Schedule-based coordination of audio sources

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use with a coordination device, the computer-readable storage medium storing a program module that, when executed by the coordination device, causes the coordination device to coordinate playback of audio content by carrying out one or more operations that comprise:

• receiving, from one or more nodes in the coordination device that are communicatively coupled to one or more antennas, input frames associated with electronic devices;
• storing receive times when the input frames were received, wherein the receive times are based on a clock in the coordination device;
• calculating current time offsets between clocks in the electronic devices and the clock in the coordination device based on the receive times and expected transmit times of the input frames, wherein the expected transmit times are based on coordination of the clocks in the electronic devices and the clock in the coordination device at a previous time and a predefined transmit schedule of the input frames, and wherein the calculation of a given current time offset is based on unilateral communication of timing information between a given electronic device and the coordination device;
• and
• transmitting, via the one or more nodes, one or more output frames that comprise the audio content and playback timing information intended for the electronic devices, wherein the playback timing information specifies playback times when the electronic devices are to concurrently playback the audio content based on the current time offsets, and
• wherein the playback times of the electronic devices have a temporal relationship so that the playback of the audio content by the electronic devices is coordinated.

A method for coordinating playback of audio content, wherein the method comprises:

• by a coordination device:
• receiving, from one or more nodes in the coordination device that are communicatively coupled to one or more antennas, input frames associated with electronic devices;
• storing receive times when the input frames were received, wherein the receive times are based on a clock in the coordination device;
• calculating current time offsets between clocks in the electronic devices and the clock in the coordination device based on the receive times and expected transmit times of the input frames, wherein the expected transmit times are based on coordination of the clocks in the electronic devices and the clock in the coordination device at a previous time and a predefined transmit schedule of the input frames, and wherein the calculation of a given current time offset is based on unilateral communication of timing information between a given electronic device and the coordination device;
• and
• transmitting, via the one or more nodes, one or more output frames that comprise audio content and playback timing information intended for the electronic devices, wherein the playback timing information specifies playback times when the electronic devices are to concurrently playback the audio content based on the current time offsets, and
• wherein the playback times of the electronic devices have a temporal relationship so that the playback of the audio content by the electronic devices is coordinated.