Switching between a directly connected and a networked audio source

• US 10,157,035 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• 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:
  US14/504,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20150016626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 709205, 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

Abstract

Examples include a playback device with an audio information source interface, a network interface, a processor, and data storage with program code, that when executed by the processor, causes the playback device to (a) receive a first analog signal including first audio information from a first audio information source, (b) receive second audio information from a second audio information source, (c) generate timing information based on the second audio information, (d) transmit the timing information and the second audio information to another playback device over a network, and (e) play back one of (1) the first analog signal or (2) a second analog signal including the second audio information in accordance with the timing information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by an audio information source interface of a first playback device, a first analog signal comprising first audio information from a first audio information source physically connected to the first playback device;

playing back the first analog signal in response to receiving first control information via a network interface;

receiving, via the network interface of the first playback device, second audio information from a second audio information source; and

in response to receiving second control information via the network interface, playing back the second audio information in synchrony with a second playback device, wherein playing back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises;

(i) generating, by the first playback device, playback timing information for the second audio information, (ii) dividing the second audio information into a series of frames comprising the second audio information and the playback timing information for the second audio information, (iii) transmitting, via the network interface of the first playback device, first playback device clock time information and the series of frames comprising the second audio information and the playback timing information for the second audio information to the second playback device over a network, wherein the network is one of a LAN or WAN, and (iv) playing back a second analog signal comprising the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device in accordance with the playback timing information for the second audio information, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device remain independently clocked while the first playback device plays back the second analog signal in synchrony with the second playback device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the first control information via the network interface, additionally transmitting, by the first playback device, the first audio information to the second playback device over the network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

before transmitting the first playback device clock time information and the series of frames comprising the second audio information and the playback timing information for the second audio information to the second playback device via the network, receiving, by the first playback device from a controller device over the LAN, an instruction to form a synchrony group with at least the second playback device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first playback device from a controller device via the LAN, an instruction to switch from playing back the second analog signal to playing back the first analog signal; and

in response to the instruction, switching from playing back the second analog signal to playing back the first analog signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first playback device from a controller device via the LAN, an instruction to switch from playing back the first analog signal to playing back the second analog signal; and

in response to the instruction, switching from playing back the first analog signal to playing back the second analog signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device remaining independently clocked while the first playback device plays back the second analog signal in synchrony with the second playback device comprises a clock of the first playback device operating at a different clock rate than a clock of the second playback device during synchronous playback.

7. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving, by an audio information source interface of a first playback device, a first analog signal comprising first audio information from a first audio information source physically connected to the first playback device;

playing back the first analog signal in response to receiving first control information via a network interface;

receiving, via the network interface of the first playback device, second audio information from a second audio information source; and

in response to receiving second control information via the network interface, playing back the second audio information in synchrony with a second playback device, wherein playing back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises;

(i) generating playback timing information for the second audio information, (ii) dividing the second audio information into a series of frames comprising the second audio information and the playback timing information for the second audio information, (iii) transmitting, via the network interface of the first playback device, first playback device clock time information and the series of frames comprising the second audio information and playback timing information for the second audio information to the second playback device over a network, wherein the network is one of a LAN or WAN, and (iv) playing back a second analog signal comprising the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device in accordance with the playback timing information for the second audio information, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device remain independently clocked while the first playback device plays back the second analog signal in synchrony with the second playback device.

8. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to receiving the first control information via the network interface, additionally transmitting the first audio information to the second playback device over the network.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

before transmitting the first playback device clock time information and the series of frames comprising the second audio information and the playback timing information for the second audio information to the second playback device via the network, receiving, from a controller device over the LAN, an instruction to form a synchrony group with at least the second playback device.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, from a controller device via the LAN, an instruction to switch from playing back the second analog signal to playing back the first analog signal; and

in response to the instruction, switching from playing back the second analog signal to playing back the first analog signal.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device remaining independently clocked while the first playback device plays back the second analog signal in synchrony with the second playback device comprises a clock of the first playback device operating at a different clock rate than a clock of the second playback device during synchronous playback.

12. A first playback device comprising:

an audio information source interface;

a network interface;

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer memory comprising program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the first playback device to;

receive, via the audio information source interface, a first analog signal comprising first audio information from a first audio information source physically connected to the first playback device;

play back the first analog signal in response to receiving first control information via the network interface;

receive, via the network interface, second audio information from a second audio information source; and

in response to receiving second control information via the network interface, play back the second audio information in synchrony with a second playback device, wherein playing back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises;

(i) generating playback timing information for the second audio information, (ii) dividing the second audio information into a series of frames comprising the second audio information and the playback timing information for the second audio information, (iii) transmitting, via the network interface, first playback device clock time information and the series of frames comprising the second audio information and the playback timing information for the second audio information to the second playback device over a network, wherein the network is one of a LAN or WAN, and (iv) playing back a second analog signal comprising the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device in accordance with the playback timing information for the second audio information, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device remain independently clocked while the first playback device plays back the second analog signal in synchrony with the second playback device.

13. The first playback device of claim 12, wherein the second audio information comprises one of audio files or packetized streaming audio information.

14. The first playback device of claim 12, wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the first playback device to:

in response to receiving the first control information via the network interface, play back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device, wherein playing back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises transmitting the first audio information to the second playback device over the network.

15. The first playback device of claim 12, wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the first playback device to:

after receiving the first control information via the network interface, play back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device, wherein playing back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises (i) generating a digital signal comprising the first audio information, (ii) generating playback timing information for the first audio information, (iii) dividing the digital signal into a series of frames comprising the first audio information and the playback timing information for the first audio information, (iv) transmitting, via the network interface, the first playback device clock time information and the series of frames comprising the playback timing information for the first audio information to the second playback device over the network, and (v) playing back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

16. The first playback device of claim 12, wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the first playback device to:

before transmitting the first playback device clock time information and the series of frames comprising the second audio information and the playback timing information for the second audio information to the second playback device via the network, receive, from a controller device over the LAN, an instruction to form a synchrony group with at least the second playback device.

17. The first playback device of claim 16, wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the first playback device to:

transmit, to the controller device via the network, status information that comprises a status of the synchrony group.

18. The first playback device of claim 12, wherein the second audio information source is outside of the LAN.

19. The first playback device of claim 18, wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the first playback device to:

receive, from a controller device via the LAN, an address identifying a network location of the second audio information source, wherein the second audio information source is outside of the LAN; and

in response to receiving the address, obtain the second audio information from the second audio information source at the received address.

20. The first playback device of claim 12, wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the first playback device to:

after receiving the second control information via the network interface, additionally (i) determine whether the first playback device is currently playing back the first analog signal, and (ii) in response to determining that the first playback device is currently playing back the first analog signal, terminate play back of the first analog signal.

21. The first playback device of claim 12, wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the first playback device to:

receive, from a controller device via the LAN, an instruction to switch from playing back the second analog signal to playing back the first analog signal; and

in response to the instruction, switch from playing back the second analog signal to playing back the first analog signal.

22. The first playback device of claim 12, wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the first playback device to:

receive, from a controller device via the LAN, an instruction to switch from playing back the first analog signal to playing back the second analog signal; and

in response to the instruction, switch from playing back the first analog signal to playing back the second analog signal.

23. The first playback device of claim 12, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device remaining independently clocked while the first playback device plays back the second analog signal in synchrony with the second playback device comprises a clock of the first playback device operating at a different clock rate than a clock of the second playback device during synchronous playback.