Selection of master device for synchronized audio

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12563343-B2
Application number	US-202318360402-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2023
Priority date	Feb 15, 2017
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

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 pass the throughput test.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
performing, by a first device, processing on first audio data representing an utterance to generate data indicating an intent to have one or more of the first device or a second device output second audio data; determining that a subset of the data identifies a target device; determining that the data meets a criterion to identify the target device; determining, by the first device and based at least in part on determining that the data meets the criterion, at least one of the first device or the second device as the target device; and outputting, by the target device, the second audio data.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the criterion comprises a first time period; and determining that the data meets the criterion comprises determining that a second time period between detecting the utterance at the first device and detecting a second utterance exceeds the first time period.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the target device identifier corresponds to the first device and the second device.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the target device identifier corresponds to one or more of:
the first device; the second device; or a user preference that is associated with at least one of the first device or the second device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing 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 data.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing 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.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the first audio data from the second device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein outputting the second audio data comprises outputting, by the first device and the second device, the second audio data in a synchronized manner.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data further indicates a second intent to have the first device and the second device output the second audio data in a synchronized manner.

10 . A method comprising:
outputting, by a first device, first audio data; receiving, at a second device, a command to have one or more of the first device or the second device output second audio data; determining that a subset of the data identifies a target device; determining that the data meets a criterion to identify the target device; determining, at the second device and based at least in part on determining that the command meets the criterion, at least one of the first device or the second device as the target device; and outputting, by the target device, the second audio data.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the method further comprises determining, at the second device, that the first device output the first audio data; and determining at least one of the first device or the second device as the target device comprises determining, at the second device, the first device as the target device based at least in part on determining that the first device output the first audio data.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising performing, by a speech processing component of the second device, speech processing on the command to generate data indicating an intent to have the one or more of the first device or the second device output the second audio data.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the data further indicates a second intent to have the first device and the second device output the second audio data in a synchronized manner.

14 . A first device comprising:
one or more speakers; one or more processors; and memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first device to:
performing processing on first audio data to generate data indicating an instruction to have one or more of the first device or a second device output second audio data;
determining, based at least in part on the data and a criterion, at least one of the first device or the second device as a target device, wherein the determining comprises:
determining that a subset of the data identifies a target device;
determining that the data meets the criterion to identify the target device; and

instructing the target device to output the second audio data.

15 . The first device of claim 14 , wherein:
the criterion comprises a device group identifier; and determining at least one of the first device or the second device as the target device comprises determining that a subset of the data corresponds to the device group identifier.

16 . The first device of claim 15 , wherein:
the device group identifier is associated with the first device and the second device; and the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first device to output the second audio data in a synchronized manner with the second device.

17 . The first device of claim 14 , wherein performing 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 data indicating an intent to have the one or more of the first device or the second device output the second audio data.

18 . The first device of claim 14 , wherein determining at least one of the first device or the second device as the target device comprises determining that the data does not correspond to the criterion.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06F3/167

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• H04R2227/005

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

• H04R2420/03

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

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · 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