Patents by Inventor Ron Kuper

Ron Kuper 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: 11514099
    Abstract: Embodiments including methods and apparatus to share file and file recommendations are disclosed. Data is received indicating a particular media item from a first service provider, where the particular media item is accessible from the first service provider according to a first pointer. A second pointer is identified in a database according to which the particular media item is accessible from a second service provider. Data indicating the second pointer is transmitted to a media playback system, via at least one of a WAN or a LAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Joni Hoadley
  • Publication number: 20220345505
    Abstract: Embodiments are described herein that involve a computing device initiating playback of a particular media item on a media playback system that is registered to a particular account of a social media service. The computing device may query the social media service for one or more accounts of the social media service that are registered to respective media playback systems that have played the particular media item on at least a threshold number of occasions and have not yet been connected to the particular account of the social media service within the social network. The computing device may receive the queried one or more accounts of the social media service and cause a graphical interface to display one or more respective selectable indications of the received one or more accounts of the social media service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Keith Corbin, Abhishek Kumar, Ron Kuper, Gregory Paul Ramsperger, Andrej Sarkic
  • Publication number: 20220300246
    Abstract: An example technique includes a computing system storing media item identifiers of curated media items associated with one or more service providers. A media curating service aggregates the media item identifiers of curated media items. The example technique further involves receiving, from a media playback system, a first message comprising a service provider access identifier. The service provider access identifier is based on a user account of the media playback system registered to at least one service provider. Based on receiving the first message, the computing system determines media item identifiers of curated media items that are associated with the at least one service provider with which the user account of the media playback system is registered and causes the media playback system to play back the curated media items based on the determined media item identifiers of the curated media items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventor: Ron Kuper
  • Patent number: 11451597
    Abstract: Embodiments are described herein that involve receiving, by a social-media computing system from a media playback system, playback data indicating media that is being played back by the media playback system, where the playback data comprises an indication of at least one zone of the media playback system in which the media is being played back; and based on the received playback data, updating social-media data in a social-media account, where the updated social-media data comprises an indication of the at least one zone in which the media is currently being played back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Corbin, Abhishek Kumar, Ron Kuper, Gregory Paul Ramsperger, Andrej Sarkic
  • Patent number: 11445261
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include systems and methods for providing a management interface for controlling multiple households. The management interface may be provided as an application on a mobile device or as an Internet webpage. 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: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Arthur L. Coburn, IV, John Meyer, Mike Delaney
  • Patent number: 11438666
    Abstract: Examples involve a control device using a social networking service to facilitate registration of a streaming media service with a media playback system. An example implementation receives (i) data indicating login credentials for a given account of a social networking service, and (ii) input data to configure streaming media services with a media playback system. Based on receiving the input data to configure the media playback system, the implementation queries the social networking service for streaming media services associated with the given account, and in response to the query, receives data indicating a first streaming media service associated with the given account. The implementation configures the media playback system to playback audio content from the first streaming media service that is associated with the given account and causes the media playback system to playback audio content from the first streaming media service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrej Sarkic, Danielle Storlie, Diane Roberts, Ron Kuper, Dayn Wilberding, Carl Fristrom
  • Publication number: 20220261212
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to transitioning a playback session between portable playback devices such as “smart” headphones, earbuds, and handheld speakers with playback devices of a zone-based media playback system. Exemplary techniques facilitate continuity of playback when transitioning between locations (e.g., from at home to on-the-go or vice versa) or between listening paradigms (e.g., personal or out-loud playback of audio content). An example implementation includes detecting a swap trigger, determining the source playback device(s) and target playback device(s), and performing a playback session swap between the source playback device(s) and target playback device(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Dayn Wilberding, Youjin Nam, Tadeo T. Toulis, Jonathan Cole Harris, Patrick Devine, Nicholas A.J. Millington, Jodi Vautrin, Maria-Jose Ramos, Richard Bannon, Michael Sheldon, Ted Lin, Ron Kuper, Kirsten Lewis, Jake Harwood, Jonathan Herbst, Daniel Jones, Henry Sia
