Patents by Inventor Arthur L. Coburn, IV

Arthur L. Coburn, IV has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11514105
    Abstract: A first connection state may be entered on a computing device. While the computing device is in the first connection state, actions taken on a playlist on the computing device may be applied to the playlist and not applied to a playback queue associated with a zone. An input may be received via the computing device, indicating a selection of the zone. In response to receiving the input, a second connection state may be entered. Entering the second connection state may comprise establishing a connected state between the computing device and the one or more playback devices. While the connected state is established, one or more actions taken on the playlist on the computing device may be applied to the playlist and transmitted, in a message to the zone over a network. The one or more actions may be one or more corresponding actions applied to the playback queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11514106
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11481436
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11481435
    Abstract: A first connection state may be entered on a computing device. While the computing device is in the first connection state, actions taken on a playlist on the computing device may be applied to the playlist and not applied to a playback queue associated with a zone. An input may be received via the computing device, indicating a selection of the zone. In response to receiving the input, a second connection state may be entered. Entering the second connection state may comprise establishing a connected state between the computing device and the one or more playback devices. While the connected state is established, one or more actions taken on the playlist on the computing device may be applied to the playlist and transmitted, in a message to the zone over a network. The one or more actions may be one or more corresponding actions applied to the playback queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11445261
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include systems and methods for providing a management interface for controlling multiple households. The management interface may be provided as an application on a mobile device or as an Internet webpage. An example implementation involves a device displaying representations of: a plurality of households; an indication of a selected household; one or more zones within the selected household; and a representation of media being played by a selected zone of the one or more zones. While displaying the representations, the device receives, from a server, data indicating updated information associated with the plurality of households; and, in response, updates the graphical display to display at least an updated representation of media being played by the selected zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Arthur L. Coburn, IV, John Meyer, Mike Delaney
  • Patent number: 11442688
    Abstract: Example techniques involve identification of device groups. In an example implementation, a mobile device displays, via a control application, a synchrony group control including controls to select playback devices for a synchrony group. The mobile device receives input data representing a command to create a new synchrony group, the input data including input data representing selection of two or more playback devices for a new synchrony group. In response, the mobile device forms the synchrony group by receiving input data indicating a particular group identification for the new synchrony group, determining that the particular group identification is unique among other synchrony groups, and sending data representing instructions to the playback devices to form the new synchrony group with the particular group identification. In response to forming the new synchrony group, the mobile device updates an interface for the media playback system to indicate the new synchrony group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11442690
    Abstract: Example systems and techniques disclosed herein facilitate interoperability between different media playback systems referred to herein as a virtual line-in (VLI) media playback system and a native playback system. When a VLI session is created by a VLI sender, a first native playback device can join a VLI group as a VLI receiver. As a VLI receiver, the first native playback device receives audio content and playback commands from the VLI sender to facilitate synchronous playback with other VLI receivers. At the same time, this native playback device can concurrently operate as a native domain group coordinator of a native domain synchrony group. As the native domain group coordinator, the native playback device translates VLI domain audio, control, and timing signals into the native domain and distributes such signals to native domain group members. In this way, the native domain group members can synchronize their playback with the VLI group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. Coburn, IV, Chris Kotowski, Arvin Faruque
  • Patent number: 11429267
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to manage tracks and/or other multimedia items are disclosed. An example method includes displaying on an interface of a computing device, a plurality of tracks in a sequential order. The example method receiving, via the interface, an input to play a particular track from the plurality of tracks, wherein the particular track is at a particular position in the sequential order. The example method displaying on the interface, a queue comprising at least a subset of the plurality of tracks to be played after playback of the particular track, wherein each track in the subset of the plurality of tracks is at a different position in the sequential order than the particular position of the particular track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. Coburn, IV, Nicholas A. J. Millington, Paul Wren, Andrew J. Schulert, Robert A. Lambourne, Jonathan P. Lang
  • Publication number: 20220255986
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to cloud queue tombstones. An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving instructions to remove a particular media item from a playback queue. Based on the instructions, the computing system removes the particular media item from the playback queue and adds, to the playback queue, a tombstone indicator indicating that the particular media item has been removed from the playback queue. The computing system receives, from the media playback system, a request for a window of one or more media items from the playback queue. Based on the request, the computing system sends, to the media playback system, data representing a particular window of media items from the playback queue, wherein the particular window includes the tombstone indicator. The computing system detects a given tombstone removal trigger from among multiple tombstone removal triggers and based on the detecting, removes the tombstone indicator from the playback queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11403062
    Abstract: The examples provided herein involve multiple groups in a playback system. An example method involves, based on receiving one or more inputs defining a zone scene of a media playback system that comprises a plurality of zone players, defining configuration data corresponding to the zone scene, wherein the configuration data comprises an identification of at least a first zone player and a second zone player. The method further involves causing a remote computing device to store the configuration data and presenting a user-interface element that, when selected via the user interface, causes the zone scene to be invoked. The method additionally involves, in response to receiving an input indicative of a selection of the user-interface element, causing 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 playback audio content in synchrony.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Keyser-Allen, Jillian Garber, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11386147
