Playback Device Operating States

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016342385-A1
Application number	US-201615228639-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 4, 2016
Priority date	Jul 28, 2003
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

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 first playback device comprising:
one or more processors; tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the first playback device to: receive, from a controller device via at least one data network, control information; selectively operate, based on at least the control information received from the controller device, in one of a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (A) an individual state and (B) a synchrony group state that comprises one of a first synchrony group state and a second synchrony group state, and wherein: while in the individual state the first playback device is operable to (1) obtain, from a first audio information source, first audio information and (2) play back the first audio information individually; while in the first synchrony group state the first playback device is operable to (1) obtain, from a second audio information source, second audio information, (2) provide the second audio information to a second playback device, and (3) play back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device; and while in the second synchrony group state the first playback device is operable to (1) obtain, from the second playback device, third audio information and (2) play back the third audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

2 . The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the received control information is first received control information, and wherein the first received control information causes the first playback device to selectively operate in the individual state, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first playback device to:
receive, from the controller device while operating in the individual state, second control information; and transition, based on at least the second control information received from the controller device, from operating in the individual state to operating in the synchrony group state.

3 . The first playback device of claim 2 , wherein operating in the synchrony group state comprises operating in the first synchrony group state.

4 . The first playback device of claim 2 , wherein operating in the synchrony group state comprises operating in the second synchrony group state.

5 . The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the received control information is first received control information, and wherein the first received control information causes the first playback device to selectively operate in the synchrony group state, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first playback device to:
receive, from the controller device while operating in the synchrony group state, second control information; and transition, based on at least the second control information received from the controller device, from operating in the synchrony group state to operating in the individual state.

6 . The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein, while in the first synchrony group state, the first playback device is further operable to:
provide, to the second playback device, playback timing information.

7 . The first playback device of claim 6 , wherein, while in the first synchrony group state, the first playback device is further operable to:
provide, to the second playback device, device clock information.

8 . The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein, while in the second synchrony group state, the first playback device is further operable to:
obtain, from the second playback device, playback timing information, wherein playing back the third audio information comprises playing back the third audio information in synchrony with the second playback device based on the playback timing information.

9 . The first playback device of claim 8 , wherein, while in the second synchrony group state, the first playback device is further operable to:
obtain, from the second playback device, device clock information, wherein playing back the third audio information comprises playing back the third audio information in synchrony with the second playback device based on the playback timing information and the device clock information.

10 . The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first audio information source and the second audio information source are the same.

11 . The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the first audio information, the second audio information, and the third audio information are the same.

12 . The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the received control information is first received control information, wherein the plurality of states further comprises a third synchrony group state, and wherein the first received control information causes the first playback device to selectively operate in the first synchrony group state, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first playback device to:
receive, from the controller device while operating in the first synchrony group state, second control information; and transition, based on at least the second control information received from the controller device, from operating in the first synchrony group state to operating in the third synchrony group state, wherein, while in in the third synchrony group state, the first playback device is operable to: obtain, from a third playback device, fourth audio information; and play back the fourth audio information in synchrony with the third playback device.

13 . The first playback device of claim 6 , wherein the received control information is first received control information, wherein the plurality of states further comprises a third synchrony group state, and wherein the first received control information causes the first playback device to selectively operate in the second synchrony group state, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first playback device to:
receive, from the controller device while operating in the second synchrony group state, second control information; and transition, based on at least the second control information received from the controller device, from operating in the second synchrony group state to operating in the third synchrony group state, wherein, while in in the third synchrony group state, the first playback device is operable to: obtain, from the second audio information source via a WAN, fourth audio information; provide the fourth audio information to a third playback device; and play back the fourth audio information in synchrony with the third playback device.

14 . The first playback device of claim 13 , wherein the second playback device and the third playback device are the same.

15 . The first playback device of claim 14 , wherein the playback timing information is first playback timing information, wherein, while in the second synchrony group state, the first playback device is further operable to:
obtaining, from the third playback device, second playback timing information.

16 . The first playback device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of states further comprise a direct connection state, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first playback device to:
selectively operate, based on at least the control information received from the controller devic

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Millington Nicholas A J

Classifications

• H04N21/43615

  Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805) · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• G06F17/00

  Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00) · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G11B2020/10592

  specifically adapted for recording or reproducing multichannel signals · CPC title