Method and apparatus for dynamic master device switching in a synchrony group
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- a first zone player performing a master device role for a synchrony group comprising the first zone player and a second zone player, wherein in the master device role, the first zone player is configured to control synchronous playback of audio information by both the first zone player and the second zone player in response to playback commands received from a controller device via a network interface of the first zone player, wherein the first zone player comprises one or more processors and at least one network interface;
while performing the master device role, the first zone player (i) evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player, and (ii) based on the evaluation, determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group;
in response to determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group, the first zone player initiating migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player; and
after migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player, the first zone player (i) ceasing to perform the master device role for the synchrony group, and (ii) playing back information content in synchrony with the second zone player while the second zone player is performing the master device role for the synchrony group.
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Abstract
A plurality of zone players, including at least a first player and a second zone player, wherein the first zone player is designated as a master device of a synchrony group, a method comprising: determining, by the first zone player, that the second zone player should be designated as the master device of the synchrony group; instructing, by the first zone player, the second zone player to be designated as the master device of the synchrony group; and causing, at the first zone player, the first zone player to lose its designation as the master device of the synchrony group.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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a first zone player performing a master device role for a synchrony group comprising the first zone player and a second zone player, wherein in the master device role, the first zone player is configured to control synchronous playback of audio information by both the first zone player and the second zone player in response to playback commands received from a controller device via a network interface of the first zone player, wherein the first zone player comprises one or more processors and at least one network interface; while performing the master device role, the first zone player (i) evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player, and (ii) based on the evaluation, determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group; in response to determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group, the first zone player initiating migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player; and after migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player, the first zone player (i) ceasing to perform the master device role for the synchrony group, and (ii) playing back information content in synchrony with the second zone player while the second zone player is performing the master device role for the synchrony group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A first zone player comprising:
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one or more processors; at least one network interface; and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the first zone player, cause the first zone player to perform functions comprising; performing a master device role for a synchrony group comprising the first zone player and a second zone player, wherein in the master device role, the first zone player is configured to control synchronous playback of information content by both the first zone player and the second zone player in response to playback commands received from a controller device via a network interface of the first zone player; while performing the master device role, evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player, and based on the evaluation, determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group; in response to determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group, initiating migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player; and after migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player, ceasing to perform the master device role for the synchrony group, and playing back information content in synchrony with the second zone player while the second zone player is performing the master device role for the synchrony group. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a first zone player, cause the first zone player comprising one or more processors and at least one network interface to perform a method comprising:
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performing a master device role for a synchrony group comprising the first zone player and a second zone player, wherein in the master device role, the first zone player is configured to control synchronous playback of audio information by both the first zone player and the second zone player in response to playback commands received from a controller device via a network interface of the first zone player; while performing the master device role, evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player, and based on the evaluation, determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group; in response to determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group, initiating migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player; and after migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player, ceasing to perform the master device role for the synchrony group, and playing back information content in synchrony with the second zone player while the second zone player is performing the master device role for the synchrony group. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification