Wireless coordination of audio sources
First Claim
1. A coordination device, comprising:
- one or more nodes configured to communicatively couple to one or more antennas;
an interface circuit communicatively coupled to the one or more nodes, wherein the coordination device is configured to;
receive, from the one or more nodes, input frames associated with electronic devices, wherein a given input frame comprises a transmit time when a given electronic device transmitted the given input frame;
store receive times when the input frames were received, wherein the receive times are based on a clock in the coordination device;
calculate current time offsets between clocks in the electronic devices and the clock in the coordination device based on the receive times and transmit times of the input frames, wherein the calculation of a given current time offset is based on a given difference is between a given transmit time and a given receive time for a given packet, and wherein the calculation is based on unilateral communication of timing information between a given electronic device and the coordination device; and
transmit, via the one or more nodes, one or more output frames that comprise audio content and playback timing information intended for the electronic devices, wherein the playback timing information specifies playback times when the electronic devices are to concurrently playback the audio content based on the current time offsets, andwherein the playback times of the electronic devices have a temporal relationship so that the playback of the audio content by the electronic devices is coordinated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An audio/video (A/V) hub that coordinates playback of audio content is described. In particular, the A/V hub may calculate current time offsets between clocks in electronic devices and a clock in the A/V hub based on differences between transmit times of frames from the electronic devices and receive times when the frames were received. For example, the current time offsets may be calculated using wireless ranging by ignoring distances between the A/V hub and the electronic devices. Then, the A/V hub may transmit, to the electronic devices, one or more frames that include audio content and playback timing information, which may specify playback times when the electronic devices are to playback the audio content based on the current time offsets. Furthermore, the playback times of the electronic devices may have a temporal relationship so that the playback of the audio content by the electronic devices is coordinated.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A coordination device, comprising:
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one or more nodes configured to communicatively couple to one or more antennas; an interface circuit communicatively coupled to the one or more nodes, wherein the coordination device is configured to; receive, from the one or more nodes, input frames associated with electronic devices, wherein a given input frame comprises a transmit time when a given electronic device transmitted the given input frame; store receive times when the input frames were received, wherein the receive times are based on a clock in the coordination device; calculate current time offsets between clocks in the electronic devices and the clock in the coordination device based on the receive times and transmit times of the input frames, wherein the calculation of a given current time offset is based on a given difference is between a given transmit time and a given receive time for a given packet, and wherein the calculation is based on unilateral communication of timing information between a given electronic device and the coordination device; and transmit, via the one or more nodes, one or more output frames that comprise audio content and playback timing information intended for the electronic devices, wherein the playback timing information specifies playback times when the electronic devices are to concurrently playback the audio content based on the current time offsets, and wherein the playback times of the electronic devices have a temporal relationship so that the playback of the audio content by the electronic devices is coordinated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use with a coordination device, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the coordination device, cause the coordination device to coordinate playback of audio content by carrying out one or more operations that comprise:
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receiving, from one or more nodes in the coordination device that are communicatively coupled to one or more antennas, input frames associated with electronic devices, wherein a given input frame comprises a transmit time when a given electronic device transmitted the given input frame; storing receive times when the input frames were received, wherein the receive times are based on a clock in the coordination device; calculating current time offsets between clocks in the electronic devices and the clock in the coordination device based on the receive times and transmit times of the input frames, wherein the calculation of a given current time offset is based on a given difference is between a given transmit time and a given receive time for a given packet, and wherein the calculation is based on unilateral communication of timing information between a given electronic device and the coordination device; and transmitting, via the one or more nodes, one or more output frames that comprise the audio content and playback timing information intended for the electronic devices, wherein the playback timing information specifies playback times when the electronic devices are to concurrently playback the audio content based on the current time offsets, and wherein the playback times of the electronic devices have a temporal relationship so that the playback of the audio content by the electronic devices is coordinated. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for coordinating playback of audio content, comprising:
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by a coordination device; receiving, from one or more nodes in the coordination device that are communicatively coupled to one or more antennas, input frames associated with electronic devices, wherein a given input frame comprises a transmit time when a given electronic device transmitted the given input frame; storing receive times when the input frames were received, wherein the receive times are based on a clock in the coordination device; calculating current time offsets between clocks in the electronic devices and the clock in the coordination device based on the receive times and transmit times of the input frames, wherein the calculation of a given current time offset is based on a given difference is between a given transmit time and a given receive time for a given packet, and wherein the calculation is based on unilateral communication of timing information between a given electronic device and the coordination device; and transmitting, via the one or more nodes, one or more output frames that comprise audio content and playback timing information intended for the electronic devices, wherein the playback timing information specifies playback times when the electronic devices are to concurrently playback the audio content based on the current time offsets, and wherein the playback times of the electronic devices have a temporal relationship so that the playback of the audio content by the electronic devices is coordinated.
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Specification