System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices

• US 9,182,777 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• 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:
  US13/297,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20120117200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 709/219, 709/220
• 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

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 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 of implementing synchronized audio play back amongst a plurality of audio devices, wherein the method is performed by a computing device, and wherein the method comprises:

receiving control information from a user interface that controls audio playback in a plurality of zones on a local network, each zone containing at least one audio device, the control information comprising a user selection of at least two zones of the plurality of zones to establish a synchrony group, wherein the computing device is further configured to reproduce audio information upon command;

retrieving audio information from any of a locally stored digital audio file, a remotely stored digital audio file via a wide area network, and a streaming digital audio service;

transmitting to the audio devices of the at least two zones, current clock timing information for a clock of the computing device; and

transmitting the audio information and playback timing information to the audio devices of the at least two zones over the local network from the computing device, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device, and wherein the playback timing information identifies a playback time relative to the clock of the computing device, and is for use in playback of the audio information by the audio devices of the at least two zones in synchrony, wherein the audio devices of the at least two zones remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a mobile computing device.

3. A method of implementing synchronized audio play back amongst a plurality of audio devices, wherein the method is performed by a first audio device, and wherein the method comprises:

transmitting identifying information associated with the first audio device from the first audio device to a computing device;

receiving a configuration command from the computing device to join a synchrony group with at least a second audio device;

receiving audio information, current clock timing information, and playback timing information over a local network from the computing device, the computing device transmitting the audio information, the current clock timing information, and the playback timing information to the audio devices of the synchrony group, wherein the first audio device is included in a first zone of the synchrony group and a second audio device is included in a second zone of the synchrony group, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device and transmitted to the first and second audio devices of the synchrony group, and wherein the first audio device uses the current clock timing information and the playback timing information to playback the audio information in synchrony with the second audio device, wherein the first and second audio devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information; and

converting the audio information from a digital form into an analog signal to be output based on the current clock timing information and the playback timing information via an amplifier and a speaker driver.

4. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer readable media having stored therein instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors cause the computing device to perform a method comprising;

receiving, by the computing device, control information from a user interface that controls audio play back in a plurality of zones on a local network, each zone containing at least one audio device, the control information comprising a user selection of at least two zones of the plurality of zones to establish a synchrony group, wherein the computing device is further configured to reproduce audio information upon command;

retrieving, by the computing device, audio information from any of a locally stored digital audio file, a remotely stored digital audio file via a wide area network, and a streaming digital audio service;

transmitting, by the computing device to the audio devices of the at least two zones, current clock timing information for a clock of the computing device; and

transmitting audio information and playback timing information to the audio devices of the at least two zones over the local network from the computing device, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device, and wherein the playback timing information identifies a playback time relative to the clock of the computing device, and is for use in playback of the audio information by the audio devices of the at least two zones in synchrony, wherein the audio devices of the at least two zones remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, at the computing device, identifying information for each of a plurality of connected audio devices, each of the plurality of connected audio devices being unilaterally configurable into synchrony groups by the computing device.

6. A first audio device comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first audio device to perform a method for providing synchronized audio playback amongst a plurality of audio devices comprising the first audio device and at least a second audio device, the method comprising;

transmitting, by the first audio device to a computing device, identifying information associated with the first audio device;

receiving, at the first audio device from the computing device, a configuration command to join a synchrony group with at least a second audio device;

receiving, by the first audio device, audio information, current clock timing information, and playback timing information over a local network from the computing device, the computing device transmitting the audio information, the current clock timing information, and the playback timing information to the first and second audio devices of the synchrony group, wherein the first audio device is included in a first zone of the synchrony group and the second audio device is included in a second zone of the synchrony group, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device and transmitted to the first and second audio devices of the synchrony group, and wherein the first audio device uses the current clock timing information and the playback timing information to playback the audio information in synchrony with the second audio device, wherein the first and second audio devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information; and

converting, by the first audio device, the audio information from a digital form into an analog signal to be output based on the current clock timing information and the playback timing information via an amplifier and a speaker driver.

7. The first audio device of claim 6, wherein the computing device comprises a mobile computing device.

8. The first audio device of claim 6, wherein the computing device comprises a personal computer.

9. The first audio device of claim 6, wherein the audio information is from any of a locally stored digital audio file, a remotely stored digital audio file via a wide area network, and a streaming digital audio service.

10. The first audio device of claim 6, wherein the local network comprises a wired network.

11. The first audio device of claim 6, wherein the local network comprises a wireless network.

12. A first audio device comprising:

one or more processors; and

tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions encoded therein, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first audio device to perform a method comprising;

transmitting, by the first audio device, identifying information associated with the first audio device;

receiving, at the first audio device, a configuration command to join a synchrony group with at least a second audio device;

receiving audio information, current clock timing information, and playback timing information over a local network from a computing device, the computing device transmitting the audio information, the current clock timing information, and the playback timing information to the synchrony group comprising the first audio device and the second audio device, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device and transmitted to the first and second audio devices, and wherein the first audio device uses the current clock timing information and the playback timing information to playback the audio information in synchrony with the second audio device, wherein the first and second audio devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information; and

converting, by the first audio device, the audio information from a digital form into an analog signal to be output according to the current clock timing information and the playback timing information via an amplifier and a speaker driver.

13. The first audio device of claim 12, wherein the computing device comprises a mobile computing device.

14. The first audio device of claim 12, wherein the computing device comprises a personal computer.

15. The first audio device of claim 12, wherein the audio information comprises any of a locally stored digital audio file, a remotely stored digital audio file received via a wide area network, and a streaming digital audio service.

16. The first audio device of claim 12, wherein the local network comprises a wired network.

17. The first audio device of claim 12, wherein the local network comprises a wireless network.

18. The first audio device of claim 12, wherein the computing device is an audio device.

19. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method for providing synchronized audio play back amongst a plurality of audio devices, the method comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, control information from a user interface that controls audio play back in a plurality of zones on a local network, each zone containing at least one audio device, the control information comprising a user selection of at least two zones of the plurality of zones to establish a synchrony group, wherein the computing device is further configured to reproduce audio information upon command;

retrieving, by the computing device, audio information from any of a locally stored digital audio file, a remotely stored digital audio file via a wide area network, and a streaming digital audio service;

transmitting, by the computing device to the audio devices of the at least two zones, current clock timing information for a clock of the computing device; and

transmitting audio information and playback timing information to the audio devices of the at least two zones over the local network from the computing device, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device, and wherein the playback timing information identifies a playback time relative to the clock of the computing device, and is for use in playback of the audio information by the audio devices of the at least two zones in synchrony, wherein the audio devices of the at least two zones remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the computing device comprises a personal computer.

21. The computer-readable media of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises transmitting, by the computing device, a plurality of frames to the audio devices of the at least two zones responsive to receiving a user command via the user interface of the personal computer.

22. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the computing device comprises a mobile computing device.

23. The computer-readable media of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises transmitting, by the computing device, a plurality of frames to the audio devices of the at least two zones responsive to receiving a user command via the user interface of the mobile computing device.

24. The computer-readable media of claim 23, wherein the computing device comprises the user interface configured to receive the user command.

25. The computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to at least one of select an audio track, display status information, and display an upcoming audio playback selection.

26. The computer-readable media of claim 24, wherein the user interface is configured to enable a user to select a volume level for each of the audio devices of the at least two zones.

27. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the computing device is configured to play the audio information in synchrony with the audio devices of the at least two zones.

28. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the computing device is configured to play different audio information than the audio devices of the at least two zones and at the same time as the audio devices of the at least two zones play the audio information.

29. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the locally stored digital audio file is stored on a personal computer or a mobile computing device configured to store digital information.

30. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises wirelessly transmitting, by the computing device, a plurality of frames to the audio devices of the at least two zones.

31. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein each of the audio devices of the synchrony group comprises a zone player.

32. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the control information received by the computing device further turns on the computing device and enables the computing device to transmit the audio information, the current clock timing information, and the playback timing information to the audio devices of the synchrony group.

33. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the control information received by the computing device comprises independent volume control for each of the audio devices of the synchrony group, and wherein the independent volume control is sent to each of the audio devices.

34. The computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, at the computing device, identifying information for each of a plurality of connected audio devices, each of the plurality of connected audio devices being unilaterally configurable into a synchrony group by the computing device.

35. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions, wherein the instructions when executed by one or more processors cause a first audio device to perform a method comprising:

transmitting, by the first audio device to a computing device, identifying information associated with the first audio device;

receiving, at the first audio device from the computing device, a configuration command to join a synchrony group with at least a second audio device;

receiving, by the first audio device, audio information, current clock timing information, and playback timing information over a local network from the computing device, the computing device transmitting the audio information, the current clock timing information, and the playback timing information to the first and second audio devices of the synchrony group, wherein the first audio device is included in a first zone of the synchrony group and a second audio device is included in a second zone of the synchrony group, wherein the playback timing information is generated at the computing device and transmitted to the first and second audio devices of the synchrony group, and wherein the first audio device uses the current clock timing information and the playback timing information to playback the audio information in synchrony with the second audio device, wherein the first and second audio devices remain independently clocked during synchronous playback of the audio information; and

converting, by the first audio device, the audio information from a digital form into an analog signal to be output based on the current clock timing information and the playback timing information via an amplifier and a speaker driver.