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: 20200244715
    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 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10728681
    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: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon Reilly, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10687110
    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: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Hrishikesh Gossain, Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20200050425
    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: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10554712
    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: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20190387038
    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 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20190384568
    Abstract: In an example implementation, a method may involve, while a first zone and a second zone of a media playback system are playing back respective media, receiving data indicating the occurrence of a first trigger condition. The method may also involve, based on the received data, modifying respective volume limits of the first zone and the second zone, wherein modifying the volume limit causes first volume levels that exceed the second limit to be reduced to respective second volume levels that are at or below the second limit. The method may also involve receiving data indicating the occurrence of a second trigger condition. The method may further involve, based on the received data, modifying the respective volume limits of the first zone and the second zone from the second limit to the first limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Kirk Bulis, Jeremy Wessely, Jonathan Lang, Romi Kadri
  • Publication number: 20190364076
    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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Mieko Kusano, Dayn Wilberding, Jonathan Wenocur, Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20190340593
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to discovery and media control at a point-of-sale display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Jonathan Lang, Deborah DuBois
  • Patent number: 10459739
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for configuring and profiling digital media devices is provided. The digital media device is monitored for user interaction. Profile data is generated based on the user interaction. The digital media device is automatically configured based on the profile data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Lang, Chris Fowler
  • Publication number: 20190324711
    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: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Paul Bates, Abhishek Kumar, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10452344
    Abstract: In an example implementation, a method may involve detecting a trigger that suspends playback preference tracking of a media playback system, sending, to one or more media services registered with the media playback system, one or more requests to suspend playback preference tracking from when the trigger that suspends playback preference tracking was detected, detecting a particular trigger that resumes playback preference tracking of the media playback system, and based on detecting the particular trigger, sending, to at least one of the one or more media services registered to the media playback system, one or more requests to resume playback preference tracking of the media playback system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10437553
    Abstract: In an example implementation, a method may involve, while a first zone and a second zone of a media playback system are playing back respective media, receiving data indicating the occurrence of a first trigger condition. The method may also involve, based on the received data, modifying respective volume limits of the first zone and the second zone, wherein modifying the volume limit causes first volume levels that exceed the second limit to be reduced to respective second volume levels that are at or below the second limit. The method may also involve receiving data indicating the occurrence of a second trigger condition. The method may further involve, based on the received data, modifying the respective volume limits of the first zone and the second zone from the second limit to the first limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Bulis, Jeremy Wessely, Jonathan Lang, Romi Kadri
  • Patent number: 10404768
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve a network media system identifying a primary zone in the network media system to play back audio tracks of videos. The system determines respective audio responses of one or more auxiliary zones and identifies a particular auxiliary zone for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content based on the respective audio responses of the one or more auxiliary zones indicating that the particular auxiliary zone is within audible range of the primary zone and the particular auxiliary zone including a subwoofer. While an audio track of a given video is playing back, the network media system temporarily forms a playback configuration in which the primary zone plays back primary audio content including full frequency range audio content of the audio track and the at least one auxiliary zone plays back auxiliary audio content including low frequency range audio content of the audio track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20190238913
    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: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew Schulert, Ron Kuper, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10338881
    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: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Bates, Abhishek Kumar, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10296884
    Abstract: Embodiments are described herein that allow for personalized media playback at a discovered point-of-sale display. In one aspect, a method is provided that involves discovering a point-of-sale display by a portable computing device. The point-of-sale display comprises at least one media playback device. The method further involves receiving, over a wireless network by the portable computing device, a software application and a system identifier of the point-of-sale display. The system identifier to automatically configure the software application to control the at least one media playback device at the discovered point-of-sale display. The method further involves joining the software application on the portable computing device to the point-of-sale display using the system identifier. The method further involves sending from the portable computing device via the configured software application one or more commands to control the at least one media playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Lang, Deborah Dubois
  • Patent number: 10271078
    Abstract: Example techniques describe may facilitate a playback device joining a playback network. An example implementation involves a computing device, such as smartphone or tablet, receiving, from a playback device, a message indicating that the playback device is available to join a playback network. The computing device determines, based on a configuration table, an audio setting corresponding to the playback device and transmits, to the playback device, a message indicating (i) security parameters to be used by the playback device to join the playback network, (ii) the identified audio setting to be applied by the playback device upon joining the playback network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew Schulert, Ron Kuper, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10264030
    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: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Mieko Kusano, Dayn Wilberding, Jonathan Wenocur, Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20190037272
    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: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Hrishikesh Gossain, Jonathan Lang