playback configuration for the second playback device, the playback configuration including the second playback device playing back audio synchronously with the first playback device in the playback network. The first playback device transmits, to the second playback device, one or more messages instructing the second playback device to apply the determined audio setting upon joining the playback network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew Schulert, Ron Kuper, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 11405430
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein include, while a microphone of a first networked microphone device is enabled, determining whether a first reference device is in a specific state, and in response to determining that the first reference device is in the specific state, disabling the microphone of the first networked microphone device. Some embodiments further include, while the microphone of the first networked microphone device is enabled, receiving a command to disable the microphone of the first networked microphone device via one of the microphone of the networked microphone device or a network interface of the networked microphone device, and in response to receiving the command to disable the microphone of the networked microphone device via one of the microphone of the networked microphone device or the network interface of the networked microphone device, disabling the microphone of the networked microphone device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Mieko Kusano, Dayn Wilberding, Jonathan Wenocur, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 11363397
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon Reilly, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 11317149
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve facilitating playback in a media playback system that includes a first media device and a second media device. An example implementation involves comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the second media device, wherein the comparison indicates that the first media device has a better network connection than the second media device. Based on the comparison, the first media device is configured to forward data indicating audio content from a network source to the second media device to facilitate playback of the audio content by the second media device. The second media device plays back particular audio content via one or more speakers by receiving data indicating the particular audio content from the first media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Hrishikesh Gossain, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 11178441
    Abstract: Example techniques describe may facilitate a playback device applying a determined audio setting. An example implementation involves a first playback device receiving, over an unsecure network, a message indicating that a second playback device is available to join a playback network, wherein the first playback device is connected to the playback network. Based on a pre-existing configuration table, the first playback device determines an audio setting corresponding to a playback configuration for the second playback device, the playback configuration including the second playback device playing back audio synchronously with the first playback device in the playback network. The first playback device transmits, to the second playback device, one or more messages instructing the second playback device to apply the determined audio setting upon joining the playback network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew Schulert, Ron Kuper, Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20210258360
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20210216272
    Abstract: An example playback device is configured to play back a first media item and, while playing back the first media item, receive a voice command to enter a preview mode in which the playback device plays back one or more second media items for a predetermined duration that is shorter than a total duration of the one or more second media items. Responsive to receiving the voice command, the playback device enters the preview mode, thereby (i) suspending playback of the first media item and (ii) initiating playback of the one or more second media items for the predetermined duration. The playback device subsequently terminates the preview mode, thereby (i) terminating playback of the one or more second media items, and (ii) resuming playback of the first media item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Paul Bates, Abhishek Kumar, Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20210109702
    Abstract: In an example implementation, a computing device is configured to (i) transmit playback preference tracking information to a media service registered with a media playback system; and (ii) after transmitting the playback preference information: (a) determine a first time boundary corresponding to a beginning of a zone scene that causes a first playback device in a first zone of the media playback system to be configured for synchronous playback of media with a second playback device in a second zone of the media playback system, (b) determine a second time boundary corresponding to an end of the zone scene, and (c) transmit, to the media service registered with the media playback system, a request to remove playback preference tracking information received between the first time boundary and the second time boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20210105519
    Abstract: Example techniques describe may facilitate a playback device applying a determined audio setting. An example implementation involves a first playback device receiving, over an unsecure network, a message indicating that a second playback device is available to join a playback network, wherein the first playback device is connected to the playback network. Based on a pre-existing configuration table, the first playback device determines an audio setting corresponding to a playback configuration for the second playback device, the playback configuration including the second playback device playing back audio synchronously with the first playback device in the playback network. The first playback device transmits, to the second playback device, one or more messages instructing the second playback device to apply the determined audio setting upon joining the playback network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew Schulert, Ron Kuper, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10956118
    Abstract: A processor and memory comprising instructions stored therein executable by the processor to display a first media item available for playback, wherein the first media item is associated at least with a preview option, a playback option, and a queue option. A first input associated with the first media item is received. The first input is determined to correspond only to the preview option. Responsive to determining that the first input corresponds only to the preview option, causing at least a portion of the first media item to be played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Bates, Abhishek Kumar, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10911507
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10871941
    Abstract: In an example implementation, a computing device including at least one processor; a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to (i) begin transmission of playback preference tracking information to one or more media services registered with a media playback system; (ii) detect that a zone scene has been invoked such that at least two zone players are configured for synchronous playback of media; (iii) based on the detection that the zone scene has been invoked, suspend the transmission of the playback preference tracking information to the one or more media services; (iv) detect that the at least two zone players are no longer configured for synchronous playback of media; and (v) resume the transmission of the playback preference tracking information to the one or more media services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20200382836
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve facilitating playback in a media playback system that includes a first media device and a second media device. An example implementation involves comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the second media device, wherein the comparison indicates that the first media device has a better network connection than the second media device. Based on the comparison, the first media device is configured to forward data indicating audio content from a network source to the second media device to facilitate playback of the audio content by the second media device. The second media device plays back particular audio content via one or more speakers by receiving data indicating the particular audio content from the first media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Hrishikesh Gossain, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: D957637
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan Lang, Sara Sellar