111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007571014Bl
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Lambourne et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,571,014 B1
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONTROLLING MULTIMEDIA PLAYERS IN
`A MULTI-ZONE SYSTEM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Robert A. Lam bourne, Santa Barbara,
`CA (US); Nicholas A. J. Millington,
`Santa Barbara, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Sonos, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1091 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/861,653
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun.5,2004
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/816,217,
`filed on Apr. 1, 2004.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 17100
`(2006.01)
`G06F 3100
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ......................................... 700/94; 7151716
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................... 700/94;
`715/716,734, 735; 709/220, 221; 381/56
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,239,458 A * 8/1993 Suzuki ........................ 700/83
`
`3/1994 Lumsden .................... 3811119
`5/1998 Dorrough .................... 381156
`5/2007 Berezowski et a!.
`.......... 379/37
`8/2002 Holtz eta!. ................. 345/723
`9/2002 Isely eta!. .................. 709/231
`12/2002 Tomassetti eta!. .......... 709/251
`7/2003 Anttila et a!.
`............... 709/205
`112004 Also eta!.
`.................. 3811119
`12/2004 Blanket a!. ................... 360/70
`3/2005 Lee eta!. ...................... 381156
`2/2007 Millington .................. 718/100
`
`5,299,266 A *
`5,751,819 A *
`7,218,708 B2 *
`2002/0109710 A1 *
`2002/0124097 A1 *
`2002/0188762 A1 *
`2003/0126211 A1 *
`2004/0008852 A1 *
`2004/0252400 A1 *
`2005/0047605 A1 *
`2007/0038999 A1 *
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Curtis Kuntz
`Assistant Examiner-Daniel R Sellers
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joe Zheng
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Techniques for controlling zone group and zone group char(cid:173)
`acteristics such as audio volume in a multi-zone system are
`disclosed. The multi-zone system includes a number of mul(cid:173)
`timedia players, each preferably located in a zone. A control(cid:173)
`ler may control the operations of all of the zone players
`remotely from any one of the zones. Two or more zone players
`may be dynamically grouped as a zone group for synchro(cid:173)
`nized operations. According to one aspect of the techniques,
`a zone group configuration can be managed, updated, modi(cid:173)
`fied via an interactive user interface provided in a controlling
`device. The zone group configuration may be saved in one of
`zone players. According to another aspect of the techniques,
`the audio volume control of a zone group can be performed
`individually or synchronously as a group.
`
`44 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
`. . . . . . . . . ·.·..
`
`. .. ·.·.·--.i ·.·.· . . . . . . · . · . · . · . . . . . . . . . .
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`
`Group
`
`Volume
`
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`~ Dining Room
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`Volume
`Treble
`
`Bess
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`Loudness
`Balance
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`living Room
`'-....... ;
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`Loudness
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`
`OK
`
`Page 1 of 25
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1005
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of 14
`
`US 7,571,014 B1
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`206
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`204
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`/ r
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`Audio Amplifier
`
`Processing Module
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`Digital Signal
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`Audio Processing
`
`Memory
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`Processor
`
`7
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`6
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`., V'. 1-'
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`Wired
`
`Wireless
`
`202
`200
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`,V
`
`Network Interface
`
`FIG. 2A
`
`Page 3 of 25
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 3 of 14
`
`US 7,571,014 B1
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`284
`
`282
`
`Module
`
`Application
`
`Memory
`
`(Network Interface)
`
`RF Interface
`
`FIG. 2C
`
`280
`
`Controller
`
`Micro
`
`Interface
`
`Input
`
`278
`
`270
`
`Driver
`Screen
`
`Screen
`
`276
`
`274
`
`272
`
`Page 5 of 25
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`FIG. 3A
`
`:Ap~:~l1~: ::Or9P.=~P~$::: ::::::::::::::::::
`
`.=.=.=.= ;..j.:..:.: = = = = =1 r. = = = = = = =. = = = =; =; =11 =; =; =; =. =. =-=. =. = ·1
`
`I
`
`/1 ~Pr~~~ >>~ <<:::
`~Pr~:~ :~~~~~: ~~,~~~ 1
`Zone 3 track
`I Zone 1: track 1, artist A
`Select a zone
`. . . -..... -..................... .
`:. :one .. etJ.tJ:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
`·z····M·······················
`.
`. .................. .
`
`artist C
`
`. . .
`
`314
`
`306
`
`310
`
`F>T<<ll:>>>>l H>>>H
`
`1
`
`5~Zone3
`·~~······································~
`
`309
`
`308
`
`Zone 1
`Select a zone to add to: Zone 2
`Add zone
`
`...
`
`· .... --~---.· .. · .. ·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.· .. · .
`·.·.·on~.·· nu.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.·.
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`·
`
`·
`
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`
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`
`304
`
`Zone 4: track 10, artist D
`Zone 3: track1 , artist C
`··.·.·.·.·.··:-.·.·.·.·>!·.·:-.·.·.·:·:· ·:·:·:·:·:·:·
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`·: ·: ·: ·: ·: ·:
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`......... ------. -----.-
`.
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`:zone::Me:nu:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·
`....... ---.. -----
`
`(1 L
`
`303
`
`302
`
`Page 6 of 25
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`338
`
`FIG. 38
`
`..•••••••••• I'? ••.•• ::>>>>1
`~.4.(3(3: tbti~~ =I
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`
`334
`
`Zone 4: (no music)
`Zone 3 track 1 , artist C
`!~P~~~~ ~~i~q~~:t~~~!~O~/)!t~:~:~:
`Zone 1 track 1 , artist A
`Select a zone
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`: ... ·one. . eo-u:-:. :-:-:-:-:-:-:.:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:.
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`
`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
`
`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
`
`326
`
`Zone 2
`''
`Select zone to drop from Zone2+Zone4
`_.,...,1
`1
`Drop zone
`.--
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`.
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`
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`330
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`Page 7 of 25
`
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`
`playing the same as the Office ('Miles Davis')
`
`The Living, Dining and Kitchen are now
`
`FIG. 3C
`
`.. ,.,.,.,.,,,.,.,., ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,:,.,.,.,.,.,., ,.,.:.,.,.,, .................. .
`.........
`......... .
`(1959)
`. . . . .
`. . .
`. ..
`.
`. .
`:·,ma·.·g:e::
`Kind Of Blue
`Mile Davis
`Blue in Green
`Now Playing ..,.
`
`0 33/4 561
`
`l:
`
`382
`
`room
`
`Select a
`
`376
`~
`
`Master Bedroom
`
`3
`
`:~~r~~~~-~~~~oorrr~~~~~~r•r:
`
`380
`
`Select " Play Music From Other Rooms"
`
`!i!i!i!i!~!~~i!ll!~i!~~~~!il~~~~~~~~~!i!i!i~!!i!i!i!i!i
`
`>
`>
`>
`>
`>
`
`Playlists
`Composers
`Genres
`Albums
`Artists
`Music Collection
`
`:::H~·r~::#:~m::t::~~~~~~:eem::tB~wW:~
`
`,::vi~i?(Q.~~~~/
`12 songs in Queue
`Next track Good time-Counting Crows
`
`,.,.,,,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,
`
`j.
`
`{2002)
`Hard Candy
`Counting Crows
`American Girls
`Now Playing ..,.
`
`352
`
`350
`
`:~:~~~~~::r;,::r::!~~~~~::fflmm::r~®r!~
`
`'Counting Crows' album
`
`The Living, Dining and Kitchen are playing a
`
`Page 8 of 25
`
`

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`FIG. 48
`
`444
`
`Reveal the Study Vol
`The list moves up to
`
`436
`
`434
`
`Icon
`Scroll
`
`I
`
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`
`Study
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`Living Room
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`442
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`440
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`414
`
`t~~re:!,B~~~~~m~l!l~~~~~~:::
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`VOLUME
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`M'~:~~~~t~~~rnt~~~f~~~~rn:r~m~~::l 432
`
`VOLUME
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`);:;:~=~:i:~:i:~:i:~:i:~:~:~:i:~:i:~:1[{~~~~k=~~~r~i~Bt e
`
`Next track Good time -Counting Crols
`
`0.33/4.56 «:::::::::-:-:·
`I :Jmage
`. . . . . . . . .
