Method and apparatus for displaying zones in a multi-zone system

• US 9,164,532 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Nicholas A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Survillo, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US13/435,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20120192071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/231
• 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 having independent clocking arrangements. A task distribution device is to distribute tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices to perform tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to synchrony group members 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 synchrony group members are to execute the task. Each synchrony group member periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device'"'"'s clock and its respective clock and determines there from a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a controller, information identifying a plurality of zones on a local area network (LAN) on which the controller is connected, each zone comprising a zone player that includes a digital to analog converter and amplifier and configured to form, under control of the controller, a group of two or more zones that play audio content in synchrony with each other, wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of zone players via the LAN;

displaying the plurality of zones on a screen of the controller;

the controller receiving a command to form a first group of two or more zones of the plurality of zones;

in response to receiving the command to form the first group of two or more zones, the controller configuring the first group, wherein configuring the first group comprises the controller configuring, over the LAN, a first zone player in the first group to (a) transmit audio content, playback timing for the audio content, and device clock information to every other zone player in the first group, and (b) play back the audio content in synchrony with every other zone player in the first group according to the playback timing and the device clock information, wherein the zone players in the first group remain independently clocked while playing the audio content in synchrony, and wherein the controller is not a member of the first group; and

after configuring the first group of two or more zones, the controller receiving status information over the LAN from at least one zone player of the first group.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command at the controller to play audio content in synchrony by the first group; and

in response to receiving the command to play audio content in synchrony by the first group, controlling, over the LAN, at least one of the zone players to play the audio content in synchrony with the first group.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the controller displaying a playlist of audio content to be played in synchrony by the first group.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the controller receiving a command to advance to a next track in a set of multimedia tracks for playback from an audio information source; and

in response to receiving the command to advance to the next track in the set of multimedia tracks, the controller controlling, over the LAN, at least one of the zone players to (a) obtain the next track in the set of multimedia tracks from the audio information source and (b) play the next track in synchrony with the first group.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the controller receiving a command to re-order tracks in a playlist of tracks to be played from an audio information source; and

in response to receiving the command to re-order the tracks in the playlist, the controller re-ordering the tracks in the playlist.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the controller receiving a command to form a second group of two or more zones of the plurality of zones; and

in response to receiving the command to form the second group of two or more zones, the controller configuring the second group, wherein configuring the second group comprises configuring, over the LAN, at least a second zone player of the plurality of zones to form the second group of two or more zones, wherein after the at least a second zone player has formed the second group, the controller is not a member of the second group.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the controller receiving a command to un-group a particular zone player from the first group of zones while the first group is playing back audio content in synchrony; and

in response to receiving the command to un-group the particular zone player from the first group of zones, the controller configuring, over the LAN, the particular zone player to leave the first group, wherein after the particular zone player has left the first group, one or more zone players remaining in the first group continue playing the audio content.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the controller receiving a command to add a particular zone to the first group of zones while the first group of zones is playing audio content in synchrony; and

in response to receiving the command to add the particular zone to the first group of zones, the controller configuring, over the LAN, at least one zone player of the particular zone to join the first group of zones, wherein after the at least one zone player of the particular zone has joined the first group of zones, (i) the at least one zone player of the particular zone plays the audio content in synchrony with all other zone players in the first group and (ii) the controller is not a member of the first group.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the controller receiving a command to cease playback of audio content by the first group; and

in response to receiving the command to cease playback of the audio content by the first group, the controller controlling, over the LAN, a master zone player of the first group to cease playback of the audio content, and wherein after the master zone player of the first group has ceased playback of the audio content, all other members of the first group cease playback of the audio content.

10. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable memory having instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a controller to perform a method comprising:

receiving, at the controller, information identifying a plurality of zones on a local area network (LAN) on which the controller is connected, each zone comprising a zone player that includes a digital to analog converter and amplifier and configured to form, under control of the controller, a group of two or more zones that play audio content in synchrony with each other, wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of zone players via the LAN;

displaying the plurality of zones on a screen of the controller;

receiving a command at the controller to form a first group of two or more zones of the plurality of zones;

in response to receiving the command to form the first group of two or more zones, configuring the first group, wherein configuring the first group comprises configuring, over the LAN, a first zone player in the first group to (a) transmit audio content, playback timing for the audio content, and device clock information to every other zone player in the first group, and (b) play back the audio content in synchrony with every other zone player in the first group according to the playback timing and the device clock information, wherein the zone players in the first group remain independently clocked while playing the audio content in synchrony, and wherein the controller is not a member of the first group; and

after configuring the first group of two or more zones, the controller receiving status information over the LAN from at least one zone player of the first group.

11. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to adjust volume for a particular zone player.

12. The computer readable memory of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to receiving the command to adjust the volume for the particular zone player, adjusting the volume of the particular zone player.

13. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to play audio content in synchrony by the first group; and

in response to receiving the command to play audio content in synchrony by the first group, controlling, over the LAN, at least one of the zone players to play the audio content in synchrony with the first group.

14. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying, at the controller, a playlist of audio content to be played in synchrony by the first group.

15. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to turn an audio information source on or off; and

in response to receiving the command to turn the audio information source on or off, either (a) when the command is a command to turn the audio information source on, turn on the audio information source or (b) when the command is a command to turn the audio information source off, turn off the audio information source.

16. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to advance to a next track in a set of multimedia tracks for playback from an audio information source; and

in response to receiving the command to advance to the next track in the set of multimedia tracks, controlling, over the LAN, at least one of the zone players to (a) obtain the next track in the set of multimedia tracks from the audio information source and (b) play the next track in synchrony with the first group.

17. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to re-order tracks in a playlist of tracks to be played from an audio information source; and

in response to receiving the command to re-order the tracks in the playlist, re-ordering the tracks in the playlist.

18. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to form a second group of two or more zones of the plurality of zones; and

in response to receiving the command to form the second group of two or more zones, configuring the second group, wherein configuring the second group comprises configuring, over the LAN, at least a second zone player of the plurality of zones to form the second group of two or more zones, wherein after the at least a second zone player has formed the second group, the controller is not a member of the second group.

19. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to un-group a particular zone player from the first group of zones while the first group is playing back audio content in synchrony; and

in response to receiving the command to un-group the particular zone player from the first group of zones, configuring, over the LAN, the particular zone player to leave the first group, wherein after the particular zone player has left the first group, one or more zone players remaining in the first group continue playing the audio content.

20. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to add a particular zone to the first group of zones while the first group of zones is playing audio content in synchrony; and

in response to receiving the command to add the particular zone to the first group of zones, configuring, over the LAN, at least one zone player of the particular zone to join the first group of zones, wherein after the at least one zone player of the particular zone has joined the first group of zones, (i) the at least one zone player of the particular zone plays the audio content in synchrony with all other zone players in the first group and (ii) the controller is not a member of the first group.

21. The computer readable memory of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to cease playback of audio content by the first group; and

in response to receiving the command to cease playback of the audio content by the first group, controlling, over the LAN, a master zone player of the first group to cease playback of the audio content, and wherein after the master zone player of the first group has ceased playback of the audio content, all other members of the first group cease playback of the audio content.

22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including a computer program, which when executed by one or more processors, causes an audio system controller to implement a method comprising:

receiving, at the controller, information identifying a plurality of zone players on a local area network (LAN) on which the controller is connected, each zone player comprising a digital to analog converter and amplifier, wherein each zone player is configured to form, under control of the controller, a group of two or more zone players that play audio content in synchrony with each other, wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of zone players via the LAN;

displaying the plurality of zone players on a screen of the controller;

receiving a command at the controller to form a first synchrony group comprising a first zone player and a second zone player, wherein the first and second zone players are zone players of the plurality of zone players;

