Method and apparatus for switching between a directly connected and a networked audio source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10445054-B2
Application number	US-201414184522-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2014
Priority date	Jul 28, 2003
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 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 audio playback device, the method comprising:
receiving a first analog signal comprising first audio information from an audio information source connected to the first audio playback device via a cable connecting an audio information source interface of the first audio playback device to the audio information source, wherein the audio information source is external to the first audio playback device;
generating packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information, wherein the first playback timing information comprises a plurality of future playback times at which corresponding portions of the first audio information are to be played;
transmitting the packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information to a second audio playback device, and playing back the first audio information in synchrony with the second audio playback device based on the first playback timing information and first clock timing information of a clock of the first audio playback device;
receiving packets comprising second audio information and second playback timing information via a network interface, wherein the second playback timing information comprises a plurality of future playback times at which corresponding portions of the second audio information are to be played;
receiving one or more playback control commands via the network interface;
in response to receiving the one or more playback control commands, (i) terminating playback of the first audio information, and (ii) playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the first clock timing information; and
while receiving the second audio information and second playback timing information via the network interface and playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information, continuing transmitting packets comprising the first audio information and the first playback timing information from the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device via the network interface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packets comprising the second audio information comprise audio files or packetized streaming audio information.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information comprises generating an individual packet comprising (i) a portion of the first audio information and (b) a future time at which to play the portion of the first audio information.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving second clock timing information;
determining a time differential between the clock at the first audio playback device and the second clock timing information; and
wherein playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information comprises playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the time differential.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the time differential comprises (i) using the time differential to generate updated second playback timing information for the second audio information, and (ii) playing back the second audio information according to the updated second playback timing information.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received second audio information and second playback timing information for the second audio information is contained within packets addressed using a multicast address.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received second audio information and second playback timing information for the second audio information is contained within packets addressed using a unicast address.

8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed cause a first audio playback device to perform functions comprising:
receiving a first analog signal comprising first audio information from an audio information source connected to the first audio playback device via a cable connecting the audio information source and the first audio playback device, wherein the audio information source is external to the first audio playback device;
generating packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information, wherein the first playback timing information comprises a plurality of future playback times at which corresponding portions of the first audio information are to be played;
transmitting packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information to a second audio playback device, and playing back the first audio information in synchrony with the second audio playback device based on the first playback timing information and first clock timing information of a clock of the first audio playback device;
receiving packets comprising second audio information and second playback timing information via a network interface;
receiving one or more commands via the network interface;
after receiving the one or more commands, (i) terminating playback of the first audio information, and (ii) playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the first clock timing information; and
while receiving the second audio information and second playback timing information via the network interface and playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information, continuing to transmit packets comprising the first audio information and the first playback timing information from the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device via the network interface.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 8 , wherein the packets comprising second audio information comprise audio files or packetized streaming audio information.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 8 , wherein generating the packets containing the first audio information and first playback timing information comprises generating an individual packet comprising (i) a portion of the first audio information and (b) a future time at which to play the portion of the first audio information.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 8 , wherein the one or more commands are received from a user interface module.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 8 , wherein the stored instructions further cause the first audio playback device to perform further functions comprising:
storing at least one of the first audio information or the second audio information in an audio information buffer.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 8 , wherein the received second audio information and second playback timing information are contained within one or more packets addressed using either a unicast or a multicast address.

14. A first audio playback device comprising:
an audio information source interface configured to receive a first analog signal comprising first audio information from an audio information source connected to the first audio playback device via a cable connecting the audio information source interface of the first audio playback device to the audio information source, wherein the audio information source is external to the first audio playback device, and wherein the first audio playback device is configured

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Millington Nicholas A J

Classifications

• H04W84/20

  Leader-follower arrangements · CPC title

• H03G3/00

  Gain control in amplifiers or frequency changers · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

  Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use · CPC title

• H04R2227/003

  Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet · CPC title

• H04L65/1069

  Session establishment or de-establishment · CPC title