Obtaining content from direct source and other source

• US 9,727,304 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• 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:
  US15/155,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20160261692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 709219, 709220, 709231
• 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 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.

Claims

1. A method performed by a first playback device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a network device,

(i) a stream of first audio content over a direct communication link and

(ii) a first set of one or more commands;

in response to receiving the first set of one or more commands, playing the first audio content;

receiving, from the network device over a local area network (LAN), a second set of one or more commands to play second audio content in synchrony with a second playback device, wherein the second audio content is stored at a network location separate from the network device; and

in response to receiving the second set of one or more commands,

(i) obtaining the second audio content,

(ii) transmitting the second audio content, playback timing information for the second audio content, and first playback device clock information to the second playback device over the LAN, and

(iii) playing the second audio content in synchrony with the second playback device according to the playback timing information for the second audio content and the first playback device clock information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked while playing the second audio content in synchrony.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting to the second playback device, the first audio content, playback timing information for the first audio content, and first playback device clock information; and

playing the first audio content in synchrony with the second playback device according to the playback timing information for the first audio content and the first playback device clock information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while playing the first audio content, transmitting the second audio content to the second playback device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the second audio content comprises obtaining the second audio content via the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the direct communication link does not comprise the LAN.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second audio content comprises one of audio files or packetized streaming audio content.

7. A first playback device comprising:

one or more processors

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the first playback device to;

receive, from a network device,

(i) a stream of first audio content over a direct communication link and

(ii) a first set of one or more commands;

in response to receiving the first set of one or more commands, play the first audio content;

receive, from the network device over a local area network (LAN), a second set of one or more commands to play second audio content in synchrony with a second playback device, wherein the second audio content is stored at a network location separate from the network device; and

in response to receiving the second set of one or more commands,

(i) obtain the second audio content,

(ii) transmit the second audio content, playback timing information for the second audio content, and first playback device clock information to the second playback device over the LAN, and

(iii) play the second audio content in synchrony with the second playback device according to the playback timing information for the second audio content and the first playback device clock information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked while playing the second audio content in synchrony.

8. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first playback device to:

transmit the first audio content to the second playback device.

9. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first playback device to:

transmit playback timing information for the first audio content and first playback device clock information to the second playback device,

play the first audio content in synchrony with the second playback device according to the playback timing information for the first audio content and the first playback device clock information.

10. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first playback device to:

during play back of the first audio content, transmit the second audio content to the second playback device.

11. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first playback device to:

while playing the first audio content, transmitting the second audio content to the second playback device.

12. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein the second audio content comprises one of audio files or packetized streaming audio content.

13. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein obtaining the second audio content comprises obtaining the second audio content via the Internet.

14. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein obtaining the second audio content comprises sending to the network location separate from the network device a request for the second audio content.

15. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein the direct communication link does not comprise the LAN.

16. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein obtaining the second audio content comprises obtaining an analog audio signal.

17. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein playing back the first audio content comprises generating an analog audio signal based on the first audio content.

18. The first playback device of claim 7, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first playback device to:

in response to receiving the second set of one or more commands, stop playing back the first audio content.

19. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by a first playback device, cause the first playback device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, from a network device,

(i) a stream of first audio content over a direct communication link and

(ii) a first set of one or more commands;

in response to receiving the first set of one or more commands, playing the first audio content;

receiving, from the network device over a local area network (LAN), a second set of one or more commands to play second audio content in synchrony with a second playback device, wherein the second audio content is stored at a network location separate from the network device; and

in response to receiving the second set of one or more commands,

(i) obtaining the second audio content,

(ii) transmitting the second audio content, playback timing information for the second audio content, and first playback device clock information to the second playback device over the LAN, and

(iii) playing the second audio content in synchrony with the second playback device according to the playback timing information for the second audio content and the first playback device clock information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked while playing the second audio content in synchrony.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the functions further comprise:

transmitting to the second playback device, the first audio content, playback timing information for the first audio content, and first playback device clock information; and

playing the first audio content in synchrony with the second playback device according to the playback timing information for the first audio content and the first playback device clock information.