Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for detecting movement in proximity to a playback device and responsively modifying the audio that is output from one or more playback devices. In an example implementation, a playback device detects, via one or more proximity detectors of a playback device while the playback device is playing back given media via one or more speakers, presence of an object in proximity of the playback device. After detecting the presence of the object, the playback device pauses playback of the given media. After pausing playback of the given media, the playback device receives, via a network interface of the playback device from a controller device, a command to resume playback of the given media. After receiving the command to resume playback, the playback device resumes playback of the given media.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus including data comprising an identification of content played by playback systems and at least one metric associated with the playback systems. Determining a characteristic common to the playback systems and generating data comprising a representation of the at least one characteristic.

Abstract: System, method, and apparatus including receiving an identification of content played a playback system and an identification of location of the playback system. A playlist of content is associated with the location. A request is received to retrieve the playlist of content and the requested playlist of content is sent to a playback system.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for causing a playback device to pre-cache audio content in a playback queue. An example implementation involves a playback device detecting by a sensor on the playback device, movement in relation to the playback device. In response to detecting the movement, the playback device identifies a particular media item in a playback queue associated with the playback device. Prior to receiving a user command to play the media item, the playback device stores at least a portion of the particular media item in memory on the playback device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for detecting movement in proximity to a playback device and responsively modifying the audio that is output from one or more playback devices. According to an embodiment, a user is able to wave his or her hand over a playback device to modify the audio that is output from the playback device, one or more different playback devices, or all of the playback devices. The embodiments are particularly useful as a snooze feature, in which an alarm from a playback device (or group of playback devices) is snoozed for a time when triggered by the user's movement.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for intelligently revealing selectable icons on a control panel of a playback device based on proximity detection. In one example, an ambient light level may be determined based on a detection of ambient light by a light sensor of a control area for a playback device. Based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of an infrared (IR) proximity sensor and a sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor may be adjusted. The IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor may each be configured to detect a physical movement. Based on the detection of the physical movement by at least one of the IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device may be determined, and a control area of the playback device may be illuminated.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate gathering, aggregation and analysis of content playback and system data from one or more local playback networks. Certain embodiments facilitate analysis and recommendation to one or more local playback systems based on the aggregated and analyzed data. An example method includes collecting, using a processor, data relating to playback of content at a local playback network. The example method includes analyzing the collected data based on at least one characteristic. The example method includes generating a representation of the analysis of the collected data. The example method includes providing the representation to the local playback network.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for frequency routing based on orientation are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, by a playback device, an audio data stream. The example method includes determining, by the playback device, an orientation of the playback device. The example method includes routing, by the playback device, a first set of frequencies in the audio data stream to at least one of a plurality of speaker drivers based on the first orientation. The example method includes routing, by the playback device, a second set of frequencies in the audio data stream to the at least one of the plurality of speaker drivers based on the second orientation, wherein the first set of frequencies is different than the second set of frequencies.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for causing a playback device to pre-cache audio content in anticipation that a user will provide input to cause the playback device to render the audio content. The playback device may be configured to detect, using a proximity sensor on the playback device, movement in relation to the playback device, responsively retrieve audio content by the playback device from a networked audio source, prior to receiving a user command to play the audio content, storing the audio content in memory on the playback device, and cause the playback device to render the audio content upon receiving the user command. The audio content that may be pre-cached may be local audio content stored, on a local memory storage device, network audio content stored on a remote memory storage device, and accessed over a network, or streaming content retrieved over the Internet.

Abstract: An example implementation may involve a first playback device rendering audio content. The example implementation may also involve the first playback device detecting that a second playback device has been connected to a playback system. After detecting that the second playback device has been connected to the playback system, the first playback device may determine a playback responsibility associated with the second playback device. The determined playback responsibility may include a grouping with the first playback device. After determining the playback responsibility associated with the second playback device, the first playback device may direct the second playback device to render the audio content.

Abstract: An example method includes detecting a connection between a dock interface of a first zone player and a portable device, the dock interface providing communication between the portable device and a second zone player, wherein the second zone player is part of a first set of zones in a playback network that does not include the first zone player; responsive to the detection, transmitting data to cause the second zone player to modify parameter(s) of the second zone player according to a zone scene; responsive to the detection, determining that the portable device was playing a media item; and causing, via the dock interface, playback of the media item from the portable device by the first zone player and the second zone player while the second zone player is in the second set of zones.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device comprising a wireless communications interface that includes an RF antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor comprising a grounding plane that is coupled to the RF antenna, one or more processors, and a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations. The operations include detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive proximity sensor and responsively preparing the playback device to play back audio.

Abstract: An example implementation involves a first device receiving, from a sensor, first location data that is associated with the first device, and, from a second device, second location data that is associated with the second device. The first device determines a first location of a listener relative to the first device based on the first and second location data. The first device generates a first sound field during media content playback based on the determined first location. The first device receives, from the sensor, third location data that is associated with the first device, and, from the second device, fourth location data associated with the second device. Based on the third and fourth location data, the first device determines a second location of the listener relative to the first device. Based on the second determined location, the first device generates a second sound field during media playback.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to shape sound based on a speaker orientation. An example playback device includes a network interface; a processor; and a memory including instructions stored therein. The instructions are executable by the processor to perform functions including: receiving, via the network interface from a network device, an indication that an orientation of the playback device is one of a first orientation or a second orientation; when the received indication is the first orientation, then configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a first equalization setting; and when the received indication is the second orientation, then configuring the playback device to reproduce sound according to a second equalization setting.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to calibrate sounds fields are disclosed. An example device includes a location sensor receiving location data, a processor triangulating the position of a listener based on the location data, and an audio processing component generating a sound field with audio characteristics based on the position of the listener.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for audio device playback failure recovery and redistribution. The systems and methods may be configured to render an audio content according to a first playback responsibility that involves rendering both (a) a left channel of an audio content and (b) a right channel of the audio content, detect an instruction to form a stereo pair with another network device; render the audio content according to a second playback responsibility that involves rendering one of (a) the left channel of the audio content or (b) the right channel of the audio content; while rendering the audio content according to the second playback responsibility, detect a failure of the another network device; and render the audio content according to the first playback responsibility.

Abstract: Techniques for shaping sound based on a speaker orientation are disclosed. In an embodiment, an audio data stream is obtained by a zone player having one or more speaker drivers, an orientation of the zone player is determined, and sound is reproduced by the zone player based on the orientation. The sound may be further shaped based on other states of the zone player in addition to orientation. The overall sound may be shaped from one zone player or from a collection of zone players.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for intelligently revealing selectable icons on a control panel of a playback device based on proximity detection. In one example, an ambient light level may be determined based on a detection of ambient light by a light sensor of a control area for a playback device. Based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of an infrared (IR) proximity sensor and a sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor may be adjusted. The IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor may each be configured to detect a physical movement. Based on the detection of the physical movement by at least one of the IR proximity sensor and the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device may be determined, and a control area of the playback device may be illuminated.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for cooling one or more components of a playback device using speaker vibrations that result from inaudible audio. Movement of air molecules arising from the speaker vibrations may disperse heat away from the one or more components of a playback device. The playback device may include a thermal sensor to determine the temperature on or around one or more components. If the playback device is no longer playing audible audio and temperature on or around one or more components rises above a first predetermined threshold, the playback device may play inaudible audio. Playback of inaudible audio may result in movement of air molecules and the dispersion of heat away from the one or more components. Playback of the inaudible audio may stop if the playback device begins playing audible audio or if the temperature on or around one or more components drops below a second predetermined threshold.