    Abstract: A first connection state may be entered on a computing device. While the computing device is in the first connection state, actions taken on a playlist on the computing device may be applied to the playlist and not applied to a playback queue associated with a zone. An input may be received via the computing device, indicating a selection of the zone. In response to receiving the input, a second connection state may be entered. Entering the second connection state may comprise establishing a connected state between the computing device and the one or more playback devices. While the connected state is established, one or more actions taken on the playlist on the computing device may be applied to the playlist and transmitted, in a message to the zone over a network. The one or more actions may be one or more corresponding actions applied to the playback queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11386148
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 11366853
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to a playback device that facilitates queue identification. In an example implementation, a playback device receives, from a first controller, instructions representing a command to populate a playback queue with one or more first media items; the instructions are associated with a first application identifier corresponding to the first controller. Based on the received instructions, the playback device populates the playback queue with the one or more first media items and forms an association between the playback queue and the first application identifier. The playback device receives, from a second controller, instructions representing one or more first commands to access the playback queue; the instructions are associated with a second application identifier corresponding to the second controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Publication number: 20220191633
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling multi-site media playback systems include, among other features, a computing system (i) receiving, from a first media playback device connected to a first network, a first registration message, (ii) in response to receiving the first registration message, assigning a system identifier and a first subsystem identifier to the first media playback device, (iii) receiving, from a second media playback device connected to the first network, a second registration message, (iv) in response to receiving the second registration message, assigning the system identifier and the first subsystem identifier to the second media playback device, (v) determining that the second media playback device is disconnected from the first network and connected to a second network, and (vi) in response to determining that the second media playback device is connected to the second network, assigning a second subsystem identifier to the second media playback device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Seth David Goldstein, Greg Ramsperger, Michael Agerbak, Arthur L. Coburn, IV, Andy Mellors, Nikit Waghela, Steven Beckhardt
  • Publication number: 20220188442
    Abstract: Based on a credential, an access level of a playback queue for a first control interface and a first subset and second subset of media items in the playback queue may be determined. Media items in the playback queue that were added via a second control interface may be included in the first subset. Media items that were added via a control interface different from the second control interface may be included in a second subset. Information may be provided which identifies the first subset of the media items in the playback queue and the second subset of the media items in the playback queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Arthur L. Coburn, IV, Andrew J. Schulert
  • Publication number: 20220150235
    Abstract: An example system is configured to (i) generate an authorization code that has an expiration time, (ii) transmit at least one first message including the authorization code over a WAN, (iii) receive at least one second message including the authorization code from a playback device over the WAN, (iv) determine that the received authorization code is valid based at least on the expiration time, (v) after determining that the authorization code is valid, generate a first authorization token, (vi) transmit at least one third message including the first authorization token to the playback device over the WAN, (vii) receive at least one fourth message including a second authorization token and a request from the playback device over the WAN, (viii) determine that the second authorization token is valid, and (ix) after determining that the second authorization token is valid, provide the playback device with audio content based on the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Sherwin Liu, Emilio Arce, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Publication number: 20220124082
    Abstract: Examples provided herein are directed to a computing device and media playback system sharing access to a media service corresponding to a media application installed on the computing device. In one example, a media playback system may be configured to (i) receive from the computing device an authorization code that corresponds to a media application installed on the computing device that is authorized to access media from a media service, (ii) transmit to the media service an authorization request with the authorization code, (iii) receive from the media service an authorization token that facilitates obtaining media from the media service, and (iv) transmit to the media service a request for media for playback by the media playback system, where the request for media includes the authorization token.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Sherwin Liu, Emilio Arce, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Publication number: 20220113931
    Abstract: Example systems and techniques disclosed herein facilitate interoperability between different media playback systems referred to herein as a virtual line-in (VLI) media playback system and a native playback system. When a VLI session is created by a VLI sender, a first native playback device can join a VLI group as a VLI receiver. As a VLI receiver, the first native playback device receives audio content and playback commands from the VLI sender to facilitate synchronous playback with other VLI receivers. At the same time, this native playback device can concurrently operate as a native domain group coordinator of a native domain synchrony group. As the native domain group coordinator, the native playback device translates VLI domain audio, control, and timing signals into the native domain and distributes such signals to native domain group members. In this way, the native domain group members can synchronize their playback with the VLI group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Arthur L. Coburn, IV, Chris Kotowski
  • Publication number: 20220083592
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for updating a playlist that has been added to a playback queue in response to changes to the playback queue. The playback queue may be associated with a zone of a network media system such that items in the playback queue are to be rendered by the zone. The playlist may include one or more items playable by the zone, and may be stored separately from where the playback queue is maintained. Embodiments are also provided for updating a playback queue in response to modifications to a playlist included in the playback queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Arthur L. Coburn, IV, Abhishek Kumar, Andrew J. Schulert
  • Publication number: 20220060780
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to a loss of control of a playback queue. An example implementation involves a playback device receiving, from a native controller, an instruction to add audio tracks to a queue, where, in a first mode associated with the native controller, the playback device is configured to play back from the queue. While the audio tracks are in the queue, the playback device receives, from a media player application associated with a particular wireless protocol, an instruction to play back a media item. In response, the playback device is configured to play back in a second mode associated with the particular wireless protocol, where, in the second mode, the queue is not in use. While playing back the media item, the playback device detects a loss of control by the media player application and configures the playback device to play back in the first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Arthur L. Coburn, IV, Sherwin Liu