Abstract: Example techniques involve determining a direction of an NMD. An example implementation includes causing two audio drivers to output audio content, where the audio drivers are positioned at a known distance apart in a given azimuthal plane and recording the audio content output by the two audio drivers. The implementation also includes causing a computing device to identify a direction of the NMD relative to a center point of the two audio drivers in the given azimuthal plane. Identifying the direction of the NMD may involve determining a range of possible azimuthal angles between the NMD and the center point, the range of possible angles dependent upon the known distance between the two audio drivers and a phase offset between the two audio drivers indicated by the recorded audio content output. The implementation further includes causing a playback device to adjust calibration based on the identified direction of the NMD.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method may involve, while a first zone and a second zone of a media playback system are playing back respective media, receiving data indicating the occurrence of a first trigger condition. The method may also involve, based on the received data, modifying respective volume limits of the first zone and the second zone, wherein modifying the volume limit causes first volume levels that exceed the second limit to be reduced to respective second volume levels that are at or below the second limit. The method may also involve receiving data indicating the occurrence of a second trigger condition. The method may further involve, based on the received data, modifying the respective volume limits of the first zone and the second zone from the second limit to the first limit.

Abstract: An image processing device for simulating depth of field in a captured image, the image processing device comprising: a camera sensor configured to capture an image; an orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the device from which the direction of capture of the image by the camera sensor is derivable; and a processor configured to apply blur to a first area of the captured image in dependence on the orientation of the device.

Abstract: An example playback device may identify a first version of audio content for play back from a first source, and further identify a first value of an audio characteristic of the first version of the audio content, where the playback device includes a capability corresponding to the audio characteristic. The playback device may determine that the first value of the audio characteristic of the first version of the audio content does not match the capability of the playback device. The playback device may then identify a second version of the audio content from a second source, where the second version of the audio content includes the audio characteristic having a second value that is closer to the capability of the playback device. The playback device may then cause playback of the second version of the audio content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for receiving a voice command and determining an appropriate action for the media playback system to execute based on user identification. The systems and methods receive a voice command for a media playback system, and determines whether the voice command was received from a registered user of the media playback system. In response to determining that the voice command was received from a registered user, the systems and methods configure an instruction for the media playback system based on content from the voice command and information in a user profile for the registered user.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for spatial mapping of two or more audio playback devices in a listening environment. Two or more playback devices may signal each other. Based on the signaling, a position of the two or more playback devices relative to each other is determined and a device map of the two or more playback devices in the listening environment is generated based on this position.

Abstract: Example techniques relate to voice interaction in an environment with a media playback system that is playing back audio content. In an example implementation, while playing back first audio in a given environment at a given loudness: a playback device (a) detects that an event is anticipated in the given environment, the event involving playback of second audio and (b) determines a loudness of background noise in the given environment, the background noise comprising ambient noise in the given environment. The playback device ducks the first audio in proportion to a difference between the given loudness of the first audio and the determined loudness of the background noise and plays back the ducked first audio concurrently with the second audio.

Abstract: Aspects of a multi-orientation playback device including at least one microphone array are discussed. A method may include determining an orientation of the playback device which includes at least one microphone array and determining at least one microphone training response for the playback device from a plurality of microphone training responses based on the orientation of the playback device. The at least one microphone array can detect a sound input, and the location information of a source of the sound input can be determined based on the at least one microphone training response and the detected sound input. Based on the location information of the source, the directional focus of the at least one microphone array can be adjusted, and the sound input can be captured based on the adjusted directional focus.

Abstract: Example techniques relate to voice interaction in an environment with a media playback system that is playing back audio content. In an example implementation, while playing back first audio in a given environment at a given loudness: a playback device (a) detects that an event is anticipated in the given environment, the event involving playback of second audio and (b) determines a loudness of background noise in the given environment, the background noise comprising ambient noise in the given environment. The playback device ducks the first audio in proportion to a difference between the given loudness of the first audio and the determined loudness of the background noise and plays back the ducked first audio concurrently with the second audio.

