Technology for grouping, consolidating, and pairing individual playback devices with network capability (players) to stimulate a multi-channel listening environment is disclosed. Particularly, the embodiments described herein enable two or more playback devices to be paired, such that multi-channel audio is achieved. Such embodiments may be used to produce stereo and multi-channel audio environments for television and movies.

Multi-channel pairing in a media system

In a system for distributing data, distribution device is configured to distribute timestamp, offset and source location information for a digital data stream to an execution device, and the execution device is configured to seek digital data corresponding to the received information. The execution device is further configured to execute the digital data relative to a clock rate maintained by the distribution device. Related methods include receiving timestamp, offset and source location information for the digital data stream and seeking digital data corresponding to the received offset and source location information.

Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices that independently source digital data

Techniques for automatically configuring necessary parameters of a device to be coupled to a network with minimum human intervention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wired and/or wireless Ad-hoc network is established to facilitate communications among a group of devices. When a new device is added to the network, a rudimentary communication path is initially established between one of the devices in the network and the new device such that necessary parameters (e.g., SSID, WEP security, channel frequency) can be exchanged for the new device to function properly in the network. To ensure the parameters are exchanged in a secure fashion, an additional public security procedure can be used between the two devices.

Establishing a secure wireless network with minimum human intervention

An example method includes linking a guest controller to a media playback system including a zone player with a playback queue. The playback queue includes information identifying media items to be played by the zone player. The media playback system provides the guest controller with a second access more limited than a first access granted to a local controller associated with the media playback system. The example method includes receiving, by the media playback system, a message sent from the guest controller, the message including a media service credential and an identification of a media item to be played by the zone player. The example method includes placing, by the media playback system, information identifying the media item from the guest controller in the playback queue. The example method includes retrieving media for the media item, by the media playback system, using the media service credential.

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide guest access

Technology for smart line-in processing in an audio environment is disclosed. Particularly, the embodiments described herein provide automated source switching in an audio environment where a number of audio sources may exist and volume control.

Smart line-in processing

A method and a system are described providing multiple display systems with an enhanced acoustics experience. A source audio signal having a plurality of source audio channels is generated from an audio signal source. The system includes a plurality of speakers connected to a plurality of display systems. A speaker configuration gatherer determines the spatial configuration of the speakers. An audio signal processor is provided to generate synthesized audio signal based on the contents of the source audio signal and spatial configuration of the speakers. The synthesized audio signal is mapped and delivered to the speakers to produce an enhanced sound field.

Kar Leong Wong

Papers

Multiple Display Systems with Enhanced Acoustics Experience