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.

Abstract: An example computing device establishes a first network connection to a playback device that supports a first communication protocol for sending audio content for playback to the playback device, and detects user input associated with a modification to the playback. While the computing device and the playback device are connected to a common data network that supports a second communication protocol, the computing device transmits, via the common data network using the second communication protocol, a command to modify media playback based on the user input. While the computing device or playback device are not connected to the common data network that supports the second communication protocol, the computing device (i) establishes a second network connection to the playback device that supports a third communication protocol, and (ii) transmits, via the second network connection using the third communication protocol, a command to modify media playback based on the user input.

Abstract: In one aspect, a playback device is configured to: (i) after receiving an indication that the presence of one or more first wireless networks is detected, transition from a second power state to a first power state; (ii) update, while in the first power state, a state variable from a first value indicating that a connection via at least one of one or more second wireless networks should be established to a second value indicating that a connection via at least one of the one or more first wireless networks should be established; and (iii) after updating the state variable, enter the second power state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for audio processing include capturing first sound data via at least one microphone of a network microphone device (NMD) and determining, via a voice activity detection process, that the first sound data does not include voice activity. The first sound data is stored in a buffer, and the NMD forgoes spatial processing of the first sound data. The NMD can capture second sound data and determine, via the voice activity process, that the second sound data includes voice activity. The NMD spatially processes the second sound data to produce filtered sound data. The NMD detects a wake word based on data in the buffer. After detecting the wake word, the NMD may determine an action to be performed based on the data in the buffer.

Abstract: Embodiments are described herein that provide a dedicated command device that is bonded to a zone player or zone to perform adjustments to the zone player or zone. In an example implementation, a command device receives an instruction to pair with a first playback device that is associated with a group of playback devices that includes the first playback device and at least one additional playback device. The group of playback devices is associated with at least one group variable controlling playback by the playback devices of the group. The command device receives an input to adjust a first group variable of the at least one group variable and transmits, via a wireless communications interface, a command that causes an adjustment of the first group variable for the group of playback devices.

Abstract: A control device is configured to (i) define configuration data corresponding to a zone scene of a media playback system, the configuration data including an identification of at least a first zone player and a second zone player, (ii) cause a remote computing device to (a) receive the configuration data via a wide area network and (b) store the configuration data, (iii) while the first zone player and a third zone player are playing back first audio content in synchrony, display a selectable indication that, when selected, causes the zone scene to be invoked, and (iv) in response to receiving an input indicative of a selection of the selectable indication, cause the remote computing device to invoke the zone scene at the media playback system such that the first zone player and the second zone player play back second audio content in synchrony without the third zone player.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate playback of multimedia content are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a network interface configured to receive audio content over a playback network. A processor comprising instructions which when executed, cause the processor to detect that a portable playback device has joined the playback network. The processor is to update a state variable to indicate that the portable playback device has joined the playback network. The processor is to play audio content received over the playback network based on the state variable. The processor is to detect that the portable playback device is not joined to the playback network. The processor is to, after detecting that the portable playback device is not joined to the playback network, update the state variable to indicate that the portable playback device is not joined to the playback network.

Abstract: A computing device may broadcast a first message via a wireless interface while operating according to a first network topology. After broadcasting the first message, the computing device may receive the first message via a wired interface. Based on receiving the first message via the wired interface, the computing device may broadcast a second message indicating a second network topology via the wireless interface. Based on receiving the first message via the wired interface, the computing device may operate according to the second network topology.

Abstract: Example techniques involve controlling playback volumes. An example implementation includes displaying a group volume control of a synchrony group, the group volume control comprising a group volume indicator on a group volume slider and receiving, via the displayed group volume control, input data representing a selection of the group volume control. The implementation also includes displaying, concurrently with the group volume control, a first volume control comprising a first volume indicator on a first volume slider and a second volume control comprising a second volume indicator on a second volume slider. The implementation also includes receiving, via the displayed group volume control, input data representing an input to modify a first volume setting of the synchrony group to a second volume setting and transmitting instructions to cause the synchrony group to modify volume settings according to the second volume setting of the synchrony group.

Abstract: Example techniques relate to primary-ambient playback of surround audio by audio playback devices. Example playback devices described herein may include multiple speakers, such as a forward-firing audio transducer and side-firing audio transducers. Using example techniques, such playback devices may perform primary-ambient decomposition to separate surround channels into primary? and ambient channels. The playback devices play back the ambient channel(s) via the side-firing transducers and the primary channel via the forward-firing transducer.

Abstract: The disclosed playback devices, media playback systems, and/or methods improve upon the media playback experience by selectively reducing audio quality under certain conditions. The reduction of audio quality may be based on one or more aspects of the acoustic environment, such as the number and locations of one or more users, noise levels, playback device locations relative to the acoustic environment, etc. The media playback system may monitor or periodically poll each of one or more playback devices and other devices or sensors in and around an acoustic environment to determine whether there are opportunities to reduce audio quality for one or more playback devices. This reduction in quality allows the media playback system to conserve resources in one or more aspects and, potentially, divert those resources to other aspects for purposes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for establishing a metadata exchange channel between a media playback system and a networked microphone system, wherein the networked microphone system comprises a networked microphone device and a networked microphone server. After establishing the metadata exchange channel, the media playback system experiences a metadata exchange triggering event. In response to experiencing the metadata exchange triggering event, the media playback system provides metadata to the networked microphone system via the metadata exchange channel.