SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SYNCHRONIZING OPERATIONS AMONG A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENTLY CLOCKED DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING DEVICES THAT INDEPENDENTLY SOURCE DIGITAL DATA

• US 20140277655A1
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Nicholas A.J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,734,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• 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: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• 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 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages

Abstract

In a system for distributing data, distribution device is configured to distribute timestamp, offset and source location information for a digital data stream to an execution device, and the execution device is configured to seek digital data corresponding to the received information. The execution device is further configured to execute the digital data relative to a clock rate maintained by the distribution device. Related methods include receiving timestamp, offset and source location information for the digital data stream and seeking digital data corresponding to the received offset and source location information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a digital source location at a first independently clocked execution device;

seeking audio content by the first independently clocked execution device based on the digital source location and an offset;

receiving timing information used to coordinate play back of the audio content in synchrony with a second independently clocked execution device, where the second independently clocked execution device seeks the audio content separate from the first independently clocked execution device; and

reproducing the audio content by the first independently clocked execution device in synchrony with the second independently clocked execution device based on the received timing information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein first independently clocked execution device is to continue to retrieve audio content from the digital data source based on the digital source location and the offset and to correlate the retrieved audio content with subsequent timing information received in a subsequent message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a data forwarding restriction limits an ability for a single device to provide the audio content to the second independently clocked execution device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data forwarding restriction comprises digital rights management.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio content comprises digital data including frames and corresponding samples received from the digital data source in response to a request by the first independently clocked execution device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising executing, at the first independently clocked execution device, the digital data relative to an external clock rate.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising adjusting, at the first independently clocked execution device, a number of samples per frame of the digital data in relation to the external clock rate.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising adjusting, at the first independently clocked execution device, a clock rate of the first independently clocked execution device in relation to the external clock rate.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting received timing information relative to a rate of change in an audio information buffer associated with the first independently clocked execution device, and facilitating play back, at the first independently clocked execution device, of the audio content relative to the rate of change.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first independently clocked execution device is a master execution device configured to control distribution of audio content source location, offset, and timing information.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising enabling, via the master execution device, addition of another execution device to a synchrony group.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a timestamp relative to a clock rate maintained by the first independently clocked execution device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising playing back the audio content relative to the clock rate maintained by the first independently clocked execution device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising substituting a rate of change of an audio information buffer for the clock rate at the first independently clocked execution device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting a number of samples per frame of the audio content in relation to the rate of change in the audio information buffer.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting a clock rate of the first independently clocked execution device in relation to the rate of change in the audio information buffer.

17. A digital media apparatus comprising:

a first independently clocked execution device configured to;

receive an indication of a digital source location at the first independently clocked execution device;

seek audio content by the first independently clocked execution device based on the digital source location and an offset;

receive timing information used to coordinate play back of the audio content in synchrony with a second independently clocked execution device, where the second independently clocked execution device seeks the audio content separate from the first independently clocked execution device; and

reproduce the audio content by the first independently clocked execution device in synchrony with the second independently clocked execution device based on the received timing information.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein first independently clocked execution device is to continue to retrieve audio content from the digital data source based on the digital source location and the offset and to correlate the retrieved audio content with subsequent timing information received in a subsequent message.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the audio content comprises digital data including frames and corresponding samples received from the digital data source in response to a request by the first independently clocked execution device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first independently clocked execution device is further configured to execute the digital data relative to an external clock rate.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first independently clocked execution device is further configured to adjust a number of samples per frame of the digital data in relation to the external clock rate.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first independently clocked execution device is further configured to adjust a clock rate of the first independently clocked execution device in relation to the external clock rate.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first independently clocked execution device is further configured to adjust received timing information relative to a rate of change in an audio information buffer associated with the first independently clocked execution device, and to facilitate play back, at the first independently clocked execution device, of the audio content relative to the rate of change.