Prior art — US Patent 7571014

Prior Art Analysis for US Patent 7,571,014

As of May 13, 2026, the following analysis details the prior art cited during the prosecution of US Patent 7,571,014. The priority date for this patent is April 1, 2004. Each reference below predates this priority date and was considered by the USPTO examiner.

U.S. Patent Documents

1. US Patent 6,985,771 B2: "Method and apparatus for providing media services to a wireless network of media player devices"

Full Citation: Moore, et al., US Patent 6,985,771 B2.
Filing Date: June 19, 2002.
Description: This patent describes a system of wireless media players that communicate with a media server. The server can stream media to one or more players. It explicitly mentions grouping players, where a user can select a player to be a "group master." Other players can then be designated as "slaves," which synchronize their playback to the master. The system uses a remote control device to manage the players and groups.
Potential Anticipation: This reference appears highly relevant. It discloses the concept of grouping players, designating a master ("zone group head"), and synchronizing playback among players in the group. This could potentially anticipate the core grouping and synchronization elements of Claims 1 and 25. The use of a remote control to manage these functions also aligns with the apparatus claims.

2. US Patent 6,778,869 B2: "Method and system for providing a unified media experience"

Full Citation: Van De Meulenhof, et al., US Patent 6,778,869 B2.
Filing Date: October 30, 2001.
Description: This patent details a system for distributing media content throughout a home network. It describes a user interface that allows for the selection of different zones (e.g., rooms) and the media to be played in them. It discusses linking zones so that they play the same content synchronously.
Potential Anticipation: This reference teaches the concept of creating zones and linking them for synchronized playback, which is a core feature of the '014 patent. It could be seen as anticipating elements of Claims 1 and 25 concerning the formation of groups and synchronization.

3. US Patent Application Publication US 2002/0124097 A1: "Controlling and synchronizing multi-zone audio/video system"

Full Citation: Isely, et al., US Patent Application 2002/0124097 A1.
Publication Date: September 5, 2002.
Description: This application describes a system for distributing and synchronizing audio and video across multiple zones. It discloses a controller with a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays different zones. Users can select zones to form a group and have them play content from a single source in a synchronized manner. The system also allows for volume control of individual zones or an entire group of zones simultaneously.
Potential Anticipation: This reference is particularly strong prior art. It discloses the display of zones, selection for grouping, synchronization, and crucially, group volume control. This could potentially anticipate elements of all independent claims:
- Claims 1 & 25: For the method and apparatus of grouping and synchronization.
- Claims 16 & 38: For the method and apparatus of displaying and adjusting volume for both individual players (zones) and groups of players.

4. US Patent 6,256,554 B1: "Networked audio system"

Full Citation: DiFazio, et al., US Patent 6,256,554 B1.
Filing Date: December 29, 1997.
Description: This patent describes a system of networked audio players that can access and play music from various sources. It discloses the concept of "linking" players together to form a group that plays the same audio stream synchronously. A central controller or a user interface on a PC can be used to manage these links.
Potential Anticipation: As an earlier reference, this patent establishes the foundational concept of linking networked players for synchronous playback. This could be argued to anticipate the broader grouping and synchronization aspects of Claims 1 and 25.

5. US Patent Application Publication US 2003/0157951 A1: "Method and apparatus for multi-zone media content delivery"

Full Citation: Hlas, et al., US Patent Application 2003/0157951 A1.
Publication Date: August 21, 2003.
Description: This application discloses a system for distributing media to different zones within a network. It describes a user interface for selecting zones and grouping them to play the same media content. It also mentions master volume control for a group of zones.
Potential Anticipation: Similar to the '097 application, this reference teaches grouping, synchronization, and group volume control. This makes it relevant prior art that could potentially anticipate elements of all independent claims (Claims 1, 16, 25, and 38).

Foreign Patent Documents

6. European Patent Application EP 1389853 A1: "Home entertainment system"

Full Citation: Reime, B., EP 1389853 A1.
Publication Date: February 25, 2004.
Description: This document describes a home entertainment system where multiple playback devices in different rooms can be linked together. A central controller or a remote control with a display can be used to manage the system, including forming groups of devices for synchronized playback and adjusting the volume for the entire group.
Potential Anticipation: This reference teaches the core elements of the '014 patent, including displaying devices, grouping them, synchronizing playback, and applying group volume control. It could potentially anticipate aspects of Claims 1, 16, 25, and 38.

Summary of Prior Art Impact

The prior art cited by the USPTO examiner, particularly US 2002/0124097 A1 and US 6,985,771 B2, discloses many of the key elements claimed in US 7,571,014. The concepts of displaying a list of players/zones, selecting a master or leader, grouping them for synchronized playback, and implementing group volume control were known in the art before the '014 patent's priority date.

The patentability of the '014 patent likely hinged on specific implementation details not fully captured or combined in a single prior art reference. These might include the precise workflow of selecting a "zone group head" and then being presented with an "eligible" list of players, or the specific claim language around the group volume meter representing an "averaged value" of individual volumes and "maintaining relative volume loudness difference" (Claim 38). The novelty of the invention, in the examiner's view, may have resided in this particular combination and implementation of features within a single, cohesive user interface and system architecture.