Method and apparatus for synchrony group control via one or more independent controllers

• US 9,213,356 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Millington, Nicholas A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Survillo, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US13/864,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20130232416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 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 21/43076 : 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 tangible computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed cause a zone player to: receive control information from any one of a plurality of user interface modules; based on the received control information enter into a synchrony group with a second zone player; and transmit status information to the plurality of user interface modules, wherein the status information provides an indication of an operational status of the synchrony group.

Claims

1. A first zone player, comprising:

a network interface configured to interface the first zone player with at least a local area network (LAN);

one or more processors; and

a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors cause the first zone player to;

receive control information from a controller over the LAN;

in response to receiving the control information from the controller, enter into a synchrony group with a second zone player, wherein the controller is not a member of the synchrony group; and

after entering into the synchrony group with the second zone player, (i) receive, from the second zone player, audio information, playback timing information, and device clock information of the second zone player, and (ii) play back the audio information in synchrony with the second zone player using the playback timing information and the device clock information, wherein the first and second zone players remain independently clocked during the playback.

2. The first zone player of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first zone player to (i) before receiving the control information from the controller, indicate to the controller over the LAN that the first zone player is a standalone zone player, and (ii) after entering into the synchrony group with the second zone player, indicate to the controller over the LAN that the first zone player is a member of the synchrony group.

3. The first zone player of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first zone player to transmit status information to the controller over the LAN, wherein the status information comprises an indication of a status of the synchrony group.

4. The first zone player of claim 3, wherein the status information comprises an identification of a track currently being played by the synchrony group.

5. The first zone player of claim 3, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of tracks scheduled to be played by the synchrony group.

6. The first zone player of claim 5, wherein the identification of tracks scheduled to be played by the synchrony group comprises a list of names of tracks scheduled to be played by the synchrony group, wherein an individual track is stored at a web location.

7. The first zone player of claim 3, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of a zone player that is operating as a master device of the synchrony group.

8. The first zone player of claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, also cause the first zone player to transmit status information to the second zone player.

9. A first zone player, comprising:

a network interface configured to interface the first zone player with at least a local area network (LAN);

one or more processors; and

a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors cause the first zone player to;

receive control information from a controller over the LAN;

in response to receiving the control information from the controller, enter into a synchrony group with a second zone player, wherein the controller is not a member of the synchrony group; and

after entering into the synchrony group with the second zone player, (i) receive, from the second zone player, audio information, playback timing information, and device clock information of the second zone player, (ii) play back the audio information in synchrony with the second zone player using the playback timing information and the device clock information, wherein the first and second zone players remain independently clocked during the playback, and (iii) transmit status information to the controller over the LAN, wherein the status information comprises an indication of a status of the synchrony group.

10. The first zone player of claim 9, wherein the status information comprises an identification of a track currently being played by the synchrony group.

11. The first zone player of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the first zone player to (i) before receiving the control information from the controller, indicate to the controller over the LAN that the first zone player is a standalone zone player, and (ii) after entering into the synchrony group with the second zone player, indicate to the controller over the LAN that the first zone player is a member of the synchrony group.

12. The first zone player of claim 9, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of tracks scheduled to be played by the synchrony group.

13. The first zone player of claim 12, wherein the identification of tracks scheduled to be played by the synchrony group comprises a list of names of tracks scheduled to be played by the synchrony group, wherein an individual track is stored at a web location.

14. The first zone player of claim 9, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of a zone player that is operating as a master device of the synchrony group.

15. The first zone player of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, also cause the first zone player to transmit status information to the second zone player.

16. The first zone player of claim 9, wherein the controller is one of a plurality of controllers, and wherein the first zone player is further configured to receive control information over the LAN from any of the plurality of controllers and transmit status information over the LAN to any of the plurality of controllers.

17. A system comprising:

a first zone player configured to enter into a synchrony group with a second zone player in response to receiving synchrony group configuration information from a controller over a Local Area Network (LAN), wherein the controller is not a member of the synchrony group, and wherein after entering into the synchrony group with the second zone player, the first zone player is configured to;

receive audio information, playback timing information, and device clock information of the second zone player from the second zone player over the LAN;

playback the audio information in synchrony with the second zone player using the playback timing information and the device clock information, wherein the first and second zone players remain independently clocked during the playback; and

transmit status information to at least one of the second zone player or the controller over the LAN.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

the second zone player, wherein the second zone player is configured as a master zone player for the synchrony group and the first zone player is configured as a slave zone player for the synchrony group, and wherein the second zone player is configured to transmit an identification of the synchrony group to the controller over the LAN while the second zone player is operating as the master zone player for the synchrony group.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

the second zone player, wherein at least one of the first or second zone players is configured to transmit over the LAN to the controller, an identification of a track currently being played by the synchrony group.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a third zone player that is not a member of the synchrony group, wherein at least one of the first or second zone players is configured to transmit status information over the LAN to the third zone player.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

the second zone player, wherein the second zone player is configured to, in response to being configured as a master zone player for the synchrony group, transmit over the LAN to the controller, an indication that the second zone player is configured as the master zone player for the synchrony group.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the first zone player is further configured to, in response to being configured as a slave zone player for the synchrony group, transmit over the LAN to at least one of the controller or the second zone player, an indication that the first zone player is configured as a slave zone player for the synchrony group.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the controller is one of a plurality of controllers, and wherein the first zone player is further configured to receive control information over the LAN from any of the plurality of controllers and transmit status information over the LAN to any of the plurality of controllers.

24. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a first zone player to perform a method comprising:

receiving from a controller over a local area network (LAN), control information instructing the first zone player to enter into a synchrony group with a second zone player;

in response to receiving the control information instructing the first zone player to enter into a synchrony group with the second zone player, entering into a synchrony group with the second zone player, wherein the controller is not a member of the synchrony group; and

after entering into the synchrony group with the second zone player;

receiving from the second zone player over the LAN, audio information, playback timing information, and device clock information of the second zone player,

playing back the audio information in synchrony with the second zone player using the playback timing information and the device clock information, wherein the first and second zone players remain independently clocked during synchronous playback, and

transmitting status information over the LAN to the controller, wherein the status information comprises an indication of a status of the synchrony group.

25. The computer-readable memory of claim 24, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of a track currently being played by the synchrony group.

26. The computer-readable memory of claim 25, wherein the method performed by the first zone player further comprises:

before entering into the synchrony group, the first zone player informing the controller over the LAN that the first zone player is a standalone zone player; and

after entering into the synchrony group, the first zone player informing the controller over the LAN that the first zone player is a member of the synchrony group.

27. The computer-readable memory of claim 24, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of tracks scheduled to be played by the synchrony group.

28. The computer-readable memory of claim 27, wherein the identification of tracks scheduled to be played by the synchrony group comprises a list of names of tracks scheduled to be played by the synchrony group, wherein an individual track is stored at an Internet location.

29. The computer-readable memory of claim 24, wherein the status information further comprises an identification of a zone player that is operating as a master device of the synchrony group.

30. The computer-readable memory of claim 24, wherein the method performed by the first zone player further comprises:

in response to being configured as a slave zone player for the synchrony group, transmitting over the LAN to at least one of the controller or the second zone player, an indication that the first zone player is configured as a slave zone player for the synchrony group.

31. The computer-readable memory of claim 24, wherein the controller is one of a plurality of controllers, and wherein the method performed by the first zone player further comprises:

receiving control information over the LAN from any other controller of the plurality of controllers; and

transmitting status information over the LAN to any other controller of the plurality of controllers.