Abstract: Example systems, apparatus, and methods receive audio information including a plurality of frames from a source device, wherein each frame of the plurality of frames includes one or more audio samples and a time stamp indicating when to play the one or more audio samples of the respective frame. In an example, the time stamp is updated for each of the plurality of frames using a time differential value determined between clock information received from the source device and clock information associated with the device. The updated time stamp is stored for each of the plurality of frames, and the audio information is output based on the plurality of frames and associated updated time stamps. A number of samples per frame to be output is adjusted based on a comparison between the updated time stamp for the frame and a predicted time value for play back of the frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing media content based on playback zone awareness. In one aspect, a computing system receives, via a network interface, zone data from the media playback system, wherein the zone data includes an indication of a particular zone of the media playback system, and wherein the particular zone comprises at least one playback device. The computing system identifies audio content based on (i) the indication of the particular zone and (ii) contextual data associated with the particular zone, and provides, via the network interface, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.

Abstract: A network device is configured to (i) play back a media item indicated by a remote playback queue provided by a cloud-based computing system, (ii) receive an indication that a playback device is available for playback, (iii) display a now playing screen including (a) information identifying the media item, and (b) an icon that indicates that the network device is not in a connected state with any other network device, (iv) receive a first input selecting the icon, (v) in response to the first input, display a list of one or more available network devices including the playback device, (vi) receive a second input selecting the playback device from the list (vii) after receiving the second input, update the list to indicate that the playback device is selected for playback of the remote playback queue, and (viii) transfer playback of the remote playback queue from the network device to the playback device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate configuration and naming of a multimedia playback device on a local playback network are disclosed. An example method includes identifying and analyzing local network topology to identify playback device(s) connected to the network at location(s). The example method includes analyzing a playback device to be added and comparing the playback device to be added to the playback device(s) already connected to the network. The example method includes displaying available option(s) to name the playback device to be added based on the analysis of the network, the already connected playback device(s) and the playback device to be added to the network. The example method includes naming the playback device to be added based on a selected available option.

Abstract: An example implementation may involve a media playback system detecting two or more playback devices of a given type. The implementation may further involve transmitting, to a particular playback device of the detected playback devices, an instruction that causes the particular playback device to emit a given sound. The implementation may also involve receiving an identification of the particular playback device and displaying, via a graphical interface, one or more prompts to join the particular playback device into the media playback system.

Abstract: In one aspect, a playback deice is configured to identify in an audio stream, via a second wake-word engine, a false wake word for a first wake-word engine that is configured to receive as input sound data based on sound detected by a microphone. The first and second wake-word engines are configured according to different sensitivity levels for false positives of a particular wake word. Based on identifying the false wake word, the playback device is configured to (i) deactivate the first wake-word engine and (ii) cause at least one network microphone device to deactivate a wake-word engine for a particular amount of time. While the first wake-word engine is deactivated, the playback device is configured to cause at least one speaker to output audio based on the audio stream. After a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the playback device is configured to reactivate the first wake-word engine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for audio processing include capturing sound data via at least one microphone of a network microphone device (NMD) and determining whether the captured sound includes voice activity. While in a first stage, the NMD forgoes spatial processing of the captured sound data. If the NMD determines that the detected sound includes voice activity, the NMD transitions to a second stage. In this second stage, the NMD spatially processes the detected sound to produce filtered sound data and detects a wake word. After detecting the wake word, the NMD may determine an action to be performed based on the captured sound data.

Abstract: A control application of a media playback system controls playback of media content by a media playback system. The application receives, from a media streaming service, a page object that identifies (i) a page format identifier, (ii) page content data, (iii) a set of page elements, and (iv) a respective element format identifier for each page element of the set of page elements. The application determines a first set of formatting rules using the page format identifier and displays a corresponding page that includes the page content data formatted using the first set of formatting rules. The application asynchronously receives media content data identifying media content available for streaming. Based on a respective element format identifier of the page element associated with the media content data, the application determines a second set of formatting rules, which the application uses to update the displayed page to display the media content data.

Abstract: A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task.

