System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices
First Claim
1. A method of implementing synchronized audio play back amongst a plurality of audio devices, wherein the method is performed by a computing device, and wherein the method comprises:
- receiving control information from a user interface that controls audio playback in a plurality of zones on a local network, each zone containing at least one audio device, the control information comprising a user selection of at least two zones of the plurality of zones to establish a synchrony group, wherein the computing device is further configured to reproduce audio information upon command;
retrieving audio information from any of a locally stored digital audio file, a remotely stored digital audio file via a wide area network, and a streaming digital audio service;
transmitting to the audio devices of the at least two zones, current clock timing information for a clock of the computing device; and
transmitting the audio information and playback timing information to the audio devices of the at least two zones over the local network from the computing device, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device, and wherein the playback timing information identifies a playback time relative to the clock of the computing device, and is for use in playback of the audio information by the audio devices of the at least two zones in synchrony, wherein the audio devices of the at least two zones remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information.
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Accused Products
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 therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of implementing synchronized audio play back amongst a plurality of audio devices, wherein the method is performed by a computing device, and wherein the method comprises:
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receiving control information from a user interface that controls audio playback in a plurality of zones on a local network, each zone containing at least one audio device, the control information comprising a user selection of at least two zones of the plurality of zones to establish a synchrony group, wherein the computing device is further configured to reproduce audio information upon command; retrieving audio information from any of a locally stored digital audio file, a remotely stored digital audio file via a wide area network, and a streaming digital audio service; transmitting to the audio devices of the at least two zones, current clock timing information for a clock of the computing device; and transmitting the audio information and playback timing information to the audio devices of the at least two zones over the local network from the computing device, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device, and wherein the playback timing information identifies a playback time relative to the clock of the computing device, and is for use in playback of the audio information by the audio devices of the at least two zones in synchrony, wherein the audio devices of the at least two zones remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of implementing synchronized audio play back amongst a plurality of audio devices, wherein the method is performed by a first audio device, and wherein the method comprises:
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transmitting identifying information associated with the first audio device from the first audio device to a computing device; receiving a configuration command from the computing device to join a synchrony group with at least a second audio device; receiving audio information, current clock timing information, and playback timing information over a local network from the computing device, the computing device transmitting the audio information, the current clock timing information, and the playback timing information to the audio devices of the synchrony group, wherein the first audio device is included in a first zone of the synchrony group and a second audio device is included in a second zone of the synchrony group, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device and transmitted to the first and second audio devices of the synchrony group, and wherein the first audio device uses the current clock timing information and the playback timing information to playback the audio information in synchrony with the second audio device, wherein the first and second audio devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information; and converting the audio information from a digital form into an analog signal to be output based on the current clock timing information and the playback timing information via an amplifier and a speaker driver.
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4. A computing device comprising:
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one or more processors; and tangible, non-transitory computer readable media having stored therein instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors cause the computing device to perform a method comprising; receiving, by the computing device, control information from a user interface that controls audio play back in a plurality of zones on a local network, each zone containing at least one audio device, the control information comprising a user selection of at least two zones of the plurality of zones to establish a synchrony group, wherein the computing device is further configured to reproduce audio information upon command; retrieving, by the computing device, audio information from any of a locally stored digital audio file, a remotely stored digital audio file via a wide area network, and a streaming digital audio service; transmitting, by the computing device to the audio devices of the at least two zones, current clock timing information for a clock of the computing device; and transmitting audio information and playback timing information to the audio devices of the at least two zones over the local network from the computing device, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device, and wherein the playback timing information identifies a playback time relative to the clock of the computing device, and is for use in playback of the audio information by the audio devices of the at least two zones in synchrony, wherein the audio devices of the at least two zones remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A first audio device comprising:
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one or more processors; and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first audio device to perform a method for providing synchronized audio playback amongst a plurality of audio devices comprising the first audio device and at least a second audio device, the method comprising; transmitting, by the first audio device to a computing device, identifying information associated with the first audio device; receiving, at the first audio device from the computing device, a configuration command to join a synchrony group with at least a second audio device; receiving, by the first audio device, audio information, current clock timing information, and playback timing information over a local network from the computing device, the computing device transmitting the audio information, the current clock timing information, and the playback timing information to the first and second audio devices of the synchrony group, wherein the first audio device is included in a first zone of the synchrony group and the second audio device is included in a second zone of the synchrony group, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device and transmitted to the first and second audio devices of the synchrony group, and wherein the first audio device uses the current clock timing information and the playback timing information to playback the audio information in synchrony with the second audio device, wherein the first and second audio devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information; and converting, by the first audio device, the audio information from a digital form into an analog signal to be output based on the current clock timing information and the playback timing information via an amplifier and a speaker driver. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A first audio device comprising:
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one or more processors; and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first audio device to perform a method comprising; transmitting, by the first audio device, identifying information associated with the first audio device; receiving, at the first audio device, a configuration command to join a synchrony group with at least a second audio device; receiving audio information, current clock timing information, and playback timing information over a local network from a computing device, the computing device transmitting the audio information, the current clock timing information, and the playback timing information to the synchrony group comprising the first audio device and the second audio device, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device and transmitted to the first and second audio devices, and wherein the first audio device uses the current clock timing information and the playback timing information to playback the audio information in synchrony with the second audio device, wherein the first and second audio devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information; and converting, by the first audio device, the audio information from a digital form into an analog signal to be output according to the current clock timing information and the playback timing information via an amplifier and a speaker driver. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method for providing synchronized audio play back amongst a plurality of audio devices, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the computing device, control information from a user interface that controls audio play back in a plurality of zones on a local network, each zone containing at least one audio device, the control information comprising a user selection of at least two zones of the plurality of zones to establish a synchrony group, wherein the computing device is further configured to reproduce audio information upon command; retrieving, by the computing device, audio information from any of a locally stored digital audio file, a remotely stored digital audio file via a wide area network, and a streaming digital audio service; transmitting, by the computing device to the audio devices of the at least two zones, current clock timing information for a clock of the computing device; and transmitting audio information and playback timing information to the audio devices of the at least two zones over the local network from the computing device, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device, and wherein the playback timing information identifies a playback time relative to the clock of the computing device, and is for use in playback of the audio information by the audio devices of the at least two zones in synchrony, wherein the audio devices of the at least two zones remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions, wherein the instructions when executed by one or more processors cause a first audio device to perform a method comprising:
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transmitting, by the first audio device to a computing device, identifying information associated with the first audio device; receiving, at the first audio device from the computing device, a configuration command to join a synchrony group with at least a second audio device; receiving, by the first audio device, audio information, current clock timing information, and playback timing information over a local network from the computing device, the computing device transmitting the audio information, the current clock timing information, and the playback timing information to the first and second audio devices of the synchrony group, wherein the first audio device is included in a first zone of the synchrony group and a second audio device is included in a second zone of the synchrony group, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device and transmitted to the first and second audio devices of the synchrony group, and wherein the first audio device uses the current clock timing information and the playback timing information to playback the audio information in synchrony with the second audio device, wherein the first and second audio devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information; and converting, by the first audio device, the audio information from a digital form into an analog signal to be output based on the current clock timing information and the playback timing information via an amplifier and a speaker driver.
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Specification