18099704. SYNCHRONOUS SOUNDS FOR AUDIO ASSISTANT ON DEVICES simplified abstract (Google LLC)
SYNCHRONOUS SOUNDS FOR AUDIO ASSISTANT ON DEVICES
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Kenneth Mackay of Mountain View CA (US)
Adrian Paul Diaconu of Mountain View CA (US)
Xiaowei Jiang of Mountain View CA (US)
Christopher K. Chan of Mountain View CA (US)
SYNCHRONOUS SOUNDS FOR AUDIO ASSISTANT ON DEVICES - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18099704 titled 'SYNCHRONOUS SOUNDS FOR AUDIO ASSISTANT ON DEVICES
Simplified Explanation
The patent application describes methods and systems for synchronous audio playback across multiple electronic devices.
- The method involves multiple electronic devices, each with an audio system, internal clock, processors, and memory.
- Each device is associated with a user account and can communicate with a server.
- One device is designated as a common clock device with a master clock.
- The devices receive a synchronized audio playback command, including audio data and a future playback time.
- Based on the received audio data, each device determines a synchronized audio playback time.
- If the determined playback time has not yet occurred, the device outputs the audio data at the determined time.
Potential Applications
This technology has potential applications in various areas, including:
- Multi-room audio systems: Allowing synchronized audio playback across multiple speakers in different rooms.
- Virtual meetings and conferences: Enabling synchronized audio playback for participants in remote locations.
- Gaming: Providing synchronized audio effects for multiplayer games.
- Music streaming platforms: Allowing synchronized playback of songs for users in different locations.
Problems Solved
The technology solves several problems related to synchronous audio playback:
- Ensuring accurate synchronization: By designating a master clock and determining playback times based on it, the devices can achieve precise synchronization.
- Overcoming network delays: The future playback time allows for compensating network delays, ensuring that audio is played at the intended moment.
- Coordinating playback across multiple devices: The technology enables seamless coordination of audio playback across multiple devices, eliminating any noticeable delays or discrepancies.
Benefits
The technology offers several benefits:
- Enhanced user experience: Users can enjoy synchronized audio playback across multiple devices, creating a more immersive and enjoyable experience.
- Improved collaboration: In virtual meetings or gaming scenarios, synchronized audio playback enhances communication and coordination among participants.
- Flexibility and scalability: The technology can be applied to various devices and platforms, allowing for flexible implementation and scalability.
- Accurate synchronization: By utilizing a master clock and compensating for network delays, the technology ensures accurate synchronization of audio playback.
Original Abstract Submitted
The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for synchronous audio playback. In one aspect, a method is performed at each of a plurality of electronic devices, each having an audio system, an internal clock, processors and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. Each device is configured for two-way communications with a server and associated with a user account. The device receives an identification of a first device as a common clock device that has a first internal clock being designated as a master clock. The device receives a synchronized audio playback command that includes audio data to be output and a future playback time. In response to receiving the audio data, the device determines a synchronized audio playback time. If the determined synchronized audio playback time has not yet occurred, the electronic device outputs the audio data based on the determined synchronized audio playback time.
