Synchronization of content between networked devices
First Claim
1. A media playback system comprising:
- a control device comprising;
a network interface configured to wirelessly communicate using a BLUETOOTH communication protocol;
a user interface configured to detect input from a user;
at least one processor;
at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium;
program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the control device is configured to;
receive, via the user interface, a command to initiate playback of media content, wherein the media content comprises video content and audio content associated with the video content; and
transmit, via the network interface, at least one message to a video playback device based on the command; and
the video playback device comprising;
a first network interface configured to wirelessly communicate usi ng the BLUETOOTH communication protocol;
a second network interface configured to communicate over at least one local area network (LAN);
at least one processor;
at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the video playback device is configured to;
join a synchrony group with at least one audio playback device;
receive, via the first network interface, the at least one message from the control device;
obtain, via the second network interface, the media content based on the at least one message;
determine an indication of when to begin playback of the media content;
transmit, via the second network interface, the indication of when to begin playback of the media content to the at least one audio playback device;
based on the indication of when to begin playback of the media content, output the video content in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the at least one audio playback device; and
while the video content is output in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the at least one audio playback device, transmit, via the second network interface, timing information to the at least one audio playback device to maintain lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the at least one audio playback device, wherein the transmitted timing information causes the at least one audio playback device to modify a playback rate of the corresponding audio content.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control device of media playback system receives a user command to initiate playback of video content and associated audio content and transmits a BLUETOOTH message based on the command to a video playback device. The video playback device receives the BLUETOOTH message, obtains the media content via a local area network (LAN), and determines an indication of when to begin playback of the media content. The video playback device transmits the indication to an audio playback device via the LAN and outputs the video content in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the audio playback device. While outputting the video content in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the audio playback device, the video playback device transmits timing information via the LAN to the audio playback device to maintain lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the audio playback device.
145 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A media playback system comprising:
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a control device comprising; a network interface configured to wirelessly communicate using a BLUETOOTH communication protocol; a user interface configured to detect input from a user; at least one processor; at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the control device is configured to; receive, via the user interface, a command to initiate playback of media content, wherein the media content comprises video content and audio content associated with the video content; and transmit, via the network interface, at least one message to a video playback device based on the command; and the video playback device comprising; a first network interface configured to wirelessly communicate usi ng the BLUETOOTH communication protocol; a second network interface configured to communicate over at least one local area network (LAN); at least one processor; at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the video playback device is configured to; join a synchrony group with at least one audio playback device; receive, via the first network interface, the at least one message from the control device; obtain, via the second network interface, the media content based on the at least one message; determine an indication of when to begin playback of the media content; transmit, via the second network interface, the indication of when to begin playback of the media content to the at least one audio playback device; based on the indication of when to begin playback of the media content, output the video content in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the at least one audio playback device; and while the video content is output in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the at least one audio playback device, transmit, via the second network interface, timing information to the at least one audio playback device to maintain lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the at least one audio playback device, wherein the transmitted timing information causes the at least one audio playback device to modify a playback rate of the corresponding audio content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20)
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13. A method performed by a media playback system comprising a control device and a video playback device, the method comprising:
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receiving, via a user interface of the control device, a command to initiate playback of media content, wherein the media content comprises video content and audio content associated with the video content; and transmitting, via a network interface of the control device using a BLUETOOTH communication protocol, at least one message to the video playback device based on the command; receiving, via a first network interface of the video playback device using the BLUETOOTH communication protocol, the at least one message from the control device; obtaining, via a second network interface of the video playback device, the media content based on the at least one message; determining, using the video playback device, an indication of when to begin playback of the media content; transmitting, via the second network interface of the video playback device, the indication of when to begin playback of the media content to at least one audio playback device; based on the indication of when to begin playback of the media content, outputting, using the video playback device, the video content in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the at least one audio playback device; and while outputting the video content in lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the at least one audio playback device, transmitting, via the second network interface of the video playback device, timing information to the at least one audio playback device to maintain lip-synchrony with playback of the corresponding audio content by the at least one audio playback device, wherein the transmitted timing information causes the at least one audio playback device to modify a playback rate of the corresponding audio content. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification