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

• US 10,031,715 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Nicholas A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Survillo, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US13/864,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20130231766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 709219, 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 plurality of zone players, including at least a first player and a second zone player, wherein the first zone player is designated as a master device of a synchrony group, a method comprising: determining, by the first zone player, that the second zone player should be designated as the master device of the synchrony group; instructing, by the first zone player, the second zone player to be designated as the master device of the synchrony group; and causing, at the first zone player, the first zone player to lose its designation as the master device of the synchrony group.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a first zone player performing a master device role for a synchrony group comprising the first zone player and a second zone player, wherein in the master device role, the first zone player is configured to control synchronous playback of audio information by both the first zone player and the second zone player in response to playback commands received from a controller device via a network interface of the first zone player, wherein the first zone player comprises one or more processors and at least one network interface;

while performing the master device role, the first zone player (i) evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player, and (ii) based on the evaluation, determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group;

in response to determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group, the first zone player initiating migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player; and

after migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player, the first zone player (i) ceasing to perform the master device role for the synchrony group, and (ii) playing back information content in synchrony with the second zone player while the second zone player is performing the master device role for the synchrony group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein while performing the master device role, evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player comprises the first zone player determining that at least one of the one or more processors of the first zone player is overloaded.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more operational performance metrics comprise a network latency metric, and wherein while performing the master device role, the first zone player evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player comprises the first zone player determining that migrating the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player would improve latency of message transmission within the synchrony group.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first zone player performing the master device role for a synchrony group comprises the first zone player transmitting to at least the second zone player (i) a network address of an audio information channelization device and (ii) a network address that the audio information channelization device uses to transmit audio information to the first zone player and the second zone player over a network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first zone player performing the master device role for the synchrony group comprises the first zone player transmitting to at least the second zone player:

(i) a network address that the first zone player uses to transmit audio information, (ii) audio information, and (iii) playback timing information for audio information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the first zone player receiving control information from a controller device, wherein the control information indicates that a third zone player should be added to the synchrony group; and

in response to receiving the control information, the first zone player transmitting slave control information to the third zone player, wherein the slave control information enables the third zone player to join the synchrony group as a slave device of the synchrony group.

7. A first zone player comprising:

one or more processors;

at least one network interface; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the first zone player, cause the first zone player to perform functions comprising;

performing a master device role for a synchrony group comprising the first zone player and a second zone player, wherein in the master device role, the first zone player is configured to control synchronous playback of information content by both the first zone player and the second zone player in response to playback commands received from a controller device via a network interface of the first zone player;

while performing the master device role, evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player, and based on the evaluation, determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group;

in response to determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group, initiating migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player; and

after migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player, ceasing to perform the master device role for the synchrony group, and playing back information content in synchrony with the second zone player while the second zone player is performing the master device role for the synchrony group.

8. The first zone player of claim 7, wherein while performing the master device role, evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player comprises the first zone player determining that at least one of the one or more processors of the first zone player is overloaded.

9. The first zone player of claim 7, wherein the one or more operational performance metrics comprise a network latency metric, and wherein while performing the master device role, evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player comprises the first zone player determining that migrating the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player would improve latency of message transmission within the synchrony group.

10. The first zone player of claim 7, wherein the first zone player performing the master device role for a synchrony group further comprises the first zone player transmitting to at least the second zone player (i) a network address of an audio information channelization device and (ii) a network address that the audio information channelization device uses to transmit audio information to the first zone player and the second zone player over a network.

11. The first zone player of claim 7, wherein the first zone player performing the master device role for the synchrony group further comprises the first zone player transmitting to at least the second zone player:

(i) a network address that the first zone player uses to transmit audio information, (ii) audio information, and (iii) playback timing information for audio information.

12. The first zone player of claim 7, wherein the functions further comprise, while the first zone player is performing the master device role:

the first zone player receiving control information from the controller device, wherein the control information indicates that a third zone player should be added to the synchrony group; and

in response to receiving the control information, the first zone player transmitting slave control information to the third zone player, wherein the slave control information enables the third zone player to join the synchrony group as a slave device of the synchrony group.

13. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a first zone player, cause the first zone player comprising one or more processors and at least one network interface to perform a method comprising:

performing a master device role for a synchrony group comprising the first zone player and a second zone player, wherein in the master device role, the first zone player is configured to control synchronous playback of audio information by both the first zone player and the second zone player in response to playback commands received from a controller device via a network interface of the first zone player;

while performing the master device role, evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player, and based on the evaluation, determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group;

in response to determining that the second zone player should perform the master device role for the synchrony group, initiating migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player; and

after migration of the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player, ceasing to perform the master device role for the synchrony group, and playing back information content in synchrony with the second zone player while the second zone player is performing the master device role for the synchrony group.

14. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein while performing the master device role, evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player comprises the first zone player determining that at least one of the one or more processors of the first zone player is overloaded.

15. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein while performing the master device role, evaluating one or more operational performance metrics of the one or more processors or the at least one network interface indicating potential degradation in performance of synchronous playback of information content by both the first and second zone player comprises the first zone player determining that migrating the master device role from the first zone player to the second zone player would improve latency of message transmission within the synchrony group.

16. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein the first zone player performing the master device role for a synchrony group further comprises the first zone player transmitting to at least the second zone player (i) a network address of an audio information channelization device and (ii) a network address that the audio information channelization device uses to transmit audio information to the first zone player and the second zone player over a network.

17. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein the first zone player performing the master device role for the synchrony group comprises the first zone player transmitting to at least the second zone player:

(i) a network address that the first zone player uses to transmit audio information, (ii) audio information, and (iii) playback timing information for audio information.

18. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises, while the first zone player is performing the master device role:

the first zone player receiving, control information from a controller device, wherein the control information indicates that a third zone player should be added to the synchrony group; and

in response to receiving the control information, the first zone player transmitting slave control information to the third zone player, wherein the slave control information enables the third zone player to join the synchrony group as a slave device of the synchrony group.