US 11,817,083 B2
Networked microphone devices, systems, and methods of localized arbitration
John Tolomei, Renton, WA (US); and Klaus Hartung, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to Sonos, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Filed by Sonos, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/145,520.
Application 18/145,520 is a continuation of application No. 17/486,574, filed on Sep. 27, 2021, granted, now 11,538,460.
Application 17/486,574 is a continuation of application No. 16/219,702, filed on Dec. 13, 2018, granted, now 11,132,989, issued on Sep. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0215424 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. G10L 15/22 (2006.01); G10L 15/08 (2006.01); H04R 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC G10L 15/08 (2013.01) [G10L 15/22 (2013.01); H04R 3/005 (2013.01); G10L 2015/088 (2013.01); G10L 2015/223 (2013.01); G10L 2015/226 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the system is configured to:
cause two or more playback devices to form a first arbitration group, wherein each playback device of the first arbitration group has detected first sound and identified a wake word based on the first sound as detected by the respective playback device;
evaluate which playback device of the first arbitration group is to respond to voice input included in the first sound;
based on the evaluation, determine a given playback device of the first arbitration group that is to respond to the voice input included in the first sound;
based on the determination, cause the given playback device to (i) be designated as a default response device of the first arbitration group and (ii) respond to the voice input included in the first sound;
cause the two or more playback devices to leave the first arbitration group;
after causing the two or more playback devices to leave the first arbitration group, cause the two or more playback devices to form a second arbitration group, wherein each playback device in the second arbitration group has detected second sound and identified a wake word based on the second sound as detected by the respective playback device;
evaluate which playback device of the second arbitration group is to respond to voice input included in the second sound; and
based on the evaluation, cause a given playback device of the second arbitration group to be designated as a default response device of the second arbitration group.