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: 10116641
    Abstract: An example implementation involves a device of a media playback system transmitting, to a computing system, a request to access a first cloud queue. After transmitting the request, the device receives an indication of first media items in the first cloud queue and an indication of first playback policies that authorize first playback operations on the first cloud queue. While the first cloud queue is accessed, the device displays a control interface with playback controls corresponding to the first playback operations. The device transmits a request to access a second cloud queue. After transmitting the request, the device receives an indication of second media items in the second cloud queue and an indication of second playback policies that authorize second playback operations on the second cloud queue. While the second cloud queue is accessed, the control device displays the control interface with playback controls corresponding to the second playback operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Publication number: 20180300405
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to a playback device that facilitates queue identification. In an example implementation, a playback device stores an association between a playback queue and a first application identifier. After storing the association between the playback queue and the first application identifier, the playback device receives, from a first computing device, a first message comprising a second application identifier. The playback device determines that the second application identifier corresponds to the first application identifier, and responsive to determining that the second application identifier corresponds to the first application identifier, transmits, to the first computing device, a queue identifier associated with the playback queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 10097893
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include systems and methods for providing a social interface for sharing media experience information between households in a community. Users of different households may form the community. The social interface may be provided as an application on a mobile device or an Internet webpage as a portal to the community. 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: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Arthur L. Coburn, IV, John Meyer, Mike Delaney
  • Publication number: 20180275949
    Abstract: Method and systems are provided for identification of device groups in a network. In an example implementation, a first playback device, while in a first zone group comprising the playback device, the first zone group having a group identification identifying the first zone group, receives an instruction to form a zone group with one or more second playback devices. In response, the first playback device forms a second zone group with the one or more second playback devices. Forming the second zone group involves determining a group identification identifying the second zone group and determining a display name representing the second zone group. In response, the first playback device causes a controller device to update a control interface for the media playback system to display an indication of the second zone group, the indication of the second zone group comprising the determined display name.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 10013233
    Abstract: A connected state is re-established between a mobile device and a playback device based on a previously established connected state with the mobile device. A message may be received via the playback device which comprises a modification to a playlist made before re-establishing the connected state with the mobile device. One or more queued media items in a playback queue may be modified based on the modification to the playlist. The playback device, for example, may then play from the modified playback queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SONOS, INC.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Publication number: 20180145964
    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: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Sherwin Liu, Emilio Arce, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 9942215
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system over the network interface, a request to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at a first media item. The computing system assigns a playhead pointer to a position within the particular cloud queue that corresponds to the first media item and transmits, to the media playback system over the network interface, an instruction that causes one or more playback devices of the media playback system to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at the first media item. While the one or more playback devices play back the particular cloud queue, the computing system updates the assigned position of the playhead pointer to indicate the currently playing media item of the particular cloud queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. Coburn, IV, Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert
  • Patent number: 9916125
    Abstract: Method and systems are provided for identification of device groups in a network. In an example implementation, a first playback device receives, from a second playback device, first data indicating a first group identification corresponding to a zone group, the zone group including the first playback device and the second playback device, and the second playback device operating as a group coordinator of the zone group. After receiving the first data, the first playback device receives a message indicating that the second playback device is leaving the zone group. In response to receiving the message, the first playback device determines a second group identification corresponding to the zone group and after determining the second group identification, transmits, over to at least one controller device configured to control at least the first playback device and the second playback device, second data indicating the second group identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 9904730
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to a playback device that facilitates queue identification. In an example implementation, a playback device stores an association between a playback queue and a first application identifier. After storing the association between the playback queue and the first application identifier, the playback device receives, from a first computing device, a first message comprising a second application identifier. The playback device determines that the second application identifier corresponds to the first application identifier, and responsive to determining that the second application identifier corresponds to the first application identifier, transmits, to the first computing device, a queue identifier associated with the playback queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 9898532
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may involve inconsistent queues. An example implementation may involve a computing device receiving a message indicating a playback queue corresponding to a playback zone of a media playback system. The playback queue may include first media items queued in a first order for playback by the playback zone. The computing device determines that a playlist at the computing device is to be queued for playback in the playback queue corresponding to the playback zone, the playlist including second media items in a second order. The computing device determines that the first media items in the first order is different from the second media items in the second order, and based on the determination, causes the first media items in the playback queue to be replaced with the second media items in the playlist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 9876780
