Providing a multi-channel and a multi-zone audio environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11516611-B2
Application number	US-202016933861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2020
Priority date	Oct 1, 2012
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A multi-channel and multi-zone audio environment is provided. Various inventions are disclosed that allow playback devices on one or more networks to provide an effective multi-channel and a multi-zone audio environment using timing information. According to one example, timing information is used to coordinate playback devices connected over a low-latency network to provide audio along with a video display. In another example, timing information is used to coordinate playback devices connected over a mesh network to provide audio in one or more zones or zone groups.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A first networked device comprising:
one or more processors; and
tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to:
when the first networked device receives first audio information from a first audio source, wherein the first networked device is directly wired to an interface of a video device, and wherein the first networked device is configured to receive the first audio information via the interface, (i) assign a first timestamp to a first portion of the first audio information, wherein the first timestamp indicates a time that is a first duration of time in the future relative to a current clock time of a clock at the first networked device, and wherein the first timestamp specifies a time at which the first audio information is to be played by a playback device, and (ii) transmit the first timestamp and the first portion of the first audio information to at least one playback device; and
when the first networked device receives first audio information from a second audio source different from the first audio source, (i) assign a second timestamp to a first portion of the first audio information, wherein the second timestamp indicates a time that is a second duration of time in the future relative to a current clock time of the clock at the first networked device, wherein the second duration of time is longer than the first duration of time, and wherein the second timestamp specifies a time at which the first audio information is to be played by a playback device, and (ii) transmit the second timestamp and the first portion of the first audio information to at least one playback device.

2. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the first audio information comprises multichannel audio information.

3. The first networked device of claim 2 , wherein when the first audio information comprises first multichannel audio information:
the instructions that configure the first networked device to (i) assign a first timestamp to a first portion of the first audio information, and (ii) transmit the first timestamp and the first portion of the first audio information to at least one playback device comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to: (i) assign the first timestamp to a first portion of a first channel of the first audio information, and (ii) transmit the first timestamp and the first portion of the first channel of the first audio information to at least one playback device; and
the instructions that configure the first networked device to (i) assign a second timestamp to a first portion of the first audio information, and (ii) transmit the second timestamp and the first portion of the first audio information to at least one playback device comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to: (i) assign the second timestamp to a first portion of a first channel of the first audio information, and (ii) transmit the second timestamp and the first portion of the first channel of the first audio information to at least one playback device.

4. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the first networked device comprises a playback device.

5. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the first audio information comprises audio information corresponding to video information.

6. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the video device comprises a television.

7. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions that configure the first networked device to transmit the first timestamp and the first portion of the first audio information to at least one playback device comprise instructions, that when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to transmit the first timestamp and the first portion of the first audio information to a first type of playback device; and
wherein the instructions that configure the first networked device to transmit the second timestamp and the first portion of the first audio information to at least one playback device comprise instructions, that when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to transmit the second timestamp and the first portion of the first audio information to a second type of playback device.

8. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the first audio source comprises the video device.

9. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to:
determine whether the first networked device is in communication with at least one of a first playback device or a second playback device.

10. The first networked device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions that configure the first networked device to determine whether the first networked device is in communication with at least one of the first playback device or the second playback device further comprise instructions, that when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to determine whether the first playback device or the second playback device corresponds to a particular type of playback device.

11. The first networked device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions, that when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to:
assign the first audio information to a first queue for audio processing, wherein the first queue has a first priority for audio processing; and
when the first networked device receives second audio information, assign the second audio information to a second queue for audio processing, wherein the second queue has a lower priority for audio processing than the first queue.

12. The first networked device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to:
identify second audio information assigned to the second queue.

13. The first networked device of claim 12 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to:
determine whether the at least one playback device is part of a zone group comprising two or more playback devices; and
when the at least one playback device is part of the zone group, send the second audio information to the two or more playback devices in the zone group.

14. The first networked device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the first networked device to:
determine whether the first networked device is part of the zone group.

15. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a first networked device to perform functions comprising:
when the first networked device receives first audio information from a first audio source, wherein the first networked device is directly wired to an interface of a video device, and wherein the first networked device is configured to receive the first audio information via the interface, (i) assigning a first timestamp to a first portion of the first audio information, wherein the first timestamp indicat

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Jarvis Simon
• Lehnert Hilmar
• Ramos Aurelio Rafael
• Vega Luis

Classifications

• H04R2227/005

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

• H04R27/00 Primary

  Public address systems (circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; {monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007}; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title

• H04S3/008

  in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels (data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02) · CPC title

• H04J3/0638

  Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation (synchronization for ring networks H04L12/422; data switching networks with synchronous transmission H04L12/43) · CPC title

• H04B7/24

  for communication between two or more posts (wireless communication networks H04W) · CPC title