Forwarding audio content based on network performance metrics

• US 10,687,110 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2018
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Gossain, Hrishikesh, Lang, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Elbin, Jesse A
• Application Number:
  US16/148,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20190037272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 700 94, 709224, 709230-234, 710 20, 710 29, 710 38, 710 52- 61, 455 306, 455 9, 455 10, 455 412, 455 413, 455421
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0001 Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff adaptive data allocation for multicarrier modulation H04L5/0044; controlling transmission power for radio systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• 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 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• 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 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality

Abstract

Embodiments described herein involve facilitating playback in a media playback system that includes a first media device and a second media device. An example implementation involves comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the second media device, wherein the comparison indicates that the first media device has a better network connection than the second media device. Based on the comparison, the first media device is configured to forward data indicating audio content from a network source to the second media device to facilitate playback of the audio content by the second media device. The second media device plays back particular audio content via one or more speakers by receiving data indicating the particular audio content from the first media device.

Claims

1. In a media playback system comprising multiple playback devices as nodes of a mesh network, the multiple playback devices comprising at least a first media device and a second media device, a method comprising:

comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the second media device, wherein the comparison indicates that the first media device has a better network connection than the second media device;

based on the comparison indicating that the first media device has a better network connection than the second media device, configuring the first media device as a first node of the mesh network to forward data indicating audio content via the mesh network from a network source to the second media device as a second node of the mesh network to facilitate playback of the audio content by the second media device, wherein the nodes of the mesh network consist of the multiple playback devices, the nodes excluding the network source, wherein a root node of the mesh network is connected to a local area network, and wherein the network source is connected to the mesh network via the root node; and

the second media device playing back particular audio content via one or more speakers, wherein playing back particular audio content comprises the second media device receiving, via the network interface of the second media device from the first media device, data indicating the particular audio content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

determining that a wired network connection of the first media device to a router is the better network connection as compared with a wireless network connection of the second media device to the router.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

determining that a wireless network connection of the first media device to a router is the better network connection as compared with the wireless network connection of the second media device to the router.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

comparing at least one of (a) a first received signal strength indication or (b) a first packet error rate corresponding to the network interface of the first media device with (a) a second received signal strength indication or (b) a second packet error rate corresponding to the network interface of the second media device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

determining that a root path cost from the first media device to a router is less than a root path cost from the second media device to the router.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second media device is configured as a group coordinator of a synchrony group that includes a third media device, and wherein playing back particular audio content comprises the second media device (i) forwarding at least a portion of the audio content to the third media device and (ii) sending audio playback timing information to the third media device to facilitate synchronous playback with the second media device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least of (a) a change in network topology of the media playback system or (b) an addition or removal of a given media device to the media playback system, wherein the media playback system compares the one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device in response to detecting at least of (a) the change in network topology of the media playback system or (b) the addition or removal of the given media device to the media playback system.

8. A media playback system comprising multiple playback devices as nodes of a mesh network, the multiple playback devices comprising at least a first media device and a second media device, wherein the media playback system is configured to perform functions comprising:

comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the second media device, wherein the comparison indicates that the first media device has a better network connection than the second media device;

based on the comparison indicating that the first media device has a better network connection than the second media device, configuring the first media device as a first node of the mesh network to forward data indicating audio content via the mesh network from a network source to the second media device as a second node of the mesh network to facilitate playback of the audio content by the second media device, wherein the nodes of the mesh network consist of the multiple playback devices, the nodes excluding the network source, wherein a root node of the mesh network is connected to a local area network, and wherein the network source is connected to the mesh network via the root node separate and distinct from the first media device and the second media devices; and

the second media device playing back particular audio content via one or more speakers, wherein playing back particular audio content comprises the second media device receiving, via the network interface of the second media device from the first media device, data indicating the particular audio content.

9. The media playback system of claim 8, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

determining that a wired network connection of the first media device to a router is the better network connection as compared with a wireless network connection of the second media device to the router.

10. The media playback system of claim 8, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

determining that a wireless network connection of the first media device to a router is the better network connection as compared with the wireless network connection of the second media device to the router.

11. The media playback system of claim 10, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

comparing at least one of (a) a first received signal strength indication or (b) a first packet error rate corresponding to the network interface of the first media device with (a) a second received signal strength indication or (b) a second packet error rate corresponding to the network interface of the second media device.

12. The media playback system of claim 8, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

determining that a root path cost from the first media device to a router is less than a root path cost from the second media device to the router.

13. The media playback system of claim 8, wherein the second media device is configured as a group coordinator of a synchrony group that includes a third media device, and wherein playing back particular audio content comprises the second media device (i) forwarding at least a portion of the audio content to the third media device and (ii) sending audio playback timing information to the third media device to facilitate synchronous playback with the second media device.

14. The media playback system of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

detecting at least of (a) a change in network topology of the media playback system or (b) an addition or removal of a given media device to the media playback system, wherein the media playback system compares the one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device in response to detecting at least of (a) the change in network topology of the media playback system or (b) the addition or removal of the given media device to the media playback system.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the second media device is configured as a group coordinator of a synchrony group that includes a third media device, and wherein playing back particular audio content comprises the second media device (i) forwarding at least a portion of the audio content to the third media device and (ii) sending audio playback timing information to the third media device to facilitate synchronous playback with the second media device.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the functions further comprise:

detecting at least of (a) a change in network topology of the media playback system or (b) an addition or removal of a given media device to the media playback system, wherein the media playback system compares the one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device in response to detecting at least of (a) the change in network topology of the media playback system or (b) the addition or removal of the given media device to the media playback system.

17. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when performed by one or more of a first media device and a second media device in a media playback system comprising multiple playback devices as nodes of a mesh network, the multiple playback devices comprising the first media device and the second media device, causes the media playback system to functions comprising:

comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to a network interface of the second media device, wherein the comparison indicates that the first media device has a better network connection than the second media device;

based on the comparison indicating that the first media device has a better network connection than the second media device, configuring the first media device as a first node of the mesh network to forward data indicating audio content via the mesh network from a network source to the second media device as a second node of the mesh network to facilitate playback of the audio content by the second media device, wherein the nodes of the mesh network consist of the multiple playback devices, the nodes excluding the network source, wherein a root node of the mesh network is connected to a local area network, and wherein the network source is connected to the mesh network via the root node separate and distinct from the first media device and the second media devices; and

the second media device playing back particular audio content via one or more speakers, wherein playing back particular audio content comprises the second media device receiving, via the network interface of the second media device from the first media device, data indicating the particular audio content.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

determining that a wired network connection of the first media device to a router is the better network connection as compared with a wireless network connection of the second media device to the router.

19. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

determining that a wireless network connection of the first media device to a router is the better network connection as compared with the wireless network connection of the second media device to the router.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein comparing one or more first network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the first media device to one or more second network performance metrics corresponding to the network interface of the second media device comprises:

comparing at least one of (a) a first received signal strength indication or (b) a first packet error rate corresponding to the network interface of the first media device with (a) a second received signal strength indication or (b) a second packet error rate corresponding to the network interface of the second media device.