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Sherwin Liu, Emilio Arce, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Publication number: 20170346884
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve removing, by a computing device, a given media item from a queue of media items. The example implementation may further involve adding to the queue an indication that the given media item has been removed from the queue. After adding to the queue the indication, the implementation may also involve receiving, via a network interface, one or more requests for one or more media items from the queue of media items. After receiving the one or more requests, the implementation may involve determining that the computing system has received more than a threshold number of requests for one or more media items since adding to the queue the indication. After determining that the computing system has received more than the threshold number of requests, the implementation may involve removing the indication from the queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Publication number: 20170293688
    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: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 9742839
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve removing, by a computing device, a given media item from a queue of media items. The example implementation may further involve adding to the queue an indication that the given media item has been removed from the queue. After adding to the queue the indication, the implementation may also involve receiving, via a network interface, one or more requests for one or more media items from the queue of media items. After receiving the one or more requests, the implementation may involve determining that the computing system has received more than a threshold number of requests for one or more media items since adding to the queue the indication. After determining that the computing system has received more than the threshold number of requests, the implementation may involve removing the indication from the queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 9735978
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein involve connected states between a mobile device and one or more zones in a network media system and different interactions between the mobile device and the network media system involving the connected states. The connected states may be established between the mobile device and the one or more zones such that further actions taken on media items identified in the playlist on the mobile device may also be taken on corresponding media items in a playback queue associated with the one or more zones. The interface on the mobile device may display various graphical representations to indicate the different interactions involving the connected states, including when a connected state is established, when a connected state is lost, and when a reconnected state is reestablished. The interface may further provide selectable icons to allow a user to navigate among the different media playback options involving the connected states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Publication number: 20170208110
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system over the network interface, a request to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at a first media item. The computing system assigns a playhead pointer to a position within the particular cloud queue that corresponds to the first media item and transmits, to the media playback system over the network interface, an instruction that causes one or more playback devices of the media playback system to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at the first media item. While the one or more playback devices play back the particular cloud queue, the computing system updates the assigned position of the playhead pointer to indicate the currently playing media item of the particular cloud queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 9684484
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein involve connected states between a mobile device and one or more zones in a network media system and different interactions between the mobile device and the network media system involving the connected states. The connected states may be established between the mobile device and the one or more zones such that further actions taken on media items identified in the playlist on the mobile device may also be taken on corresponding media items in a playback queue associated with the one or more zones. The interface on the mobile device may display various graphical representations to indicate the different interactions involving the connected states, including when a connected state is established, when a connected state is lost, and when a reconnected state is reestablished. The interface may further provide selectable icons to allow a user to navigate among the different media playback options involving the connected states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Andrew Schulert, Robert Andrew Lambourne, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 9654459
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a playback device of a media playback system sending a request for an indication of at least one media item from a remote queue of media items and an indication of a particular media item that is being played by the playback device. The implementation may also involve the playback device receiving an indication of one or more media items from the remote queue of media items. The one or more media items may include the particular media item is being played by the playback device. The implementation may further involve the playback device incorporating an indication of the one or more media items into a local queue of media items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. Coburn, IV, Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert
  • Patent number: 9654536
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system, at least one request for an indication of one or more media items from a queue of media items. The implementation may also involve the computing system identifying one or more playback policies that are associated with the queue of media items. Each of the one or more playback policies may restrict at least one aspect of playback of at least one of the one or more media items. The implementation may further involve the computing system sending, to the media playback system, an indication of the identified one or more playback policies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Patent number: 9648071
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system over the network interface, a request to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at a first media item. The computing system assigns a playhead pointer to a position within the particular cloud queue that corresponds to the first media item and transmits, to the media playback system over the network interface, an instruction that causes one or more playback devices of the media playback system to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at the first media item. While the one or more playback devices play back the particular cloud queue, the computing system updates the assigned position of the playhead pointer to indicate the currently playing media item of the particular cloud queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Coburn, IV