Patents Assigned to Sonos, Inc.
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Patent number: 11792589Abstract: To avoid damage from overheating, playback device operation can be modulated based on input from temperature sensors. An example method includes obtaining, via one or more temperature sensors carried by the playback device, temperature data. Based on the temperature data, a first temperature parameter is detected. In response to detecting the first temperature parameter, a gain of audio playback is decreased by a first amount. After decreasing the gain of audio playback by the first amount, a second temperature parameter is detected. In response to detecting the second temperature parameter, the gain of audio playback is decreased by a second amount different than the first amount.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Hilmar Lehnert, Aurelio Ramos
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Patent number: 11790920Abstract: Playback devices comprising a network interface, an optional speaker(s), and one or more processors are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the playback device is configured to communicate with a computing system that stores configuration data corresponding to each of a plurality of users. The playback device detects one or more users near the playback device and retrieves user configuration data corresponding to each of the one or more detected users, and thereafter, uses the user configuration data of the one or more detected users to process voice commands, play media content, and/or perform other voice and/or media related functions.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventor: Paul Andrew Bates
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Patent number: 11790937Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing voice detection via a network microphone device are disclosed herein. In one example, individual microphones of a network microphone device detect sound. The sound data is captured in a first buffer and analyzed to detect a trigger event. Metadata associated with the sound data is captured in a second buffer and provided to at least one network device to determine at least one characteristic of the detected sound based on the metadata. The network device provides a response that includes an instruction, based on the determined characteristic, to modify at least one performance parameter of the NMD. The NMD then modifies the at least one performance parameter based on the instruction.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Connor Kristopher Smith, Kurt Thomas Soto, Charles Conor Sleith
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Patent number: 11790911Abstract: Systems and methods for media playback via a media playback system include capturing sound data via a network microphone device and identifying a candidate wake word in the sound data. Based on identification of the candidate wake word in the sound data, the system selects a first wake-word engine from a plurality of wake-word engines. Via the first wake-word engine, the system analyzes the sound data to detect a confirmed wake word, and, in response to detecting the confirmed wake word, transmits a voice utterance of the sound data to one or more remote computing devices associated with a voice assistant service.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Joachim Fainberg, Daniele Giacobello, Klaus Hartung
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Patent number: 11789692Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for detecting presence of an object in proximity to a playback device and responsively performing one or more operations. In an example implementation, a playback device detects, via a proximity detector of the playback device, presence of an object in proximity to the playback device. In response to detecting the presence of the object, the playback device performs one or more operations.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Jonathon Reilly, Neil Griffiths
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Patent number: 11782977Abstract: Examples described herein involve facilitating playback of media content via a webpage. An example implementation involves a computing device: identifying one or more playback zones including at least one respective playback device; transmitting, via a web browser, a webpage request; receiving a webpage that includes a link to a media item; modifying the received webpage to include a representation associated with the link; causing, via the web browser, display of the modified webpage; responsive to a selection of the representation, causing display of the option; and responsive to a selection of the option, causing display of a list of the one or more playback zones, wherein at least one playback zone of the one or more playback zones is selectable to cause the media item to be added to the playback queue associated with the at least one playback zone.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Ted M. Lin, Eric M. Bass
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Patent number: 11782675Abstract: An example method includes receiving data indicating a configuration of one or more playback devices. The one or more playback devices may include one or more transducers. The method further includes, based on the received data, associating each of one or more audio streams respectively with at least one transducer of the one or more transducers. The method further includes generating the one or more audio streams and sending at least one of the generated one or more audio streams to each of the one or more playback devices. An example non-transitory computer readable medium and an example computing device related to the example method are also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Ted Lin, Romi Kadri
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Publication number: 20230318176Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include playback devices with multiple antennas and a switching control circuit. The switching control circuit provides capabilities to enable selective switching between communication ports of a wireless radio and all possible combinations of available antennas to provide improved opportunity for achieving signal diversity. In some embodiments, the wireless radio is configured to generate a first control signal at a first rate for control of the switching circuit to select one or more antennas from a subset of the available antennas for coupling to at least one of the communication ports. In some embodiments, a processor is configured to generate a second control signal at a second rate for control of the switching circuit to select the subset of the antennas.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Niels van Erven, Michael Strack
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Patent number: 11778378Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Jerome Agustin, Jonathan P. Lang, Mark W. Triplett
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Patent number: 11778359Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2023Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Ronald W. Roberts, Jr., Mark Gerlovin, Mark Viscusi
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Patent number: 11771866Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Nick D'Amato, Connor Kristopher Smith
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Patent number: 11775163Abstract: Examples involve a control device using a social networking service to facilitate registration of a streaming media service with a media playback system. An example implementation receives (i) data indicating login credentials for a given account of a social networking service, and (ii) input data to configure streaming media services with a media playback system. Based on receiving the input data to configure the media playback system, the implementation queries the social networking service for streaming media services associated with the given account, and in response to the query, receives data indicating a first streaming media service associated with the given account. The implementation configures the media playback system to playback audio content from the first streaming media service that is associated with the given account and causes the media playback system to playback audio content from the first streaming media service.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Andrej Sarkic, Danielle Storlie, Diane Roberts, Ron Kuper, Dayn Wilberding, Carl Fristrom
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Patent number: 11778252Abstract: A playback device may be communicatively connected to a network device at a demonstration location. After connecting to the network device, the playback device may receive from the network device, a message indicating media content for playback by the playback device. In response to receiving the message, the playback device may play the media content, where playing the media content comprises modifying a default configuration of a demonstration mode. After receiving the message, the playback device may be disconnected from the network device. After disconnecting from the network device, the playback device may return to the default configuration of the demonstration mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Jonathon Reilly, Jason Heffernan, Andrej Sarkic, Zivthan Dubrovsky, Luis Vega-Zayas, Nicholas Salzman, Adrian Eiben
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Patent number: 11778404Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and configuring passive speakers within a playback system using a graphical user interface are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of for detecting and configuration passive speakers in a playback system using a mobile device includes deriving speaker identification data concerning one or more passive speakers connected to an audio device in a playback system based upon at least an electrical signal sent to and returned from the one or more passive speakers, where the electrical signal is sent by the audio device including an audio stage comprising one or more amplifiers, and where the speaker identification data comprises information identifying a type of speaker, and displaying a graphical user interface screen on a mobile device based upon the identified type of speaker, where the displayed information and selectable options are dependent upon the identified type of speaker.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Jodi Vautrin, Jennifer McDevitt, Daniel Valente
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Patent number: 11775251Abstract: Example techniques relate to transferring playback between playback devices within a network media system. In an example, while a first playback device is playing a first audio track of a playlist, a device displays a representation of metadata for the first audio track, transport controls to control playback, a volume control to control playback volume, and a selectable control that, when selected, causes display of a zone selection interface. The device receives input data representing a selection of the selectable control and modifies the control interface to display the zone selection interface, which includes indications of second playback devices and respective second selectable controls. The device receives input data representing selections of one or more second selectable controls, which correspond to one or more particular second playback devices and then transfers playback to the one or more particular second playback devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Mark Triplett, Robert Reimann
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Patent number: 11775160Abstract: Example implementations may involve using a prompt to prevent inadvertent control or playback of audio content. When a mobile device receives input data indicating a command to play back audio content on a first playback device, the mobile device determines whether the mobile device is in proximity to the first playback device. If the mobile device determines that the mobile device within a given proximity to the first playback device, the mobile device transmits, via the network interface, one or more commands to instruct the first playback device to play back the audio content. However, if the mobile device determines that the mobile device outside the proximity, the mobile device displays a prompt indicating that the mobile device is the outside the given proximity to the first playback device and a selectable control that, when selected, transmits the one or more commands to play back the audio content.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventor: Paul Andrew Bates
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Patent number: 11769519Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 10, 2021Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Klaus Hartung, Greg Bright
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Patent number: 11768655Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Amber Brown, Diane Roberts
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Patent number: 11769511Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 30, 2022Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Aaron Jones, Saeed Bagheri Sereshki, Daniele Giacobello
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Patent number: D1000407Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Sonos, Inc.Inventors: Dayn Wilberding, Nikolai Kutateladze, Stefan Reichert, Dana Krieger