Switching between a directly connected and a networked audio source
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions executable by one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A first playback device comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification