Selection of master device for synchronized audio

• US 10,264,358 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2017
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Torok, Fred, Pogue, Michael Alan, Gundeti, Vikram Kumar, Sundaram, Dharini
• Primary Examiner(s): Jerez Lora, William A
• Application Number:
  US15/433,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20180234765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 381 79, 381 80, 381 81, 381 85, 700 94
• 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: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/03 Connection circuits to selectively connect loudspeakers or headphones to amplifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• 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

Abstract

Synchronized output of audio on a group of devices can comprise sending audio data from an audio distribution master device to one or more slave devices in the group. Scores can be assigned to respective audio playback devices, the scores being indicative of a performance level of the respective audio playback devices acting as a master device. The device with the highest score is designated as a candidate master device and one or more remaining devices are designated as a candidate slave(s). A throughput test is conducted with the highest scoring device acting as the candidate master device. The results of the throughput test are used to determine a master device for a group of devices. Latency of the throughput test can be reduced by using a prescribed time period for completion of the throughput test, and/or by selecting a first group configuration to passes the throughput test.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a first signal strength value between a first audio playback device and a wireless access point (WAP) in an environment, the first signal strength value being a negative value;

assigning a first score to the first audio playback device that is computed by dividing a predefined negative value by the first signal strength value;

assigning a second score to a second audio playback device based at least in part on a second signal strength value between the second audio playback device and the WAP;

determining that the first score is greater than the second score;

designating the first audio playback device as a first candidate audio distribution master device based at least in part on the first score being greater than the second score;

designating the second audio playback device as a first candidate slave device;

determining that a data throughput value, based on an amount of data sent from the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device, is greater than a predefined threshold; and

selecting the first audio playback device as an audio distribution master device to which audio data is to be sent for synchronized output of audio content corresponding to the audio data by the first audio playback device and the second audio playback device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the amount of the data is sent to the second audio playback device from the first audio playback device;

designating the second audio playback device as a second candidate audio distribution master device;

designating the first audio playback device as a second candidate slave device;

determining that a second data throughput value, based on a second amount of second data sent from the second audio playback device to the first audio playback device, is greater than the predefined threshold;

determining that a predetermined time period has lapsed since the amount of the data was sent from the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device; and

determining that a first throughput test score associated with the data throughput value is greater than a second throughput test score associated with the second data throughput value,

wherein selecting the first audio playback device as the audio distribution master device is based at least in part on the first throughput test score being greater than the second throughput test score.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the first signal strength value by determining, at the first audio playback device, a first received signal strength indication (RSSI) value; and

determining the second signal strength value by determining, at the second audio playback device, a second RSSI value.

4. A method comprising:

determining a first score for a first audio playback device, wherein the first score is indicative of a first performance level of the first audio playback device when configured to send audio data to one or more other devices for synchronized output by the first audio playback device and the one or more other devices;

determining a second score for a second audio playback device, wherein the second score is indicative of a second performance level of the second audio playback device;

determining, based at least in part on the first score and the second score, that the first audio playback device is to send test data to the second audio playback device;

determining that the second audio playback device is to receive the test data from the first audio playback device;

determining that a data throughput value, based at least in part on an amount of the test data sent from the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device during a period of time, satisfies a predefined threshold; and

selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, future audio data for synchronized output by the first audio playback device and the second audio playback device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, the future audio data for the synchronized output occurs without determining additional data throughput values prior to selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, the future audio data for the synchronized output.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

after the amount of the test data is sent to the second audio playback device from the first audio playback device;

determining that a second data throughput value, based at least in part on a second amount of second test data sent from the second audio playback device to the first audio playback device during the period of time, satisfies the predefined threshold;

determining that a predetermined time period has lapsed since the amount of the test data was sent from the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device; and

determining that a first throughput test score associated with the data throughput value is greater than a second throughput test score associated with the second data throughput value,

wherein selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, the future audio data for the synchronized output is based at least in part on the first throughput test score being greater than the second throughput test score.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising, prior to determining that the first audio playback device is to send the test data to the second audio playback device:

determining a third score for a third audio playback device, wherein the third score is indicative of a third performance level of the third audio playback device; and

based at least in part on the third score;