`.........
`H!~1r~ ~~Tim L:;:;;;;;;;::::~::::::::><u
`<<<<T>v~-~~~f···· ·
`
`1-:·:·:·:·:l:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:•l•l•l•l•li ••
`
`(2002)
`Hard candy
`
`Living Room
`
` Panel
`Volume
`
`412
`
`11
`
`··:·:·:·:·:1:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:·:1 •.•••.•••
`
`0.33 /4.56 :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:.
`
`(2002)
`
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`:::::~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::);.1:~
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`41 0 /
`
`I/Living Room
`
`Page 9 of 25
`
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`Synchronize new zone group I
`
`Disassociate a zone player
`
`I
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`Group
`
`De-Group
`
`players
`
`Show available zone
`
`500
`
`502
`
`FIG. 5
`
`510
`< }
`Select a zone player to be grouped
`
`:=r==
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`I
`
`514
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`no
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`zone group as group head
`Select a zone player or a
`
`532
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`528
`
`534
`
`no
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`disassociated
`
`Select a zone player to be
`
`the zone group
`
`Show all zone players in
`
`Select a zone group
`
`Page 10 of 25
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`Adjust volume or mute
`
`zone players in the group
`
`Select either the group or one of
`
`626
`
`624
`
`plurality of zone players
`
`Volume meters for a
`
`622
`
`614
`
`612
`
`Adjust volume or mute
`
`a zone player
`
`Volume meter for
`
`600
`
`Yes
`
`605
`
`Volume Control
`Press Mute or
`
`No
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`Page 12 of 25
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`Page 13 of 25
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`Page 14 of 25
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 4, 2009
`
`Sheet 14 of 14
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`US 7,571,014 B1
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`Page 15 of 25
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`

`
`US 7,571,014 B1
`
`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`CONTROLLING MULTIMEDIA PLAYERS IN
`A MULTI-ZONE SYSTEM
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 10/816,217, filed Apr. 1, 2004, in the
`name of Nicholas A. J. Millington, and entitled "System and
`method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of
`independently clocked digital data processing devices" filed
`on Apr. 1, 2004.
`
`2
`evening group and the weekend group contain the den, it can
`be difficult for the traditional system to accommodate the
`requirement of dynamically managing the ad hoc creation
`and deletion of groups.
`Other than the above mentioned problem, the control of the
`audio players as a group does not exist. For example, the
`audio volume of the audio players in the traditional multi(cid:173)
`zone audio system needs to be adjusted one at a time, result(cid:173)
`ing in an inconvenient and non-homogenous audio environ-
`10 ment.
`There is, therefore, a need for solutions in a multi-zone
`audio system to control a plurality of audio players and their
`audio characteristics from one controlling device.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`15
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The invention is generally related to the area of audio
`technologies and human-computer interaction. In particular,
`the invention is related to method and apparatus for control(cid:173)
`ling or manipulating a plurality of multimedia players in a
`multi-zone system.
`2. The Background of Related Art
`An enduring passion for quality audio reproduction or
`system is continuing to drive demands from users. One of the
`demands includes an audio system in a house in which, for
`example, one could grill to classic rock on a patio while
`another one may cook up his/her own music selections in a
`kitchen. This is all at the same time while a teenager catches
`a ball game in a family room, and another one blasts pop in a
`bedroom. And the best part of such audio system is that each
`family member does not need his or her own stereo system(cid:173)
`one system gives everyone access to all the music sources.
`Currently, one of the systems that can meet part of such
`demand is a conventional multi-zone audio system that usu(cid:173)
`ally includes a number of audio players. Each of the audio
`players has its own amplifier(s) and a set of speakers and
`typically installed in one place (e.g., a room). In order to play
`an audio source at one location, the audio source must be
`provided locally or from a centralized location. When the
`audio source is provided locally, the multi-zone audio system
`functions as a collection of many stereo systems, making
`source sharing difficult. When the audio source is provided
`centrally, the centralized location may include a juke box,
`many compact discs, an AM or FM radio, tapes, or others. To
`send an audio source to an audio player demanding such
`source, a cross-bar type of device is used to prevent the audio
`source from going to other audio players that may be playing
`other audio sources.
