Patents by Inventor Paul A Bates

Paul A Bates 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: 10771274
    Abstract: Example techniques involve control of a media playback system involving multiple zones. A control application may include different control interfaces for respective zones of the multiple zones. A control interface for a given zone may include transport controls to control playback in the zone, volume controls to control zone volume level, and an indication of media playing back in the zone. A user may utilize swipe inputs to switch between the control interfaces in order to control different zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Reimann, Abhishek Kumar, Paul Bates
  • Patent number: 10761710
    Abstract: Techniques described herein may involve modification of playback based on the proximity of a user to a playback device. An example technique involves a device determining that a listener is within a given proximity of a first playback device and based on determining that the listener is within the given proximity of the first playback device, causing the first playback device to begin playback of first media and causing a second playback device to modify playback of second media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Vega, Paul Bates, Jason Kendall
  • Publication number: 20200233635
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include one or more playback devices, server systems, and/or computing devices, individually or in combination determining that an item is present within an area comprising a playback device, wherein the item has corresponding media content associated therewith, and in response to determining that the item is present within the area comprising the playback device, causing the playback device to play the media content corresponding to the item, wherein the media content comprises one or both of audio content or video content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey Torgerson, Paul Bates, Matt Welch, Sanford Spivey, Ryan Taylor
  • Patent number: 10712997
    Abstract: Systems and methods for use in a media playback system comprising one or more playback devices are disclosed, where a playback device has a corresponding first set of device attributes used by a first controller application. The methods include: (i) identifying a second set of device attributes used by a second controller application to control the playback device, (ii) selecting a second device attribute for the playback device from the second set of device attributes based at least in part on a first device attribute; (iii) storing the selected second device attribute in the first set of device attributes; and (iv) controlling at least one function of the playback device using the selected second device attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Dayn Wilberding, Chris Bierbower, Mish Fabok, Jake Szymanski, JD Hooge, Tristan Wood, Chip Truex, Christopher Butts, Paul Bates
  • Publication number: 20200183972
    Abstract: Example techniques involve a dynamic display of filter criteria on a control device. In one aspect, the control device retrieves first search results from a plurality of streaming media services and displays an interface including a first region that includes selectable controls corresponding to respective first filter criteria of a first set of filter criteria for filtering the retrieved first search results according to respective streaming media services and a second region that includes a graphical representation of (i) the first search results corresponding to a given first filter criteria and (ii) metadata identifiers that separate the retrieved first search results into sets corresponding to respective types of metadata. When a given selectable control corresponding to a particular streaming media service is selected, the interface is updated to display, in place of the first search results, a graphical representation of second search results from the particular streaming media service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Robert A. Lambourne, Paul Bates
  • Patent number: 10672197
    Abstract: A technique includes determining a depth value for each of a plurality of pixels of a frame, down-sampling the depth values of a tile of the frame to obtain a plurality of down-sampled depth values, the frame including one or more tiles, determining a change in a head pose, determining, from the plurality of down-sampled depth values, a down-sampled depth value for a vertex, determining an adjusted position for the vertex based on the change in head pose and the down-sampled depth value for the vertex, performing, based on at least the adjusted position for the vertex, a depth-adjusted time-warping of the frame to obtain a depth-adjusted time-warped frame, and triggering display of the depth-adjusted time-warped frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: John Paul Bates
  • Publication number: 20200110571
    Abstract: Systems and methods for media playback via a media playback system include requesting and receiving information from at least one remote computing device associated with a first media content service and at least one remote computing device associated with a second media content service, and evaluating the relevancy of the information received from each of the media content services as the information is received to determine a relevancy indicator for the information. The method may further include comparing the relevancy indicators to a relevancy threshold and determining whether to select the response for playback based on the comparison. The relevancy threshold may be lowered over time. The method may further include determining one of the relevancy indicators meets the relevancy threshold and selecting the associated media content for playback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Sherwin Liu, Paul Bates
  • Patent number: 10565257
    Abstract: Example techniques described herein may provide a dynamic display of filter criteria on a control device of a media playback system. In one aspect, a method is provided that involves (a) causing a graphical display of a computing device to display (i) a first set of filter criteria and (ii) search results that include at least a plurality of media-source identifiers that identify a plurality of respective media sources, (b) receiving by the computing device selection data that indicates a selection of one of the plurality of media-source identifiers, (c) determining by the computing device a second set of filter criteria based on the selected media-source identifier, where the second set of filter criteria is different from the first set of filter criteria, and (d) causing the graphical display to display the determined second set of filter criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Robert A. Lambourne, Paul Bates
  • Publication number: 20200051342
    Abstract: A technique includes determining a depth value for each of a plurality of pixels of a frame, down-sampling the depth values of a tile of the frame to obtain a plurality of down-sampled depth values, the frame including one or more tiles, determining a change in a head pose, determining, from the plurality of down-sampled depth values, a down-sampled depth value for a vertex, determining an adjusted position for the vertex based on the change in head pose and the down-sampled depth value for the vertex, performing, based on at least the adjusted position for the vertex, a depth-adjusted time-warping of the frame to obtain a depth-adjusted time-warped frame, and triggering display of the depth-adjusted time-warped frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: John Paul Bates
  • Publication number: 20200052923
    Abstract: Example techniques involve control of a media playback system involving multiple zones. A control application may include different control interfaces for respective zones of the multiple zones. A control interface for a given zone may include transport controls to control playback in the zone, volume controls to control zone volume level, and an indication of media playing back in the zone. A user may utilize swipe inputs to switch between the control interfaces in order to control different zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Reimann, Abhishek Kumar, Paul Bates
