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: An example control device is configured to (i) operate in a classic mode of a media playback system (MPS) application in which the control device provides options for controlling the MPS, (ii) while in the classic mode, receive a request to operate in a compact mode of the MPS application, (iii) determine a context in which the control device received the request, (iv) based on the request, transition from operating in the classic mode to the compact mode, in which the control device (a) provides a subset of the options, and (b) based on the context, presents a visualization of the compact mode with a selectable option to play back media content, (v) while presenting the visualization of the compact mode, receive input indicating a selection of the selectable option, and (vi) based on the input, cause a device to play back media content based on the selection.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method may involve sending a message that arranges a media playback system into a pre-defined state, wherein a first playback device is in a first zone having a first zone name, a second playback device is in a second zone having a second zone name, and a queue has a particular set of media items. The method may also involve detecting a trigger indicating a request to reset the media playback system. The method may further involve causing the media playback system to revert to the pre-defined state, wherein reverting may include assigning the first zone name to the first zone and joining the first playback device to the first zone, assigning the second zone name to the second zone and joining the second playback device to the second zone, and configuring the queue with the particular set of media items.

Abstract: In one aspect, a network microphone device includes a plurality of microphones and is configured to detect sound via the one or more microphones. The network microphone device may capture sound data based on the detected sound in a first buffer, and capture metadata associated with the detected sound in a second buffer. The network microphone device may classify one or more noises in the detected sound and cause the network microphone device to perform an action based on the classification of the respective one or more noises.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a playback device configured to: (i) maintain a cache comprising a plurality of tracks, wherein an individual track comprises a series of frames, and an individual frame comprises a portion of audio; (ii) after receiving a request to play a particular track, determining whether the particular track is in the cache at the playback device; (iii) when the particular track is in the cache at the playback device, (a) identify playback timing for each frame of the series of frames stored in the cache based at least in part on a current clock time of a clock at the playback device, and (b) play individual frames in the series of frames according to the playback timing for the individual frames; and (iv) when the particular track is not in the cache, obtain the particular track from an audio information source.

Abstract: Example techniques may provide volume enhancements to a media playback system. An example implementation involves a first playback device in a first playback configuration playing audio at a first volume level and storing the first volume level in association with the first playback configuration. The first playback device receives instructions to change to a second playback configuration. Based on receiving the instructions, the first playback device joins a synchrony group with a second zone and adjusts the first playback device to play audio at a second volume level which is based on a volume level of a second playback device in the second zone. While in the second playback configuration, the first playback device receives instructions to change to the first playback configuration and, based on the instructions, leaves the synchrony group and adjusts the first playback device to play audio content at the stored first volume level.

Abstract: Techniques for allocating audio data between a first playback device and a second playback device are disclosed. The audio data comprises a plurality of audio portions and the method comprises: detecting a trigger associated with the first playback device; responsive to detecting the trigger: retrieving configuration information related to the first playback device and the second playback device; and automatically updating an allocation of the audio portions for reproduction by at least one of the first playback device and the second playback device based on the configuration information.

Abstract: A playback device including a housing having a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion therebetween. The playback device can further include an audio transducer at least partially disposed in the intermediate portion and a grille assembly surrounding the intermediate portion between the first and second end portions. The grille assembly can include a substrate and an outer shell surrounding the substrate. The outer shell can include an elastomeric material bonded onto a thermoplastic material, wherein the outer shell includes a perforated portion extending between the first and second end portions of the housing and overlaying the audio transducer, and wherein the perforated face defines a plurality of apertures extending through the elastomeric and thermoplastic materials.

Abstract: Example techniques involve systems with multiple acoustic echo cancellers. An example implementation captures first audio within an acoustic environment and detecting, within the captured first audio content, a wake-word. In response to the wake-word and before playing an acknowledgement tone, the implementation activates (a) a first sound canceller when one or more speakers are playing back audio content or (b) a second sound canceller when the one or more speakers are idle. In response to the wake-word and after activating either (a) the first sound canceller or (b) the second sound canceller, the implementation outputs the acknowledgement tone via the one or more speakers. The implementation captures second audio within the acoustic environment and cancelling the acoustic echo of the acknowledgement tone from the captured second audio using the activated sound canceller.

Abstract: Some disclosed systems and methods include a media playback system that includes a network device and a wearable playback device. The media playback system receives, via a hardware interface of the network device, multichannel audio. The media playback system determines a first position of the wearable playback device. The media playback system generates, based on the received multichannel audio and the determined first position, first audio. The media playback system causes, via the wearable playback device, playback of the generated first audio.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a portable playback device performing functions comprising: (i) after receiving an indication to operate in a playback group while the first portable playback device is connected to a network device via a Personal Area Network (PAN) and not connected to a first Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), establishing a second WLAN for the playback group; and (ii) after a second portable playback device has joined the second WLAN operated by the first portable playback device, streaming audio content received via the PAN connection from the first network device to the second portable playback device via the second WLAN operated by the first portable playback device, and playing the audio content in a groupwise manner with the second portable playback device. Other embodiments include portable playback devices performing similar functions via a peer-to-peer wireless link rather than the second WLAN.

Abstract: Examples described herein involve providing for display while a media item is being played by a media playback system, information associated with the media item. The information may be additional to information provided on a control interface for controlling the media playback system. In one example, a computing device may receive data indicating a media item being played by a playback device of a media playback system, and based on the data indicating the media item, transmit to one or more media information sources, a request for information associated with the media item. The computing device may then receive from the one or more media information sources, data indicating information associated with the media item, and provide for display on a graphical display, representations of at least a portion of the information.

Abstract: There is provided a haptic system, comprising: a housing, two drive units coupled to the housing, each drive unit comprising a mass movable relative to the housing, and a controller configured to generate a haptic signal by causing at least one drive unit to exert a net force to be exerted on the housing. There is also provided a method for providing a haptic signal comprising: generating a first haptic signal, using a haptic system, after a first interaction with a user interface element; and generating a second haptic signal, using the haptic system, after a second interaction with the user interface element; wherein the second haptic signal is different from the first haptic signal; and wherein the first and second haptic signals are at least one of: associated with different functions of the user interface element; and associated with a parameter adjusted by the user interface element.

Abstract: An example of a playback device includes a wireless communication interface, at least one processor, and at least one tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the playback device to receive audio content, during a playback session, communicate, via the wireless communication interface, one or more channels of the audio content to at least one satellite playback device to coordinate synchronous rendering of the audio content by the at least one satellite playback device, during the playback session, detect a request to transfer playback of the audio content to a target playback device, determine a context of the playback session, and process the request according to the context of the playback session.