`In order to achieve playing different audio sources in dif(cid:173)
`ferent audio players, the traditional multi-zone audio system
`is generally either hard-wired or controlled by a pre-config(cid:173)
`ured and pre-programmed controller. While the pre-pro(cid:173)
`grammed configuration may be satisfactory in one situation,
`it may not be suitable for another situation. For example, a
`person would like to listen to broadcast news from his/her
`favorite radio station in a bedroom, a bathroom and a den
`while preparing to go to work in the morning. The same
`person may wish to listen in the den and the living room to
`music from a compact disc in the evening. In order to satisfy
`such requirements, two groups of audio players must be
`established. In the morning, the audio players in the bedroom,
`the bathroom and the den need to be grouped for the broadcast
`news. In the evening, the audio players in the den and the
`living room are grouped for the music. Over the weekend, the
`audio players in the den, the living room, and a kitchen are
`grouped for party music. Because the morning group, the
`
`This section is for the purpose of s=arizing some
`aspects of the present invention and to briefly introduce some
`preferred embodiments. Simplifications or omissions in this
`20 section as well as in the abstract or the title of this description
`may be made to avoid obscuring the purpose of this section,
`the abstract and the title. Such simplifications or omissions
`are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
`In general, the present invention pertains to control of
`25 audio characteristics of a plurality of multimedia players, or
`simply players, from a controller. The characteristics include,
`but are not limited to, an audio source and an audio volume
`being played in each of the players. In particular, the present
`invention enables the user to remotely control the audio char-
`30 acteristics of the players either as a group or as an individual
`player. According to one aspect of the present invention, the
`same audio source is selected to be played synchronously in
`a group of players via a controlling device operated by a user.
`The group may be flexibly formed in a dynamic marmer.
`35 Within the group, any one of the audio sources may be chosen
`and made available to each of the players. All audio playback
`control operations such as pause/play, forward/rewind, next/
`previous track are synchronously controlled, while the audio
`volume adjustment may be applied to a selected player or all
`40 of the players in the group.
`According to another aspect of the present invention, a
`configurable module is implemented in the controlling device
`that provides interactive graphic user interface for controlling
`playback of the audio source, grouping a plurality of players
`45 together, de-grouping a group or adjusting audio volume of
`individual players or a group of players.
`According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a
`player in a group of players is configured to synchronously
`play an audio source by selecting a source, making the source
`50 available or retrieving the source if the source is not found
`locally
`The present invention may be implemented in many forms
`including software, hardware or a combination of both.
`According to one embodiment, the present invention is
`55 directed to a method for controlling a plurality of players, the
`method comprising: displaying on a screen a first list showing
`at least available players, selecting at least one of the players
`as a zone group head, displaying on the screen a second list
`showing at least some of the players that are eligible to be
`60 grouped with the zone group head, selecting one or more
`players from the at least some of the players to be a group
`being formed by the group head, and synchronizing all play(cid:173)
`ers in the group.
`According to another embodiment, the present invention is
`65 a method for controlling a plurality of players, the method
`comprising displaying on a screen a list showing a plurality of
`volume meters, at least one of the volume meters representing
`
`Page 16 of 25
`
`

`
`3
`an audio volume of one of the players, and another one of the
`volume meters representing an audio volume of a group of
`players, if there is such group, selecting one of the volume
`meters from the list, and adjusting the one of the volume
`meters as desired.
`According to still another embodiment, the present inven(cid:173)
`tion is an apparatus for controlling a plurality of players, the
`apparatus comprises a screen, a screen driver commanding
`the screen, an input interface, a network interface, a memory
`for storing code for an application module, a processor 10
`coupled to the memory, the input interface, the screen driver
`and the network interface, the processor executing the code in
`the memory to cause the application module and the screen
`driver to perform operations of: displaying on the screen a
`first list showing at least available players; selecting at least 15
`one of the players as a zone group head; displaying on the
`screen a second list showing at least some of the players that
`are eligible to be grouped with the zone group head; selecting
`one or more players from the at least some of the players to be
`a zone group being formed by the zone group head; and 20
`synchronizing all players in the zone group.
