Method and apparatus for providing synchrony group status information
First Claim
1. A method performed by an audio processing device, the method comprising:
- connecting to one or both of a wide area network (WAN) and a local area network (LAN) via a network interface;
receiving audio information over one or both of the WAN and the LAN via the network interface;
generating playback timing information for the audio information;
dividing the audio information into a series of frames comprising audio content and playback timing information;
transmitting audio processing device clock timing information and the series of frames to at least one additional audio processing device over at least the LAN;
generating an analog signal based on the audio information;
using the audio information, the playback timing information, and the audio processing device clock time information to output the analog signal based on the audio information to a speaker of the audio processing device in synchrony with the at least one additional audio processing device, wherein the audio processing device and the at least one additional audio processing device remain independently clocked during the synchronous output of the analog signal; and
transmitting to a user interface module over the LAN, via the network interface, status information comprising a status of a synchrony group, wherein the synchrony group comprises the audio processing device and the at least one additional audio processing device as members.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method performed by an audio processing device, the method comprising:
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connecting to one or both of a wide area network (WAN) and a local area network (LAN) via a network interface; receiving audio information over one or both of the WAN and the LAN via the network interface; generating playback timing information for the audio information; dividing the audio information into a series of frames comprising audio content and playback timing information; transmitting audio processing device clock timing information and the series of frames to at least one additional audio processing device over at least the LAN; generating an analog signal based on the audio information; using the audio information, the playback timing information, and the audio processing device clock time information to output the analog signal based on the audio information to a speaker of the audio processing device in synchrony with the at least one additional audio processing device, wherein the audio processing device and the at least one additional audio processing device remain independently clocked during the synchronous output of the analog signal; and transmitting to a user interface module over the LAN, via the network interface, status information comprising a status of a synchrony group, wherein the synchrony group comprises the audio processing device and the at least one additional audio processing device as members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An audio processing device comprising:
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a network interface configured to connect the audio processing device to one or both of a wide area network (WAN) and a local area network (LAN); an audio information channelization device configured to (i) receive audio information via the network interface over one or both of the WAN and the LAN, (ii) generate playback timing information, (iii) divide the audio information into a series of frames comprising audio content and the playback timing information, and (iv) transmit audio processing device clock time information and the series of frames to at least one additional audio processing device over the LAN; an audio reproduction device interface configured to use the audio information, the playback timing information, and the audio processing device clock time information to output an audio signal in synchrony with the at least one additional audio processing device, wherein the audio processing device and the at least one additional audio processing device remain independently clocked during the synchronous output of the audio signal; and a user interface module interface configured to transmit, via the network interface to a user interface module over the LAN, status information that comprises a status of a synchrony group, wherein the synchrony group comprises the audio processing device and the at least one additional audio processing device as members. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause an audio processing device to:
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connect to one or both of a wide area network (WAN) and a local area network (LAN); receive audio information via one or both of the LAN and the WAN; generate playback timing information; divide the received audio information into a series of frames comprising audio content and the playback timing information; transmit audio processing device clock time information and the series of frames to at least one additional audio processing device; use the audio information, the playback timing information, and the audio processing device clock time information to output one or more analog signals in synchrony with the at least one additional audio processing device, wherein the audio processing device and the at least one additional audio processing device remain independently clocked during the synchronous output of the one or more analog signals; and transmit via the LAN to a user interface module, status information comprising a status of a synchrony group, wherein the synchrony group comprises the audio processing device and the at least one additional audio processing device as members. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification