Obtaining and transmitting audio

• US 9,176,520 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• 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:
  US14/505,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20150018994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/220, 709/231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method that involves (a) detecting, by a network device, a command for a playback device to play an audio program, (b) obtaining, by the network device from a wide area network (WAN), audio information corresponding to the audio program, and (c) transmitting, by the network device to the playback device via a direct communication link, (i) the audio information and (ii) control information that directs the playback device to play the audio program.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a network device receiving a first set of one or more commands for a first playback device to play first audio content streamed from the network device;

in response to receiving the first set of one or more commands, the network device (i) streaming the first audio content over a direct communication link from the network device to the first playback device, and (ii) generating and sending a second set of one or more commands from the network device to the first playback device, thereby causing the first playback device to play the first audio content streamed from the network device;

the network device receiving a third set of one or more commands for the first playback device to play second audio content in synchrony with a second playback device, wherein the second audio content is stored at a network location separate from the network device; and

in response to receiving the third set of one or more commands, the network device generating and transmitting a fourth set of one or more commands from the network device to at least the first playback device, thereby causing the first playback device to (i) obtain the second audio content, (ii) transmit the second audio content, playback timing for the second audio content, and first playback device clock information to the second playback device, (iii) play the second audio content in synchrony with the second playback device according to the playback timing and the first playback device clock information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked while playing the second audio content in synchrony, and (iv) stop playing the first audio content streamed from the network device.

2. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-executable program code, wherein the program code, when executed by one or more processors, causes a network device to perform a method comprising:

the network device receiving a first set of one or more commands for a first playback device to play first audio content streamed from the network device;

in response to receiving the first set of one or more commands, the network device (i) streaming the first audio content over a direct communication link from the network device to the first playback device, and (ii) generating and sending a second set of one or more commands from the network device to the first playback device, thereby causing the first playback device to play the first audio content streamed from the network device;

the network device receiving a third set of one or more commands for the first playback device to play second audio content in synchrony with a second playback device, wherein the second audio content is stored at a network location separate from the network device; and

in response to receiving the third set of one or more commands, the network device generating and transmitting a fourth set of one or more commands from the network device to at least the first playback device, thereby causing the first playback device to (i) obtain the second audio content, (ii) transmit the second audio content, playback timing for the second audio content, and first playback device clock information to the second playback device, (iii) play the second audio content in synchrony with the second playback device according to the playback timing and the first playback device clock information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked while playing the second audio content in synchrony, and (iv) stop playing the first audio content streamed from the network device.

3. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the direct communication link does not comprise a communication link over a wide area network (WAN) or a local area network (LAN).

4. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the direct communication link comprises a wireless point-to-point communication link between the network device and the first playback device.

5. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

before the network device begins streaming the first audio content over the direct communication link from the network device to the first playback device, the network device establishing the direct communication link with the first playback device.

6. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the direct communication link comprises a wired connection between the network device and the first playback device.

7. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein transmitting the fourth set of one or more commands from the network device to at least the first playback device comprises:

transmitting, by the network device to at least the first playback device, an Internet address identifying the network location of the second audio content.

8. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein sending the second set of one or more commands from the network device to the first playback device comprises:

transmitting, by the network device to the first playback device, control information that directs the first playback device to modify a volume of playback for the first playback device.

9. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the direct communication link is a first direct communication link, and wherein the method further comprises:

in response to receiving the first set of one or more commands, the network device additionally;

(i) streaming the first audio content over a second direct communication link from the network device to the second playback device and (ii) generating and transmitting a fifth set of one or more commands from the network device to the second playback device, thereby causing the second playback device to play the first audio content streamed from the network device at substantially the same time as the first playback device.

10. The computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to receiving the third set of one or more commands, the network device additionally (i) generating and sending a seventh set of one or more commands from the network device to the second playback device, thereby causing the second playback device to play the second audio content in synchrony with the first playback device according to the playback timing and the first playback device clock information, and (ii) stop playing the first audio content streamed from the network device.

11. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

in response to receiving the third set of one or more commands, the network device further (i) obtaining the second audio content from the network location and (ii) streaming the second audio content over the direct communication link from the network device to at least the first playback device.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by the network device from the first playback device via the direct communication link, control information that indicates a status of the first playback device.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the network location is a LAN location.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second playback devices is a portable playback device.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the network location is one of an (i) an Internet-accessible network location or (ii) a public switched telephone network accessible network location.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the first or second audio content comprises one of streaming digital audio information or digital audio files.

17. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the first playback device obtaining the second audio content comprises the first playback device receiving the second audio content as streaming media from the network location.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the network device is a computing device.

19. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the network device is a playback device.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the first playback device transmitting the second audio content, playback timing for the second audio content, and first playback device clock information to the second playback device comprises the first playback device (i) generating and transmitting frames comprising portions of the second audio content and playback timing for the portions of the second audio content to the second playback device via a multicast network address and (ii) transmitting frames comprising the first playback device clock information to the second playback device via a unicast network address.

21. The computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the first playback device playing the second audio content in synchrony with the second playback device according to the playback timing and the first playback device clock information comprises the first playback device playing a portion of the second audio content at a playback time for the portion of the second audio content when the playback time for the portion of the second audio content matches a time of a clock of the first playback device.

22. A network device comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer readable memory comprising program code, wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the network device to perform a method comprising;

receiving a first set of one or more commands for a first playback device to play first audio content streamed from the network device;

in response to receiving the first set of one or more commands, the network device (i) streaming the first audio content over a direct communication link from the network device to the first playback device, and (ii) generating and sending a second set of one or more commands from the network device to the first playback device, thereby causing the first playback device to play the first audio content streamed from the network device;

receiving a third set of one or more commands for the first playback device to play second audio content in synchrony with a second playback device, wherein the second audio content is stored at a network location separate from the network device; and

in response to receiving the third set of one or more commands, the network device generating and transmitting a fourth set of one or more commands from the network device to at least the first playback device, thereby causing the first playback device to (i) obtain the second audio content, (ii) transmit the second audio content, playback timing for the second audio content, and first playback device clock information to the second playback device, (iii) play the second audio content in synchrony with the second playback device according to the playback timing and the first playback device clock information, wherein the first and second playback devices remain independently clocked while playing the second audio content in synchrony, and (iv) stop playing the first audio content streamed from the network device.

23. The network device of claim 22, wherein the direct communication link does not comprise a wide area network (WAN) or a local area network (LAN).

24. The network device of claim 22, wherein the direct communication link comprises a wired point-to-point communication link between the network device and the first playback device.

25. The network device of claim 22, wherein the direct communication link comprises a wireless communication link, and where the method further comprises:

the network device establishing the direct communication link with the first playback device.