Playback Device Operating Modes Based on Power Source

Abstract

Embodiments are described herein that allow a network interface of a playback device to transition between operating modes to, among other things, conserve battery of the playback device. An example implementation involves a playback device that comprises at least one battery and a network interface configured to operate in one of a plurality of transmission modes comprising (i) a full-transmission mode and (ii) a limited-transmission mode. The playback device may detect a transition from receiving power from an external source to receiving power from the at least one battery. In response to detecting the transition, the playback device may determine whether or not the playback device is processing audio data. If the playback device is processing audio data, the playback device causes the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode. If not, the playback device causes the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A playback device comprising:
 at least one battery;   a network interface configured to operate in one of a plurality of transmission modes, wherein the plurality of transmission modes comprises (i) a full-transmission mode and (ii) a limited-transmission mode;   one or more processors; and   tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:   detecting a transition from the playback device receiving power from an external source to the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery;   in response to detecting the transition, determining whether (a) the playback device is processing audio data or (b) the playback device is not processing audio data;   if the determination is that the playback device is processing audio data, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode; and   if the determination is that the playback device is not processing audio data, causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode.   
     
     
         2 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the functions further comprise:
 while the playback device is operating in the limited-transmission mode, detecting a transition from the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery to the playback device receiving power from an external source; and   based on detecting the transition from the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery to the playback device receiving power from the external source, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         3 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the functions further comprise:
 while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery, receiving an instruction to cause the playback device to process audio data; and   in response to the instruction causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         4 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the functions further comprise:
 prior to causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, receiving an instruction to cause the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode when the playback device is not processing audio data.   
     
     
         5 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the transition from the playback device receiving power from the external source to the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery comprises:
 while the playback device is receiving power from the external source, the one or more processors receiving a battery signal indicating that the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery and not an external power source.   
     
     
         6 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the functions further comprise:
 before causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, transmitting, to a network device configured to control the playback device, a message to cause the network device to display, on a display screen, a notification indicating that the network interface of the playback device is about to enter the limited-transmission mode.   
     
     
         7 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the network interface, when operating in the full-transmission mode, is configured to transmit to and receive from one or more other playback devices, audio content to facilitate synchronous playback of the audio content by the playback device and the one or more other playback devices. 
     
     
         8 . A method performed by a playback device the playback device comprising at least one battery and a network interface configured to operate in one of a plurality of transmission modes, wherein the plurality of transmission modes comprises (i) a full-transmission mode and (ii) a limited-transmission mode, the method comprising:
 detecting a transition from the playback device receiving power from an external source to the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery;   in response to detecting the transition, determining whether (a) the playback device is processing audio data or (b) the playback device is not processing audio data;   if the determination is that the playback device is processing audio data, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode; and   if the determination is that the playback device is not processing audio data, causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the method further comprises:
 while the playback device is operating in the limited-transmission mode, detecting a transition from the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery to the playback device receiving power from an external source; and   based on detecting the transition from the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery to the playback device receiving power from the external source, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the method further comprises:
 while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery, receiving an instruction to cause the playback device to process audio data; and   in response to the instruction, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the method further comprises:
 prior to causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, receiving an instruction to cause the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode when the playback device is not processing audio data.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein detecting the transition from the playback device receiving power from the external source to the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery comprises:
 while the playback device is receiving power from the external source, the playback device receiving a battery signal indicating that the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery and not an external power source.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the method further comprises:
 before causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, transmitting, to a network device configured to control the playback device, a message to cause the network device to display, on a display screen, a notification indicating that the network interface of the playback device is about to enter the limited-transmission mode.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the network interface, when operating in the full-transmission mode, is configured to transmit to and receive from one or more other playback devices, audio content to facilitate synchronous playback of the audio content by the playback device and the one or more other playback devices. 
     
     
         15 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, executable by one or more processors of a playback device comprising at least one battery and a network interface configured to operate in one of a plurality of transmission modes, wherein the plurality of transmission modes comprises (i) a full-transmission mode and (ii) a limited-transmission mode, and wherein execution of the instructions by the one or more processors cause the playback device to perform functions comprising:
 detecting a transition from the playback device receiving power from an external source to the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery;   in response to detecting the transition, determining whether (a) the playback device is processing audio data or (b) the playback device is not processing audio data;   if the determination is that the playback device is processing audio data, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode; and   if the determination is that the playback device is not processing audio data, causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode.   
     
     
         16 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the functions further comprise:
 while the playback device is operating in the limited-transmission mode, detecting a transition from the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery to the playback device receiving power from an external source; and   based on detecting the transition from the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery to the playback device receiving power from an external source, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         17 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the functions further comprise:
 while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery, receiving an instruction to cause the playback device to process audio data; and   in response to the instruction, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         18 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the functions further comprise:
 prior to causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, receiving an instruction to cause the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode when the playback device is not processing audio data.   
     
     
         19 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein detecting the transition from the playback device receiving power from the external source to the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery comprises:
 while the playback device is receiving power from the external source, the one or more processors receiving a battery signal indicating that the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery and not an external power source.   
     
     
         20 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the playback device determined that the playback device is not processing audio data, and wherein the functions further comprise:
 before causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, transmitting, to a network device configured to control the playback device, a message to cause the network device to display, on a display screen, a notification indicating that the network interface of the playback device is about to enter the limited-transmission mode.   
     
     
         21 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the network interface, when operating in the full-transmission mode, is configured to transmit to and receive from one or more other playback devices, audio content to facilitate synchronous playback of the audio content by the playback device and the one or more other playback devices.