Systems and methods for synchronizing multiple electronic devices

An audio playback device comprising:

• a communication component for connecting the audio playback device to a master device to form an audio playback group for playback of audio;
• a user interface;
• a first audio output component;
• and
• a controller module interfaced with the communication component, the user interface, and the first audio output component, and configured to:
• receive, from the master device via the communication component, a timing signal and timing information associated with audio data to be played by the audio playback device in a slave role as part of the audio playback group,
• cause the first audio output component to output the audio data at a time based on the timing signal, the timing information, and a clock of the audio playback device,
• receive, via the user interface, a selection corresponding to a playback command associated with modifying playback of the audio data,
• transmit, to the master device via the communication component, a playback command request corresponding to the playback command, wherein the master device (i) modifies playback of the audio data via a second audio output component of the master device according to the playback command request, and (ii) transmits, to the audio playback device, the playback command based on the playback command request received from the audio playback device,
• receive, from the master device via the communication component, the playback command based on the playback command request, and
• cause the first audio output component to modify playback of the audio data based on the playback command received from the master device such that the audio data is played back, in synchrony, via the first audio output component of the audio playback device and via the second audio output component of the master device.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions, the instructions when executed by a processor causing the processor to perform operations comprising:

• joining, by an audio playback device, an audio playback group including a master device, the audio playback group configured for playback of audio content;
• receiving, by the audio playback device from the master device, a timing signal and timing information associated with audio data to be played by the audio playback device in a slave role as part of the audio playback group;
• initiating playback, by the audio playback device via a first audio output component of the audio playback device, of the audio data at a time based on the timing signal, the timing information, and a clock of the audio playback device;
• receiving, at the audio playback device, a selection corresponding to a playback command associated with modifying playback of the audio data;
• sending, by the audio playback device to the master device, a playback command request corresponding to the playback command, wherein the master device (i) modifies playback of the audio data via a second audio output component of the master device according to the playback command request, and (ii) transmits, to the audio playback device, the playback command based on the playback command request received from the audio playback device;
• receiving, by the audio playback device from the master device, the playback command based on the playback command request;
• and
• performing, by the audio playback device, the playback command received from the master device to modify the playback of the audio data via the first audio output component such that the audio data is played back, in synchrony, via the first audio output component of the audio playback device and via the second audio output component of the master device.