Obtaining content from multiple remote sources for playback

• US 9,740,453 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• 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:
  US15/088,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20160216936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 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 comprising:

receiving, by a first playback device from a network device configured to control the first playback device and communicatively coupled to the first playback device over a network,

(a) first control information identifying a first audio information source, wherein the first audio information source is accessible by the first playback device via a wide area network (WAN); and

(b) second control information identifying a second audio information source, wherein the second audio information source is accessible by the first playback device via the WAN, and wherein the second audio information source is different from the first audio information source;

after receiving the first control information, (i) obtaining, via a network interface from the first audio information source, first audio information;

(ii) transmitting, via the network interface of the first playback device to a second playback device, the first audio information, playback timing information associated with the first audio information, and device clock information of the first playback device; and

(iii) playing back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device by using the playback timing information associated with the first audio information and the device clock information of the first playback device to play back the first audio information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the first audio information; and

after receiving the second control information, obtaining, via the network interface from the second audio information source, second audio information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after receiving the first control information, additionally (i) generating, by the first playback device, the playback timing information associated with the first audio information; and

(ii) generating, by the first playback device, the device clock information of the first playback device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control information further comprises one or more instructions for the first playback device and the second playback device to playback audio information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second playback devices are members of a synchrony group, and wherein the method further comprises:

transmitting, by the first playback device to the network device, status information that comprises a status of the synchrony group.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of each playback device in the synchrony group.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of a master playback device of the synchrony group.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, via the network interface of the first playback device to the second playback device, the second audio information, playback timing information associated with the second audio information, and device clock information of the first playback device; and

(iii) play back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device by using the playback timing information associated with the second audio information and the device clock information of the first playback device to play back the second audio information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the second audio information.

8. A first playback device comprising:

one or more processors;

a network interface; and

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

receive, via the network interface from a network device configured to control the first playback device and communicatively coupled to the first playback device over a network,

(a) first control information identifying a first audio information source, wherein the first audio information source is accessible by the first playback device via a wide area network (WAN); and

(b) second control information identifying a second audio information source, wherein the second audio information source is accessible by the first playback device via the WAN, and wherein the second audio information source is different from the first audio information source;

after receiving the first control information, (i) obtain, via the network interface from the first audio information source, first audio information;

(ii) transmit, via the network interface of the first playback device to a second playback device, the first audio information, playback timing information associated with the first audio information, and device clock information of the first playback device; and

(iii) play back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device by using the playback timing information associated with the first audio information and the device clock information of the first playback device to play back the first audio information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the first audio information; and

after receiving the second control information, obtain, via the network interface from the second audio information source, second audio information.

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:

generate the playback timing information associated with the first audio information; and

generate the device clock information of the first playback device.

10. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein the first control information further comprises one or more instructions for the first playback device and the second playback device to playback audio information.

11. The first playback device of claim 10, wherein the first and second playback devices are members of a synchrony group, and wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first playback device to:

transmit, to the network device, status information that comprises a status of the synchrony group.

12. The first playback device of claim 11, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of each playback device in the synchrony group.

13. The first playback device of claim 11, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of a master playback device of the synchrony group.

14. The first playback device of claim 13, wherein the first playback device is the master playback device of the synchrony group.

15. The first playback device of claim 11, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of one or more slave playback devices in the synchrony group, and wherein the second playback device is one of the one or more slave playback devices in the synchrony group.

16. The first playback device of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first playback device to:

transmit, via the network interface of the first playback device to the second playback device, the second audio information, playback timing information associated with the second audio information, and device clock information of the first playback device; and

(iii) play back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device by using the playback timing information associated with the second audio information and the device clock information of the first playback device to play back the second audio information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the first audio information.

17. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein the first audio information comprises one of audio files or packetized streaming audio information.

18. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein the first audio information source is an Internet-accessible audio information source, and wherein obtaining, from the first audio information source, the first audio information, comprises obtaining the first audio information from the Internet-accessible audio information source.

19. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein obtaining, from the first audio information source, the first audio information, comprises sending, to the first audio information source, a request for the first audio information.

20. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a first playback device to:

receive, via a network interface from a network device configured to control the first playback device and communicatively coupled to the first playback device over a network,

(a) first control information identifying a first audio information source, wherein the first audio information source is accessible by the first playback device via a wide area network (WAN); and

(b) second control information identifying a second audio information source, wherein the second audio information source is accessible by the first playback device via the WAN, and wherein the second audio information source is different from the first audio information source;

after receiving the first control information, (i) obtain, via the network interface from the first audio information source, first audio information;

(ii) transmit, via the network interface of the first playback device to a second playback device, the first audio information, playback timing information associated with the first audio information, and device clock information of the first playback device; and

(iii) play back the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device by using the playback timing information associated with the first audio information and the device clock information of the first playback device to play back the first audio information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the first audio information; and

after receiving the second control information, obtain, via the network interface from the second audio information source, second audio information.