Method and apparatus for displaying zones in a multi-zone system
DCFirst Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a controller, information identifying a plurality of zones on a local area network (LAN) on which the controller is connected, each zone comprising a zone player that includes a digital to analog converter and amplifier and configured to form, under control of the controller, a group of two or more zones that play audio content in synchrony with each other, wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of zone players via the LAN;
displaying the plurality of zones on a screen of the controller;
the controller receiving a command to form a first group of two or more zones of the plurality of zones;
in response to receiving the command to form the first group of two or more zones, the controller configuring the first group, wherein configuring the first group comprises the controller configuring, over the LAN, a first zone player in the first group to (a) transmit audio content, playback timing for the audio content, and device clock information to every other zone player in the first group, and (b) play back the audio content in synchrony with every other zone player in the first group according to the playback timing and the device clock information, wherein the zone players in the first group remain independently clocked while playing the audio content in synchrony, and wherein the controller is not a member of the first group; and
after configuring the first group of two or more zones, the controller receiving status information over the LAN from at least one zone player of the first group.
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Abstract
A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices having independent clocking arrangements. A task distribution device is to distribute tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices to perform tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to synchrony group members 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 synchrony group members are to execute the task. Each synchrony group member periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device'"'"'s clock and its respective clock and determines there from a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.
360 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a controller, information identifying a plurality of zones on a local area network (LAN) on which the controller is connected, each zone comprising a zone player that includes a digital to analog converter and amplifier and configured to form, under control of the controller, a group of two or more zones that play audio content in synchrony with each other, wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of zone players via the LAN; displaying the plurality of zones on a screen of the controller; the controller receiving a command to form a first group of two or more zones of the plurality of zones; in response to receiving the command to form the first group of two or more zones, the controller configuring the first group, wherein configuring the first group comprises the controller configuring, over the LAN, a first zone player in the first group to (a) transmit audio content, playback timing for the audio content, and device clock information to every other zone player in the first group, and (b) play back the audio content in synchrony with every other zone player in the first group according to the playback timing and the device clock information, wherein the zone players in the first group remain independently clocked while playing the audio content in synchrony, and wherein the controller is not a member of the first group; and after configuring the first group of two or more zones, the controller receiving status information over the LAN from at least one zone player of the first group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable memory having instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a controller to perform a method comprising:
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receiving, at the controller, information identifying a plurality of zones on a local area network (LAN) on which the controller is connected, each zone comprising a zone player that includes a digital to analog converter and amplifier and configured to form, under control of the controller, a group of two or more zones that play audio content in synchrony with each other, wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of zone players via the LAN; displaying the plurality of zones on a screen of the controller; receiving a command at the controller to form a first group of two or more zones of the plurality of zones; in response to receiving the command to form the first group of two or more zones, configuring the first group, wherein configuring the first group comprises configuring, over the LAN, a first zone player in the first group to (a) transmit audio content, playback timing for the audio content, and device clock information to every other zone player in the first group, and (b) play back the audio content in synchrony with every other zone player in the first group according to the playback timing and the device clock information, wherein the zone players in the first group remain independently clocked while playing the audio content in synchrony, and wherein the controller is not a member of the first group; and after configuring the first group of two or more zones, the controller receiving status information over the LAN from at least one zone player of the first group. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including a computer program, which when executed by one or more processors, causes an audio system controller to implement a method comprising:
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receiving, at the controller, information identifying a plurality of zone players on a local area network (LAN) on which the controller is connected, each zone player comprising a digital to analog converter and amplifier, wherein each zone player is configured to form, under control of the controller, a group of two or more zone players that play audio content in synchrony with each other, wherein the controller communicates with the plurality of zone players via the LAN; displaying the plurality of zone players on a screen of the controller; receiving a command at the controller to form a first synchrony group comprising a first zone player and a second zone player, wherein the first and second zone players are zone players of the plurality of zone players; in response to receiving the command to form the first synchrony group, configuring the first synchrony group, wherein configuring the first synchrony group comprises configuring one of the first or second zone players to (a) transmit audio content, playback timing for the audio content, and device clock information to the other of the first or second zone players, and (b) play back the audio content in synchrony with the other of the first or second zone players according to the playback timing and the device clock information, wherein the first and second zone players remain independently clocked while playing the audio content in synchrony; and after configuring the first synchrony group, receiving status information over the LAN at the controller from at least one of the first or second zone players. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A controller device comprising:
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one or more processors; and tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller device to perform a method comprising; receiving a command at the controller device to form a synchrony group comprising a first zone player and a second zone player; in response to receiving the command to form the synchrony group, configuring the synchrony group, wherein configuring the synchrony group comprises configuring, over a Local Area Network (LAN), the first zone player to (a) transmit audio content, playback timing for the audio content, and device clock information to the second zone player and (b) play back the audio content in synchrony with the second zone player according to the playback timing and the device clock information, wherein the first and second zone players remain independently clocked while playing the audio content in synchrony, and wherein the controller device is not a member of the synchrony group; and after the controller device has configured, the synchrony group, the controller device receiving status information over the LAN from at least one of the first or second zone players indicating that the first and second zone players in the synchrony group are configured to playback audio in synchrony with each other.
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Specification