Patent ID: 9170600
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: G05B,G06F,G11B,H03G,H04H,H04J,H04L,H04N,H04R,H04W,H05K

Abstract:
1. A method performed by an audio processing device, the method comprising: receiving audio via a network interface from a wide area network (WAN) location; receiving, via the network interface from a controller over a local area network (LAN), a command to form a synchrony group with at least one additional audio processing device; and outputting the received audio to a playback device; wherein after receipt of the command from the controller over the LAN, the audio processing device (i) forms the synchrony group with the at least one additional audio processing device (a) transmits status information pertaining to a status of the synchrony group to the controller over the LAN, wherein the status information indicates that the audio processing device is a member of the synchrony group with the at least one additional audio processing device, (b) streams the received audio via the network interface over the LAN to the at least one additional audio processing device, (c) transmits clock information of the audio processing device to the at least one additional audio processing device, and (d) outputs the received audio based on the clock information in synchrony with the at least one additional audio processing device, wherein the audio processing device and the at least one additional audio processing device remain independently clocked during output of the received audio in synchrony.