Transitioning A Networked Playback Device Between Operating Modes

Abstract

Embodiments are described herein that allow a playback device to transition between operating modes to, among other things, conserve power. In one aspect, a method is provided. The method involves determining that a playback device is operating in one of a powered mode and a battery mode. The powered mode comprises the playback device receiving power from an external source. The battery mode comprises the playback device receiving power from at least one battery. The method further involves causing the playback device to serve as a network bridge when the playback device is in the powered mode. The method further involves causing the playback device to serve as a client device and not serve as a network bridge when the playback device is in the battery mode.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A playback device comprising:
 at least one battery;   a network interface;   a non-transitory computer readable medium; and   program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by at least one processor to cause the playback device to:
 determine that the playback device is operating in one of a powered mode and a battery mode, wherein the powered mode comprises the playback device receiving power from an external source, and wherein the battery mode comprises the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery; 
 serve as a network bridge when operating in the powered mode; and 
 (a) serve as a client device and (b) not serve as a network bridge when operating in the battery mode. 
   
     
     
         2 . The playback device of  claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the at least one processor to cause the playback device to:
 while operating in the battery mode, receive a message from at least one additional playback device; and   responsive to receiving the message, cause the playback device to serve as a network bridge.   
     
     
         3 . The playback device of  claim 2 , wherein the message is a first message, the playback device further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the at least one processor to cause the playback device to:
 after receiving the first message and while serving as a network bridge, receive a second message from the at least one additional playback device; and   responsive to receiving the second message, cause the playback device to serve as a client device.   
     
     
         4 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein operating in the powered mode further comprises causing the playback device to serve as an access point for at least one controller device. 
     
     
         5 . The playback device of  claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the at least one processor to cause the playback device to:
 detect a power level of the at least one battery; and   when the power level is below a predefined threshold, transmit to at least one controller device, a power-level message.   
     
     
         6 . The playback device of  claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the at least one processor to cause the playback device to:
 detect a power level of the at least one battery; and   when the power level is below a predefined threshold, transmit to at least one additional playback device a power-level message.   
     
     
         7 . The playback device of  claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by the at least one processor to cause the playback device to, while serving as the network bridge, (a) receive at least one command to output media and (b) in response to receiving the at least one command, output the media. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by at least one processor, the instructions comprising:
 instructions for determining that a playback device is operating in one of a powered mode and a battery mode, wherein the powered mode comprises the playback device receiving power from an external source, and wherein the battery mode comprises the playback device receiving power from at least one battery;   instructions for causing the playback device to serve as a network bridge when the playback device is operating in the powered mode, and   instructions for causing the playback device to (a) serve as a client device and (b) not serve as a network bridge when the playback device is operating in the battery mode.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , the instructions further comprising:
 instructions for receiving a message, while operating in the battery mode, from at least one additional playback device; and   instructions for causing, in response to the message, the playback device to serve as a network bridge.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the message is a first message, the instructions further comprising:
 instructions for receiving a second message, after receiving the first message and while operating as the network bridge, from the at least one additional playback device; and   instructions for causing, in response to receiving the second message, the playback device to serve as a client device.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein operating in the powered mode further comprises causing the playback device to serve as an access point for at least one controller device. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , the instructions further comprising:
 instructions for detecting a power level of the at least one battery; and   instructions for transmitting, to one of at least one controller device and at least one additional playback device, a power-level message when the power level is below a predefined threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 8 , the instructions further comprising:
 instructions for causing, while serving as the network bridge, the playback device to (a) receive at least one command to output media and (b) in response to receiving the at least one command, output the media.   
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 determining, by a playback device, that the playback device is operating in one of a powered mode and a battery mode, wherein the powered mode comprises the playback device receiving power from an external source, and wherein the battery mode comprises the playback device receiving power from at least one battery;   causing the playback device to serve as a network bridge when the playback device is in the powered mode; and   causing the playback device to (a) serve as a client device and (b) not serve as a network bridge when the playback device is in the battery mode.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the playback device while operating in the battery mode, a message from at least one additional playback device; and   responsive to receiving the message, causing, by the playback device, the playback device to serve as a network bridge.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the message is a first message, the method further comprising:
 receiving, by the playback device after receiving the first message and while serving as the network bridge, a second message from the at least one additional playback device; and   responsive to receiving the second message, causing, by the playback device, the playback device to serve as a client device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein operating in the powered mode further comprises causing the playback device to serve as an access point for at least one controller device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 detecting a power level of the at least one battery; and   transmitting, by the playback device to at least one controller device, a power-level message when the power level is below a predefined threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 detecting a power level of the at least one battery; and   transmitting, to at least one additional playback device, a power-level message when the power level is below a predefined threshold.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 causing, while serving as the network bridge, the playback device to (a) receive at least one command to output media and (b) in response to receiving the at least one command, output the media.