Playback Device Operating States

• US 20160342385A1
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Published: 11/24/2016
• 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 10,140,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/00 Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00 architectures of general purpose stored program computers G06F15/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/12 Synchronisation of different clock signals provided by a plurality of clock generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2322 using timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/63 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/638 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• 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: G11B 20/10527 : Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10592 : specifically adapted for recording or reproducing multichannel signals
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/00 : Gain control in amplifiers or frequency changers
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 : Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 : Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 : Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/20 : digital audio broadcasting [DAB]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0644 : External master-clock
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0664 : unidirectional timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 : Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 : Session establishment or de-establishment
• 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 65/61 : for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 : for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 : for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 : for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 : Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 : Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 : Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 : of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 : Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7904 : using intermediate digital signal processing
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 : one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 : Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group

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. A first playback device comprising:

one or more processors;

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the first playback device to;

receive, from a controller device via at least one data network, control information;

selectively operate, based on at least the control information received from the controller device, in one of a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (A) an individual state and (B) a synchrony group state that comprises one of a first synchrony group state and a second synchrony group state, and wherein;

while in the individual state the first playback device is operable to (1) obtain, from a first audio information source, first audio information and (2) play back the first audio information individually;

while in the first synchrony group state the first playback device is operable to (1) obtain, from a second audio information source, second audio information, (2) provide the second audio information to a second playback device, and (3) play back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device; and

while in the second synchrony group state the first playback device is operable to (1) obtain, from the second playback device, third audio information and (2) play back the third audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

2. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the received control information is first received control information, and wherein the first received control information causes the first playback device to selectively operate in the individual state, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first playback device to:

receive, from the controller device while operating in the individual state, second control information; and

transition, based on at least the second control information received from the controller device, from operating in the individual state to operating in the synchrony group state.

3. The first playback device of claim 2, wherein operating in the synchrony group state comprises operating in the first synchrony group state.

4. The first playback device of claim 2, wherein operating in the synchrony group state comprises operating in the second synchrony group state.

5. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the received control information is first received control information, and wherein the first received control information causes the first playback device to selectively operate in the synchrony group state, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first playback device to:

receive, from the controller device while operating in the synchrony group state, second control information; and

transition, based on at least the second control information received from the controller device, from operating in the synchrony group state to operating in the individual state.

6. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein, while in the first synchrony group state, the first playback device is further operable to:

provide, to the second playback device, playback timing information.

7. The first playback device of claim 6, wherein, while in the first synchrony group state, the first playback device is further operable to:

provide, to the second playback device, device clock information.

8. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein, while in the second synchrony group state, the first playback device is further operable to:

obtain, from the second playback device, playback timing information, wherein playing back the third audio information comprises playing back the third audio information in synchrony with the second playback device based on the playback timing information.

9. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein, while in the second synchrony group state, the first playback device is further operable to:

obtain, from the second playback device, device clock information, wherein playing back the third audio information comprises playing back the third audio information in synchrony with the second playback device based on the playback timing information and the device clock information.

10. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first audio information source and the second audio information source are the same.

11. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the first audio information, the second audio information, and the third audio information are the same.

12. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the received control information is first received control information, wherein the plurality of states further comprises a third synchrony group state, and wherein the first received control information causes the first playback device to selectively operate in the first synchrony group state, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first playback device to:

receive, from the controller device while operating in the first synchrony group state, second control information; and

transition, based on at least the second control information received from the controller device, from operating in the first synchrony group state to operating in the third synchrony group state, wherein, while in in the third synchrony group state, the first playback device is operable to;

obtain, from a third playback device, fourth audio information; and

play back the fourth audio information in synchrony with the third playback device.

13. The first playback device of claim 6, wherein the received control information is first received control information, wherein the plurality of states further comprises a third synchrony group state, and wherein the first received control information causes the first playback device to selectively operate in the second synchrony group state, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first playback device to:

receive, from the controller device while operating in the second synchrony group state, second control information; and

transition, based on at least the second control information received from the controller device, from operating in the second synchrony group state to operating in the third synchrony group state, wherein, while in in the third synchrony group state, the first playback device is operable to;

obtain, from the second audio information source via a WAN, fourth audio information;

provide the fourth audio information to a third playback device; and

play back the fourth audio information in synchrony with the third playback device.

14. The first playback device of claim 13, wherein the second playback device and the third playback device are the same.

15. The first playback device of claim 14, wherein the playback timing information is first playback timing information, wherein, while in the second synchrony group state, the first playback device is further operable to:

obtaining, from the third playback device, second playback timing information.

16. The first playback device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of states further comprise a direct connection state, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the first playback device to:

selectively operate, based on at least the control information received from the controller device, in the direct connection state, wherein, while in the direct connection state, the first playback device is further operable to;

obtain, from a directly connected audio information source, fourth audio information; and

play back the fourth audio information.

17. The first playback device of claim 16, wherein, while in the direct connection state, the first playback device is further operable to:

provide the fourth audio information to the second playback device.

18. The first playback device of claim 17, wherein, while in the direct connection state, the first playback device is further operable to:

provide, to the second playback device, playback timing information.

19. A method performed by a first playback device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a controller device via at least one data network, control information;

selectively operating, based on at least the control information received from the controller device, in one of a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (A) an individual state and (B) a synchrony group state that comprises one of a first synchrony group state and a second synchrony group state, and wherein;

while operating in the individual state, (1) obtaining, from a first audio information source, first audio information and (2) playing back the first audio information individually;

while operating in the first synchrony group state, (1) obtaining, from a second audio information source, second audio information, (2) providing the second audio information to a second playback device, and (3) playing back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device; and

while operating in the second synchrony group state, (1) obtaining, from the second playback device, third audio information and (2) playing back the third audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

20. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by a first playback device, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, from a controller device via at least one data network, control information;

selectively operating, based on at least the control information received from the controller device, in one of a plurality of states, wherein the plurality of states comprises (A) an individual state and (B) a synchrony group state that comprises one of a first synchrony group state and a second synchrony group state, and wherein;

while operating in the individual state, (1) obtaining, from a first audio information source, first audio information and (2) playing back the first audio information individually;

while operating in the first synchrony group state, (1) obtaining, from a second audio information source, second audio information, (2) providing the second audio information to a second playback device, and (3) playing back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device; and

while operating in the second synchrony group state, (1) obtaining, from the second playback device, third audio information and (2) playing back the third audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.