Systems and methods for syncronizing multiple electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017347331-A1
Application number	US-201715681193-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 18, 2017
Priority date	Apr 29, 2013
Publication date	Nov 30, 2017
Grant date	—

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 . An audio playback device comprising:
a communication component for connecting the audio playback device to a master device via a wireless connection; an audio output component for outputting audio; and a controller module interfaced with the communication component and the audio output component, and configured to:
receive, via the wireless connection, a network latency request from the master device including a first system time of the master device,
calculate a difference between the first system time and a slave system time of the audio playback device,
send, to the master device via the wireless connection, a response to the network latency request, wherein the master device receives the response at a second system time,
receive, from the master device via the wireless connection, a one-way network latency time value calculated by the master device based at least in part on a difference between the first system time and the second system time,
calculate a system clock offset value based on subtracting the one-way network latency time value from the difference between the first system time and the slave system time,
join an audio playback session with the master device via the wireless connection,
receive, using the audio playback session, at least a portion of an audio file and a playback timing instruction indicating a current system time of the master device, and
initiate playback of at least the portion of the audio file from the audio output component according to the playback timing instruction and the system clock offset value.

2 . The audio playback device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless connection is one of a Wi-Fi Direct connection or a Wi-Fi connection.

3 . The audio playback device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface for receiving input from a user, wherein the controller module is further configured to:
detect user input, via the user interface, corresponding to a playback command request for the audio file,
send the playback command request to the master device,
receive a playback command and a command timing instruction from the master device, and
modify the playback of at least the portion of the audio file from the audio output component according to the playback command, the command timing instruction, and the system clock offset value.

4 . The audio playback device of claim 3 , wherein the playback command request is to skip to a next audio track, and wherein to modify the playback, the controller module is configured to:
receive, using the audio playback session, at least a portion of another audio file and another playback timing instruction from the master device, and initiate playback of at least the portion of the another audio file from the audio output component according to the another playback timing instruction and the system clock offset value.

5 . The audio playback device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface for receiving input from a user, wherein the controller module is further configured to:
detect a selection of another audio file via the user interface,
send, to the master device via the wireless connection, a request to switch roles, and
receive, from the master device via the wireless connection, a notification that the audio playback device and the master device will switch roles.

6 . The audio playback device of claim 1 , wherein the controller module is further configured to:
receive, using the audio playback session, an additional portion of the audio file from the master device, and initiate playback of the additional portion of the audio file from the audio output component according to the playback timing instruction and the system clock offset value.

7 . The audio playback device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface for receiving input from a user, wherein the controller module is further configured to:
annunciate, via the user interface, a computing audio latency time value for the audio playback device,
detect, via the user interface, an adjustment request to the computing audio latency time value, and
adjust the playback of at least the portion of the audio file from the audio output component according to the adjustment request.

8 . The audio playback device of claim 1 , wherein the controller module is further configured to:
measure a computing audio latency time value reflecting an elapsed time for the audio file to propagate through the audio playback device from the controller module to the audio output component, and adjust the playback of at least the portion of the audio file from the audio output component based on the computing audio latency time value.

9 . The audio playback device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an audio input component for detecting audio, wherein the controller module is further configured to:
receive, using the audio playback session, a sync playback instruction from the master device for playback of audio sync data at a specified time, wherein the master device initiates playback of the audio sync data at the specified time,
initiate playback of the audio sync data from the audio output component at the specified time, and
calculate, from audio detected by the audio input component, an audio latency time value reflecting a time difference in the playback of the audio sync data on the master device and the playback of the audio sync data from the audio output component.

10 . The audio playback device of claim 1 , wherein the controller module is further configured to:
determine that the playback of at least the portion of the audio file from the audio output component is out of sync, and send, to the master device via the wireless connection, an indication that the playback is out of sync.

11 . A method in an audio playback device, the method comprising:
receiving, from a master device via a wireless connection, a network latency request including a first system time of the master device; calculating a difference between the first system time and a slave system time of the audio playback device; sending, to the master device via the wireless connection, a response to the network latency request, wherein the master device receives the response at a second system time; receiving, from the master device via the wireless connection, a one-way network latency time value calculated by the master device based at least in part on a difference between the first system time and the second system time; calculating a system clock offset value based on subtracting the one-way network latency time value from the difference between the first system time and the slave system time; joining an audio playback session with the master device via the wireless connection; receiving, using the audio playback session, at least a portion of an audio file and a playback timing instruction indicating a current system time of the master device; and initiating playback of at least the portion of the audio file from an audio output component according to the playback timing instruction and the system clock offset value.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the network latency request comprises:
receiving, from the master device via one of a Wi-Fi Direct connection or a Wi-Fi connection, the network latency request including the first system time of the master device.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting user input, via a user interface of the audio playback device, corresponding to a playback command request for the audio file; sending the playback command request to the master device; receivi

Assignees

• Google Technology Holdings LLC

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H04W56/0015 Primary

  one node acting as a reference for the others · CPC title

• H04H20/18

  Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems · CPC title

• H04H60/80

  characterised by transmission among terminal devices · CPC title

• H04H20/08

  among terminal devices · CPC title

• H04H60/88

  which are wireless networks · CPC title