Facilitating the resolution of address conflicts in a networked media playback system

• US 9,935,863 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2016
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Gossain, Hrishikesh, Graziani, Jose, Peters, Jeffrey M., Agerbak, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nano, Sargon
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDAYE, KIDEST H
• Application Number:
  US15/359,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20170078181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use

Abstract

Examples are disclosed and described to facilitate resolution of Internet Protocol address conflicts. An example method includes periodically broadcasting, by the playback device over the network, a probe message, detecting, by the playback device, a change in status associated with the connection, based on the detection, obtaining, by the playback device, a new Internet Protocol (IP) address; and based on the detection, including, by the playback device in at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection, an indication for other playback devices on the network to obtain a new IP address.

Claims

1. In a network comprising at least a first audio playback device, a second audio playback device, and an access point that has assigned corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the first and second audio playback devices, wherein there is a connection via a wire between the access point and the first audio playback device, a method comprising:

periodically broadcasting, by the first audio playback device over the network, a probe message;

detecting, by the first audio playback device, a change in power status associated with the access point;

based on the detection, obtaining, by the first audio playback device, a new IP address from the access point;

based on the detection, including, by the first audio playback device in at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection, an indication for other playback devices on the network to obtain a new IP address, wherein the other audio playback devices comprise the second audio playback device, and wherein the first audio playback device and the second audio playback device are each zone players on the network; and

after broadcasting the at least one probe message with the indication, (a) receiving, by the first audio playback device a stream of audio content and (b) playing, by the first audio playback device the audio content in synchrony with playing of the audio content by the second audio playback device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wire comprises an Ethernet cable.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes an indication that the probe is to be forwarded.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes a sequence number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes a MAC address associated with the playback device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes a time-to-live associated with the at least one probe message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the time-to-live comprises a round trip propagation delay through the network.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution by a processor, the set of instructions, when executed, cause a first audio playback device to:

periodically broadcast a probe message over a network, the network comprising the first audio playback device, a second audio playback device, and an access point that has assigned corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the first and second audio playback devices, wherein there is a connection via a wire between the access point and the first audio playback device;

detect a change in power status associated with the access point;

based on the detection, obtain a new IP address from the access point; and

based on the detection, include in at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection, an indication for other playback devices on the network to obtain a new IP address, wherein the other audio playback devices comprise the second audio playback device, and wherein the first audio playback device and the second audio playback device are each zone players on the network; and

after broadcasting the at least one probe message with the indication, (a) receive a stream of audio content and (b) play the audio content in synchrony with playing of the audio content by the second audio playback device.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein a wire associated with the wired connection comprises an Ethernet cable.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes an indication that the probe is to be forwarded.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes a sequence number.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes a MAC address associated with the playback device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes a time-to-live associated with the at least one probe message.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the time-to-live comprises a round trip propagation delay through the network.

15. A first audio playback device comprising:

a network interface;

a processor;

data storage; and

program logic stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to;

periodically broadcast a probe message over a network, the network comprising the first audio playback device, a second audio playback device, and an access point that has assigned corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the first and second audio playback devices, wherein there is a connection via a wire between the access point and the first audio playback device;

detect a change in power status associated with the access point;

based on the detection, obtain a new IP address from the access point; and

based on the detection, include in at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection, an indication for other playback devices on the network to obtain a new IP address, wherein the other audio playback devices comprise the second audio playback device, and wherein the first audio playback device and the second audio playback device are each zone players on the network; and

after broadcasting the at least one probe message with the indication, (a) receive a stream of audio content and (b) play the audio content in synchrony with playing of the audio content by the second audio playback device.

16. The playback device of claim 15, wherein a wire associated with the wired connection comprises an Ethernet cable.

17. The playback device of claim 15, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes an indication that the probe is to be forwarded.

18. The playback device of claim 15, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes a sequence number.

19. The playback device of claim 15, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes a MAC address associated with the playback device.

20. The playback device of claim 15, wherein the at least one probe message broadcast subsequent to the detection further includes a time-to-live associated with the at least one probe message.