Obtaining content from direct source and remote source

• US 10,175,932 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• 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:
  US14/516,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20150036994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 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

Examples include a playback device with a network interface and memory with program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the playback device to (a) receive, via the network interface from a network device communicatively coupled to the playback device over a local area network (LAN), an address identifying a network location of first audio information available at an audio information source, where the audio information source is outside of the LAN, (b) obtain, via the network interface from the audio information source, the first audio information, (c) receive, from a second audio information source connected to the playback device via a direct communication link, second audio information, and (d) play back one of the first audio information and the second audio information.

Claims

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

receiving, via a first interface of the first playback device from a network device communicatively coupled to the first playback device over an asynchronous local area network (LAN), an address identifying a network location of first audio information available at a first audio information source, wherein the first audio information source is outside of the LAN;

obtaining the first audio information via the first interface of the first playback device from the first audio information source, transmitting the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to a second playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device; and

selectively change from (i) receiving the first audio information from the first audio information source, transmitting the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to (ii) receiving second audio information from a second audio information source connected to the first playback device via a direct communication link between a second interface of the first playback device and the second audio information source, transmitting the second audio information and the device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating first playback timing information based on the first audio information; and

transmitting the first playback timing information to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN via the first interface, and wherein using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises using the device clock timing of the first playback device and the first playback timing information to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating second playback timing information based on the second audio information; and

transmitting the second playback timing information to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN via the first interface, and wherein using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to play the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises using the device clock timing of the first playback device and the second playback timing information to play the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising before selectively changing from (i) receiving the first audio information from the first audio information source, transmitting the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to (ii) receiving second audio information from a second audio information source connected to the first playback device via a direct communication link between the second interface of the first playback device and the second audio information source, transmitting the second audio information and the device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device:

receiving a notification for a third playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the first playback device; and

in response to receiving the notification, additionally transmitting the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the third playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device and to play the first audio information in synchrony with both the second playback device and the third playback device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising after selectively changing from (i) receiving the first audio information from the first audio information source, transmitting the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to (ii) receiving second audio information from a second audio information source connected to the first playback device via a direct communication link between the second interface of the first playback device and the second audio information source, transmitting the second audio information and the device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device:

additionally transmitting the second audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the third playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device and to play the second audio information in synchrony with both the second playback device and the third playback device.

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

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second audio information comprises receiving an analog audio signal.

8. A first playback device comprising:

a first interface;

a second interface; and

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

receive, via the first interface, from a network device communicatively coupled to the first playback device over an asynchronous local area network (LAN), an address identifying a network location of first audio information available at a first audio information source, wherein the first audio information source is outside of the LAN;

obtain, via the first interface, from the first audio information source, the first audio information, transmit the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to a second playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and use the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device; and

selectively change from (i) receiving the first audio information from the first audio information source, transmitting the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to (ii) receiving second audio information from a second audio information source connected to the first playback device via a direct communication link between the second interface of the first playback device and the second audio information source, transmitting the second audio information and the device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play back the second audio information in synchrony with 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:

generate first playback timing information based on the first audio information; and

transmit the first playback timing information to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN via the first interface, and wherein using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises using the device clock timing of the first playback device and the first playback timing information to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

10. 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 second playback timing information based on the second audio information; and

transmit the second playback timing information to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN via the first interface, and wherein using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to play the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises using the device clock timing of the first playback device and the second playback timing information to play the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

11. 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, before selectively changing from (i) receiving the first audio information from the first audio information source, transmitting the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to (ii) receiving second audio information from a second audio information source connected to the first playback device via a direct communication link between the second interface of the first playback device and the second audio information source, transmitting the second audio information and the device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device:

receive a notification for a third playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the first playback device; and

in response to receiving the notification, additionally transmit the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the third playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and use the device clock timing of the first playback device and to play the first audio information in synchrony with both the second playback device and the third playback device.

12. The first playback device of claim 11, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first playback device to, after selectively changing from (i) receiving the first audio information from the first audio information source, transmitting the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to (ii) receiving second audio information from a second audio information source connected to the first playback device via a direct communication link between the second interface of the first playback device and the second audio information source, transmitting the second audio information and the device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device:

additionally transmit the second audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the third playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and use the device clock timing of the first playback device and to play the second audio information in synchrony with both the second playback device and the third playback device.

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

14. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein the first audio information source is an Internet-accessible audio information source.

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

16. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein the direct communication link does not comprise the LAN.

17. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein receiving second audio information from the second audio information source connected to the first playback device via the direct communication link between the second interface of the first playback device and the second audio information source comprises receiving an analog audio signal via the direct communication link.

18. The first playback device of claim 8, wherein playing the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises generating a first analog audio signal based on the first audio information, and wherein playing the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device comprises generating a second analog audio signal based on the second audio information.

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

receive, via a first interface of the first playback device from a network device communicatively coupled to the first playback device over an asynchronous local area network (LAN), an address identifying a network location of first audio information available at a first audio information source, wherein the first audio information source is outside of the LAN;

obtain the first audio information via the first interface of the first playback device from the first audio information source, transmitting the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to a second playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device; and

selectively changing from (i) receiving the first audio information from the first audio information source, transmitting the first audio information and device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play the first audio information in synchrony with the second playback device to (ii) receiving second audio information from a second audio information source connected to the first playback device via a direct communication link between a second interface of the first playback device and the second audio information source, transmitting the second audio information and the device clock timing of the first playback device to the second playback device via the first interface over the asynchronous LAN, and using the device clock timing of the first playback device to play back the second audio information in synchrony with the second playback device.

20. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the direct communication link does not comprise the LAN.