Systems, Methods, Apparatus, and Articles of Manufacture to Provide Guest Access

Abstract

An example method includes linking a guest controller to a media playback system including a zone player with a playback queue. The playback queue includes information identifying media items to be played by the zone player. The media playback system provides the guest controller with a second access more limited than a first access granted to a local controller associated with the media playback system. The example method includes receiving, by the media playback system, a message sent from the guest controller, the message including a media service credential and an identification of a media item to be played by the zone player. The example method includes placing, by the media playback system, information identifying the media item from the guest controller in the playback queue. The example method includes retrieving media for the media item, by the media playback system, using the media service credential.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 linking a guest controller to a media playback system, the media playback system comprising a zone player, the zone player containing a playback queue, the playback queue comprising information identifying media items to be played by the zone player, the media playback system providing the guest controller with a second access more limited than a first access granted to a local controller associated with the media playback system;   receiving, by the media playback system, a message sent from the guest controller, the message comprising a media service credential and an identification of a media item to be played by the zone player;   placing, by the media playback system, information identifying the media item from the guest controller in the playback queue; and   retrieving media for the media item, by the media playback system, from a wide area network using the media service credential.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media playback system is operating in a guest pass mode, such that the media playback system is enabled to place the information identifying the media item in the playback queue, the media playback system operating in the guest pass mode for a limited duration. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the media playback system is no longer enabled to use the media service credential received from the guest controller when the media playback system is not operating in the guest pass mode. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media service credential is passed to the zone player and the zone player uses the media service credential to retrieve the media from the wide area network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the linking between the guest controller and the media playback system is enabled by a button press on a device of the media playback system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second access is limited by at least one of duration, zone control, and content control. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 placing, by the media playback system, information identifying a second media item in the playback queue, the playback queue comprising information identifying the media item and the second media item, wherein the media playback system uses a second media service credential to retrieve the second media item.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 placing, by the media playback system, information identifying a third media item in the playback queue, the playback queue comprising information identifying the media item, the second media item, and the third media item, wherein the media playback system retrieves the third media item from a local source in communication with the media playback system via a local area network.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 linking a second guest controller to the media playback system;   receiving, by the media playback system, a message sent from the second controller, the message comprising a second media service credential and an identification of a second media item to be played by the zone player;   placing, by the media playback system, information identifying the second media item from the second guest controller in the playback queue along with information identifying the media item; and   retrieving the second media, by the media playback system, from a wide area network using the second media service credential.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the media playback system, information over a local network to the guest controller and any other controller currently associated with the media playback system for display of information pertaining to the media items in the playback queue. 
     
     
         11 . A tangible computer readable storage medium including instructions which, when executed by a processor, are to implement at least a method, the method comprising:
 linking a guest controller to a media playback system, the media playback system comprising a zone player, the zone player containing a playback queue, the playback queue comprising information identifying media items to be played by the zone player, the media playback system providing the guest controller with a second access more limited than a first access granted to a local controller associated with the media playback system;   receiving, by the media playback system, a message sent from the guest controller, the message comprising a media service credential and an identification of a media item to be played by the zone player;   placing, by the media playback system, information identifying the media item from the guest controller in the playback queue; and   retrieving media for the media item, by the media playback system, from a wide area network using the media service credential.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the media playback system is operating in a guest pass mode, such that the media playback system is enabled to place the information identifying the media item in the playback queue, the media playback system operating in the guest pass mode for a limited duration. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the media playback system is no longer enabled to use the media service credential received from the guest controller when the media playback system is not operating in the guest pass mode. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the media service credential is passed to the zone player and the zone player uses the media service credential to retrieve the media from the wide area network. 
     
     
         15 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the linking between the guest controller and the media playback system is enabled by a button press on a device of the media playback system. 
     
     
         16 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the second access is limited by at least one of duration, zone control, and content control. 
     
     
         17 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 placing, by the media playback system, information identifying a second media item in the playback queue, the playback queue comprising information identifying the media item and the second media item, wherein the media playback system uses a second media service credential to retrieve the second media item.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
 placing, by the media playback system, information identifying a third media item in the playback queue, the playback queue comprising information identifying the media item, the second media item, and the third media item, wherein the media playback system retrieves the third media item from a local source in communication with the media playback system via a local area network.   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 linking a second guest controller to the media playback system;   receiving, by the media playback system, a message sent from the second controller, the message comprising a second media service credential and an identification of a second media item to be played by the zone player;   placing, by the media playback system, information identifying the second media item from the second guest controller in the playback queue along with information identifying the media item; and   retrieving the second media, by the media playback system, from a wide area network using the second media service credential.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises sending, by the media playback system, information over a local network to the guest controller and any other controller currently associated with the media playback system for display of information pertaining to the media items in the playback queue.