Method and apparatus for switching between a directly connected and a networked audio source

• US 10,445,054 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2014
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• 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:
  US14/184,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20140177875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,064 Days
• Field of Search: 709205, 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 21/43076 : 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 audio playback device, the method comprising:

receiving a first analog signal comprising first audio information from an audio information source connected to the first audio playback device via a cable connecting an audio information source interface of the first audio playback device to the audio information source, wherein the audio information source is external to the first audio playback device;

generating packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information, wherein the first playback timing information comprises a plurality of future playback times at which corresponding portions of the first audio information are to be played;

transmitting the packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information to a second audio playback device, and playing back the first audio information in synchrony with the second audio playback device based on the first playback timing information and first clock timing information of a clock of the first audio playback device;

receiving packets comprising second audio information and second playback timing information via a network interface, wherein the second playback timing information comprises a plurality of future playback times at which corresponding portions of the second audio information are to be played;

receiving one or more playback control commands via the network interface;

in response to receiving the one or more playback control commands, (i) terminating playback of the first audio information, and (ii) playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the first clock timing information; and

while receiving the second audio information and second playback timing information via the network interface and playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information, continuing transmitting packets comprising the first audio information and the first playback timing information from the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device via the network interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the packets comprising the second audio information comprise audio files or packetized streaming audio information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information comprises generating an individual packet comprising (i) a portion of the first audio information and (b) a future time at which to play the portion of the first audio information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second clock timing information;

determining a time differential between the clock at the first audio playback device and the second clock timing information; and

wherein playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information comprises playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the time differential.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the time differential comprises (i) using the time differential to generate updated second playback timing information for the second audio information, and (ii) playing back the second audio information according to the updated second playback timing information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the received second audio information and second playback timing information for the second audio information is contained within packets addressed using a multicast address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the received second audio information and second playback timing information for the second audio information is contained within packets addressed using a unicast address.

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

receiving a first analog signal comprising first audio information from an audio information source connected to the first audio playback device via a cable connecting the audio information source and the first audio playback device, wherein the audio information source is external to the first audio playback device;

generating packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information, wherein the first playback timing information comprises a plurality of future playback times at which corresponding portions of the first audio information are to be played;

transmitting packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information to a second audio playback device, and playing back the first audio information in synchrony with the second audio playback device based on the first playback timing information and first clock timing information of a clock of the first audio playback device;

receiving packets comprising second audio information and second playback timing information via a network interface;

receiving one or more commands via the network interface;

after receiving the one or more commands, (i) terminating playback of the first audio information, and (ii) playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the first clock timing information; and

while receiving the second audio information and second playback timing information via the network interface and playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information, continuing to transmit packets comprising the first audio information and the first playback timing information from the first audio playback device to the second audio playback device via the network interface.

9. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 8, wherein the packets comprising second audio information comprise audio files or packetized streaming audio information.

10. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 8, wherein generating the packets containing the first audio information and first playback timing information comprises generating an individual packet comprising (i) a portion of the first audio information and (b) a future time at which to play the portion of the first audio information.

11. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 8, wherein the one or more commands are received from a user interface module.

12. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 8, wherein the stored instructions further cause the first audio playback device to perform further functions comprising:

storing at least one of the first audio information or the second audio information in an audio information buffer.

13. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 8, wherein the received second audio information and second playback timing information are contained within one or more packets addressed using either a unicast or a multicast address.

14. A first audio playback device comprising:

an audio information source interface configured to receive a first analog signal comprising first audio information from an audio information source connected to the first audio playback device via a cable connecting the audio information source interface of the first audio playback device to the audio information source, wherein the audio information source is external to the first audio playback device, and wherein the first audio playback device is configured to generate packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information and transmit the packets comprising the first audio information and the first playback timing information to a second audio playback device, wherein the first playback timing information comprises a plurality of future playback times at which the first audio playback device and the second audio playback device are to play corresponding portions of the first audio information;

a network interface configured to receive packets comprising second audio information and second playback timing information, wherein the second playback timing information includes a plurality of future playback times at which the first audio playback device is to play corresponding portions of the second audio information;

wherein the first audio playback device is further configured to perform functions comprising;

(i) playing back the first audio information in synchrony with the second audio playback device based on the first playback timing information and first clock timing information of a clock of the first audio playback device, (ii) receiving one or more commands while playing back the first audio information in synchrony with the second audio playback device, and (iii) in response to receiving the one or more commands, (a) terminating playback of the first audio information, and (b) playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the first clock timing information; and

wherein while receiving the second audio information and second playback timing information via the network interface and playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information, the first audio playback device is further configured to continue transmitting packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information to the second audio playback device via the network interface.

15. The first audio playback device of claim 14, wherein the packets comprising second audio information comprise audio files or packetized streaming audio information.

16. The first audio playback device of claim 14, wherein generating the packets comprising the first audio information and first playback timing information comprises generating an individual packet comprising (i) a portion of the first audio information and (b) a future time at which to play the portion of the first audio information.

17. The first audio playback device of claim 14, wherein the first audio playback device is further configured to perform further functions comprising:

(i) receiving second clock timing information and (ii) determining a time differential between the clock at the first audio playback device and the second clock timing information, and wherein (iii) playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information comprises playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the time differential.

18. The first audio playback device of claim 17, wherein playing back the second audio information based on the second playback timing information and the time differential comprises using the time differential to generate updated second playback timing information for the second audio information, and playing back the second audio information according to the updated second playback timing information.

19. The first audio playback device of claim 14, wherein the received packets comprising second audio information and second playback timing information for the second audio information are addressed using a multicast address.

20. The first audio playback device of claim 14 wherein the received packets comprising the second audio information and the second playback timing information for the second audio information are addressed using a unicast address.