Selection of master device for synchronized audio

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11758328-B2
Application number	US-202217751061-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2022
Priority date	Feb 15, 2017
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

Synchronized output of audio on a group of devices can comprise sending audio data from an audio distribution master device to one or more slave devices in the group. Scores can be assigned to respective audio playback devices, the scores being indicative of a performance level of the respective audio playback devices acting as a master device. The device with the highest score is designated as a candidate master device and one or more remaining devices are designated as a candidate slave(s). A throughput test is conducted with the highest scoring device acting as the candidate master device. The results of the throughput test are used to determine a master device for a group of devices. Latency of the throughput test can be reduced by using a prescribed time period for completion of the throughput test, and/or by selecting a first group configuration to passes the throughput test.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
performing, by a first device, processing on first audio data representing a first utterance to generate first data indicating a first intent to have the first device and a second device output second audio data in a synchronized manner;
outputting, by the first device, the second audio data in the synchronized manner with the second device;
performing, by the first device, processing on third audio data representing a second utterance to generate second data indicating a second intent to have at least the first device cease outputting the second audio data; and
ceasing, by the first device, output of the second audio data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing of the processing on the first audio data comprises performing, by a speech processing component of the first device, speech processing on the first audio data to generate the first data.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the performing of the processing on the first audio data comprises identifying, based at least in part on the first audio data, audio content associated with the second audio data.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving the first audio data from the second device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing of the processing on the third audio data comprises performing, by a speech processing component of the first device, speech processing on the third audio data to generate the second data.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein second data further indicates a third intent to have at least the second device cease outputting the second audio data.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving the third audio data from the second device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the first device, group information indicating that a group of devices including the first device and the second device has been formed.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein outputting, by the first device, the second audio data in the synchronized manner with the second device is based at least in part on the group information.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second audio data comprises an audio file.

11. A method comprising:
receiving, at a first device, a first command to have the first device and a second device output first audio data in a synchronized manner;
outputting, by the first device, the first audio data in the synchronized manner with the second device;
receiving, at the first device, a second command to output second audio data;
determining, at the first device, that the second command was received within a threshold amount of time after the first command was received; and
outputting, by the first device, based at least in part on determining that the second command was received within the threshold amount of time after the first command was received, the second audio data in the synchronized manner with the second device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, at the first device, a third command to output third audio data;
determining, at the first device, that the third command was received after the threshold amount of time after the first command was received; and
outputting, by the first device, based at least in part on determining that the third command was received after the threshold amount of time after the first command was received, the third audio data.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining, based at least in part on determining that the third command was received after the threshold amount of time after the first command, that the first device is a default output device.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining, based at least in part on determining that the third command was received after the threshold amount of time after the first command, that the first device is a user-preferred output device.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising performing, by a speech processing component of the first device, speech processing on the first command to generate data indicating an intent to have the first audio data output in the synchronized manner with the second device.

16. A first device comprising:
one or more speakers;
one or more processors;
a speech processing component; and
memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first device to:
receive a first command to have the first device and a second device output first audio data in a synchronized manner;
performing, by the speech processing component, speech processing on the first command to generate data indicating an intent to have the first device and the second device output the first audio data in the synchronized manner;
outputting the first audio data in the synchronized manner with the second device;
receive a second command to output second audio data;
determine that the second command meets one or more criteria; and
output, based at least in part on determining that the second command meets the one or more criteria, the second audio data in the synchronized manner with the second device.

17. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first device to:
receive a third command to output third audio data;
determine that the third command does not meet the one or more criteria; and
output, based at least in part on determining that the third command does not meet the one or more criteria, the third audio data.

18. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first device to:
receive a third command to have at least the first device cease outputting the second audio data; and
ceasing output of the second audio data by the first device.

19. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that cause the first device to determine that the second command meets the one or more criteria comprise computer-executable instructions that cause the first device to determine that the second command is a music-related command.

20. The first device of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructions that cause the first device to determine that the second command meets the one or more criteria comprise computer-executable instructions that cause the first device to determine, based at least in part on the second command, a user preference for the first device and the second device.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Torok Fred
• Pogue Michael Alan
• Gundeti Vikram Kumar
• Sundaram Dharini

Classifications

• H04R3/12 Primary

  for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} · CPC title

• G06F3/165

  Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path · CPC title

• H04R27/00

  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

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R2420/03

  Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers · CPC title