18475035. Techniques for Intelligent Home Theater Configuration simplified abstract (Sonos, Inc.)

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Techniques for Intelligent Home Theater Configuration

Organization Name

Sonos, Inc.

Inventor(s)

Paul Peace of Boston MA (US)

Richard Jackson of Boston MA (US)

Techniques for Intelligent Home Theater Configuration - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18475035 titled 'Techniques for Intelligent Home Theater Configuration

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a patent application for a computing device that allows users to configure an audio subsystem within a local media playback system. The device displays configuration options based on available playback devices, receives user inputs to select playback devices, and synchronizes playback of audio content based on their roles.

  • The computing device displays an interface for configuring the audio subsystem of a local media playback system.
  • Users can select a configuration with a specific number of playback devices, each with a designated role.
  • The device determines available playback devices for selection.
  • Visual representations of each playback device are displayed for user selection.
  • Users choose playback devices for each role, configuring the audio subsystem accordingly.
  • The playback devices play audio content in sync based on their roles.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in home entertainment systems, professional audio setups, and multimedia production environments.

Problems Solved

This innovation simplifies the configuration of audio playback systems, ensuring synchronized playback across multiple devices with different roles.

Benefits

Users can easily customize their audio setups for optimal performance and seamless playback of audio content.

Potential Commercial Applications

This technology could be valuable for companies producing audio equipment, software developers creating media playback applications, and businesses in the entertainment industry.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be systems that allow users to configure audio playback settings, but the specific feature of synchronizing playback based on device roles may be unique to this patent application.

Unanswered Questions

How does this technology impact user experience in comparison to manual audio configuration methods?

This technology streamlines the process of setting up audio playback systems, making it more user-friendly and efficient. Users can easily select playback devices and roles, ensuring synchronized playback without the need for complex manual configurations.

What potential challenges or limitations could arise when implementing this technology in different types of media playback systems?

Some challenges may include compatibility issues with certain playback devices, limitations in the number of devices that can be synchronized, and potential latency issues when coordinating playback across multiple devices. Addressing these challenges would be crucial for the successful implementation of this technology in various audio setups.


Original Abstract Submitted

An example computing device is configured to: display an interface that enables configuration of an audio subsystem within a local media playback system and includes one or more configuration options for the audio subsystem based on available playback devices of the local media playback system; receive a first input indicating a selection of a given configuration that comprises a given number of component playback devices each having a respective playback role; determine a set of playback devices that are available for selection as the component playback devices; display a respective visual representation for each component playback device; receive a respective input selecting a given playback device for each component playback device; configure the audio subsystem in accordance with the given configuration based on the selected playback devices; and cause the playback devices in the audio subsystem to play back audio content in synchrony based on their respective playback roles.