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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
First Claim
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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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