Google Inc.

Kenneth MacKay

Christopher K Chan

Adrian Diaconu

Xiaowei Jiang

Richard Francis Lyon

Ryan Michael Rifkin

Pascal Tom Getreuer

Tomer Shekel

Chien-Jung Kung

Byungchul Kim

Tavis A Maclellan

Chet N Gnegy

Nikita Gupta

James Carroll West

Allan Mills

Jung-Yu Yeh

Yanchao Wang

The various implementations described herein include methods and systems for synchronous audio playback. An electronic device can receive an identification of a first device as a common clock device that has a first internal clock being designated as a master clock. The electronic 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 for audio to be output. An optimal time for output can be calculated and transmitted to the server system for future playback time calculations.

Synchronous sounds for audio assistant on devices

Local execution of smart device mesh automations with cloud-based failover is described herein. Embodiments operate in context of network-connected devices in a smart device mesh with a local automation system, where all devices communicate with cloud-based automation, and at least some also communicate with local automation. A determination is made whether to claim each automation routine for local automation, or to automatically execute the automation by the cloud when triggered. Triggered locally claimed automation routines cause attempted default execution locally by local automation with automatic failover execution by the cloud-based automation. Some embodiments further involve electing an executor device as part of claiming an automation routine and/or monitoring execution of automation routines to determine when to automatically de-claim locally claimed automation routines with poor local execution success rates.

Local automation engine in distributed environment

Methods, systems, and media for providing dynamic media sessions with video stream transfer features are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include: receiving an indication that presentation of the video content item is to be transferred from the first display device to a different display device; in response to receiving the indication, determining whether the first display device supports transferring the presentation of the video content item and determining whether the different display device is capable of presenting the video content item; and transmitting an indication that presentation of the video content item is to be transferred from the first display device to the different display device, wherein the video content item is played back using the different display device from a playback position that is based on the playback state from the first display device.

Methods, systems, and media for providing dynamic media sessions with video stream transfer features

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.

Methods, systems, and media for synchronizing audio and video content on multiple media devices are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: receiving, at a media device, an indication of a media content item to be presented using the media device, wherein the media device includes an audio component for presenting audio content associated with the media content item and a video component for presenting video content associated with the media content item; determining that the media device is associated with a group of media devices for presenting the media content item, wherein the group of media devices includes the media device and at least one audio device that presents the audio content associated with the media content item; generating an audio timestamp that controls the presentation of the audio content on the group of media devices; generating a video timestamp that control the presentation of the video content on the group of media devices, wherein the video timestamp is based on the generated audio timestamp; and causing, at the media device, the video content associated with the media content item to be presented using the generated video timestamp and causing the audio content associated with the media content item to be simultaneously presented by the at least one audio device in the group of media devices by transmitting the audio timestamp to the at least one audio device in the group of media devices.

Methods, systems, and media for synchronizing audio and video content on multiple media devices

Methods, systems, and media for providing dynamic media sessions with audio stream expansion features are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include: receiving an indication that audio content associated with a video content item is to be presented by a follower device synchronously with the audio content presented by the leader device; identifying candidate follower devices by determining whether devices connected to a local area network are capable of being designated as a follower device; causing a user interface to be presented that indicates each candidate follower device; receiving, via the user interface, a selection of one of the candidate follower devices; and transmitting, from the leader to the selected follower device, control instructions that cause the audio content associated with the video content item to be presented synchronously by the selected follower device with the video content item presented by the leader device.

Methods, systems, and media for providing dynamic media sessions with audio stream expansion features

In a general aspect, a system for media playback can include a first media playback device configured to receive a media stream from a media casting device over a data network, the first media playback device being a member of the media playback group and a second media playback device configured to receive the media stream, the second media playback device being a member of the media playback group. The first media playback device and the second media playback device can be collectively configured to designate one of the first media playback device and the second media playback device as a leader playback device of the media playback group. The playback device not designated as the leader playback device can be designated as a follower playback device of the media playback group. The first media playback device and the second media playback device can be further collectively configured to determine a clock offset between the leader playback device and the follower playback device. The leader playback device can be configured to receive a broadcast of the media stream over the data network; play the media stream; and provide the media stream to the follower playback device. The follower playback device can be configured to play the media stream in synchronization with the leader playback device based on the clock offset.

Time-synchronized, multizone media streaming

Methods, systems, and media for synchronizing audio and video content on multiple media devices are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: receiving, at a media device, an indication of a media content item to be presented using the media device, wherein the media device includes an audio component for presenting audio content associated with the media content item and a video component for presenting video content associated with the media content item; determining that the media device is associated with a group of media devices for presenting the media content item, wherein the group of media devices includes the media device and at least one audio device that presents the audio content associated with the media content item; generating an audio timestamp that controls the presentation of the audio content on the group of media devices; generating a video timestamp that control the presentation of the video content on the group of media devices; and causing, at the media device, the video content associated with the media content item to be presented using the generated video timestamp and causing the audio content associated with the media content item to be simultaneously presented by the at least one audio device in the group of media devices by transmitting the audio timestamp to the at least one audio device in the group of media devices.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Kenneth MacKay