  • Publication number: 20220256234
    Abstract: Example techniques relate to a soundbar that provides information associated with a media item. In an example implementation, the soundbar plays back audio associated with the particular media item. The soundbar also sends instructions to cause a mobile device to display graphical representations of first information associated with the particular media item while the soundbar playing back the particular media item. The soundbar further sends a request for second information associated with the particular media item, receives, from a server of a cloud computing service, data representing the requested second information associated with the particular media item, causes a television to display graphical representations of the requested second information associated with the particular media item on a display of the television while the sound-bar playback device is playing back the audio associated with the particular media item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventor: Ron Kuper
  • Publication number: 20220244906
    Abstract: Example techniques may involve tuning a music discovery dial. An implementation may include displaying, on the touch-sensitive circular graphical display, a circular graphical user interface including multiple wedge-shaped selectable regions arranged around the circumference of the circular graphical user interface, each wedge-shaped selectable region corresponding to a respective streaming audio channel. The implementation may include detecting a touch input in a circular motion to the touch-sensitive circular graphical display and causing a paired playback device to play back an audio content snippet corresponding to each selectable regions that the touch input enters. The implementation may further include switching the playback device from playing back a given pre-cached audio content snippet to playing back the full audio track from one or more servers of a streaming audio service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Alexis Kotelly, Dayn Wilberding, Ron Kuper
  • Publication number: 20220248071
    Abstract: Example techniques describe may facilitate a playback device applying a determined audio setting. An example implementation involves a first playback device receiving, over an unsecure network, a message indicating that a second playback device is available to join a playback network, wherein the first playback device is connected to the playback network. Based on a pre-existing configuration table, the first playback device determines an audio setting corresponding to a playback configuration for the second playback device, the playback configuration including the second playback device playing back audio synchronously with the first playback device in the playback network. The first playback device transmits, to the second playback device, one or more messages instructing the second playback device to apply the determined audio setting upon joining the playback network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Steven Beckhardt, Andrew Schulert, Ron Kuper, Jonathan Lang
  • Publication number: 20220237703
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing media content based on playback zone awareness. In one aspect, a computing system receives, via a network interface, zone data from the media playback system, wherein the zone data includes an indication of a particular zone of the media playback system, and wherein the particular zone comprises at least one playback device. The computing system identifies audio content based on (i) the indication of the particular zone and (ii) contextual data associated with the particular zone, and provides, via the network interface, an indication of the identified audio content to the media playback system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Kristen Bender, Ron Kuper
  • Publication number: 20220232094
    Abstract: Examples described herein involve switching between two user accounts of a streaming media service. In an example implementation, a playback device stores data representing credentials for multiple user accounts including a first user account of a first streaming audio service and a second user account of the first streaming audio service. The playback device receives instructions to play first audio content from the first streaming audio service and plays back the first audio content by streaming data representing the first audio content from one or more servers of the first streaming audio service using credentials of the first user account. The playback device detects a trigger associated with the first user account of the first streaming audio service and switches from streaming data representing the first audio content using credentials of the first user account to streaming data representing the first audio content using credentials of the second user account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Abhishek Kumar, Ron Kuper, Jason Kendall, Emilio Arce
  • Patent number: 11356777
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to transitioning a playback session between portable playback devices such as “smart” headphones, earbuds, and handheld speakers with playback devices of a zone-based media playback system. Exemplary techniques facilitate continuity of playback when transitioning between locations (e.g., from at home to on-the-go or vice versa) or between listening paradigms (e.g., personal or out-loud playback of audio content). An example implementation includes detecting a swap trigger, determining the source playback device(s) and target playback device(s), and performing a playback session swap between the source playback device(s) and target playback device(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Dayn Wilberding, Youjin Nam, Tadeo T. Toulis, Cole Harris, Patrick Devine, Ncholas A. J. Millington, Jodi Vautrin, Maria-Jose Ramos, Richard Bannon, Michael Sheldon, Ted Lin, Ron Kuper, Kirsten Lewis, Jake Harwood, Jonathan Herbst
