Abstract: An example implementation may involve a group of wearable playback devices including a first wearable playback device and a second wearable playback device. The wearable playback devices render multi-channel audio content according to particular playback responsibilities in the group. When a failure or other issue with the second wearable playback device occurs, the first playback device assumes at least part of the playback responsibility of the second playback device.

Abstract: Some disclosed systems and methods include a surround sound controller and one or more wireless headphones that switch between operating in various modes. In a first mode, the surround sound controller uses a first MCS to transmit first surround sound audio information to a first pair of headphones. In a second mode, the surround sound controller uses a second MCS to transmit (a) the first surround sound audio information to the first pair of headphones and (b) second surround sound audio information to a second pair of headphones. In operation, the first MCS corresponds to a lower data rate at a higher wireless link margin than the second MCS.

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 preexisting 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.

Abstract: Some disclosed systems and methods include assigning channel streams to satellite playback devices, delaying initial transmission of surround sound content to satellite playback devices to accumulate audio samples for transmission in individual frames of surround sound content, and taking advantage of configured playback delays for different channels of surround sound content to prioritize transmission of channels of surround sound content having shorter configured playback delays over transmission of channels of surround sound content having longer configured playback delays.

Abstract: An example implementation may involve a group of wearable playback devices including a first wearable playback device and a second wearable playback device. The wearable playback devices render multi-channel audio content according to particular playback responsibilities in the group. When a failure or other issue with the second wearable playback device occurs, the first playback device assumes at least part of the playback responsibility of the second playback device.

Abstract: A network interface of a first computing device is configured to operate according to a bridge table. The bridge table defines a spanning tree protocol for a mesh network and identifies one or more reachable nodes. A communication characteristic between the first computing device and a second computing device of the one or more reachable nodes is determined to exceed a quality threshold. Based on the determination that the communication characteristic exceeds the quality threshold, the spanning tree protocol is overridden and the data is transmitted directly to the second computing device via a direct communication route.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling multi-site media playback systems include, among other features, a computing system (i) receiving, from a first media playback device connected to a first network, a first registration message, (ii) in response to receiving the first registration message, assigning a system identifier and a first subsystem identifier to the first media playback device, (iii) receiving, from a second media playback device connected to the first network, a second registration message, (iv) in response to receiving the second registration message, assigning the system identifier and the first subsystem identifier to the second media playback device, (v) determining that the second media playback device is disconnected from the first network and connected to a second network, and (vi) in response to determining that the second media playback device is connected to the second network, assigning a second subsystem identifier to the second media playback device.

Abstract: Low-latency audio networking is disclosed. In one embodiment, an example playback device includes a processor and memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the processor. The example instructions are to cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising: receiving audio information; selecting a first frequency channel of a first spectrum based on a threshold latency associated with the audio information; transmitting to the second playback device via a second frequency channel of a second spectrum, control information that identifies the first frequency channel of the first spectrum; and transmitting to the second playback device via the first frequency channel of the first spectrum, the audio information to be played by the second playback device.

Abstract: Devices, system, and methods are disclosed for provisioning devices over a cloud network in accordance with modifications to operational settings of a media playback system. In example embodiments, a first playback device is configured to identify a change to a property of an operational setting of the media playback system at a first geographic location of the media playback system, and based on the identified change, (i) locally provision itself in accordance with the identified change to the property of the operational setting, (ii) cause a cloud computing device located outside of the media playback system to be provisioned in accordance with the identified change to the property of the operational setting, and (iii) cause the cloud computing device to initiate provisioning of a second playback device at a second geographic location in accordance with the identified change to the property of the operational setting at the first geographic location.

Abstract: A first network microphone device (NMD) is configured to receive, from a second NMD, a first arbitration message including (i) a first measure of confidence associated with a voice input as detected by the second NMD and (ii) the voice input as detected by the second NMD, and receive, from a third NMD, a second arbitration message including (i) a second measure of confidence associated with the voice input as detected by the third NMD and (ii) the voice input as detected by the third NMD. The first NMD is configured to determine that the second measure of confidence is greater than the first measure of confidence and based on the determination, perform voice recognition based on the voice input as detected by the third NMD, where the voice input includes a command to control audio playback by the first, second, and/or third NMD, and after performing voice recognition, executing the command.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for replacing media items in a queue of a playback device. An example implementation involves receiving, at the playback device, first data indicating an addition of a first media item to a queue. The playback device determines that the first media item is no longer accessible to the playback device at a later second time. The playback device initiates a query for a media item similar to the first media item and receives second data indicating that a second media item has replaced the first media item in the queue, the second media item being similar to the first media item. In response, the playback device initiates playback of the second media item on the playback device.

