Inventor
Nicholas A. J. Millington
Inventor
Santa Barbara, CA, US
Overview
Patents· 148 as inventor
Public. Assignee & technology derived from the patent record. Each patent links to its LexDana page.
G06Fprimary
G06FElectric digital data processing13%
H04LTransmission of digital information, e.g. telegraphic communication13%
H04WWireless communication networks11%
H04NPictorial communication, e.g. television10%
H04RLoudspeakers, microphones, gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers10%
G11BInformation storage based on relative movement between record carrier and transducer9%
H03GControl of amplification8%
G05BControl or regulating systems in general8%
H04HBroadcast communication7%
H04JMultiplex communication7%
PatentTitleYear
11,132,170Adjusting volume levels202111,122,379Low-latency audio networking202111,106,424Synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices202111,106,425Synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices202111,080,001Concurrent transmission and playback of audio information202111,025,509Playback device connection202111,005,940Network topology based on a useful wired connection202110,983,750Guest access to a media playback system202110,979,310Playback device connection202110,970,034Audio distributor selection202110,971,139Voice control of a media playback system202110,965,545Playback device connection202110,963,215Media playback device and system202110,956,119Playback device202110,949,163Playback device202110,911,325Playback device connection202110,911,322Playback device connection202110,908,872Playback device202110,908,871Playback device202110,892,988Methods and apparatus for direct routing between nodes of networks202110,862,981Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide automatic wireless configuration202010,853,023Networked playback device202010,847,143Voice control of a media playback system202010,848,532Audio playback network joining202010,764,679Voice control of a media playback system202010,754,613Audio master selection202010,754,612Playback device volume control202010,747,496Playback device202010,635,390Audio master selection202010,613,817Method and apparatus for displaying a list of tracks scheduled for playback by a synchrony group202010,613,824Playback device202010,613,822Playback device202010,606,552Playback device volume control202010,545,723Playback device202010,541,883Playback device connection202010,516,711Routing data over wireless communication links201910,499,146Voice control of a media playback system201910,445,054Method and apparatus for switching between a directly connected and a networked audio source201910,439,896Playback device connection201910,425,753Low-latency audio networking201910,425,329Methods and apparatus for direct routing between nodes of networks201910,387,102Playback device grouping201910,365,884Group volume control201910,359,987Adjusting volume levels201910,334,005Audio playback network joining201910,324,684Playback device synchrony group states201910,303,432Playback device201910,303,431Synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices201910,296,283Directing synchronous playback between zone players201910,289,380Playback device201910,282,164Synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices201910,275,135Method and apparatus for displaying single and container items in a play queue201910,268,352Method and apparatus for managing a playlist by metadata201910,228,902Playback device201910,216,473Playback device synchrony group states201910,209,953Playback device201910,185,541Playback device201910,185,540Playback device201910,175,930Method and apparatus for playback by a synchrony group201910,175,932Obtaining content from direct source and remote source201910,157,033Method and apparatus for switching between a directly connected and a networked audio source201810,157,034Clock rate adjustment in a multi-zone system201810,157,035Switching between a directly connected and a networked audio source201810,146,498Disengaging and engaging zone players201810,140,085Playback device operating states201810,133,536Method and apparatus for adjusting volume in a synchrony group201810,120,638Synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices201810,117,034Leaving group based on message from audio source201810,108,393Leaving group and smart line-in processing201810,097,423Establishing a secure wireless network with minimum human intervention201810,051,023Routing data over wireless communication links201810,031,715Method and apparatus for dynamic master device switching in a synchrony group20189,977,561Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide guest access20189,960,969Playback device connection20189,948,551Root network device selection20189,947,316Voice control of a media playback system20189,882,995'Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide automatic wireless configuration'20189,877,124Low-latency audio networking20189,866,447'Indicator on a network device'20189,787,550'Establishing a secure wireless network with a minimum human intervention'20179,778,897'Ceasing playback among a plurality of playback devices'20179,778,900'Causing a device to join a synchrony group'20179,778,898'Resynchronization of playback devices'20179,778,896'Wireless music playback'20179,740,453'Obtaining content from multiple remote sources for playback'20179,733,892'Obtaining content based on control by multiple controllers'20179,734,242'Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices that independently source digital data'20179,733,893'Obtaining and transmitting audio'20179,733,891'Obtaining content from local and remote sources for playback'20179,729,640'Switching connection between network devices'20179,727,304'Obtaining content from direct source and other source'20179,727,303'Resuming synchronous playback of content'20179,727,302'Obtaining content from remote source for playback'20179,690,466'Method and apparatus for displaying single and internet radio items in a play queue'20179,686,606'Smart-line in processing'20179,681,232'Control of multiple playback devices'20179,681,223'Smart line-in processing in a group'20179,674,246'Data routing optimization'20179,665,343'Obtaining content based on control by multiple controllers'20179,658,820'Resuming synchronous playback of content'20179,569,172'Resuming synchronous playback of content'20179,569,171'Obtaining content from local and remote sources for playback'20179,569,170'Obtaining content from multiple remote sources for playback'20179,563,394'Obtaining content from remote source for playback'20179,529,906'Low-latency audio networking'20169,521,074'Methods and apparatus for direct routing between nodes of networks'20169,456,037'Identifying a useful wired connection'20169,354,656'Method and apparatus for dynamic channelization device switching in a synchrony group'20169,348,354'Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices without a voltage controlled crystal oscillator'20169,306,764'Dynamic spanning tree root selection'20169,247,492'Systems and methods for multi-network audio control'20169,218,017'Systems and methods for controlling media players in a synchrony group'20159,213,356'Method and apparatus for synchrony group control via one or more independent controllers'20159,213,357'Obtaining content from remote source for playback'20159,207,905'Method and apparatus for providing synchrony group status information'20159,195,258'System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices'20159,189,011'Method and apparatus for providing audio and playback timing information to a plurality of networked audio devices'20159,191,699'Systems and methods for connecting an audio controller to a hidden audio network'20159,189,010'Method and apparatus to receive, play, and provide audio content in a multi-zone system'20159,182,777'System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices'20159,176,520'Obtaining and transmitting audio'20159,176,519'Method and apparatus for causing a device to join a synchrony group'20159,179,197'Methods and apparatus for multicast optimization'20159,170,600'Method and apparatus for providing synchrony group status information'20159,164,531'System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices'20159,164,533'Method and apparatus for obtaining audio content and providing the audio content to a plurality of audio devices in a multi-zone system'20159,164,532'Method and apparatus for displaying zones in a multi-zone system'20159,158,327'Method and apparatus for skipping tracks in a multi-zone system'20159,141,645'User interfaces for controlling and manipulating groupings in a multi-zone media system'20159,130,771'Establishing a secure wireless network with minimum human intervention'20159,130,770'Establishing a secure wireless network with a minimum human intervention'20159,094,706'Systems and methods for wireless music playback'20159,031,255'Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide low-latency audio'20158,971,546'Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to control audio playback devices'20158,938,637'Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices without a voltage controlled crystal oscillator'20158,938,312'Smart line-in processing'20158,868,698'Establishing a secure wireless network with minimum human intervention'20148,775,546'Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices that independently source digital data'20148,689,036'Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices without a voltage controlled crystal oscillator'20148,588,949'Method and apparatus for adjusting volume levels in a multi-zone system'20138,423,659'Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices that independently source digital data'20138,370,678'Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices without a voltage controlled crystal oscillator'20138,326,951'Establishing a secure wireless network with minimum human intervention'20128,234,395'System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices'20128,086,752'Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices that independently source digital data'20118,020,023'Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices without a voltage controlled crystal oscillator'20117,668,964'System and method for synchronizing channel handoff as among a plurality of devices'20107,571,014'Method and apparatus for controlling multimedia players in a multi-zone system'2009Career & activity timeline
Assembled from patent assignee/location history and declaration credentials.
2009–2021Patents assigned to SONOS INC (135)· patent assignee history
2009–2021Based in Santa Barbara, CA, US· patent location history
2011–2019Patents assigned to MILLINGTON NICHOLAS A J (19)· patent assignee history
2015–2016Patents assigned to BECKHARDT STEVEN (3)· patent assignee history
2015–2016Patents assigned to GOSSAIN HRISHIKESH (3)· patent assignee history
2015–2016Patents assigned to PETERS JEFFREY M (3)· patent assignee history
Inventor activity
Assignee and location history derived from the patent record.
Assignees
| Assignee | Patents | Span |
|---|---|---|
| SONOS INC | 135 | 2009–2021 |
| MILLINGTON NICHOLAS A Jself | 19 | 2011–2019 |
| BECKHARDT STEVEN | 3 | 2015–2016 |
| GOSSAIN HRISHIKESH | 3 | 2015–2016 |
| PETERS JEFFREY M | 3 | 2015–2016 |
Locations
| Location | Patents | Span |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara, California, US | 148 | 2009–2021 |