Software-based wireless coordination of audio playback

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use with an electronic device, the computer-readable storage medium storing a program module that, when executed by the electronic device, coordinates a playback operation by causing the electronic device to perform one or more operations comprising:

• capturing timing information associated with an interface clock provided by an interface clock circuit in the electronic device or a reference clock that is used by the interface clock circuit to generate the interface clock to increase a resolution of the system clock, wherein the interface clock has a higher frequency than the system clock;
• tracking, using the timing information, relative drift as a function of time between the system clock and the interface clock, wherein the interface clock is coordinated with a second interface clock in a second electronic device based on time-coordination information received, from an interface circuit in the electronic device, in packets associated with the second electronic device;
• determining, based on the relative drift, an estimated time offset between the interface clock and the system clock at a future time, which was received from the interface circuit, when the electronic device is to perform the playback operation;
• modifying the future time based on the estimated time offset to determine a corrected future time;
• and
• performing the playback operation at the corrected future time.

A method for coordinating a playback operation, comprising:

• in a processor in an electronic device:
• capturing timing information associated with an interface clock provided by an interface clock circuit in the electronic device or a reference clock that is used by the interface clock circuit to generate the interface clock to increase a resolution of the system clock, wherein the interface clock has a higher frequency than the system clock;
• tracking, using the timing information, relative drift as a function of time between the system clock and the interface clock, wherein the interface clock is coordinated with a second interface clock in a second electronic device based on time-coordination information received, from an interface circuit in the electronic device, in packets associated with the second electronic device;
• determining, based on the relative drift, an estimated time offset between the interface clock and the system clock at a future time, which was received from the interface circuit, when the electronic device is to perform the playback operation;
• modifying the future time based on the estimated time offset to determine a corrected future time;
• and
• performing the playback operation at the corrected future time.