Patents by Inventor Gregory Ramsperger

Gregory Ramsperger 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).

  • Publication number: 20260156314
    Abstract: Example techniques described herein involve a point-of-contact (POC) playback device that operates as an intermediary between the cloud and a media playback system that includes the POC playback device. As the intermediary, when the cloud issues a command to the media playback system, the POC playback device may perform some or all processing of the command to determine how to implement that command in the media playback system. For instance, the POC playback device may determine the target devices for a command, and then cause the target devices to carry out the command. This processing by the POC playback device may simplify control of the media playback system from the perspective of third party controllers, as these controllers need not have full and/or completely up-to-date knowledge of the media playback system functionality and status, among other possible benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2025
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Inventors: Daniel Casimiro, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Patent number: 12495179
    Abstract: Example techniques described herein involve a point-of-contact (POC) playback device that operates as an intermediary between the cloud and a media playback system that includes the POC playback device. As the intermediary, when the cloud issues a command to the media playback system, the POC playback device may perform some or all processing of the command to determine how to implement that command in the media playback system. For instance, the POC playback device may determine the target devices for a command, and then cause the target devices to carry out the command. This processing by the POC playback device may simplify control of the media playback system from the perspective of third party controllers, as these controllers need not have full and/or completely up-to-date knowledge of the media playback system functionality and status, among other possible benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2025
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Casimiro, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Publication number: 20250184331
    Abstract: Example techniques described herein involve authorization management in a media playback system. Within examples, a client, such as a control device, may authenticate with a playback device using a token. The playback device may resolve a role corresponding to the token using a token-to-role mapping hosted at an authentication service. After resolving the role, the playback device may resolve a permissions set corresponding to the role using a role-to-permissions mapping similarly hosted at the authentication service. Within examples, such mappings may be cached locally at the edge (e.g., on a playback device).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Gregory Ramsperger, Steven Beckhardt, Keith Thoresz, Ryan Moak
  • Publication number: 20250097505
    Abstract: Example techniques described herein involve a point-of-contact (POC) playback device that operates as an intermediary between the cloud and a media playback system that includes the POC playback device. As the intermediary, when the cloud issues a command to the media playback system, the POC playback device may perform some or all processing of the command to determine how to implement that command in the media playback system. For instance, the POC playback device may determine the target devices for a command, and then cause the target devices to carry out the command. This processing by the POC playback device may simplify control of the media playback system from the perspective of third party controllers, as these controllers need not have full and/or completely up-to-date knowledge of the media playback system functionality and status, among other possible benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel Casimiro, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Patent number: 12166762
    Abstract: Example techniques described herein involve authorization management in a media playback system. Within examples, a client, such as a control device, may authenticate with a playback device using a token. The playback device may resolve a role corresponding to the token using a token-to-role mapping hosted at an authentication service. After resolving the role, the playback device may resolve a permissions set corresponding to the role using a role-to-permissions mapping similarly hosted at the authentication service. Within examples, such mappings may be cached locally at the edge (e.g., on a playback device).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Ramsperger, Steven Beckhardt, Keith Thoresz, Ryan Moak
  • Patent number: 12075109
    Abstract: Example techniques described herein involve a point-of-contact (POC) playback device that operates as an intermediary between the cloud and a media playback system that includes the POC playback device. As the intermediary, when the cloud issues a command to the media playback system, the POC playback device may perform some or all processing of the command to determine how to implement that command in the media playback system. For instance, the POC playback device may determine the target devices for a command, and then cause the target devices to carry out the command. This processing by the POC playback device may simplify control of the media playback system from the perspective of third party controllers, as these controllers need not have full and/or completely up-to-date knowledge of the media playback system functionality and status, among other possible benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Casimiro, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Publication number: 20240171561
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system, a request to initiate playback of a cloud queue. The cloud queue may currently have a first access status that authorizes a first set of queue operations, which may include playback of the cloud queue. After receiving the request to initiate playback, the computing system may cause audio tracks of the cloud queue to be queued in a local queue of the media playback system such that the media playback system may playback audio tracks of the cloud queue via the local queue. The computing system may modify the access status of the cloud queue to a second access status. This second access status may authorize a second set of queue operations on the cloud queue. The computing system may cause access to the local queue to be restricted to the second set of queue operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Patent number: 11831627
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system, a request to initiate playback of a cloud queue. The cloud queue may currently have a first access status that authorizes a first set of queue operations, which may include playback of the cloud queue. After receiving the request to initiate playback, the computing system may cause audio tracks of the cloud queue to be queued in a local queue of the media playback system such that the media playback system may playback audio tracks of the cloud queue via the local queue. The computing system may modify the access status of the cloud queue to a second access status. This second access status may authorize a second set of queue operations on the cloud queue. The computing system may cause access to the local queue to be restricted to the second set of queue operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Publication number: 20220360585
    Abstract: Example techniques described herein involve authorization management in a media playback system. Within examples, a client, such as a control device, may authenticate with a playback device using a token. The playback device may resolve a role corresponding to the token using a token-to-role mapping hosted at an authentication service. After resolving the role, the playback device may resolve a permissions set corresponding to the role using a role-to-permissions mapping similarly hosted at the authentication service. Within examples, such mappings may be cached locally at the edge (e.g., on a playback device).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory Ramsperger, Steven Beckhardt, Keith Thoresz, Ryan Moak
  • Publication number: 20200358753
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system, a request to initiate playback of a cloud queue. The cloud queue may currently have a first access status that authorizes a first set of queue operations, which may include playback of the cloud queue. After receiving the request to initiate playback, the computing system may cause audio tracks of the cloud queue to be queued in a local queue of the media playback system such that the media playback system may playback audio tracks of the cloud queue via the local queue. The computing system may modify the access status of the cloud queue to a second access status. This second access status may authorize a second set of queue operations on the cloud queue. The computing system may cause access to the local queue to be restricted to the second set of queue operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Patent number: 10666634
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system, a request to initiate playback of a cloud queue. The cloud queue may currently have a first access status that authorizes a first set of queue operations, which may include playback of the cloud queue. After receiving the request to initiate playback, the computing system may cause audio tracks of the cloud queue to be queued in a local queue of the media playback system such that the media playback system may playback audio tracks of the cloud queue via the local queue. The computing system may modify the access status of the cloud queue to a second access status. This second access status may authorize a second set of queue operations on the cloud queue. The computing system may cause access to the local queue to be restricted to the second set of queue operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Publication number: 20200035049
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for reserving a reservable asset using a mobile device. A mobile device communicates directly with a vehicle-associated control module or through a reservation server using either a TCP/IP communications channel or near-field communications. A member enters a request using the user interface provided by the mobile-device application. The identity of the member is validated the vehicle-associated control module executes the request by sending a signal to a computer or sensor in the vehicle through the vehicle wiring or the vehicle CANbus. The request can be a function, such as unlocking the vehicle doors, illuminating the interior or exterior lights, honking the horn, or activating a panic alarm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: LESLEY MOTTLA, DOUGLAS WILLIAMS, JONATHAN ERIC WOLFE, GREGORY RAMSPERGER, DAVE GOLDMAN, SYED NAVEED GHALIB, LISA RIGANO, LUKE SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 10297097
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for reserving a reservable asset using a mobile device. A mobile device communicates directly with a vehicle-associated control module or through a reservation server using either a TCP/IP communications channel or near-field communications. A member enters a request using the user interface provided by the mobile-device application. The identity of the member is validated the vehicle-associated control module executes the request by sending a signal to a computer or sensor in the vehicle through the vehicle wiring or the vehicle CANbus. The request can be a function, such as unlocking the vehicle doors, illuminating the interior or exterior lights, honking the horn, or activating a panic alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ZIPCAR, INC.
    Inventors: Lesley Mottla, Douglas Williams, Jonathan Eric Wolfe, Gregory Ramsperger, David J. Goldman, Syed Naveed Ghalib, Lisa Rigano, Lucas P. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20190068569
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system, a request to initiate playback of a cloud queue. The cloud queue may currently have a first access status that authorizes a first set of queue operations, which may include playback of the cloud queue. After receiving the request to initiate playback, the computing system may cause audio tracks of the cloud queue to be queued in a local queue of the media playback system such that the media playback system may playback audio tracks of the cloud queue via the local queue. The computing system may modify the access status of the cloud queue to a second access status. This second access status may authorize a second set of queue operations on the cloud queue. The computing system may cause access to the local queue to be restricted to the second set of queue operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Patent number: 10158619
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system, a request to initiate playback of a cloud queue. The cloud queue may currently have a first access status that authorizes a first set of queue operations, which may include playback of the cloud queue. After receiving the request to initiate playback, the computing system may cause audio tracks of the cloud queue to be queued in a local queue of the media playback system such that the media playback system may playback audio tracks of the cloud queue via the local queue. The computing system may modify the access status of the cloud queue to a second access status. This second access status may authorize a second set of queue operations on the cloud queue. The computing system may cause access to the local queue to be restricted to the second set of queue operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Patent number: 9967246
    Abstract: Techniques relate to a cloud queue facilitating access to a cloud queue via an authorization token. In an example implementation, a computing system receives, over a network interface from a media playback system, an authorization token corresponding to a cloud queue of media items at the computing system and a request by the media playback system for access to the cloud queue of media items. The computing system determines that the authorization token is valid and in response to the determination, provides, to the media playback system, the requested access to the cloud queue of media items, the providing comprising transmitting information associated with at least one of the media items of the cloud queue. Thereafter, the computing system determines that the media playback system is eligible for a renewed authorization token and, in response, transmits, to the media playback system, the renewed authorization token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Patent number: 9729599
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving a request from a first media playback system for access to a queue of media items, and a request from a second media playback system for access to the queue of media items. The computing system may grant a first type of access to the first media playback system and a second type of access to the second media playback system. The first type of access and the second type of access may authorize a first set of operations and a second set of operations on the queue of media items, respectively. The computing system may provide an indication that the first media playback system may access the queue as authorized by the first type of access, and an indication that the second media playback system may access the queue as authorized by the second type of access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Publication number: 20170208056
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system, a request to initiate playback of a cloud queue. The cloud queue may currently have a first access status that authorizes a first set of queue operations, which may include playback of the cloud queue. After receiving the request to initiate playback, the computing system may cause audio tracks of the cloud queue to be queued in a local queue of the media playback system such that the media playback system may playback audio tracks of the cloud queue via the local queue. The computing system may modify the access status of the cloud queue to a second access status. This second access status may authorize a second set of queue operations on the cloud queue. The computing system may cause access to the local queue to be restricted to the second set of queue operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Patent number: 9648070
    Abstract: An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system, a request to initiate playback of a cloud queue. The cloud queue may currently have a first access status that authorizes a first set of queue operations, which may include playback of the cloud queue. After receiving the request to initiate playback, the computing system may cause audio tracks of the cloud queue to be queued in a local queue of the media playback system such that the media playback system may playback audio tracks of the cloud queue via the local queue. The computing system may modify the access status of the cloud queue to a second access status. This second access status may authorize a second set of queue operations on the cloud queue. The computing system may cause access to the local queue to be restricted to the second set of queue operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger
  • Publication number: 20170026430
    Abstract: Techniques relate to a cloud queue facilitating access to a cloud queue via an authorization token. In an example implementation, a computing system receives, over a network interface from a media playback system, an authorization token corresponding to a cloud queue of media items at the computing system and a request by the media playback system for access to the cloud queue of media items. The computing system determines that the authorization token is valid and in response to the determination, provides, to the media playback system, the requested access to the cloud queue of media items, the providing comprising transmitting information associated with at least one of the media items of the cloud queue. Thereafter, the computing system determines that the media playback system is eligible for a renewed authorization token and, in response, transmits, to the media playback system, the renewed authorization token.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew J. Schulert, Gregory Ramsperger