Method and apparatus for adjusting volume in a synchrony group

• US 10,133,536 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2013
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Nicholas A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Survillo, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US13/848,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20130208921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,069 Days
• Field of Search: 709219, 709220, 709231
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/00 Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00 architectures of general purpose stored program computers G06F15/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/12 Synchronisation of different clock signals provided by a plurality of clock generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2322 using timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/63 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/638 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 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 Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 : Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10592 : specifically adapted for recording or reproducing multichannel signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/00 : Gain control in amplifiers or frequency changers
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 : Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 : Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 : Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/20 : digital audio broadcasting [DAB]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0644 : External master-clock
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0664 : unidirectional timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 : Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 : Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 : Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 : Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 : for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 : for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 : for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 : for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 : Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 : Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 : 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 Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 : of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : 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 Class Codes: H04N 5/04 : Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7904 : using intermediate digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 : Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 : Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 : Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 : for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 : one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 : Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group

Abstract

A method comprising: a zone player receiving control information from a user interface module, wherein the zone player is a member of a synchrony group having other members with at least one additional zone player as one of the other members; the zone player using the control information to (1) adjust a playback volume associated with the zone player, and (2) transmit an instruction to the other members of the synchrony group, wherein the instruction enables the other members of the synchrony group to adjust their playback volumes.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a first zone player functioning as a master of a synchrony group comprising the first zone player and one or more other zone players, wherein every zone player of the synchrony group is configured to play audio in synchrony with the other zone players of the synchrony group, and wherein any zone player of the synchrony group is configurable to function as the master of the synchrony group;

while functioning as the master of the synchrony group, the first zone player receiving group volume control information from a controller, wherein the controller is not a member of the synchrony group, and in response to receiving the group volume control information from the controller, the first zone player adjusting a playback volume of the synchrony group by performing both of (1) adjusting its own playback volume, and (2) adjusting a playback volume of one or more other zone players of the synchrony group by generating and transmitting one or more volume control instructions to the one or more other zone players of the synchrony group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the group volume control information is received via a network interface, and wherein the one or more volume control instructions are transmitted via the network interface.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the first zone player (i) receiving audio information via the network interface, (ii) transmitting the audio information and playback timing information via the network interface to the one or more other zone players of the synchrony group, (iii) transmitting clock time information of the first zone player to the one or more other zone players of the synchrony group via the network interface, and (iv) playing audio in synchrony with the other zone players of the synchrony group based at least in part on the audio information and the playback timing information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the group volume control information identifies zone players of the synchrony group whose volume should be adjusted.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the group volume control information further identifies a level at which the playback volume should be adjusted for each of (i) the first zone player or (ii) at least one of the other zone players in the synchrony group.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is in communication with the first zone player via a local area network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein additional volume control information is received from an additional controller.

8. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having machine executable code stored thereon, wherein the machine executable code, when executed by a first zone player, causes the first zone player to:

function as a master of a synchrony group comprising the first zone player and one or more other zone players, wherein every zone player of the synchrony group is configured to play audio in synchrony with every other zone player of the synchrony group, and wherein any zone player of the synchrony group is configurable to function as the master of the synchrony group;

while functioning as the master of the synchrony group, receiving group volume control information from a controller, wherein the controller is not a member of the synchrony group, and in response to receiving the group volume control information, adjusting a group playback volume of the synchrony group by adjusting both (1) its own playback volume, and (2) a playback volume of at least a second zone player of the synchrony group by generating and transmitting one or more volume control instructions to the second zone player.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the group volume control information is received via a network interface, and wherein the one or more volume control instructions are transmitted via the network interface.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the machine executable code, when executed by the first zone player, further causes the first zone player to:

receive audio information via a network interface of the first zone player;

transmit the audio information and playback timing information via the network interface to the second zone player;

transmit clock time information of the first zone player via the network interface to the second zone player; and

play audio in synchrony with the second zone player based at least in part on the audio information and the playback timing information.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the synchrony group further comprises a third zone player, wherein the first zone player, second zone player, and third zone player are configured to play audio in synchrony with each other, and wherein the group volume control information identifies members of the synchrony group whose volume should be adjusted.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the group volume control information further identifies a level at which the playback volume should be adjusted for each of the first zone player, second zone player, and third zone player.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the controller is in communication with the first zone player via a local area network.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein additional volume control information is received from an additional controller.

15. A first audio processing device comprising:

a network interface configured to connect the first audio processing device to a network;

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having machine executable code stored thereon, wherein the machine executable code, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the first audio processing device to perform a method comprising;

functioning as a master of a synchrony group comprising the first audio processing device and one or more other audio processing devices, wherein every audio processing device of the synchrony group is an audio processing device configured to play audio in synchrony with every other audio processing device of the synchrony group, and wherein any audio processing device of the synchrony group is configurable to function as the master of the synchrony group; and

while functioning as the master of the synchrony group, receiving group volume control information via the network interface from a controller, wherein the controller is not a member of the synchrony group, and in response to receiving the group volume control information from the controller, the first audio processing device adjusting a playback volume of the synchrony group by adjusting both (1) its own playback volume, and (2) a playback volume of at least a second audio processing device of the synchrony group by generating and transmitting one or more volume control instructions, via the network interface, to the second audio processing device.

16. The first audio processing device of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving audio information via the network interface;

transmitting the audio information and playback timing information via the network interface to the second audio processing device; and

transmitting clock time information of the first audio processing device to the second audio processing device via the network interface; and

playing audio in synchrony with the second audio processing device based at least in part on the audio information and the playback timing information.

17. The first audio processing device of claim 15, wherein the synchrony group further comprises a third audio processing device, wherein the first audio processing device, second audio processing device, and third audio processing device are configured to play audio in synchrony with each other, and wherein the group volume control information identifies members of the synchrony group whose volume should be adjusted.

18. The first audio processing device of claim 15, wherein the group volume control information further identifies a level at which the playback volume should be adjusted for each of the first audio processing device and the second audio processing device.

19. The first audio processing device of claim 15, wherein the first audio processing device is a master device of the synchrony group controller is in communication with the first audio processing device via a local area network.

20. The first audio processing device of claim 15, wherein additional volume control information is received from an additional controller.