Media playback system with virtual line-in
First Claim
1. A system comprising a first native playback device configured as a first Virtual Line In (VLI) receiver of a VLI group, wherein the VLI group is configured to (i) receive via an input interface of a first VLI device, a command to play back audio content and (ii) send, via a network interface of the first VLI device, a VLI domain audio stream representing the audio content to one or more VLI receivers of the VLI group, and wherein the first native playback device is configured to perform functions as the VLI receiver of the VLI group comprising:
- receiving, via a network interface of the first native playback device, the VLI domain audio stream representing the audio content;
converting, via one or more processors, the VLI domain audio stream to a native domain audio stream at a rate set by a device clock of the first native playback device;
receiving, from a VLI domain timing server, a VLI domain clock signal;
deriving a virtual clock signal synchronized to the VLI domain clock signal;
providing the derived virtual clock signal as a seed to a native domain timing server to generate a native domain clock signal synchronized to the VLI domain clock signal;
decoding, via the one or more processors, the native domain audio stream at a rate set by the native domain clock signal; and
playing back the decoded native domain audio stream.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Example systems and techniques disclosed herein facilitate interoperability between different media playback systems referred to herein as a virtual line-in (VLI) media playback system and a native playback system. When a VLI session is created by a VLI sender, a first native playback device can join a VLI group as a VLI receiver. As a VLI receiver, the first native playback device receives audio content and playback commands from the VLI sender to facilitate synchronous playback with other VLI receivers. At the same time, this native playback device can concurrently operate as a native domain group coordinator of a native domain synchrony group. As the native domain group coordinator, the native playback device translates VLI domain audio, control, and timing signals into the native domain and distributes such signals to native domain group members. In this way, the native domain group members can synchronize their playback with the VLI group.
45 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A system comprising a first native playback device configured as a first Virtual Line In (VLI) receiver of a VLI group, wherein the VLI group is configured to (i) receive via an input interface of a first VLI device, a command to play back audio content and (ii) send, via a network interface of the first VLI device, a VLI domain audio stream representing the audio content to one or more VLI receivers of the VLI group, and wherein the first native playback device is configured to perform functions as the VLI receiver of the VLI group comprising:
-
receiving, via a network interface of the first native playback device, the VLI domain audio stream representing the audio content; converting, via one or more processors, the VLI domain audio stream to a native domain audio stream at a rate set by a device clock of the first native playback device; receiving, from a VLI domain timing server, a VLI domain clock signal; deriving a virtual clock signal synchronized to the VLI domain clock signal; providing the derived virtual clock signal as a seed to a native domain timing server to generate a native domain clock signal synchronized to the VLI domain clock signal; decoding, via the one or more processors, the native domain audio stream at a rate set by the native domain clock signal; and playing back the decoded native domain audio stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method to be performed by a system comprising a first native playback device configured as a first Virtual Line In (VLI) receiver of a VLI group, wherein the VLI group is configured to (i) receive via an input interface of a first VLI device, a command to play back audio content and (ii) send, via a network interface of the first VLI device, a VLI domain audio stream representing the audio content to one or more VLI receivers of the VLI group, and wherein the first native playback device is configured as the VLI receiver of the VLI group to perform steps of the method comprising:
-
receiving, via a network interface of the first native playback device, the VLI domain audio stream representing the audio content; converting, via one or more processors, the VLI domain audio stream to a native domain audio stream at a rate set by a device clock of the first native playback device; receiving, from a VLI domain timing server, a VLI domain clock signal; deriving a virtual clock signal synchronized to the VLI domain clock signal; providing the derived virtual clock signal as a seed to a native domain timing server to generate a native domain clock signal synchronized to the VLI domain clock signal; decoding, via the one or more processors, the native domain audio stream at a rate set by the native domain clock signal; and playing back the decoded native domain audio stream. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification