Playback device

• US 10,185,540 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2018
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• 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:
  US16/052,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20180341456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 174 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 21/43076 : 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 system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device'"'"'s clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.

Claims

1. A method performed by a first playback device, the method comprising:

receiving, via an asynchronous data packet network, (i) clock timing information comprising at least one current time of a second playback device on the asynchronous data packet network, (ii) audio that is to be played by the first playback device, (iii) an identification of at least one task to be executed by the first playback device, wherein the at least one task comprises playing the received audio, and (iv) a particular future time at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task;

determining a differential between a time of a local clock of the first playback device and a given one or more times of the at least one current time of the second playback device on the data packet network, based on at least the received clock timing information;

determining a time, relative to the local clock of the first playback device, at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task, based on (i) the received particular future time at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task and (ii) the determined differential between the time of the local clock of the first playback device and the given one or more times of the at least one current time of the second playback device on the data packet network; and

playing the received audio at the determined time, relative to the local clock of the first playback device, at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the clock timing information comprises receiving the clock timing information from the second playback device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the audio comprises receiving the audio from the second playback device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the identification of the at least one task comprises receiving the identification of the at least one task from the second playback device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the particular time comprises receiving the particular future time from the second playback device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving (i) the clock timing information, (ii) the audio, (iii) the identification of at least one task, and (iv) the particular future time comprises receiving, from the second playback device, (i) the clock timing information, (ii) the audio, (iii) the identification of at least one task, and (iv) the particular future time.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein playing the received audio at the determined time, relative to the local clock of the first playback device, at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task comprises playing the received audio at the determined time in synchrony with the second playback device.

20. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein playing the received audio at the determined time, relative to the local clock of the first playback device, at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task comprises playing the received audio at the determined time in synchrony with the second playback device.

7. A first playback device comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the first playback device to perform functions comprising;

receiving, via an asynchronous data packet network, (i) clock timing information comprising at least one current time of a second playback device on the asynchronous data packet network, (ii) audio that is to be played by the first playback device, (iii) an identification of at least one task to be executed by the first playback device, wherein the at least one task comprises playing the received audio, and (iv) a particular future time at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task;

determining a differential between a time of a local clock of the first playback device and a given one or more times of the at least one current time of the second playback device on the data packet network, based on at least the received clock timing information;

determining a time, relative to the local clock of the first playback device, at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task, based on (i) the received particular future time at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task and (ii) the determined differential between the time of the local clock of the first playback device and the given one or more times of the at least one current time of the second playback device on the data packet network; and

playing the received audio at the determined time, relative to the local clock of the first playback device, at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task.

8. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein receiving the clock timing information comprises receiving the clock timing information from the second playback device.

9. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein receiving the audio comprises receiving the audio from the second playback device.

10. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein receiving the identification of the at least one task comprises receiving the identification of the at least one task from the second playback device.

11. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein receiving the particular future time comprises receiving the particular time from the second playback device.

12. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein receiving (i) the clock timing information, (ii) the audio, (iii) the identification of at least one task, and (iv) the particular future time comprises receiving, from the second playback device, (i) the clock timing information, (ii) the audio, (iii) the identification of at least one task, and (iv) the particular future time.

13. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, causes a first playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via an asynchronous data packet network, (i) clock timing information comprising at least one current time of a second playback device on the asynchronous data packet network, (ii) audio that is to be played by the first playback device, (iii) an identification of at least one task to be executed by the first playback device, wherein the at least one task comprises playing the received audio, and (iv) a particular future time at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task;

determining a differential between a time of a local clock of the first playback device and a given one or more times of the at least one current time of the second playback device on the data packet network, based on at least the received clock timing information;

determining a time, relative to the local clock of the first playback device, at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task, based on (i) the received particular future time at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task and (ii) the determined differential between the time of the local clock of the first playback device and the given one or more times of the at least one current time of the second playback device on the data packet network; and

playing the received audio at the determined time, relative to the local clock of the first playback device, at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein receiving the clock timing information comprises receiving the clock timing information from the second playback device.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein receiving the audio comprises receiving the audio from the second playback device.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein receiving the identification of the at least one task comprises receiving the identification of the at least one task from the second playback device.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein receiving the particular future time comprises receiving the particular time from the second playback device.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein receiving (i) the clock timing information, (ii) the audio, (iii) the identification of at least one task, and (iv) the particular future time comprises receiving, from the second playback device, (i) the clock timing information, (ii) the audio, (iii) the identification of at least one task, and (iv) the particular future time.

21. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein playing the received audio at the determined time, relative to the local clock of the first playback device, at which the first playback device is to execute the at least one task comprises playing the received audio at the determined time in synchrony with the second playback device.