US 2,007,142,944 · Filed 2006-12-04

The Patent for Playing Music in Perfect Sync Across Multiple Devices

Imagine you and a friend each have a portable music player, and you want them to play the exact same song at the exact same moment—not one starting a split second before the other. This patent covers a wireless system that syncs audio playback across multiple devices so everything stays in time together.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The patent covers a method and apparatus for wirelessly transmitting an audio signal to multiple mobile audio players and keeping them playing in perfect synchronization. What's protected here is the use of delay mechanisms and synchronization signals—timing instructions sent wirelessly—that allow a first device to coordinate with a second (or more) devices so they all play the same audio at the same instant, rather than drifting out of sync.

Why it matters

Synchronized playback across multiple devices solves a real problem: before this kind of patent protection, playing music on multiple speakers or devices in the same space would create an echo or lag effect that ruins the listening experience. By locking down wireless sync methods, this patent protects the core technology behind multi-device audio experiences that became increasingly common as Bluetooth speakers and smart home systems grew popular.

Real-world use

When you connect two Bluetooth speakers to the same phone and play a song, they're both supposed to play at the same time; this patent covers the synchronization method that keeps them from playing a fraction of a second apart.

Original USPTO abstract

The present invention discloses a method, system and apparatus for playing an audio signal synchronously on a first mobile audio player and at least a second mobile audio player. More particularly, the invention pertains to an audio player device enabled for wireless transmission and reception of an audio signal. In one aspect, a delay enables the audio signal to be played synchronously on the audio player with a second audio player. In another aspect synchronization signals are used to play the audio signal synchronously on the first audio player and the second audio player.

Patent details

Publication number: US 2,007,142,944
Filing date: 2006-12-04
Grant date: Application — not yet granted
Assignee: David Goldberg / Goldberg Benjamin M / Neil Simon
Inventor(s): GOLDBERG DAVID, GOLDBERG BENJAMIN M., SIMON NEIL
CPC class: G10H1/0083

View original record on Google Patents →

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