Patents Assigned to Sonos, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11769519
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve detecting known environmental conditions of using a neural network. An example implementation involves a playback device receiving data indicating a response of a listening environment to audio output of one or more playback devices as captured by a microphone and determining an input vector for a neural network. The playback device provides the determined input vector to the neural network, which includes an output layer comprising neurons that correspond to respective environmental conditions. The playback device detects that the input vector caused one or more neurons of the neural network to fire such that the neural network indicates that one or more particular environmental conditions are present in the listening environment. The playback device adjusts audio output of the one or more playback devices to at least partially offset the one or more particular environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus Hartung, Greg Bright
  • Patent number: 11769511
    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 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Jones, Saeed Bagheri Sereshki, Daniele Giacobello
  • Patent number: 11768655
    Abstract: Example techniques related to a sub-index of a media index. An example implementation may involve maintaining, on a mobile device, a first index of audio tracks associated with a particular user profile, the audio tracks indexed in the first index consisting of a particular subset of audio tracks that are indexed in a second index. Based on the receiving the input data indicating the search query, the mobile device searches, within the first index, for audio tracks corresponding to the search query. If the audio tracks corresponding to the search query are not found in the first index, the mobile device sends to one or more servers of the cloud service, a request to search the second index for audio tracks corresponding to the search query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Amber Brown, Diane Roberts
  • Patent number: 11770427
    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 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 11769505
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Saeed Bagheri Sereshki
  • Patent number: 11762625
    Abstract: An example method involves causing a control device to display a graphical user interface that comprises an indication of a first zone of a media playback system, wherein the media playback system comprises the first zone and a second zone, and wherein the graphical user interface does not comprise an indication of the second zone. The example method further involves detecting, by the control device, an input that indicates a command to cause the first zone to form a zone group with the second zone and play back a target media in synchrony with the second zone. The method further comprises, based on the detected input, causing the first zone to form a zone group with the second zone and play back the target media in synchrony with the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Triplett
  • Patent number: 11764885
    Abstract: Systems and methods for localizing individuals in a region using wireless signals in accordance with embodiments are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for localizing individuals in a region between wireless devices of a system. The method receives wireless signal strength data for signals transmitted along signal paths between several wireless playback devices transmitting on a wireless channel during synchronous playback of media content by the several wireless playback devices and determines a first signal strength for each of several portions of the wireless channel. The method calculates, for each signal path between each of the several wireless playback devices, a difference in the determined first signal strength from a second signal strength for each of the several subcarriers, and determines, based on the calculated differences, a state for a set of one or more individuals in the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels van Erven, Connor Riley Northend
  • Patent number: 11765507
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Beckhardt
  • Patent number: 11762624
    Abstract: Playback devices can include touch sensor assemblies with one or more integrated antennas. Such touch sensor assemblies can be incorporated into a playback device such as a headphone device. The playback device can include an electrode comprising a first conductor, a second conductor, and a filter coupled between the first and second conductors, a capacitive-touch circuit coupled to the electrode, and a wireless radio coupled to the second conductor. The capacitive-touch circuit is configured to deliver a capacitive sensing signal to the electrode. The wireless radio is configured to facilitate communication over at least one wireless network via the second conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels van Erven, Kasra Payandehjoo, Nicholas D'Amato
  • Patent number: 11758199
    Abstract: A first networked device may perform operations including receiving, from a media source device, a media stream. The first networked device may be configured to use a first media playback protocol and the media source device may be configured to use a second media playback protocol. The first media playback protocol and the second media playback protocol may be incompatible. Operations may further include transmitting, to a second networked device, the media stream. The first networked device and second networked device are configured to operate in a bonded zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11758327
    Abstract: The present application discloses playback devices and networks, software for operating playback devices and playback device networks, and methods of operating playback devices and networks, where an individual network device is configured to switch between operating various operating modes comprising a non-paired mode and a paired mode, where the playback device is configured to output various channels of audio content within various audio frequency ranges while operating in the various operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kallai, Michael Darrell Andrew Ericson, Robert A. Lambourne, Robert Reimann, Mark Triplett
  • Patent number: 11757866
    Abstract: An example system is configured to (i) receive, from a user device over a WAN, a request for an authorization code corresponding to a media application on the user device, (ii) based on the request transmit, to the user device over the WAN, the authorization code, (iii) receive, from a media playback system over the WAN, an authorization request that includes the authorization code, (iv) determine that the authorization code in the authorization request is valid, (v) based on determining that the authorization code is valid, generate an authorization token, (vi) transmit, to the media playback system over the WAN, the authorization token, (vii) receive, from the media playback system over the WAN, a media request including the authorization token, and (viii) responsive to the media request and a determination that the authorization token is valid, transmit, over the WAN, media content to the media playback system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Sherwin Liu, Emilio Arce, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11758317
