Playback Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019369954-A1
Application number	US-201916545844-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 20, 2019
Priority date	Jul 28, 2003
Publication date	Dec 5, 2019
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 zone player comprising:
a network interface that is configured to communicatively couple the first zone player to at least one data network; a clock that is configured to provide a local clock time of the first zone player; at least one processor; a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the first zone player is configured to perform functions comprising:
receiving a request to engage in synchronous playback of audio content as part of a synchrony group that includes at least a second zone player that is communicatively coupled to the first zone player via the at least one data network, wherein the second zone player comprises a clock that is configured to provide a local clock time of the second zone player, and wherein the local clock time of the first zone player differs from the local clock time of the second zone player;
after receiving the request to engage in synchronous playback as part of the synchrony group:
obtaining audio information that is representative of the audio content to be played back by the synchrony group;
generating playback timing information associated with the obtained audio information that is indicative of at least one future time at which the first and second zone players are to engage in synchronous playback of the obtained audio information, wherein the at least one future time is determined based on the local clock time of the second zone player;
transmitting the obtained audio information and the playback timing information to the second zone player via the at least one data network; and
engaging in synchronous playback of the obtained audio information with the second zone player using the playback timing information.

2 . The first zone player of claim 1 , wherein receiving the request to engage in synchronous playback comprises:
receiving the request to engage in synchronous playback from one or both of (a) a network device that is communicatively coupled to the first zone player via the at least one data network or (b) the second zone player.

3 . The first zone player of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the obtained audio information and the playback timing information to the second zone player via the at least one data network comprises:
transmitting the playback timing information in a separate communication from the obtained audio information.

4 . The first zone player of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the audio information that is representative of the audio content comprises:
obtaining the audio information that is representative of the audio content in response to receiving, from a network device that is communicatively coupled to the first zone player via the at least one data network, an instruction to play back the audio content in the synchrony group.

5 . The first zone player of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the audio information that is representative of the audio content comprises:
obtaining a first portion of the audio information that is representative of the audio content before beginning to engage in synchronous playback of the obtained audio information and obtaining a second portion of the audio information that is representative of the audio content after beginning to engage in synchronous playback of the obtained audio information.

6 . The first zone player of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the obtained audio information to the second zone player via the at least one data network comprises:
transmitting a first portion of the obtained audio information to the second zone player via the at least one data network before beginning to engage in synchronous playback of the obtained audio information and transmitting a second portion of the obtained audio information to the second zone player via the at least one data network after beginning to engage in synchronous playback of the obtained audio information.

7 . The first zone player of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the obtained audio information to the second zone player via the at least one data network comprises:
transmitting a series of frames wherein an individual frame in the series of frames includes a respective portion of the obtained audio information.

8 . The first zone player of claim 7 , wherein the playback timing information comprises, for an individual frame in the series of frames, a respective indicator of a respective future time value at which the first and second zone players are to engage in synchronous playback of the respective frame.

9 . The first zone player of claim 1 , the functions further comprising, after receiving the request to engage in synchronous playback as part of the synchrony group:
receiving a request to adjust a volume of the synchrony group; and in response to receiving the request to adjust the volume of the synchrony group, (a) causing an adjustment of an individual volume of the first zone player and (b) transmitting, to the second zone player via the at least one data network, a command to adjust an individual volume of the second zone player.

10 . The first zone player of claim 1 , wherein:
receiving the request to engage in synchronous playback comprises receiving a request to engage in synchronous playback with the second zone player as well as a third zone player that is communicatively coupled to the first zone player via the at least one data network, and after receiving the request to engage in synchronous playback as part of the synchrony group:
transmitting the obtained audio information and the playback timing information to the third zone player via the at least one data network; and
engaging in synchronous playback of the obtained audio information with the third zone player using the playback timing information.

11 . The first zone player of claim 10 , the functions further comprising, after receiving the request to engage in synchronous playback as part of the synchrony group:
exchanging clock information with the second zone player.

12 . The first zone player of claim 11 , the functions further comprising, after receiving the request to engage in synchronous playback as part of the synchrony group:
exchanging clock information with the third zone player.

13 . The first zone player of claim 1 , the functions further comprising, after receiving the request to engage in synchronous playback as part of the synchrony group:
exchanging clock information with the second zone player.

14 . A method performed by a first zone player, the method comprising:
receiving a request to engage in synchronous playback of audio content as part of a synchrony group that includes at least a second zone player that is communicatively coupled to the first zone player via at least one data network, wherein the second zone player comprises a clock that is configured to provide a local clock time of the second zone player, and wherein the local clock time of the first zone player differs from the local clock time of the second zone player; after receiving the request to engage in synchronous playback as part of the synchrony group:
obtaining audio information that is representative of the audio content to be played back by the synchrony group;
generating playback timing information associated with the obtained audio information that is indicative of at least one future time at which the first and second zone players are to engage in synchronous playback of the obtained audio inf

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

• G06F3/0482

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

• G06F3/0484

  for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range · CPC title

• H04W84/20

  Leader-follower arrangements · CPC title

• H04J3/0664

  unidirectional timestamps · CPC title