Apple patents system to save and restore room settings in multimedia setups
Apple has been granted a patent for a system that saves the settings of multiple devices, such as lights and speakers, into a single "scene." When a user activates a saved scene, the system checks if all required devices are available and adjusts them accordingly, while also managing which media content plays.
In the filing’s own words
Recommending and activating scenes in a multimedia system are provided. The techniques of the present disclosure can allow the states of the components in the multimedia system to be captured in a scene. Once the scene has been saved, the scene can be activated at a later time. A controller device for recommending scenes by comparing the current state with states of components in saved scenes is also provided. The controller device can also determine if media is playing in a current scene, and activate a selected scene without playing the media content. Once the selected scene is activated, the media playing in the current scene can be switched, and the media playing in the selected scene can be played.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method, comprising: at a first device that is in communication with one or more input devices and one or more displays: detecting, via the one or more input devices, an input corresponding to a scene control; in response to detecting the input corresponding to the scene control, initiating a scene corresponding to the scene control, wherein initiating the scene includes (1) sending a request to change a state of a second device and (2) sending a request to change a state of a third device different from the second device; and after initiating the scene corresponding to the scene control: in accordance with a determination that the second device is not available, displaying, via the one or more displays, an indication that the second device is not available; and in accordance with a determination that the second device is available, forgoing display of, via the one or more displays, the indication that the second device is not available.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system
- Patent number
- US12732655B2
- Application number
- 19023793
- Filed
- Jan 16, 2025
- Granted
- Sep 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04N 21/42204 Electricity & electronicsG08C 17/00 Physics & computingH04N 5/60 Electricity & electronicsH04N 7/035 Electricity & electronicsH04N 7/08 Electricity & electronicsH04N 21/25808 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.