US 11,809,778 B2
Techniques for extending the lifespan of playback devices
John Lynch, Malden, MA (US)
Assigned to Sonos, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Filed by Sonos, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/471,388.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/077,372, filed on Sep. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0083310 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 15/16 (2006.01); G06F 3/16 (2006.01); H04L 67/12 (2022.01); H04L 43/16 (2022.01)
CPC G06F 3/165 (2013.01) [H04L 43/16 (2013.01); H04L 67/12 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computing system comprising:
a communication interface configured to facilitate communication via at least one data network;
at least one processor;
at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium;
program instructions stored on the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
after receipt of a request to initiate synchronous playback of media content on a plurality of playback devices via the communication interface, obtain the media content from a media source;
generate respective playback timing information that is to be used by each of the plurality of playback devices to play back the media content in synchrony;
transmit, via the communication interface, the media content and the respective playback timing information to each of the plurality of playback devices for playback of the media content in synchrony;
while the plurality of playback devices play back the media content in synchrony and after receipt of respective playback rate information from each of the plurality of playback devices indicative of a rate of playback of the media content by the playback device, identify a variance between a first playback rate of a first playback device of the plurality of playback devices and a second playback rate of a second playback device of the plurality of playback devices, wherein the second playback rate matches a reference playback rate;
determine a modified sample rate of the media content for the first playback device based on the respective playback rate information of the first and second playback devices and the reference playback rate; and
cause the first playback device to play back the media content at the modified sample rate to maintain synchrony of playback of the media content between the plurality of playback devices.