Playback Queue Timing for Synchronized Multi-Zone Audio Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio playback systems struggle to synchronize and manage automated streaming audio content across multiple zones in a home audio system, leading to audible echoes or glitches during simultaneous playback.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for adding and rendering automated streaming audio content in a playback queue, which involves determining a playback duration and synchronizing playback across multiple zone players, using a controller to manage playback positions and durations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If automated streaming audio content is played simultaneously across multiple zones, then audio content accessibility and playback coverage are improved, but audible echoes and glitches occur due to synchronization issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the audio playback management by introducing a controller that divides and manages playback across multiple zone players independently. Each zone player receives synchronized playback instructions from the controller, allowing simultaneous playback across multiple zones while maintaining audio quality through coordinated control.
Solution Approach 2:
A controller is introduced as an intermediary device between the audio source and multiple zone players. The controller receives audio content, determines playback duration, and distributes synchronized playback instructions to multiple zone players, eliminating direct simultaneous playback conflicts and preventing echoes and glitches.
2Measurement precision
If playback duration is determined and enforced across multiple zone players, then synchronization precision is improved, but playback flexibility and user control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic playback management where the controller determines playback duration based on the specific automated streaming audio content being played. The playback duration can be adjusted and modified during operation, allowing the system to adapt to different content types while maintaining synchronization across zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically changes playback parameters including duration, start time, and synchronization settings based on the type of automated streaming audio content. This allows precise synchronization for different content types (radio stations, podcasts, music streams) while maintaining user flexibility through programmable control.
Data Source
AI summary
An example implementation involves a playback device receiving a request to add continuous automated streaming audio content to a playback queue, the request indicating a playback start time, and the playback queue indicating a plurality of audio content. The implementation further involves the playback device adding the continuous automated streaming audio content to the playback queue. The example implementation also involves the playback device determining that a duration until the playback start time is less than a duration of the given audio content before playing a given audio content in the playback queue. The example implementation involves the playback device responsively, playing the continuous automated streaming audio content.