Satellite Volume Control for Synchronized Bonded-Zone Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital audio systems lack seamless satellite volume control across multiple playback devices in a bonded zone, leading to inconsistent audio experiences when adjusting volume settings.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where user input for volume changes at a secondary playback device is propagated throughout the bonded zone, with a primary playback device adjusting and transmitting the audio signal to ensure synchronized volume adjustments across all devices, eliminating audible delays or hiccups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If volume control is implemented independently at each playback device in a bonded zone, then each device can be controlled individually, but volume inconsistency and audio synchronization issues occur across the zone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the volume control functionality across all playback devices in a bonded zone by implementing a centralized volume management system. When any device in the bonded zone receives a volume adjustment command, the system propagates this command to all other devices in the same bonded zone, ensuring unified volume control. This resolves the contradiction by combining individual device control capabilities with zone-wide volume consistency, allowing users to control any device individually while maintaining reliable volume synchronization across the entire bonded zone.
2Reliability
If volume adjustments are propagated across all bonded zone devices, then volume consistency is achieved, but network communication overhead and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a volume management module that acts as a mediator between playback devices. When a volume adjustment is requested at any device, the intermediary module receives the command, determines the bonded zone context, and efficiently propagates the adjustment to relevant devices. This intermediary approach simplifies the control logic by centralizing the propagation decision-making process, reducing the complexity at individual devices while maintaining reliable volume synchronization across the bonded zone.
3Device complexity
If centralized volume control is implemented through a primary device, then coordination is simplified, but communication delays may occur in large bonded zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the volume control propagation process by implementing a hierarchical approach where devices are organized in a bonded zone structure. Instead of requiring all devices to communicate with a single central device for every volume adjustment, the system allows volume commands to be propagated efficiently within segments (bonded zones). This segmentation reduces the communication path length and minimizes propagation delays, while still maintaining coordinated control within each segmented zone.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are provided for satellite volume control. An example method includes receiving an input at a playback device to adjust a volume for a plurality of playback devices that are grouped for synchronous playback of audio content, wherein the plurality of playback devices includes the playback device. The method also includes sending a first message over a network from the playback device to a device associated with the plurality of playback devices, the first message including information based on the input, wherein the information is used to adjust the volume of the plurality of playback devices. The method also includes receiving a second message at the playback device over the network, the second message including information for the volume of the playback device, wherein the volume is based on the adjusted volume of the plurality of playback devices.