`The operations further include displaying on a screen a list
`showing a plurality of volume meters, at least one of the
`volume meters representing an audio volume of one of the
`players, and another one of the volume meters representing an 25
`audio volume of a group of players, if there is such group;
`selecting one of the volume meters from the list; and adjusting
`the one of the volume meters as desired.
`One of the objects, features, and advantages of the present
`invention is to remotely control a plurality of multimedia 30
`players in a multi-zone system, playing and controlling the
`audio source synchronously if the players are grouped
`together, or playing and controlling the audio source indi(cid:173)
`vidually if the players are disassociated with each other.
`Other objects, features, and advantages of the present 35
`invention will become apparent upon examining the follow(cid:173)
`ing detailed description of an embodiment thereof, taken in
`conjunction with the attached drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`50
`
`These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
`present invention will become better understood with regard
`to the following description, appended claims, and accompa(cid:173)
`nying drawings where:
`FIG. 1 shows an exemplary configuration in which the
`present invention may be practiced;
`FIG. 2A shows an exemplary functional block diagram of
`a player in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 2B shows an example of a controller that may be used
`to remotely control one of more players of FIG. 2A;
`FIG. 2C shows an exemplary internal functional block
`diagram of a controller in accordance with one embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a sequence of screen displays in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention for
`controlling a plurality of players;
`FIG. 3C shows a sequence of screen displays in accordance
`with one embodiment of the present invention for alterna- 60
`tively controlling players;
`FIGS. 4A and 4B show a sequence of screen displays in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention for
`controlling players regarding audio volume;
`FIG. 5 shows a flowchart or process of controlling a plu- 65
`rality of zones players according to one embodiment of the
`present invention;
`
`US 7,571,014 B1
`
`4
`FIG. 6 shows a flowchart or process of controlling audio
`volume of a plurality of players in a zone group according to
`one embodiment of the present invention; and
`FIGS. 7 A-7D show a sequence of screen displays in accor(cid:173)
`dance with one embodiment of the present invention on a
`computing device for alternatively controlling players.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`The present invention pertains to techniques for controlling
`a plurality of players, grouping some of the players, manipu(cid:173)
`lating audio characteristics of the players individually or in
`groups. The audio characteristics include, but are not limited
`to, audio volume, audio bass, and audio treble. The players,
`also referred to as zone players, are part of in a multi-zone
`system that may be installed in a complex with multiple
`zones. In general, each zone player is located in one of the
`zones. Each of the zone players in the multi -zone system is
`coupled to a data network to communicate not only with each
`other but with other devices. According to one aspect of the
`present invention, through a controlling device, not only can
`each of the zone players be individually controlled, but also
`two or more of the zone players may be grouped as one or
`more groups and controlled as if they were a single unit. The
`audio playback for the zone players in a zone group can be
`synchronized.
`According to another aspect of the techniques, a zone
`group configuration can be manipulated via a user interface
`provided in a controlling device. The user interface provides
`a mechanism to manage, create, delete or modifY zone
`groups. All audio playback operations, such as pause/play,
`forward/rewind, next/previous track, are synchronized for the
`zone players in a zone group. The zone group configuration
`may be saved in any one of zone players for easy retrieval in
`any of the zones at anytime.
`The detailed description of the present invention is pre(cid:173)
`sented largely in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks,
`40 processing, or other symbolic representations that directly or
`indirectly resemble the operations of devices or systems that
`can be used on networks. These descriptions and representa(cid:173)
`tions are typically used by those skilled in the art to most
`effectively convey the substance of their work to others
`45 skilled in the art.
`Reference herein to "one embodiment" or "an embodi(cid:173)
`ment" means that a particular feature, structure, or character(cid:173)
`istic described in connection with the embodiment can be
`included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The
`appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various
`places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to
`the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodi(cid:173