Systems and methods for syncronizing multiple electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10743271-B2
Application number	US-201816029213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2018
Priority date	Apr 29, 2013
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for syncing multiple electronic devices for collective audio playback. According to certain aspects, a master device connects (218) to a slave device via a wireless connection. The master device calculates (224) a network latency via a series of network latency pings with the slave device and sends (225) the network latency to the slave device. Further, the master devices sends (232) a portion of an audio file as well as a timing instruction including a system time to the slave device. The master device initiates (234) playback of the portion of the audio file and the slave devices initiates (236) playback of the portion of the audio file according to the timing instruction and a calculated system clock offset value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, via a data network by a first audio playback device operating in a slave role from a second audio playback device, a first timing signal and first timing information associated with audio data to be played by the first audio playback device as part of an audio playback group including the second audio playback device operating in a master role and a third audio playback device;
playing, by the first audio playback device, the audio data at a time based on the first timing signal, the first timing information, and a clock of the first audio playback device;
detecting, by the first audio playback device, a selection, made via a user interface, of additional audio data (i) displayed in the user interface and (ii) different from the audio data;
in response to detecting the selection of the additional audio data displayed in the user interface, sending, to the second audio playback device, a request to switch to the master role;
after sending the request to switch to the master role:
receiving, via the data network by the first audio playback device, a data packet comprising a notification to switch roles to the master role, and
changing, by the first audio playback device, to the master role based on the notification to switch roles to the master role; and

after the changing to the master role, transmitting, via the data network by the first audio playback device to the third audio playback device, a second timing signal and second timing information associated with the additional audio data, wherein the third audio playback device (i) receives the additional audio data that was detected as selected by the first audio playback device, and (ii) plays the additional audio data as part of the audio playback group.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after the changing to the master role, transmitting, by the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device, the second timing signal.

3. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the first audio playback device does not transmit a timing signal to the third audio playback device before the first audio playback device changes to the master role.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after the changing to the master role, transmitting, by the first audio playback device to the third audio playback device, a second time corresponding to the additional audio data to be played by the third audio playback device as part of the audio playback group.

5. The method of claim 4 ,
wherein the first audio playback device does not transmit a time corresponding to the additional audio data to the third audio playback device before the first audio playback device changes to the master role.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after the changing to the master role:
transmitting, by the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device, the second timing signal, and a second time corresponding to the additional audio data to be played by the second audio playback device as part of the audio playback group.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
upon receipt of the notification, calculating, using at least one network latency ping with the second audio playback device, a network latency value and a system clock offset value.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
before the changing to the master role:
receiving, by the third audio playback device from the second audio playback device, a second time and a third timing signal,
determining, by the third audio playback device based on the third timing signal, a difference between a clock of the third audio playback device and a clock of the second audio playback device,
determining, by the third audio playback device, a third time based on (i) the second time and (ii) the difference between the clock of the third audio playback device and the clock of the second audio playback device, and
playing, by the third audio playback device, the audio data at the third time according to the clock of the third audio playback device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
after the changing to the master role:
receiving, by the third audio playback device from the first audio playback device, a fourth time and a fourth timing signal,
determining, by the third audio playback device based on the fourth timing signal, a difference between the clock of the third audio playback device and the clock of the first audio playback device,
determining by the third audio playback device, a fifth time based on (i) the fourth time and (ii) the difference between the clock of the third audio playback device and the clock of the first audio playback device, and
playing, by the third audio playback device, the additional audio data at the fifth time according to the clock of the third audio playback device.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
changing, by the second audio playback device, to a slave role.

11. A first audio playback device comprising:
a communication component for connecting the first audio playback device to a second audio playback device via a data network;
an audio output component; and
a controller module interfaced with the communication component and the audio output component, and configured to:
while the first audio playback device is operating in a slave role:
receive, from the second audio playback device via the communication component, a first timing signal and first timing information associated with audio data to be played by the first audio playback device as part of an audio playback group including the second audio playback device operating in a master role and a third audio playback device,
cause the audio output component to output the audio data at a time based on the first timing signal, the first timing information, and a clock of the first audio playback device,
detect a selection, made via a user interface, of additional audio data (i) displayed in the user interface and (ii) different from the audio data,
in response to detecting the selection of the additional audio data displayed in the user interface, transmit, to the second audio playback device via the communication component, a request to switch to the master role,
after sending the request to switch to the master role:
receive, via the communication component, a data packet comprising a notification to switch roles to the master role, and
change to the master role based on the notification to switch

roles to the master role, and
after the change to the master role, transmit, to the third audio playback device via the communication component, a second timing signal and second timing information associated with the additional audio data, wherein the third audio playback device (i) receives the additional audio data that was detected as selected by the first audio playback device, and (ii) plays the additional audio data as part of the audio playback group.

12. The first audio playback device of claim 11 , further comprising:
the user interface;
wherein the controller module sends the request to switch to the master role while the first audio playback device is operating in the slave role.

13. The first audio playback device of claim 12 , wherein the controller module receives, via the communication component from the second audio playback device, the notification to switch roles to the master role.

14. The first audio playback device of claim 11 , wherein the controller module is further configured to:
upon receipt of the notification, calculate, using at least one network latency ping with th

Assignees

• Google Technology Holdings LLC

Inventors

• Daley Michael J
• Bolinger Travis
• O'Neal Heath

Classifications

• H04N21/242

  Synchronisation processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Programme Clock References] {(arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18)} · CPC title

• H04N21/43

  Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware {(real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00)} · CPC title

• H04H20/61

  for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast · CPC title

• H04H20/08

  among terminal devices · CPC title

• H04H20/63

  to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television] · CPC title