Abstract: Examples described herein relate to facilitating media item access via a media item database. For instance, a playlist may include audio tracks of a first streaming service (e.g., as uniform resource identifiers linking to streamable audio tracks). When a subscription to the first streaming service is not active, the playlist may be unplayable by a media playback system including a playback device. To play the playlist, a computing system may convert the playlist to audio tracks of a second streaming service and then send the converted playlist back to the media playback system for playback.

Abstract: Generative media content (e.g., generative audio) can be played back across multiple playback devices concurrently. A coordinator device can receive a multi-channel stream of media content, with at least some channels comprising generative media content. The coordinator device transmits each of the channels to a plurality of playback devices. A first playback device plays back a first subset of the channels according to first playback responsibilities and a second playback device plays back a second subset of the channels according to second playback responsibilities. The first and/or second playback responsibilities can be dynamically modified over time, for example in response to one or more input parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling multi-site media playback systems include, among other features, a computing system (i) receiving, from a first media playback device connected to a first network, a first registration message, (ii) in response to receiving the first registration message, assigning a system identifier and a first subsystem identifier to the first media playback device, (iii) receiving, from a second media playback device connected to the first network, a second registration message, (iv) in response to receiving the second registration message, assigning the system identifier and the first subsystem identifier to the second media playback device, (v) determining that the second media playback device is disconnected from the first network and connected to a second network, and (vi) in response to determining that the second media playback device is connected to the second network, assigning a second subsystem identifier to the second media playback device.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein involve a first playback device, associated with a first household, where the first playback device is configured to mirror a playback queue that is associated with a second playback device, where the second playback device is associated with a second household. For instance, a device associated with the first household, such as a controller, may send a command to the first playback device to mirror the playback queue associated with the second playback device. Based on the received command, the first playback device may mirror the playback queue that is associated with the second playback device such that contents of a playback queue that is associated with the first playback device are the same as contents of the playback queue that is associated with the second playback device.

Abstract: A first playback device is configured to (i) receive an instruction to share a playback device between a first group of playback devices including the first playback device and a second group of playback devices including a second playback device, (ii) receive a command to play back media content, (iii) determine that the shared playback device is currently configured for synchronous playback in the second group of playback devices, (iv) transmit a request to the second playback device for an indication of whether the shared playback device is available, (v) if the shared playback device is available (a) transmit a command to the shared playback device to join the first group of playback devices, and (b) play back the media content in synchrony with the shared playback device, and (v) if the shared playback device is unavailable, play back the media content without synchronizing with the shared playback device.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for replacing media items in a queue of a playback device. An example implementation involves receiving, at the playback device, first data indicating an addition of a first media item to a queue. The playback device determines that the first media item is no longer accessible to the playback device at a later second time. The playback device initiates a query for a media item similar to the first media item and receives second data indicating that a second media item has replaced the first media item in the queue, the second media item being similar to the first media item. In response, the playback device initiates playback of the second media item on the playback device.

Abstract: Example techniques described herein involve authorization management in a media playback system. Within examples, a client, such as a control device, may authenticate with a playback device using a token. The playback device may resolve a role corresponding to the token using a token-to-role mapping hosted at an authentication service. After resolving the role, the playback device may resolve a permissions set corresponding to the role using a role-to-permissions mapping similarly hosted at the authentication service. Within examples, such mappings may be cached locally at the edge (e.g., on a playback device).

Abstract: A first network microphone device (NMD) is configured to receive, from a second NMD, a first arbitration message including (i) a first measure of confidence associated with a voice input as detected by the second NMD and (ii) the voice input as detected by the second NMD, and receive, from a third NMD, a second arbitration message including (i) a second measure of confidence associated with the voice input as detected by the third NMD and (ii) the voice input as detected by the third NMD. The first NMD is configured to determine that the second measure of confidence is greater than the first measure of confidence and based on the determination, perform voice recognition based on the voice input as detected by the third NMD, where the voice input includes a command to control audio playback by the first, second, and/or third NMD, and after performing voice recognition, executing the command.