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.

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.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve selecting a coordinator device for multichannel playback by a first playback device and a second playback device are joined into a zone group of playback devices that are configured to render audio content from an audio source in synchrony. An example implementation may involve determining that a wireless interface performance metric of the first playback device exceeds a wireless interface performance metric of the second playback device. Based on such a determination, the first playback device and the second playback device may be configured as a group coordinator and a group member of the zone group, respectively. The group coordinator (a) receives the audio content from the audio source, and (b) forwards at least a portion of the received audio content to a group member during rendering of the audio content by the zone group of playback devices.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve facilitating synchronous playback in a media playback system that includes a first media device and a second media device. An example implementation involves receiving an instruction to form a zone group that includes the first media device and the second media device. The implementation further involves comparing first network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the first media device to second network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the second media device. The implementation also involves identifying the first media device as a group coordinator of the zone group based on the comparison. Based on identifying the first media device as the group coordinator, the first media device is configured to provide data indicating audio content and audio content playback timing information to the second media device to facilitate synchronous playback of the audio content as the zone group.

Abstract: Techniques pertaining to advertising through a digital data network are disclosed. Advertisement information is embedded in multimedia data stream as structured metadata, and transmitted through networks. Multimedia players installed in different locations, or zones, in a data network are configured to receive the stream data, and detect the presence of the embedded metadata. Through a network interface in the player, the metadata information is transmitted to and displayed on a controller. A user input interface in the controller allows a user to response to the displayed metadata and select to obtain the desired information accordingly.

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.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve identifying a primary zone in a network media system for playback of primary audio content, where audio content comprises the primary audio content and auxiliary audio content, and determining respective audio responses of each of one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of the auxiliary audio content with the primary zone. At least one auxiliary zone of the one or more auxiliary zones for coordinated playback of auxiliary audio content may be identified based on the respective audio responses of each of the one or more auxiliary zones. The primary zone can play back the primary audio content, and the at least one auxiliary zone can coordinate playback of the auxiliary audio content with the primary audio content played by the primary zone.

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.

Abstract: A first playback device plays first audio content in synchrony with at least one second playback device. One or more commands is received that define a duration of time. The first playback device stops playback of the first audio content based on the received one or more commands. After stopping playback of the first audio content, second audio content is played for the duration of time defined by the one or more commands. After playing the second audio content for the duration of time, the first playback device resumes playback of the first audio content in synchrony with the at least one second playback device.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for remotely managing a digital device is provided. One or more digital devices are monitored. At least one matter associated with the one or more digital devices is identified. A resolution to address the at least one matter is generated. The resolution is then distributed from a remote location.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program is provided which monitors a plurality of digital media devices that are at a remote location. Each of the plurality of digital media devices is associated with a respective plurality of functions. While monitoring the plurality of digital media devices, data is received indicating that a lock mode is to be enabled for the plurality of digital media devices such that a subset of the plurality of functions is disabled. Based on the received data indicating that the lock mode is to be enabled, a command is transmitted to at least one of the plurality of digital media devices to disable the subset of the plurality of functions.

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.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for remotely managing a digital device is provided. One or more digital devices are monitored. At least one matter associated with the one or more digital devices is identified. A resolution to address the at least one matter is generated. The resolution is then distributed from a remote location.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein involve facilitating synchronous playback in a media playback system that includes a first media device and a second media device. An example implementation involves receiving an instruction to form a zone group that includes the first media device and the second media device. The implementation further involves comparing first network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the first media device to second network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the second media device. The implementation also involves identifying the first media device as a group coordinator of the zone group based on the comparison. Based on identifying the first media device as the group coordinator, the first media device is configured to provide data indicating audio content and audio content playback timing information to the second media device to facilitate synchronous playback of the audio content as the zone group.