Directing synchronous playback between zone players
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a synchrony group comprising a first zone player and a second zone player communicatively coupled to the first zone player;
wherein the first zone player comprises at least one processor and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the first zone player to perform first operations comprising;
receiving audio information over an asynchronous data network;
receiving clock timing information over the asynchronous data network;
receiving playback timing information associated with the audio information over the asynchronous data network, wherein the playback timing identifies a plurality of future playback times for a plurality of portions of the audio information at which the first zone player is to play the plurality of portions of the audio information; and
using the playback timing information and the clock timing information received over the asynchronous data network to play the audio information in synchrony with the second zone player; and
wherein the second zone player comprises at least one processor and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the second zone player to perform second operations comprising;
using the clock timing information and the playback timing information to play the audio information in synchrony with the playing of the audio information by the first zone player.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a network comprising a plurality of zone players, including at least a first zone player and a second zone player, a method comprising: receiving, by the first zone player, first control information from a user interface module; based on the received first control information, transmitting, by the first zone player, second control information to the second zone player, wherein the second control information comprises (i) a network address of an audio information channelization device that provides audio information and playback timing information, and (ii) a multicast address that the audio information channelization device uses to broadcast audio information and playback timing information to the network; and playing, by the first zone player, the audio information in synchrony with the second zone player.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a synchrony group comprising a first zone player and a second zone player communicatively coupled to the first zone player; wherein the first zone player comprises at least one processor and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the first zone player to perform first operations comprising; receiving audio information over an asynchronous data network; receiving clock timing information over the asynchronous data network; receiving playback timing information associated with the audio information over the asynchronous data network, wherein the playback timing identifies a plurality of future playback times for a plurality of portions of the audio information at which the first zone player is to play the plurality of portions of the audio information; and using the playback timing information and the clock timing information received over the asynchronous data network to play the audio information in synchrony with the second zone player; and wherein the second zone player comprises at least one processor and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the second zone player to perform second operations comprising; using the clock timing information and the playback timing information to play the audio information in synchrony with the playing of the audio information by the first zone player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions encoded thereupon, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a media playback system to perform a method comprising:
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a first zone player receiving audio information over an asynchronous data network; the first zone player receiving playback timing information and clock timing information over the asynchronous data network, wherein the playback timing identifies a plurality of future playback times for a plurality of portions of the audio information at which the first zone player is to play the plurality of portions of the audio information; the first zone player using the playback timing information and the clock timing information to play the audio information in synchrony with a second zone player; and the second zone player using the playback timing information and the clock timing information to play the audio information in synchrony with the playing of the audio information via the first zone player. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification