Grouped Media Playback Control for Synchronized Audio Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media playback systems lack a simple and intuitive control method for audio playback devices connected to multiple audio information sources, making it difficult for users to seamlessly switch between sources and adjust volume settings across different devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control scheme that allows users to interact with audio playback devices and audio information sources using dedicated user input devices, enabling messages to be exchanged between them to control settings such as volume and signal source, allowing for synchronized playback and volume adjustments across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple audio information sources are connected to audio playback devices, then the system provides greater audio source variety and selection flexibility, but the complexity of controlling volume and source switching across devices increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control device as an intermediary between the user and multiple audio playback devices. This control device receives user inputs for volume adjustment and source selection, then automatically distributes appropriate commands to the relevant audio playback devices. The intermediary abstracts the complex multi-device control into a simple user interface, resolving the contradiction between supporting multiple audio sources and maintaining ease of control.
2Ease of operation
If audio playback devices independently control their own settings, then each device operates autonomously, but users cannot maintain consistent volume and source settings across multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The control device implements a feedback mechanism where it receives status information from audio playback devices about their current settings and operations. Based on this feedback, the control device coordinates volume adjustments and source changes across all connected devices to maintain system consistency. This allows devices to operate with a degree of independence while ensuring unified control and consistent behavior across the entire audio system.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments include network devices and systems of network devices. Some network device embodiments include (i) first and second network interfaces, (ii) a processor(s), (iii) tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium, and (iv) program instructions stored on the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by the at least one processor. Execution of the program instructions in some embodiments causes the network device to perform operations comprising (i) operating as part of a group with at least a second network device, (ii) receiving, via the first network interface, a message from a third network device, (iii) obtaining media content based on the message, (iv) transmit, via the second network interface, audio associated with the obtained media content to the second network device, and (v) causing video associated with the obtained media content to be output while the second network device outputs audio associated with the obtained media content.