Abstract: Some disclosed systems and methods include assigning channel streams to satellite playback devices, delaying initial transmission of surround sound content to satellite playback devices to accumulate audio samples for transmission in individual frames of surround sound content, and taking advantage of configured playback delays for different channels of surround sound content to prioritize transmission of channels of surround sound content having shorter configured playback delays over transmission of channels of surround sound content having longer configured playback delays.

Abstract: Devices, system, and methods are disclosed for provisioning devices over a cloud network in accordance with modifications to operational settings of a media playback system. In example embodiments, a first playback device is configured to identify a change to a property of an operational setting of the media playback system at a first geographic location of the media playback system, and based on the identified change, (i) locally provision itself in accordance with the identified change to the property of the operational setting, (ii) cause a cloud computing device located outside of the media playback system to be provisioned in accordance with the identified change to the property of the operational setting, and (iii) cause the cloud computing device to initiate provisioning of a second playback device at a second geographic location in accordance with the identified change to the property of the operational setting at the first geographic location.

Abstract: Embodiments are described herein that involve a media playback system playing back a playback queue according to a continuous-playback mode. In one aspect, a playback device is provided that includes a network interface, one or more media processing components, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium with program instructions stored thereon. The program instructions are executable by at least one processor to cause the media playback device to: add one or more items to a playback queue of the media playback device, where the one or more items include a continuous-playback item including at least one media item, play back the playback queue according to a continuous-playback mode, where playing back the playback queue according to the continuous-playback mode involves: detecting a continuous-playback trigger, and based on the detected continuous-playback trigger, adding at least one additional media item to the continuous-playback item.

Abstract: A first network microphone device (NMD) is configured to receive, from a second NMD, a first arbitration message including (i) a first measure of confidence associated with a voice input detected by the second NMD and (ii) the voice input detected by the second NMD, and receive, from a third NMD, a second arbitration message including (i) a second measure of confidence associated with the voice input as detected by the third NMD and (ii) the voice input as detected by the third NMD. The first NMD is configured to determine that the second measure of confidence is greater than the first measure of confidence and based on the determination, perform voice recognition based on the voice input as detected by the third NMD, where the voice input includes a command to control audio playback by the first, second, and/or third NMD, and after performing voice recognition, executing the command.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling multi-site media playback systems include, among other features, a computing system (i) receiving, from a first media playback device connected to a first network, a first registration message, (ii) in response to receiving the first registration message, assigning a system identifier and a first subsystem identifier to the first media playback device, (iii) receiving, from a second media playback device connected to the first network, a second registration message, (iv) in response to receiving the second registration message, assigning the system identifier and the first subsystem identifier to the second media playback device, (v) determining that the second media playback device is disconnected from the first network and connected to a second network, and (vi) in response to determining that the second media playback device is connected to the second network, assigning a second subsystem identifier to the second media playback device.

Abstract: A first playback device is configured to (i) receive an instruction to share a playback device between a first group of playback devices including the first playback device and a second group of playback devices including a second playback device, (ii) receive a command to play back media content, (iii) determine that the shared playback device is currently configured for synchronous playback in the second group of playback devices, (iv) transmit a request to the second playback device for an indication of whether the shared playback device is available, (v) if the shared playback device is available (a) transmit a command to the shared playback device to join the first group of playback devices, and (b) play back the media content in synchrony with the shared playback device, and (v) if the shared playback device is unavailable, play back the media content without synchronizing with the shared playback device.

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).

Abstract: Example techniques facilitate for applying a share restriction to a curated playlist within a shared playback queue. In example implementations, a first media playback system may share its playback queue with a second media playback system. The playback queue of the first media playback system may include a curated playlist associated with a share restriction. When sharing its playback queue of the first media playback system, the first media playback system may enforce the share restriction on the curated playlist as queued in a second playback queue of the second media playback system.

Abstract: Generative media content (e.g., generative audio) can be played back across multiple playback devices concurrently. A coordinator device can receive a multi-channel stream of media content, with at least some channels comprising generative media content. The coordinator device transmits each of the channels to a plurality of playback devices. A first playback device plays back a first subset of the channels according to first playback responsibilities and a second playback device plays back a second subset of the channels according to second playback responsibilities. The first and/or second playback responsibilities can be dynamically modified over time, for example in response to one or more input parameters.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to control audio playback devices are disclosed. An example first playback device includes a speaker driver, a processor, and a computer readable medium including a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to implement a method. The example method includes receiving, from a first audio information source, first audio information. The example method includes playing back the first audio information. The example method includes receiving, from a second audio information source, (i) a first message, and (ii) second audio information.

