Systems and methods for controlling media players in a synchrony group
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a user interface, information identifying a plurality of zones of a networked playback system, wherein each zone of the plurality of zones comprises, on a local area network, a zone player that comprises a digital to analog converter and amplifier;
displaying the plurality of zones via the user interface;
receiving a first command via the user interface to group two or more of the zones into a synchrony group, wherein the first command identifies the two or more zones;
in response to receiving the first command, configuring a first zone player to function as a master zone player for the synchrony group and at least a second zone player to function as a slave zone player in the synchrony group;
receiving a second command via the user interface for audio content from an audio information source to be played in synchrony by the synchrony group; and
in response to receiving the second command, configuring the master zone player to at least (i) play back the audio content from the audio information source in synchrony with the slave zone player, (ii) transmit packets comprising the audio content and play back timing information for the audio content to the slave zone player, and (iii) transmit packets comprising clock time information of the master zone player to the slave zone player, wherein the master zone player and the slave zone player remain independently clocked while the master zone player plays back the audio content from the audio information source in synchrony with the slave zone player.
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Accused Products
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.
351 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a user interface, information identifying a plurality of zones of a networked playback system, wherein each zone of the plurality of zones comprises, on a local area network, a zone player that comprises a digital to analog converter and amplifier; displaying the plurality of zones via the user interface; receiving a first command via the user interface to group two or more of the zones into a synchrony group, wherein the first command identifies the two or more zones; in response to receiving the first command, configuring a first zone player to function as a master zone player for the synchrony group and at least a second zone player to function as a slave zone player in the synchrony group; receiving a second command via the user interface for audio content from an audio information source to be played in synchrony by the synchrony group; and in response to receiving the second command, configuring the master zone player to at least (i) play back the audio content from the audio information source in synchrony with the slave zone player, (ii) transmit packets comprising the audio content and play back timing information for the audio content to the slave zone player, and (iii) transmit packets comprising clock time information of the master zone player to the slave zone player, wherein the master zone player and the slave zone player remain independently clocked while the master zone player plays back the audio content from the audio information source in synchrony with the slave zone player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A tangible non-transitory computer readable storage memory including a computer program, which when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to implement a method comprising:
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receiving, at a user interface, information identifying a plurality of zones of a networked playback system, wherein each zone of the plurality of zones comprises, on a local area network, a zone player that comprises a digital to analog converter and amplifier; displaying the plurality of zones via the user interface; receiving a first set of one or more commands via the user interface to group two or more of the zones into a synchrony group, wherein the command identifies the two or more zones; in response to receiving the first set of one or more commands configuring a first zone player to function as a master zone player for the synchrony group and at least a second zone player to function as a slave zone player in the synchrony group; receiving a second set of one or more commands via the user interface for audio content from an audio information source to be played in synchrony by the synchrony group; and in response to receiving the second set of one or more commands, configuring the master zone player to at least (i) play back the audio content from the audio information source in synchrony with the slave zone player, (ii) transmit packets comprising the audio content and play back timing information for the audio content to the slave zone player, and (iii) transmit packets comprising clock time information of the master zone player to the slave zone player, wherein the master zone player and the slave zone player remain independently clocked while the master zone player plays back the audio content from the audio information source in synchrony with the slave zone player. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A controller comprising:
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one or more processors; a user interface; and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to perform a method comprising;
(i) receiving information identifying a plurality of zones of a networked playback system, wherein each zone of the plurality of zones comprises, on a local area network, a zone player that comprises a digital to analog converter and amplifier, (ii) displaying the plurality of zones via the user interface, (iii) receiving a first command via the user interface to group two or more of the zones into a synchrony group, wherein the first command identifies the two or more zones, (iv) in response to receiving the first command, configuring a first zone player to function as a master zone player for the synchrony group and at least a second zone player to function as a slave zone player in the synchrony group, (v) receiving a second command for audio content from an audio information source to be played in synchrony by the synchrony group, and (vi) in response to receiving the second command, configuring the master zone player to at least (a) play back the audio content from the audio information source in synchrony with the slave zone player, (b) transmit packets comprising the audio content and play back timing information for the audio content to the slave zone player, and (c) transmit packets comprising clock time information of the master zone player to the slave zone player, wherein the master zone player and the slave zone player remain independently clocked while the master zone player plays back the audio content from the audio information source in synchrony with the slave zone player.
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Specification