Synchronized playback system, synchronized playback apparatus, and control method

Abstract

In a synchronized playback system, a plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses are connected and perform synchronized playback. Each of the plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses includes a playback device that reproduces a content file which is delivered through a network from a delivery server, in which the content file is stored, and a control device that controls the synchronized playback. One of the plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses causes the control device to operate in a case in which the synchronized playback is performed and control the synchronized playback of a plurality of synchronized playback devices, which participate in a synchronized playback group, of the playback devices which are included in the plurality of respective synchronized playback apparatuses.

1 . A synchronized playback system in which a plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses are connected and perform synchronized playback,
 each of the plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses including a playback device that reproduces a content file which is delivered through a network from a delivery server, in which the content file is stored, and a control device that controls the synchronized playback, wherein   one of the plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses causes the control device to operate in a case in which the synchronized playback is performed and control the synchronized playback of a plurality of synchronized playback devices, which participate in a synchronized playback group, of the playback devices which are included in the plurality of respective synchronized playback apparatuses.   
     
     
         2 . The synchronized playback system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses further includes a master device, and   one of the plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses causes the master device to operate and select the plurality of synchronized playback devices from among the playback devices which are included in the plurality of respective synchronized playback apparatuses according to designation of the synchronized playback devices which participate in the synchronized playback group, and causes one of the plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses that includes the selected synchronized playback device to operate the control device.   
     
     
         3 . The synchronized playback system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in addition to the synchronized playback apparatuses which include the control devices, the playback device of a synchronized playback apparatus, which do not include the control device, participates in the synchronized playback group to serve as the synchronized playback device.   
     
     
         4 . The synchronized playback system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the master device searches for the plurality of playback devices which are connected to the network, and   the playback devices respond to the master device with pieces of information relevant to construction of the synchronized playback group according to the search performed by the master device.   
     
     
         5 . The synchronized playback system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in a case where the synchronized playback device, which participates in a first synchronized playback group that has been constructed, is designated to participate in a new second synchronized playback group, the synchronized playback device provides a gist that the synchronized playback device leaves the first synchronized playback group, to the control device of the first synchronized playback group, and   the control device of the first synchronized playback group updates pieces of information of the synchronized playback devices which participate in the first synchronized playback group, and notifies a gist that an updating process is completed, to the leaving synchronized playback device.   
     
     
         6 . The synchronized playback system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in a case where the control device, which participates in a first synchronized playback group that has been constructed, is designated to participate in a new second synchronized playback group, the control device selects a synchronized playback device that will be a new control device from among the synchronized playback devices which participate in the first synchronized playback group, and   the synchronized playback device, which is selected as the new control device, performs an updating process of deleting information of the synchronized playback device corresponding to the leaving control device from content of the pieces of information of the synchronized playback devices which participate in the first synchronized playback group, notifies a gist that the updating process is completed, to the synchronized playback device corresponding to the leaving control device, and notifies a gist that an operation as the control device starts, to other synchronized playback devices which participate in the first synchronized playback group.   
     
     
         7 . A synchronized playback apparatus which performs synchronized playback on a content file, which is delivered through a network from a delivery server in which the content file is stored, the synchronized playback apparatus comprising:
 a first playback device that reproduces the content file; and   a control device that performs control of the synchronized playback on the content file with second playback devices included in other synchronized playback apparatuses which are connected to the network.   
     
     
         8 . The synchronized playback apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a master device, wherein   the master device selects a second playback device, which is designated from among the second playback devices, as a second synchronized playback device which will participate in a synchronized playback group which performs the synchronized playback with the first playback device, and selects the control device between the second synchronized playback device and the first playback device.   
     
     
         9 . A control method in a synchronized playback system in which a plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses are connected and perform synchronized playback,
 each of the plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses including a playback device that reproduces a content file which is delivered through a network from a delivery server, in which the content file is stored, and a control device that controls the synchronized playback,   the control method including operating the control device by one of the plurality of synchronized playback apparatuses in a case in which the synchronized playback is performed and controlling the synchronized playback of a plurality of synchronized playback devices, which participate in a synchronized playback group, of the playback devices which are included in the plurality of respective synchronized playback apparatuses.