Group coordinator selection
First Claim
1. A network device in a media playback system comprising at least a first playback device and a second playback device, the network device comprising:
- one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the network device to perform functions comprising;
receiving a command over a data network to cause a group of two or more playback devices to play audio associated with audio content data, wherein the group of two or more playback devices comprises the first playback device and the second playback device;
assigning a group coordinator based on whether the first playback device is battery-powered, wherein the group coordinator provides to each of the two or more playback devices in the group the audio content data and audio content playback timing information to coordinate synchronous playback of the audio by the group,wherein assigning a group coordinator based on whether the first playback device is battery-powered comprises;
assigning the first playback device to be the group coordinator based on a first determination that the first playback device is not battery-powered,assigning the second playback device to be the group coordinator based on a second determination that the first playback device is battery-powered and the second playback device is not battery-powered, andassigning the first playback device to be the group coordinator based on a third determination that (i) the first playback device is battery-powered, connected to a charging interface of the first playback device, and being charged and (ii) a battery level of the first playback device is above a threshold;
transmitting to the assigned group coordinator over the data network, a command to act as the group coordinator of the two or more playback devices such that the group coordinator provides the audio content data and audio content playback timing information to the group of the two or more playback devices,wherein the data network comprises at least one of a wired and a wireless network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network device is arranged to identify a group coordinator for a group of networked playback devices. The network device may have a network interface configured to communicate with first playback device and a second playback device over a network. A processor may execute instructions to cause the processor to receive a command to cause a group of one or more playback devices to play audio content, wherein the group of one or more playback devices comprises the first playback device. In response to the command, the processor is to determine that the first playback device is battery-powered. The processor is to identify the second playback device to provide audio content data and audio content playback timing information to the group of the one or more playback devices based on the determination that the first playback device is battery-powered.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A network device in a media playback system comprising at least a first playback device and a second playback device, the network device comprising:
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one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the network device to perform functions comprising; receiving a command over a data network to cause a group of two or more playback devices to play audio associated with audio content data, wherein the group of two or more playback devices comprises the first playback device and the second playback device; assigning a group coordinator based on whether the first playback device is battery-powered, wherein the group coordinator provides to each of the two or more playback devices in the group the audio content data and audio content playback timing information to coordinate synchronous playback of the audio by the group, wherein assigning a group coordinator based on whether the first playback device is battery-powered comprises; assigning the first playback device to be the group coordinator based on a first determination that the first playback device is not battery-powered, assigning the second playback device to be the group coordinator based on a second determination that the first playback device is battery-powered and the second playback device is not battery-powered, and assigning the first playback device to be the group coordinator based on a third determination that (i) the first playback device is battery-powered, connected to a charging interface of the first playback device, and being charged and (ii) a battery level of the first playback device is above a threshold; transmitting to the assigned group coordinator over the data network, a command to act as the group coordinator of the two or more playback devices such that the group coordinator provides the audio content data and audio content playback timing information to the group of the two or more playback devices, wherein the data network comprises at least one of a wired and a wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 21, 22)
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9. A method comprising:
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receiving a command over a data network to cause a group of two or more playback devices to play audio associated with audio content data, wherein the group of two or more playback devices comprises a first playback device and a second playback device; assigning a group coordinator based on whether a first playback device is battery-powered, wherein the group coordinator provides to each of the two or more playback devices in the group the audio content data and audio content playback timing information to coordinate synchronous playback of the audio by the group, wherein assigning a group coordinator based on whether the first playback device is battery-powered comprises; assigning the first playback device to be the group coordinator based on a first determination that the first playback device is not battery-powered, assigning the second playback device to be the group coordinator based on a second determination that the first playback device is battery-powered and the second playback device is not battery-powered, and assigning the first playback device to be the group coordinator based on a third determination that (i) the first playback device is battery-powered, connected to a charging interface of the first playback device, and being charged and (ii) a battery level of the first playback device is above a threshold; transmitting to the assigned group coordinator over the data network, a command to act as the group coordinator of the two or more playback devices such that the group coordinator provides the audio content data and audio content playback timing information to the group of the two or more playback devices, wherein the data network comprises at least one of a wired and a wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions for execution by a processor, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to implement a method comprising:
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receiving a command over a data network to cause a group of two or more playback devices to play audio associated with audio content data, wherein the group of two or more playback devices comprises a first playback device and a second playback device; assigning a group coordinator based on whether the first playback device is battery-powered, wherein the group coordinator provides to each of the two or more playback devices in the group the audio content data and audio content playback timing information to coordinate synchronous playback of the audio by the group, wherein assigning a group coordinator based on whether the first playback device is battery-powered comprises; assigning the first playback device to be the group coordinator based on a first determination that the first playback device is not battery-powered, assigning the second playback device to be the group coordinator based on a second determination that the first playback device is battery-powered and the second playback device is not battery-powered, and assigning the first playback device to be the group coordinator based on a third determination that (i) the first playback device is battery-powered, connected to a charging interface of the first playback device, and being charged and (ii) a battery level of the first playback device is above a threshold; transmitting to the assigned group coordinator over the data network, a command to act as the group coordinator of the two or more playback devices such that the group coordinator provides the audio content data and audio content playback timing information to the group of the two or more playback devices, wherein the data network comprises at least one of a wired and a wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification