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 cause the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode and while the network interface is operating in the limited-transmission mode, detect a transition from the playback device receiving power from the at least one battery to the playback device receiving power from an external source. In response to detecting the transition, the playback device may cause the network interface to operate in the full-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:   causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode;   while the network interface 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   in response to detecting the transition, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         2 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 prior to causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, determining that the playback device is processing audio data while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery; and   based on the determination that the playback device is processing audio data while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         3 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 prior to causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, determining that the playback device is not processing audio data while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery.   
     
     
         4 . The playback device of  claim 1 , 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 (i) receiving power from the at least one battery and (ii) not processing audio data; and   determining that the playback device is (i) receiving power from the at least one battery and (ii) not processing audio data.   
     
     
         5 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein 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 comprises:
 while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery, the one or more processors receiving a power signal indicating that the playback device is receiving power from an external power source and not the at least one battery.   
     
     
         6 . The playback device of  claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 in response to detecting the transition, 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 full-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 one or more processors, 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 the method comprises:
 causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode;   while the network interface 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   in response to detecting the transition, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 prior to causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, determining that the playback device is processing audio data while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery; and   based on the determination that the playback device is processing audio data while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 prior to causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, determining that the playback device is not processing audio data while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 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 (i) receiving power from the at least one battery and (ii) not processing audio data; and   determining that the playback device is (i) receiving power from the at least one battery and (ii) not processing audio data.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein 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 comprises:
 while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery, the one or more processors receiving a power signal indicating that the playback device is receiving power from an external power source and not the at least one battery.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 in response to detecting the transition, 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 full-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:
 causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode;   while the network interface 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   in response to detecting the transition, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         16 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 prior to causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, determining that the playback device is processing audio data while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery; and   based on the determination that the playback device is processing audio data while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery, causing the network interface to operate in the full-transmission mode.   
     
     
         17 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 prior to causing the network interface to operate in the limited-transmission mode, determining that the playback device is not processing audio data while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery.   
     
     
         18 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , 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 (i) receiving power from the at least one battery and (ii) not processing audio data; and   determining that the playback device is (i) receiving power from the at least one battery and (ii) 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 at least one battery to the playback device receiving power from an external source comprises:
 while the playback device is receiving power from the at least one battery, the one or more processors receiving a power signal indicating that the playback device is receiving power from an external power source and not the at least one battery.   
     
     
         20 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 in response to detecting the transition, 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 full-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.