System and Method for Synchronizing Operations Among a Plurality of Independently Clocked Digital Data Processing Devices

• US 20140181270A1
• Filed: 02/19/2014
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Nicholas A.J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,207,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• 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: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device'"'"'s clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An audio processing device comprising:

a network interface configured to connect the audio processing device to a network;

an audio information channelization device configured to receive audio via the network interface;

an audio reproduction device interface configured to output the audio; and

a user interface module interface configured to transmit, via the network interface to a user interface module, status information that comprises a status of a synchrony group, wherein the audio processing device and at least one additional audio processing device are each members of the synchrony group.

22. The audio processing device of claim 21, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of the members of the synchrony group.

23. The audio processing device of claim 22, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of a master member of the synchrony group.

24. The audio processing device of claim 22, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of one or more slave members of the synchrony group.

25. The audio processing device of claim 21, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of the audio currently being played by the members of the synchrony group.

26. The audio processing device of claim 21, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of audio scheduled to be played by the members of the synchrony group.

27. The audio processing device of claim 21, wherein the user interface module interface is further configured to transmit the status information via the network interface to multiple additional user interface modules.

28. The audio processing device of claim 21, wherein the audio information channelization device is further configured to transmit the audio via the network interface to the members of the synchrony group.

29. A tangible computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed cause a device to:

connect to a network;

receive audio via the network;

output the audio; and

transmit status information via the network to a user interface module, wherein the status information comprises a status of a synchrony group, wherein the device and at least one additional device are each members of the synchrony group.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of the members of the synchrony group.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of a master member of the synchrony group.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of one or more slave members of the synchrony group.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of the audio currently being played by the members of the synchrony group.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of audio scheduled to be played by the members of the synchrony group.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, further comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed cause the device to:

transmit the audio via the network to the members of the synchrony group.

36. A method performed by an audio processing device, the method comprising:

connecting to a network via a network interface;

receiving audio via the network interface;

outputting the audio; and

transmitting to a user interface module, via the network interface, status information comprising a status of a synchrony group, wherein the audio processing device and at least one additional device are each members of the synchrony group.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of the members of the synchrony group.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of a master member of the synchrony group.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of one or more slave members of the synchrony group.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of the audio currently being played by the members of the synchrony group.