  • Publication number: 20200045366
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide content to a playback network are disclosed. An example method includes displaying an indicator of multimedia content to a user via a graphical user interface. The example method includes enabling a multiselect state to allow the user to select multiple items from a browseable list of indicators associated with multimedia content. The example method includes providing a context-sensitive menu including a plurality of options associated with playback of selected items based on enablement of the multiselect state. The example method includes applying an option to each of the selected items based on user selection. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to user selection of the option.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Reimann, Abhishek Kumar, Paul Bates
  • Publication number: 20190347063
    Abstract: Systems and methods for media playback via a media playback system include (i) capturing a voice input comprising a request for media content, (ii) receiving information derived at least from the request for media content, (iii) requesting and receiving information from at least one remote computing device associated with a first media content service and at least one remote computing device associated with a second media content service, wherein (a) the information identifies first media content available via the first media content service for playback and identifies second media content available via the second media content service for playback, and (b) the first and second media content are related to the requested media content, and (iv) after receiving at least one of the first information and the second information, (a) selecting the first media content instead of the second media content, and (b) playing back the first media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Sherwin Liu, Paul Bates
  • Patent number: 10469897
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide content to a playback network are disclosed. An example method includes displaying an indicator of multimedia content to a user via a graphical user interface. The example method includes enabling a multiselect state to allow the user to select multiple items from a browseable list of indicators associated with multimedia content. The example method includes providing a context-sensitive menu including a plurality of options associated with playback of selected items based on enablement of the multiselect state. The example method includes applying an option to each of the selected items based on user selection. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to user selection of the option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Reimann, Abhishek Kumar, Paul Bates
  • Publication number: 20190324711
    Abstract: A processor and memory comprising instructions stored therein executable by the processor to display a first media item available for playback, wherein the first media item is associated at least with a preview option, a playback option, and a queue option. A first input associated with the first media item is received. The first input is determined to correspond only to the preview option. Responsive to determining that the first input corresponds only to the preview option, causing at least a portion of the first media item to be played.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Paul Bates, Abhishek Kumar, Jonathan Lang
  • Patent number: 10453272
    Abstract: A technique includes determining a depth value for each of a plurality of pixels of a frame, down-sampling the depth values of a tile of the frame to obtain a plurality of down-sampled depth values, the frame including one or more tiles, determining a change in a head pose, determining, from the plurality of down-sampled depth values, a down-sampled depth value for a vertex, determining an adjusted position for the vertex based on the change in head pose and the down-sampled depth value for the vertex, performing, based on at least the adjusted position for the vertex, a depth-adjusted time-warping of the frame to obtain a depth-adjusted time-warped frame, and triggering display of the depth-adjusted time-warped frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: John Paul Bates
  • Patent number: 10453175
    Abstract: An example technique may include performing a first time-warping of a scene of virtual reality content based on head pose information received during or after a rendering of the scene to obtain a time-warped scene, performing a second time-warping of an object based at least on object pose information received during or after a rendering of the object to obtain a time-warped object, and displaying on a display device a composite image based on the time-warped scene and the time-warped object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Keir Banks Mierle, John Paul Bates
  • Patent number: 10454700
    Abstract: Example techniques involve control of playback queues. A computing device may display a media controller that includes a queue area. When representations of one or more audio tracks are moved into a particular location within the queue area, they are added to the queue. The audio tracks are added to the beginning of the queue, end of the queue, or at a specific position with the queue based on the particular location within the queue area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Reimann, Abhishek Kumar, Paul Bates
  • Publication number: 20190243534
    Abstract: Techniques described herein may involve modification of playback based on the proximity of a user to a playback device. An example technique involves a device determining that a listener is within a given proximity of a first playback device and based on determining that the listener is within the given proximity of the first playback device, causing the first playback device to begin playback of first media and causing a second playback device to modify playback of second media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Luis Vega, Paul Bates, Jason Kendall
  • Publication number: 20190207782
    Abstract: Example techniques involve control of playback queues. A computing device may display a media controller that includes a queue area. When representations of one or more audio tracks are moved into a particular location within the queue area, they are added to the queue. The audio tracks are added to the beginning of the queue, end of the queue, or at a specific position with the queue based on the particular location within the queue area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Reimann, Abhishek Kumar, Paul Bates
  • Publication number: 20190208262
    Abstract: An example first playback device includes programming to perform functions including receiving a first request to associate with a first playback queue that is stored remotely from, and persists unassociated with, any playback device of the media playback system. The functions also include associating with the first playback queue and designating the first playback queue as an active queue of the first playback device. The functions also include receiving a second request to enter into a group with a second playback device that is associated with a second playback queue, entering into the group with the second playback device, associating with the second playback queue, and designating the second playback queue as the active queue of the first playback device. The functions also include receiving a third request to leave the group, and after receiving the third request, de-designating the second playback queue as its active queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Luis Vega-Zayas, Kristen Johansen, Paul Bates, Abhishek Kumar