System Limits Based on Known Triggers

Abstract

In an example implementation, a method may involve, while a first zone and a second zone of a media playback system are playing back respective media, receiving data indicating the occurrence of a first trigger condition. The method may also involve, based on the received data, modifying respective volume limits of the first zone and the second zone, wherein modifying the volume limit causes first volume levels that exceed the second limit to be reduced to respective second volume levels that are at or below the second limit. The method may also involve receiving data indicating the occurrence of a second trigger condition. The method may further involve, based on the received data, modifying the respective volume limits of the first zone and the second zone from the second limit to the first limit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system comprising:
 one or more processors;   a network interface; and   tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control system to perform functions comprising:   detecting occurrence of a trigger condition, wherein the trigger condition relates to an emergency condition detected by a sensor;   after an emergency alarm corresponding to the detected trigger condition has been activated, and while two or more playback devices are configured into a playback group and playing audio content at a volume level at or below a first volume limit for the playback group, cause the playback group to activate a second volume limit, wherein the second volume limit is lower than a volume of the emergency alarm.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein when the volume level at which the playback group is playing the audio content exceeds the second volume limit, causing the playback group to activate the second volume limit additionally causes the playback group to reduce the volume level at which the playback group is playing the audio content to a volume level that is at or below the second volume limit. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first volume limit is configurable, and wherein the second volume limit is configurable. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 after detecting deactivation of the trigger condition relating to the emergency condition detected by the sensor, causing the playback group to return to the volume level at which the playback group was playing the audio content before activation of the second volume limit.   
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the volume level is configurable independently of the first volume limit and the second volume limit. 
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the playback group is configurable to play audio content at a maximum playback volume, wherein the first volume limit corresponds to a first playback volume that is less than the maximum playback volume, and wherein the second volume limit corresponds to a second playback volume that is less than the first playback volume. 
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises one of a smart phone, tablet, or network device configured to control the playback group. 
     
     
         8 . A method performed by a control system, the method comprising:
 detecting occurrence of a trigger condition, wherein the trigger condition relates to an emergency condition detected by a sensor;   after an emergency alarm corresponding to the detected trigger condition has been activated, and while two or more playback devices are configured into a playback group and playing audio content at a volume level at or below a first volume limit for the playback group, causing the playback group to activate a second volume limit, wherein the second volume limit is lower than a volume of the emergency alarm.   
     
     
         9 . The method  claim 8 , wherein when the volume level at which the playback group is playing the audio content exceeds the second volume limit, causing the playback group to activate the second volume limit additionally causes the playback group to reduce the volume level at which the playback group is playing the audio content to a volume level that is at or below the second volume limit. 
     
     
         10 . The method  claim 8 , wherein the first volume limit is configurable, and wherein the second volume limit is configurable. 
     
     
         11 . The method  claim 8 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 after detecting deactivation of the trigger condition relating to the emergency condition detected by the sensor, causing the playback group to return to the volume level at which the playback group was playing the audio content before activation of the second volume limit.   
     
     
         12 . The method  claim 8 , wherein the volume level is configurable independently of the first volume limit and the second volume limit. 
     
     
         13 . The method  claim 8 , wherein the playback group is configurable to play audio content at a maximum playback volume, wherein the first volume limit corresponds to a first playback volume that is less than the maximum playback volume, and wherein the second volume limit corresponds to a second playback volume that is less than the first playback volume. 
     
     
         14 . The method  claim 8 , wherein the control system comprises one of a smart phone, tablet, or network device configured to control the playback group. 
     
     
         15 . Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a control system to perform a method comprising:
 detecting occurrence of a trigger condition, wherein the trigger condition relates to an emergency condition detected by a sensor;   after an emergency alarm corresponding to the detected trigger condition has been activated, and while two or more playback devices are configured into a playback group and playing audio content at a volume level at or below a first volume limit for the playback group, causing the playback group to activate a second volume limit, wherein the second volume limit is lower than a volume of the emergency alarm.   
     
     
         16 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein when the volume level at which the playback group is playing the audio content exceeds the second volume limit, causing the playback group to activate the second volume limit additionally causes the playback group to reduce the volume level at which the playback group is playing the audio content to a volume level that is at or below the second volume limit. 
     
     
         17 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the first volume limit is configurable, and wherein the second volume limit is configurable. 
     
     
         18 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 after detecting deactivation of the trigger condition relating to the emergency condition detected by the sensor, causing the playback group to return to the volume level at which the playback group was playing the audio content before activation of the second volume limit.   
     
     
         19 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the volume level is configurable independently of the first volume limit and the second volume limit, and wherein the playback group is configurable to play audio content at a maximum playback volume, wherein the first volume limit corresponds to a first playback volume that is less than the maximum playback volume, and wherein the second volume limit corresponds to a second playback volume that is less than the first playback volume. 
     
     
         20 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the control system comprises one of a smart phone, tablet, or network device configured to control the playback group.