  • Publication number: 20220150235
    Abstract: An example system is configured to (i) generate an authorization code that has an expiration time, (ii) transmit at least one first message including the authorization code over a WAN, (iii) receive at least one second message including the authorization code from a playback device over the WAN, (iv) determine that the received authorization code is valid based at least on the expiration time, (v) after determining that the authorization code is valid, generate a first authorization token, (vi) transmit at least one third message including the first authorization token to the playback device over the WAN, (vii) receive at least one fourth message including a second authorization token and a request from the playback device over the WAN, (viii) determine that the second authorization token is valid, and (ix) after determining that the second authorization token is valid, provide the playback device with audio content based on the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Sherwin Liu, Emilio Arce, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Publication number: 20220124082
    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: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Sherwin Liu, Emilio Arce, Arthur L. Coburn, IV
  • Publication number: 20220124399
    Abstract: Examples provided herein are directed to social-media playback queues. In one example, a computing system may be configured to (i) receive an identifier of a media playback system, (ii) link the identifier with a social-media account, (iii) based at least on linking the identifier with the social-media account, generate a social-media playback queue that is fillable with one or more media items playable by the media playback system, (iv) establish access permissions to the social-media playback queue, where the access permissions indicate at least one additional social media account that (a) is within a social-media network of the social-media account, and (b) has access to the social-media playback queue, (v) receive, from a computing device affiliated with the at least one additional social-media account, an indication of a media item to be added to the social-media playback queue, and (vi) add the media item to the social-media playback queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Keith Corbin, Paul Kafadar, Abhishek Kumar, Ron Kuper, Gregory Paul Ramsperger, Andrej Sarkic
  • Patent number: 11301204
    Abstract: An example technique includes a computing system storing media item identifiers of curated media items associated with one or more service providers. A media curating service aggregates the media item identifiers of curated media items. The example technique further involves receiving, from a media playback system, a first message comprising a service provider access identifier. The service provider access identifier is based on a user account of the media playback system registered to at least one service provider. Based on receiving the first message, the computing system determines media item identifiers of curated media items that are associated with the at least one service provider with which the user account of the media playback system is registered and causes the media playback system to play back the curated media items based on the determined media item identifiers of the curated media items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Ron Kuper
  • Patent number: 11223661
    Abstract: Embodiments are described herein that involve a computing device initiating playback of a particular media item on a media playback system that is registered to a particular account of a social media service. The computing device may query the social media service for one or more accounts of the social media service that are registered to respective media playback systems that have played the particular media item on at least a threshold number of occasions and have not yet been connected to the particular account of the social media service within the social network. The computing device may receive the queried one or more accounts of the social media service and cause a graphical interface to display one or more respective selectable indications of the received one or more accounts of the social media service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Corbin, Abhishek Kumar, Ron Kuper, Gregory Paul Ramsperger, Andrej Sarkic
  • Publication number: 20210409828
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include systems and methods for providing a management interface for controlling multiple households. The management interface may be provided as an application on a mobile device or as an Internet webpage. 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: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Ron Kuper, Arthur L. Coburn, IV, John Meyer, Mike Delaney
  • Patent number: 11188294
    Abstract: Examples described herein relate to transitioning a playback session between portable playback devices such as “smart” headphones, earbuds, and handheld speakers with playback devices of a zone-based media playback system. Exemplary techniques facilitate continuity of playback when transitioning between locations (e.g., from at home to on-the-go or vice versa) or between listening paradigms (e.g., personal or out-loud playback of audio content). An example implementation includes detecting a swap trigger, determining the source playback device(s) and target playback device(s), and performing a playback session swap between the source playback device(s) and target playback device(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventors: Dayn Wilberding, Youjin Nam, Tadeo T. Toulis, Jonathan Cole Harris, Patrick Devine, Nicholas A. J. Millington, Jodi Vautrin, Maria-Jose Ramos, Richard Bannon, Michael Sheldon, Ted Lin, Ron Kuper, Kirsten Lewis, Jake Harwood, Jonathan Herbst, Daniel Jones, Henry Sia