    Abstract: Wireless headphones with user controls and methods for using are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless headphone includes a left earcup comprising a left speaker driver and a left earcup housing; and a right earcup comprising a right speaker driver and a right earcup housing; a processor; a microphone; user controls including: a voice assistant activator control; a volume slider; a play control slider; a play-pause control; and instructions configuring the processor to: commence a voice assistant recognition routine when sound received by the microphone matches a wake word, and perform an action based on instructions returned from the voice assistant; update a current volume of the headphone to a higher volume when the volume slider receives a swipe; skip to a next track of a current media content when the play control slider receives a swipe; and toggle playback of the media content when the play-pause control is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Jodi Vautrin, Aki Laine, Dana Krieger, Philippe Vossel, Vincent Shyu
  • Patent number: 11758005
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve switching between two user accounts of a streaming media service. In an example implementation, a playback device stores data representing credentials for multiple user accounts including a first user account of a first streaming audio service and a second user account of the first streaming audio service. The playback device receives instructions to play first audio content from the first streaming audio service and plays back the first audio content by streaming data representing the first audio content from one or more servers of the first streaming audio service using credentials of the first user account. The playback device detects a trigger associated with the first user account of the first streaming audio service and switches from streaming data representing the first audio content using credentials of the first user account to streaming data representing the first audio content using credentials of the second user account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Ron Kuper, Jason Kendall, Emilio Arce
  • Patent number: 11758342
    Abstract: Example techniques involve a calibration state variable. An example implementation receives, via a network interface, an indication that the first playback device is calibrated. Based on receiving the indication that the first playback device is calibrated, the example implementation updates a calibration state variable to indicate that the first playback device is calibrated, wherein the calibration state variable is stored in the data storage. The example implementation sends, via the network interface, an indication of the updated calibration state variable to a second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Dayn Wilberding, Neil Griffiths
  • Patent number: 11758469
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to re-establishing connectivity of playback devices. In an example implementation, a first playback device determines that a first access point has been replaced with a second access point, wherein the first playback device previously established a valid network connection over the first WLAN using first network parameters. The first playback device connects to the second access point, the second access point providing a second WLAN. The first playback device requests, via the wireless network interface from the second access point, an IP address in a second subnet, the second subnet covering a different range of IP addresses than the first subnet and establishes a network connection over the second WLAN using second network parameters stored in the data storage of the first playback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Peters, Hrishikesh Gossain
  • Patent number: 11758214
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are playback devices, groups of playback devices, and methods of operating playback devices and groupings thereof, wherein individual playback devices are configured to detect and correct clock rate drift by synchronizing a clock rate and perhaps clock time of a local clock to a remote time source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Sheen, Steven Bechardt, Jeffrey Peters
  • Patent number: 11757980
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve selecting a group coordinator device for a zone group. An example implementation includes: receiving an instruction to form a zone group comprising the first media device and the second media device; comparing a first one or more communication parameters corresponding to a network connection of the first media device to a second one or more communication parameters corresponding to a network connection of the second media device; identifying the first media device as a group coordinator of the zone group based on at least the indication that the first media device communicates with the router over the first communication frequency band; and configuring the first media device 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 group coordinator of the zone group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Hrishikesh Gossain
  • Patent number: 11758326
    Abstract: A media system comprises one or more non-wearable playback devices, a gateway device, and a wearable playback device. The one or more non-wearable playback devices are configured to receive media content and to play the media content in synchrony with one another. The gateway device is commutatively coupled with at least one of the non-wearable playback devices and is configured to receive the media content. The wearable playback device comprises a microphone and a transducer and is commutatively coupled to the gateway device. The wearable playback device is configured to receive the media content and to simultaneously play ambient audio received via the microphone and the media content via the transducer while the one or more non-wearable playback devices play the media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexia Delhoume, Brian Roberts, Elizabeth Dolman
  • Publication number: 20230283942
    Abstract: Earphone positioning and retention mechanisms are disclosed. One earphone described includes a speaker driver, a flexible eartip comprising a first oval shaped contact surface at an opening forming a hole through the eartip, the first oval shaped contact surface configured to contact an outer surface of a user's ear canal when worn, a body portion comprising a second contact surface configured to position behind an anti-tragus portion of the user's ear, and, a retaining member formed of a compliant material, comprising a third contact surface configured to conform to a cymba conch portion of the user's ear, where the body portion and the retaining member are shaped in a way that the second contact surface contacts the anti-tragus portion and the third contact surface contacts the cymba conch portion at the same time, when the first contact surface is already in contact with the outer surface of the ear canal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Holley, Wei-Hean Liew, Jerad Lewis, David Amaranto, Alexia Delhoume, Casper Asmussen, Victor Johansson