Abstract: Example techniques for acoustic position measurement in an example listening environment are disclosed. An example implementation involves a control device including a first transducer, a playback device including a second transducer, and a network microphone device (NMD) including a microphone array. The NMD determines a first direction of the control device with respect to the NMD based at least in part on a first test sound received at the microphone array from the first transducer and determines a second direction of the playback device with respect to the NMD based at least in part on a second test sound received at the microphone array from the second transducer. The NMD adjusts one or more beamforming parameters of the microphone array thereby causing amplifying sound received at the microphone array from the first direction and attenuating sound received at the microphone array from the second direction.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method may involve, while a first zone and a second zone of a media playback system are playing back respective media, receiving data indicating the occurrence of a first trigger condition. The method may also involve, based on the received data, modifying respective volume limits of the first zone and the second zone, wherein modifying the volume limit causes first volume levels that exceed the second limit to be reduced to respective second volume levels that are at or below the second limit. The method may also involve receiving data indicating the occurrence of a second trigger condition. The method may further involve, based on the received data, modifying the respective volume limits of the first zone and the second zone from the second limit to the first limit.

Abstract: An example method may involve a device determining a first loudness representation for a playback device based on a first equalization setting applied to a representation of average music. The device may also determine a second loudness representation for the playback device, based on a second equalization setting applied to the representation of average music. The device may also determine a loudness adjustment factor based on the first and second loudness representations, and then causing the playback device to play back media based on the second equalization setting and the determined loudness adjustment factor.

Abstract: Example techniques involve determining a direction of an NMD. An example implementation includes causing two audio drivers to output audio content, where the audio drivers are positioned at a known distance apart in a given azimuthal plane and recording the audio content output by the two audio drivers. The implementation also includes causing a computing device to identify a direction of the NMD relative to a center point of the two audio drivers in the given azimuthal plane. Identifying the direction of the NMD may involve determining a range of possible azimuthal angles between the NMD and the center point, the range of possible angles dependent upon the known distance between the two audio drivers and a phase offset between the two audio drivers indicated by the recorded audio content output. The implementation further includes causing a playback device to adjust calibration based on the identified direction of the NMD.

Abstract: An example method includes receiving data indicating a configuration of one or more playback devices. The one or more playback devices may include one or more transducers. The method further includes, based on the received data, associating each of one or more audio streams respectively with at least one transducer of the one or more transducers. The method further includes generating the one or more audio streams and sending at least one of the generated one or more audio streams to each of the one or more playback devices. An example non-transitory computer readable medium and an example computing device related to the example method are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are example techniques for voice detection by multiple NMDs. An example implementation may involve receiving a set of voice recordings from a set of NMDs, and identifying a subset of voice recordings from which to determine a given voice command. The example implementation may further involve causing the identified subset of voice recordings to be analyzed to determine the given voice command.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are example techniques to provide contextual information corresponding to a voice command. An example implementation may involve receiving voice data indicating a voice command, receiving contextual information indicating a characteristic of the voice command, and determining a device operation corresponding to the voice command. Determining the device operation corresponding to the voice command may include identifying, among multiple zones of a media playback system, a zone that corresponds to the characteristic of the voice command, and determining that the voice command corresponds to one or more particular devices that are associated with the identified zone. The example implementation may further involve causing the one or more particular devices to perform the device operation.

Abstract: An example playback device receives left and right channels of audio content and generates a center channel of the audio content by combining at least a portion of the left right channels. The playback device generates first and second side channels of the audio content by combining the center channel and a difference of the left channel and the right channel and combining the center channel and an inverse of the difference of the left channel and the right channel, respectively. The playback device plays back the center channel of the audio content according to a first radiation pattern having a maximum aligned with a first direction, the first side channel according to a second radiation pattern having a maximum aligned with a second direction, and the second side channel according to a third radiation pattern having a maximum aligned with a fourth direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are example techniques for acoustic position measurement in an example listening environment. One example includes determining a requirement for position information of a speaker-equipped device within a room in which a media playback system is located, and in response to determining the requirement for position information of the speaker-equipped device, determining a position of the speaker-equipped device relative to a microphone-equipped device of the media playback system based at least in part on a test sound emitted from the speaker-equipped device. After determining the position of the speaker-equipped device relative to the microphone-equipped device, some examples further include configuring one or more audio configuration parameters of the media playback system based on the position of the speaker-equipped device relative to the microphone-equipped device.

Abstract: A playback device may have a network interface configured to communicate with a network microphone device over a communication network. A processor of the playback device may comprise instructions, which when executed, cause the processor to obtain acoustics of an environment in which the playback device is located; identify a network microphone device; and send the acoustics to the network microphone device to cause the network microphone device to apply the acoustics to voice input received by the network microphone device.

Abstract: An image processing device for simulating depth of field in a captured image, the image processing device comprising: a camera sensor configured to capture an image; an orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the device from which the direction of capture of the image by the camera sensor is derivable; and a processor configured to apply blur to a first area of the captured image in dependence on the orientation of the device.