Abstract: Generative media content (e.g., generative audio) can be played back across multiple playback devices concurrently. A coordinator device can receive a multi-channel stream of media content, with at least some channels comprising generative media content. The coordinator device transmits each of the channels to a plurality of playback devices. A first playback device plays back a first subset of the channels according to first playback responsibilities and a second playback device plays back a second subset of the channels according to second playback responsibilities. The first and/or second playback responsibilities can be dynamically modified over time, for example in response to one or more input parameters.

Abstract: An example implementation may involve a group of wearable playback devices including a first wearable playback device and a second wearable playback device. The wearable playback devices render multi-channel audio content according to particular playback responsibilities in the group. When a failure or other issue with the second wearable playback device occurs, the first playback device assumes at least part of the playback responsibility of the second playback device.

Abstract: Some disclosed systems and methods include assigning channel streams to satellite playback devices, delaying initial transmission of surround sound content to satellite playback devices to accumulate audio samples for transmission in individual frames of surround sound content, and taking advantage of configured playback delays for different channels of surround sound content to prioritize transmission of channels of surround sound content having shorter configured playback delays over transmission of channels of surround sound content having longer configured playback delays.

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.

Abstract: A first network microphone device (NMD) is configured to receive, from a second NMD, a first arbitration message including (i) a first measure of confidence associated with a voice input detected by the second NMD and (ii) the voice input detected by the second NMD, and receive, from a third NMD, a second arbitration message including (i) a second measure of confidence associated with the voice input as detected by the third NMD and (ii) the voice input as detected by the third NMD. The first NMD is configured to determine that the second measure of confidence is greater than the first measure of confidence and based on the determination, perform voice recognition based on the voice input as detected by the third NMD, where the voice input includes a command to control audio playback by the first, second, and/or third NMD, and after performing voice recognition, executing the command.

Abstract: Some disclosed systems and methods include a surround sound controller and one or more wireless headphones that switch between operating in various modes. In a first mode, the surround sound controller uses a first MCS to transmit first surround sound audio information to a first pair of headphones. In a second mode, the surround sound controller uses a second MCS to transmit (a) the first surround sound audio information to the first pair of headphones and (b) second surround sound audio information to a second pair of headphones. In operation, the first MCS corresponds to a lower data rate at a higher wireless link margin than the second MCS.

Abstract: A first playback device is configured to (i) receive an instruction to share a playback device between a first group of playback devices including the first playback device and a second group of playback devices including a second playback device, (ii) receive a command to play back media content, (iii) determine that the shared playback device is currently configured for synchronous playback in the second group of playback devices, (iv) transmit a request to the second playback device for an indication of whether the shared playback device is available, (v) if the shared playback device is available (a) transmit a command to the shared playback device to join the first group of playback devices, and (b) play back the media content in synchrony with the shared playback device, and (v) if the shared playback device is unavailable, play back the media content without synchronizing with the shared playback device.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include network devices and systems of network devices. Some network device embodiments include (i) first and second network interfaces, (ii) a processor(s), (iii) tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium, and (iv) program instructions stored on the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor. Execution of the program instructions in some embodiments causes the network device to perform operations comprising (i) operating as part of a group with at least a second network device, (ii) receiving, via the first network interface, a message from a third network device, (iii) obtaining media content based on the message, (iv) transmit, via the second network interface, audio associated with the obtained media content to the second network device, and (v) causing video associated with the obtained media content to be output while the second network device outputs audio associated with the obtained media content.

Abstract: A device is configured to (i) receive media content from a media source, (ii) generate a first series of frames including first portions of the media content and first playback timing information, (iii) generate a second series of frames including second portions of the media content and second playback timing information, (iv) transmit the first series of frames to a first playback device in a synchrony group for playback of the first portions of the media content in accordance with the first playback timing information, and (v) transmit the second series of frames to a second playback device in the synchrony group for playback of the second portions of the media content in accordance with the second playback timing information such that the media content is played back in synchrony by the synchrony group.

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.