# How Sonos Speakers Use Personalized Wake Words to Recognize Different Users

> A system that lets multiple people control a shared speaker by using unique voice-trigger words to link their specific music accounts and preferences.

- **Patent:** US 9965247
- **Original title:** Voice controlled media playback system based on user profile
- **Owner:** Sonos Inc
- **Granted:** 2018
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 15
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, telecommunications, ai_ml

## What it does

This patent describes a way for a smart speaker to distinguish between different people in a home by assigning each person a unique 'wakeup word.' When a user speaks their specific word, the system identifies their linked user profile and music service account. It then executes commands—like playing a playlist or adjusting volume—using that specific person's settings and account history. For example, if you say 'Alexa, play jazz' and your partner says 'Hey Sonos, play rock,' the system knows exactly which music account to pull from based on the unique trigger word used.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover voice recognition based on biometric voice printing or vocal characteristics.
- Does not cover systems that rely on a single, universal wake word for all users.
- Does not cover controlling media devices that are not connected to a remote music service account.

## The clever bit

The system uses the wake word itself as a routing mechanism to switch between different cloud-based music service accounts, effectively turning a single hardware device into a multi-user portal without needing complex login screens.

## Real-world examples

1. Sonos smart speakers with integrated voice control
2. Multi-user smart home audio environments

## Why it matters

This technology addresses the 'shared device' problem in smart homes. By using wake words as a proxy for user identity, it allows households to maintain separate music libraries and preferences on a single piece of hardware, preventing one user's listening habits from polluting another's recommendations.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How Sonos Speakers Use Personalized Wake Words to Recognize Different Users cover?

A system that lets multiple people control a shared speaker by using unique voice-trigger words to link their specific music accounts and preferences.

### Who owns patent US 9965247?

Sonos Inc owns this patent, granted in 2018.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on May 8, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What is patent US 9965247 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 15 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This technology addresses the 'shared device' problem in smart homes. By using wake words as a proxy for user identity, it allows households to maintain separate music libraries and preferences on a single piece of hardware, preventing one user's listening habits from polluting another's recommendations.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover voice recognition based on biometric voice printing or vocal characteristics.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9965247/icloud-drive

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US9965247

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._