Method and apparatus for dynamic channelization device switching in a synchrony group

• US 9,354,656 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Nicholas A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Survillo, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US13/864,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20130231765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 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

Receiving, at a first zone player, information identifying a location of audio information; when the audio information is accessible by the first zone player (i) obtaining, by the first zone player, the audio information, and (ii) providing, by the first zone player, the audio information to a synchrony group; and when the audio information is inaccessible by the first zone player, instructing, by the first zone player, a second zone player to (i) obtain the audio information, and (ii) provide the audio information to the synchrony group.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a first playback device receiving instructions via a network from a controller to play audio information from an audio information source, wherein the first playback device is a member of a synchrony group comprising the first playback device and a second playback device, wherein every member of the synchrony group is a playback device configured to play audio information in synchrony with every other playback device in the synchrony group, and wherein the controller is not a member of the synchrony group;

detecting whether the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device;

when the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device (i) obtaining the audio information from the audio information source, and (ii) transmitting the audio information via the network to at least the second playback device; and

when the audio information source is not accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device instructing the second playback device to (i) obtain the audio information from the audio information source, and (ii) transmit the audio information via the network to at least the first playback device; and

the first playback device playing the obtained audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device additionally transmitting playback timing information to at least the second playback device; and

when the audio information source is not accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device additionally instructing the second playback device to transmit playback timing information to at least the first playback device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device remain independently clocked while the first playback device is playing the audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

4. A first playback device comprising:

a network interface configured to connect the first playback device to a network;

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer readable memory having program code stored therein, wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the first playback device to perform a method comprising;

receiving instructions via the network from a controller to play audio information from an audio information source, wherein the first playback device is a member of a synchrony group comprising the first playback device and a second playback device, wherein every member of the synchrony group is a playback device configured to play audio information in synchrony with every other playback device in the synchrony group, and wherein the controller is not a member of the synchrony group;

detecting whether the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device;

when the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device (i) obtaining the audio information from the audio information source, and (ii) transmitting the audio information via the network to at least the second playback device; and

when the audio information source is not accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device instructing the second playback device to (i) obtain the audio information from the audio information source, and (ii) transmit the audio information via the network to at least the first playback device; and

the first playback device playing the obtained audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

5. The first playback device of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

when the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device, additionally transmitting playback timing information, via the network interface, to at least the second playback device.

6. The first playback device of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:

when the audio information source is not accessible by the first playback device, additionally instructing the second playback device to transmit playback timing information to at least the first playback device.

7. The first playback device of claim 4, wherein transmitting the audio information to at least the second playback device comprises the first playback device transmitting the audio information via the network interface to the second playback device.

8. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device remain independently clocked while the first playback device is playing the audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

9. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

when the audio information source is not accessible by the first playback device, and after the first playback device has instructed the second playback device to (i) obtain the audio information from the audio information source, and (ii) transmit the audio information to at least the first playback device, additionally;

receiving the audio information from the second playback device.

10. The first playback device of claim 4, wherein the first playback device transmitting the audio information to at least the second playback device comprises the first playback device transmitting, via the network interface, the audio information to the second playback device and a third playback device.

11. The first playback device of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

the first playback device leaving the synchrony group; and

after the first playback device has left the synchrony group, and when the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device continuing to (i) obtain the audio information from the audio information source, and (ii) transmit the audio information to at least the second playback device.

12. The first playback device of claim 4, wherein instructing the second playback device to obtain the audio information from the audio information source and transmit the audio information to at least the first playback device comprises:

transmitting to the second playback device (i) a network address for the audio information source, and (ii) an identification of all the playback devices in the synchrony group to which the second playback device is to transmit the audio information.

13. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having program code stored therein, wherein the program code, when executed by a first playback device, causes the first playback device to perform a method comprising:

the first playback device receiving instructions via a network from a controller to play audio information from an audio information source, wherein the first playback device is a member of a synchrony group comprising the first playback device and a second playback device, wherein every member of the synchrony group is a playback device configured to play audio information in synchrony with every other playback device in the synchrony group, and wherein the controller is not a member of the synchrony group;

detecting whether the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device;

when the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device (i) obtaining the audio information from the audio information source, and (ii) transmitting the audio information via the network to at least the second playback device; and

when the audio information source is not accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device instructing the second playback device to (i) obtain the audio information from the audio information source, and (ii) transmit the audio information via the network to at least the first playback device; and

the first playback device playing the obtained audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable media of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

when the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device additionally transmitting playback timing information to at least the second playback device.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable media of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

when the audio information source is not accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device additionally instructing the second playback device to transmit playback timing information to at least the first playback device.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable media of claim 13, wherein the first playback device transmitting the audio information to at least the second playback device comprises:

the first playback device transmitting the audio information to the second playback device and a third playback device.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable media of claim 13, wherein the first playback device and the second playback device remain independently clocked while the first playback device is playing the audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

the first playback device leaving the synchrony group; and

after leaving the synchrony group, and when the audio information source is accessible by the first playback device, the first playback device continuing to (i) obtain the audio information from the audio information source, and (ii) transmit the audio information to at least the second playback device.

19. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable media of claim 13, wherein the first playback device instructing the second playback device to obtain the audio information from the audio information source and transmit audio information to at least the first playback device comprises:

the first playback device transmitting to the second playback device, (i) a network address for the audio information source, and (ii) an identification of one or more additional playback devices to which the second playback device is to transmit the audio information.