determining that a second data throughput value, based at least in part on a second amount of second test data sent from the third audio playback device to the first audio playback device during the period of time, does not satisfy the predefined threshold; and

determining that a third data throughput value, based at least in part on a third amount of third test data sent from the third audio playback device to the second audio playback device during the period of time, does not satisfy the predefined threshold,

wherein selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, the future audio data for the synchronized output occurs without determining additional data throughput values prior to selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, the future audio data for the synchronized output.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a first signal strength value between the first audio playback device and a wireless access point (WAP); and

determining a second signal strength value between the second audio playback device and the WAP,

wherein the first score is based at least in part on the first signal strength value, and

wherein the second score is based at least in part on the second signal strength value.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a first type of the first audio playback device; and

determining a second type of the second audio playback device,

wherein the first score is based at least in part on the first type of the first audio playback device, and

wherein the second score is based at least in part on the second type of the second audio playback device.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining that a communications interface of the second audio playback device is at least one of sending or receiving other data at a time of determining the second score, wherein the second score is based at least in part on the communications interface sending or receiving the other data at the time of determining the second score.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising, after selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, the future audio data for the synchronized output:

determining that a second data throughput value, based at least in part on a second amount of second test data sent from the second audio playback device to the first audio playback device during the period of time, satisfies the predefined threshold;

determining that the second data throughput value is greater than the data throughput value; and

selecting the second audio playback device to send, to the first audio playback device, the future audio data, or different future audio data, for the synchronized output by the first audio playback device and the second audio playback device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first score is based at least in part on a first signal strength value between the first audio playback device and a wireless access point (WAP), and wherein the second score is based at least in part on a second signal strength value between the second audio playback device and the WAP, the method further comprising, after selecting the first audio playback device to send the future audio data for the synchronized output and prior to the second amount of the second test data being sent from the second audio playback device to the first audio playback device:

determining a third signal strength value associated with the first audio playback device;

assigning a third score to the first audio playback device based at least in part on the third signal strength value;

determining a fourth signal strength value associated with the second audio playback device;

assigning a fourth score to the second audio playback device based at least in part on the fourth signal strength value; and

determining to measure the second data throughput value based at least in part on the third score and the fourth score.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining that a predetermined period of time has lapsed prior to determining that the second data throughput value satisfies the predefined threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining that the first audio playback device has moved within an environment, wherein that the second data throughput value satisfies the predefined threshold is performed in response to determining that the first audio playback device has moved within the environment.

15. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices configured to enable synchronized audio playback by a first audio playback device and a second audio playback device,

wherein at least one of the one or more computing devices is configured to;

determine a first score for the first audio playback device, wherein the first score is indicative of a first performance level of the first audio playback device when configured to send audio data to one or more other devices for synchronized output by the first audio playback device and the one or more other devices;

determine a second score for the second audio playback device, wherein the second score is indicative of a second performance level of the second audio playback device;

determine, based at least in part on the first score and the second score, that the first audio playback device is to send test data to the second audio playback device;

determine that the second audio playback device is to receive the test data from the first audio playback device;

determine that a data throughput value, based at least in part on an amount of the test data sent from the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device during a period of time, satisfies a predefined threshold; and

select the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, future audio data for synchronized output by the first audio playback device and the second audio playback device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first score is based at least in part on a first signal strength value between the first audio playback device and a wireless access point (WAP), and wherein the second score is based at least in part on a second signal strength value between the second audio playback device and the WAP.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein a third audio playback device is located in an environment with the first audio playback device and the second audio playback device, and wherein at least one of the one or more computing devices is further configured to, prior to selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, the future audio data:

determine a second data throughput value associated with the third audio playback device; and

determine that the second data throughput value satisfies the predefined threshold.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the one or more computing devices is further configured to:

send, to at least one of the first audio playback device or the second audio playback device, information about a group configuration selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, the future audio data for the synchronized output and selecting the second audio playback device to receive, from the first audio playback device, the future audio data for the synchronized output.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, the future audio data for the synchronized output occurs without determining additional data throughput values prior to selecting the first audio playback device to send, to the second audio playback device, the future audio data for the synchronized output.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the first score is based at least in part on a first type of the first audio playback device, and wherein the second score is based at least in part on a second type of the second audio playback device.