Method and apparatus to receive, play, and provide audio content in a multi-zone system
First Claim
1. A method performed by a computing device, the method comprising:
- playing first audio information stored in a computer-readable memory at the computing device via a speaker associated with the computing device;
while playing the first audio information, receiving a first set of one or more selection and playback commands selecting a first playback device and a second playback device to play the first audio information;
in response to receiving the first set of one or more selection and playback commands, (i) streaming the first audio information over a local area network (LAN), wherein each of the first and second playback devices receive the streaming first audio information from either (a) the computing device or (b) the other of the first or second playback devices, and (ii) controlling, over the LAN, the first and second playback devices to play the first audio information at substantially the same time;
while playing the first audio information, receiving a second set of one or more selection and playback commands selecting the first playback device and the second playback device to play second audio information from a location accessible via a wide area network (WAN);
in response to receiving the second set of one or more selection and playback commands and while playing the first audio information, (i) obtaining the second audio information from the WAN location, (ii) streaming the second audio information over the LAN from the computing device, wherein each of the first and second playback devices receive the streaming second audio information from either (a) the computing device or (b) the other of the first or second playback devices and (iii) controlling, over the LAN, the first and second playback devices to play the second audio information at substantially the same time;
while streaming the second audio information over the LAN from the computing device, receiving a third set of one or more selection and playback commands for the computing device to switch from playing the first audio information to playing the second audio information; and
in response to receiving the third set of one or more selection and playback commands, switching from playing the first audio information to playing the second 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 there from 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
36 Claims
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1. A method performed by a computing device, the method comprising:
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playing first audio information stored in a computer-readable memory at the computing device via a speaker associated with the computing device; while playing the first audio information, receiving a first set of one or more selection and playback commands selecting a first playback device and a second playback device to play the first audio information; in response to receiving the first set of one or more selection and playback commands, (i) streaming the first audio information over a local area network (LAN), wherein each of the first and second playback devices receive the streaming first audio information from either (a) the computing device or (b) the other of the first or second playback devices, and (ii) controlling, over the LAN, the first and second playback devices to play the first audio information at substantially the same time; while playing the first audio information, receiving a second set of one or more selection and playback commands selecting the first playback device and the second playback device to play second audio information from a location accessible via a wide area network (WAN); in response to receiving the second set of one or more selection and playback commands and while playing the first audio information, (i) obtaining the second audio information from the WAN location, (ii) streaming the second audio information over the LAN from the computing device, wherein each of the first and second playback devices receive the streaming second audio information from either (a) the computing device or (b) the other of the first or second playback devices and (iii) controlling, over the LAN, the first and second playback devices to play the second audio information at substantially the same time; while streaming the second audio information over the LAN from the computing device, receiving a third set of one or more selection and playback commands for the computing device to switch from playing the first audio information to playing the second audio information; and in response to receiving the third set of one or more selection and playback commands, switching from playing the first audio information to playing the second audio information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Tangible non-transitory computer readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing device to perform functions comprising:
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playing first audio information stored in a computer-readable memory at the computing device via a speaker associated with the computing device; while playing the first audio information, receiving a first set of one or more selection and playback commands selecting a first playback device and a second playback device to play the first audio information; in response to receiving the first set of one or more selection and playback commands, (i) streaming the first audio information over a local area network (LAN), wherein each of the first and second playback devices receive the streaming first audio information from either (a) the computing device or (b) the other of the first or second playback devices, and (ii) controlling, over the LAN, the first and second playback devices to play the first audio information at substantially the same time; while playing the first audio information, receiving a second set of one or more selection and playback commands selecting the first playback device and the second playback device to play second audio information from a location accessible via a wide area network (WAN); in response to receiving the second set of one or more selection and playback commands and while playing the first audio information, (i) obtaining the second audio information from the WAN location, (ii) streaming the second audio information over the LAN from the computing device, wherein each of the first and second playback devices receive the streaming second audio information from either (a) the computing device or (b) the other of the first or second playback devices and (iii) controlling, over the LAN, the first and second playback devices to play the second audio information at substantially the same time; while streaming the second audio information over the LAN from the computing device, receiving a third set of one or more selection and playback commands for the computing device to switch from playing the first audio information to playing the second audio information; and in response to receiving the third set of one or more selection and playback commands, switching from playing the first audio information to playing the second audio information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computing device comprising:
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one or more processors; and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory with instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising; playing, via a speaker associated with the computing device, first audio information from a location accessible via a local area network (LAN) at the computing device; while playing the first audio information, receiving a first set of one or more selection and playback commands selecting a first playback device and a second playback device to play the first audio information; in response to receiving the first set of one or more selection and playback commands, (i) streaming the first audio information over the LAN, wherein each of the first and second playback devices receive the streaming first audio information from either (a) the computing device or (b) the other of the first or second playback devices, and (ii) controlling, over the LAN, the first and second playback devices to play the first audio information at substantially the same time; while playing the first audio information, receiving a second set of one or more selection and playback commands selecting the first playback device and the second playback device to play second audio information from an Internet location; in response to receiving the second set of one or more selection and playback commands and while playing the first audio information, (i) obtaining the second audio information from the Internet location, (ii) streaming the second audio information over the LAN from the computing device, wherein each of the first and second playback devices receive the streaming second audio information from either (a) the computing device or (b) the other of the first or second playback devices and (iii) controlling, over the LAN, the first and second playback devices to play the second audio information at substantially the same time; while streaming the second audio information over the LAN from the computing device, receiving a third set of one or more selection and playback commands for the computing device to switch from playing the first audio information to playing the second audio information; and in response to receiving the third set of one or more selection and playback commands, switching from playing the first audio information to playing the second audio information. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification