Playback Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022188064-A1
Application number	US-202117532724-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 22, 2021
Priority date	Jul 28, 2003
Publication date	Jun 16, 2022
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 system comprising a computing device and a first zone player, wherein the computing device comprises:
a network interface; a clock that is configured to provide a clock time of the computing device; at least one first processor; at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device is configured to:
operate in a first mode in which the computing device is not serving as an audio information channel device for any synchrony group;
receive an indication that the computing device is to begin serving as an audio information channel device for a synchrony group that comprises at least the first zone player and a second zone player that are communicatively coupled with the computing device over an asynchronous data network configured to exchange digital data packets, wherein the computing device, the first zone player, and the second zone player each have a different respective clock time;
after receiving the indication that the computing device is to begin serving as the audio information channel device for the synchrony group,
(a) configure the synchrony group to playback audio in synchrony, wherein configuring the synchrony group comprises sending control information to at least one of the first zone player or second zone player that (i) identifies the computing device as the audio information channel device for the synchrony group, and (ii) instructs the at least one of the first zone player or second zone player to begin operating as part of the synchrony group; and
(b) transition from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode in which the computing device serves as the audio information channel device for the synchrony group, wherein, while operating in the second mode, the computing device is configured to:
exchange, via the asynchronous data network, clock timing information with each of the first zone player and the second zone player that facilitates time synchronization between the computing device and each of the first zone player and the second zone player, wherein the time synchronization establishes a common notion of clock time for each of the first zone player, the second zone player, and the computing device;
obtain given audio content to be played back by the synchrony group;
generate playback timing information associated with the given audio content that comprises an indicator of a first future time, relative to the common notion of clock time, at which at least the first and second zone players are to initiate synchronous playback of the given audio content; and
transmit, via the network interface to the first and second zone players over the asynchronous data network, both (a) the audio information representing the given audio content, and (b) the playback timing information, thereby enabling the first and second zone players to play back the given audio content in synchrony.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
while in the first mode, the computing device is configured to play back audio content.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device is configured to receive the indication that the computing device is to begin operating as an audio information channel device for the synchrony group comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device is configured to:
receive a request to begin operating as the audio information channel device for the synchrony group from (a) a controller device, (b) one of the first and second zone players, (c) another network device, or (d) a user.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
while in the first mode, the computing device is configured to (a) obtain audio content and (b) play back at least a first portion of the obtained audio content, wherein the given audio content transmitted while operating in the second mode comprises at least a second portion of the audio content obtained while operating in the first mode.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least first one processor such that the computing device, while operating as the audio information channel device for the synchrony group is configured to:
receive a request for the synchrony group to play back the given audio content, wherein the given audio content is obtained in response to receiving the request for the synchrony group to play back the given audio content.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device is configured to transmit the audio information to the first and second zone players over the asynchronous data network comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device is configured to:
transmit a first portion of the audio information to the first and second zone players over the asynchronous data network before synchronous playback of the given audio content begins and transmit a second portion of the audio information to the first and second zone players over the asynchronous data network after synchronous playback of the given audio content begins.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device is configured to transmit the playback timing information and the audio information to the first and second zone players over the asynchronous data network comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device is configured to:
transmit the playback timing information in a separate communication from the audio information.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one first processor such that, after receiving the indication that the computing device is to begin serving as the audio information channel device for the synchrony group, the computing device is further configured to:
establish at least one first communication channel by which audio information will be transmitted; and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device is configured to send the control information to at least one of the first zone player or second zone player further comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device is configured to: send control information to at least one of the first zone player or second zone player that initiates establishment of at least one second communication channel by which the clock timing information will be transmitted by the computing device.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the at least one first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one first processor such that the computing device, while operating as the audio information channel device for the synchrony group, is configured to:
receive, from at least one of the first zone player or the second zone player v

Assignees

• Sonos Inc

Inventors

• Millington Nicholas A J

Classifications

• G11B20/10527

  Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements (G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• H04N5/04

  Synchronising (for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56) · CPC title

• H04N21/4307

  Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen · CPC title

• H04W56/0015

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

• H04R3/12

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