in response to receiving the command to form the first synchrony group, configuring the first synchrony group, wherein configuring the first synchrony group comprises configuring one of the first or second zone players to (a) transmit audio content, playback timing for the audio content, and device clock information to the other of the first or second zone players, and (b) play back the audio content in synchrony with the other of the first or second zone players according to the playback timing and the device clock information, wherein the first and second zone players remain independently clocked while playing the audio content in synchrony; and

after configuring the first synchrony group, receiving status information over the LAN at the controller from at least one of the first or second zone players.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises receiving a command at the controller to adjust volume for the first zone player in the first synchrony group.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises, in response to receiving the command to adjust the volume for the first zone player, adjusting the volume for the first zone player.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to play audio content in synchrony by the first synchrony group; and

in response to receiving the command to play the audio content in synchrony by the first synchrony group, instructing, over the LAN, at least one of the first or second zone players to play the audio content, wherein after instructing the at least one of the first or second zone players to play the audio content, the first and second zone players play the audio content in synchrony.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying, at the controller, a playlist of audio content for playback in synchrony by the first synchrony group.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to turn an audio information source on or off; and

in response to receiving the command to turn the audio information source on or off, either (a) turning off the audio information source when the command is a command to turn the audio information source off and (b) turning on the audio information source when the command is a command to turn the audio information source on.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to advance to a next track in a set of multimedia tracks for playback by the first synchrony group from an audio information source; and

in response to receiving the command to advance to the next track in the set of multimedia tracks, controlling, over the LAN, the one of the first or second zone players to (a) obtain the next track in the set of multimedia tracks from the audio information source, (b) stream the obtained next track from the one of the first or second zone players to the other of the first or second zone players, and (c) play the obtained next track in synchrony with the other of the first or second zone players.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to re-order tracks in a playlist of tracks to be played by the first synchrony group from an audio information source; and

in response to receiving the command to re-order the tracks in the playlist, re-ordering the tracks in the playlist.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a message from at least one of the first or second zone players of the first synchrony group indicating a configuration change to the first synchrony group caused by configuration changes implemented by a second controller.

31. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to un-group the second zone player from the first synchrony group while the first synchrony group is playing back audio content in synchrony; and

in response to receiving the command to un-group the second zone player from the first synchrony group, configuring, over the LAN, the second zone player to leave the first synchrony group, wherein after the second zone player has left the first synchrony group, the first zone player and any other zone players remaining in the first synchrony group continue playing the audio content in synchrony.

32. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to add a third zone player to the first synchrony group while the first synchrony group is playing audio content in synchrony; and

in response to receiving the command to add the third zone player to the first synchrony group, configuring, over the LAN, the third zone player to join the first synchrony group, wherein after the third zone player has joined the first synchrony group, (i) the third zone player plays the audio content in synchrony with all other zone players in the first synchrony group and (ii) the controller is not a member of the first synchrony group.

33. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a command at the controller to cease playback of audio content by the first synchrony group; and

in response to receiving the command to cease playback of the audio content by the first synchrony group, controlling, over the LAN, the one of the first or second zone players to cease playback of the audio content, and wherein after the one of the first or second zone players has ceased playback of the audio content, all other members of the first synchrony group cease playback of the audio content.

34. A controller device comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller device to perform a method comprising;

receiving a command at the controller device to form a synchrony group comprising a first zone player and a second zone player;

in response to receiving the command to form the synchrony group, configuring the synchrony group, wherein configuring the synchrony group comprises configuring, over a Local Area Network (LAN), the first zone player to (a) transmit audio content, playback timing for the audio content, and device clock information to the second zone player and (b) play back the audio content in synchrony with the second zone player according to the playback timing and the device clock information, wherein the first and second zone players remain independently clocked while playing the audio content in synchrony, and wherein the controller device is not a member of the synchrony group; and

after the controller device has configured, the synchrony group, the controller device receiving status information over the LAN from at least one of the first or second zone players indicating that the first and second zone players in the synchrony group are configured to playback audio in synchrony with each other.