Playback device synchrony group states

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10216473-B2
Application number	US-201615243186-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2016
Priority date	Jul 28, 2003
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device's clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A method performed by a first playback device, the method comprising:
receive from a network device, via the at least one of a LAN or a WAN, first control information comprising identification of an audio information source, instructions for the first playback device to play first audio information from the audio information source, and an instruction for the first playback device to operate in a first synchrony group state in which the first playback device is designated as a master of a first synchrony group, wherein the master provides the first audio information to each other member of the first synchrony group and coordinates synchronous playback of the first audio information in the first synchrony group, and wherein the first synchrony group comprises a second playback device;
after receiving the first control information, operating in the first synchrony group state during which the first playback device (1) obtains the first audio information from the audio information source, (2) provides the first audio information to the second playback device, (3) at least one of receives or transmits, over at least one of the LAN or the WAN, playback timing information associated with the first audio information, and (4) uses the playback timing information associated with the first audio information to play back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device;
while operating in the first synchrony group state, receiving, via the at least one of the LAN or the WAN, second control information from the network device, the second control information comprising instructions for the first playback device to transition from the first synchrony group state to a second synchrony group state and join a second synchrony group, wherein the second synchrony group comprises a third playback device and the first playback device, and wherein the third playback device is a master of the second synchrony group and not a member of the first synchrony group; and
after receiving the second control information, transitioning from operating in the first synchrony group state to operating in the second synchrony group state, wherein in the second synchrony group state, the first playback device (1) obtains second audio information from the third playback device, (2) at least one of receives or transmits, via the at least one of the LAN and the WAN, playback timing information associated with the second audio information, and (3) uses the playback timing information associated with the second audio information to play back the second audio information in synchrony with the third playback device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
while operating in the first synchrony group state, additionally provide clock timing to the second playback device, and wherein using the playback timing information associated with the first audio information to play back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device using the clock timing and the playback timing information associated with the first audio information to play back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
while operating in the second synchrony group state, additionally receive clock timing from the third playback device, and wherein using the playback timing information associated with the second audio information to play back the first audio information in synchrony with playback of the second audio information by the third playback device comprises using the clock timing and the playback timing information associated with the second audio information to play back the second audio information in synchrony with playback of the second audio information by the third playback device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second control information comprises an instruction to obtain playback timing information associated with the second audio information from the third playback device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second control information identifies the third playback device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
while transitioning from operating in the first synchrony group state to operating in the second synchrony group state, cease (1) obtaining the first audio information form the audio information source, (2) providing the first audio information to the second playback device, (2) receiving or transmitting playback timing associated with the first audio information, and 4) using the playback timing information associated with the first audio information to play back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first playback device receives the first and second control information via the LAN.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, via the at least one of the LAN or the WAN while operating in the second synchrony group state, third control information, the third control information comprising instructions for the first playback device to transition from the second synchrony group state to a third synchrony group state; and
after receiving the third control information, transitioning from operating in the second synchrony group state to operate in a third synchrony group state, wherein while in the third synchrony group state the first playback device is configured to (1) obtain, from a directly connected audio information source, third audio information and (2) play back the third audio information individually.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receive, via the at least one of the LAN or the WAN while operating in the second synchrony group state, third control information, the third control information comprising instructions for the first playback device to transition from the second synchrony group state to a third synchrony group state; and
after receiving the third control information, transition from operating in the second synchrony group state to operate in a third synchrony group state, wherein while in the third synchrony group state the first playback device is configured to (1) obtain, from a directly connected audio information source, third audio information (2) provide, to at least one of the second or the third playback devices, the third audio information and playback timing information associated with the third audio information, and (3) use the playback timing information associated with the third audio information to play back the third audio information in synchrony with at least one of the second or third playback devices.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receive, via the at least one of the LAN or the WAN while operating in the second synchrony group state, third control information, the third control information comprising instructions for the first playback device to transition from the second synchrony group state to a third synchrony group state; and
after receiving the third control information, transition from operating in the second synchrony group state to operate in a third synchrony group state, wherein while in the third synchrony group state the first playback device is configured to (1) obtain, from a directly connected audio information source, third audio information (2) provide, to at least one of the second or third playback devices, playback timing information associated with the third audio information and clock timing, and (3) use the playback timing information associated with the third audio information and the clock timing to play back the third audio information i

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Millington Nicholas A J

Classifications

• H04L65/60

  Network streaming of media packets · CPC title

• H04H20/103

  Transmitter-side switching · CPC title

• H04N5/04

  Synchronising (for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56) · CPC title

• H04L69/28

  Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols · CPC title

• H04N9/7904

  using intermediate digital signal processing · CPC title