Playback Group Rejoining After Power Loss in Synchronized Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media playback systems face challenges in automatically rejoining a group of playback devices after a loss of power, requiring user intervention and lacking efficient methods to determine user intent regarding power loss.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of methods and criteria to automatically determine whether a playback device should rejoin a group based on factors such as the duration of power loss, battery state, and configuration states, allowing for seamless continuation of media playback upon power resumption without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the playback device automatically rejoins the group after power restoration, then the media playback continuity is improved, but the risk of joining the wrong group or inappropriate group increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing the previous group identifier and configuration state before power loss occurs. Upon power restoration, these pre-stored identifiers are used to automatically rejoin the correct group without requiring user intervention, thus maintaining playback continuity while ensuring accurate group rejoining through pre-prepared identification data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by comparing the stored previous group identifier with current group identifiers available in the network. This verification process ensures that the playback device rejoins the correct group rather than an incorrect or inappropriate group, thereby maintaining both continuity and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the system implements automatic group rejoining with criteria evaluation, then the user intervention requirement is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The criteria evaluation mechanism is segmented into distinct modular components: power loss duration detection, previous group identifier storage, configuration state verification, and automated rejoining logic. Each component handles a specific aspect of the evaluation, making the overall complex system manageable and maintainable while providing seamless automatic rejoining functionality.
3Extent of automation
If the playback device stores previous group configuration data, then the automatic rejoining capability is improved, but the memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and stores only the essential identification data (previous group identifier and configuration state) needed for automatic rejoining, rather than storing complete group configuration data. This selective extraction minimizes memory usage while maintaining the automatic rejoining capability by keeping only the critical information required for group identification and rejoining.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining whether a first playback device is to rejoin a group is disclosed. The method comprises playing back, by the first playback device, media content in synchrony with at least a second playback device, wherein the first and second playback devices are playing back the media content as members of a group. While playing back the media content, and after a loss of power at the first playback device, the method comprises stopping, by the first playback device, playback of the media content. After the loss of power, and after a resumption of power to the first playback device the method comprises automatically determining to rejoin the group and joining the first playback device to the group.