Abstract: In one aspect, a playback device includes a command-keyword engine having a local natural language unit (NLU). The playback device detects, via the command-keyword engine, a first command keyword in voice input of sound detected by one or more microphones of the playback device. The playback device determines whether the sound input data includes a keyword from a first predetermined library of keywords via a local natural language unit (NLU). The playback device transmits the input sound data to a second playback device over a local area network, the second playback device employing a second local NLU with a second predetermined library of keywords. The playback device receives a response from the second playback device and performs an action based on an intent determined by at least one of the first NLU or the second NLU according to the keywords in the voice input.

Abstract: Headphone playback devices can include a cable assembly including a plurality of conductors extending between a first earpiece and a second earpiece. The cable assembly includes a jacket, a power conductor disposed within the jacket and coupled between a power source in the first earpiece and a wireless transceiver in the second earpiece. The cable assembly further includes a microphone conductor at least partially disposed within the jacket and coupled to a microphone in one of the earpieces. A shield is at least partially disposed between the power conductor and the microphone conductor to reduce electromagnetic interference between the two.

Abstract: In general, user interfaces for controlling a plurality of multimedia players in groups are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a user interface is provided to allow a user to group some of the players according to a theme or scene, where each of the players is located in a zone. When the scene is activated, the players in the scene react in a synchronized manner. For example, the players in the scene are all caused to play a multimedia source or music in a playlist, wherein the multimedia source may be located anywhere on a network. The user interface is further configured to illustrate graphically a size of a group, the larger the group appears relatively, the more plays there are in the group.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating training data are described herein. Pieces of metadata captured by a plurality of networked sensor systems can be captured, where each piece of metadata is associated with a specific set of sensor data captured by one of the plurality of networked sensor systems and includes a set of characteristics for the specific set of captured sensor data. A probabilistic model can be generated based on the received metadata and simulations can be performed based upon a training corpus by generating multiple scenarios, and, for each scenario, a scenario specific version of a particular annotated sample is generated by performing a simulation using the particular annotated sample. The scenario specific versions of annotated samples from the training corpus can be stored as a training data set on the at least one network device.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for satellite volume control. An example method includes receiving an input at a playback device to adjust a volume for a plurality of playback devices that are grouped for synchronous playback of audio content, wherein the plurality of playback devices includes the playback device. The method also includes sending a first message over a network from the playback device to a device associated with the plurality of playback devices, the first message including information based on the input, wherein the information is used to adjust the volume of the plurality of playback devices. The method also includes receiving a second message at the playback device over the network, the second message including information for the volume of the playback device, wherein the volume is based on the adjusted volume of the plurality of playback devices.

Abstract: In one aspect, a first playback device is configured to (i) receive a set of voice signals, (ii) process the set of voice signals using a first set of audio processing algorithms, (iii) identify, from the set of voice signals, at least two voice signals that are to be further processed, (iv) determine that the first playback device does not have a threshold amount of computational power available, (v) receive an indication of an available amount of computational power of a second playback device, (vi) send the at least two voice signals to the second playback device, (vii) cause the second playback device to process the at least two voice signals using a second set of audio processing algorithms, (viii) receive, from the second playback device, the processed at least two voice signals, and (ix) combine the processed at least two voice signals into a combined voice signal.

Abstract: An example computer system identifies a capability of a playback device to reproduce audio content. Based on the capability, the computer system identifies a first version of audio content for playback by the playback device and causes the playback device to play back the first version of audio content. While the playback device is playing back the first version of the audio content, the computer system detects a change in a network connection between the computer system and the playback device. Based on the detected change in the network connection and the capability of the playback device, the computer system identifies a second version of audio content for playback by the playback device and causes the playback device to transition from playing back the first version of the audio content to playing back the second version of the audio content.

Abstract: Example techniques related to battery-powered playback devices. In an example, a first battery-powered playback device receives audio content from a network device and forwards the audio content to a second playback device for synchronous playback of the audio content with the second playback device, plays back the audio content, detects that a battery level of a battery of the first playback device has fallen below a predefined threshold, and ceases the forwarding of the audio content after the battery level of the battery of the first playback device has fallen below the predefined threshold. After the battery level of the first playback device has fallen below the predefined threshold, the second playback device receives the audio content from the network device, forwards the audio content to the first playback device for synchronous playback with the first playback device, and plays back the audio content in synchrony with the first playback device.