Broadcast audio for synchronized playback by wearables

A wearable device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more speaker drivers;
• a communication interface configured to communicate via a Personal Area Network (PAN) communications protocol;
• a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory;
• a housing configured to be worn by a user, wherein the housing carries the one or more processors, the one or more speaker drivers, the communication interface, and the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory;
• and
• program instructions stored on the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, configure the wearable device to:
• via the one or more speaker drivers, play audio content received via a first PAN from a first playback device;
• while playing the audio content received via the first PAN from the first playback device, determine whether the wearable device should switch to receiving the audio content via a second PAN from a second playback device on one of a periodic or semi-periodic basis;
• and
• after determining that the wearable device should switch to receiving the audio content via the second PAN from the second playback device, switch to receiving the audio content via the second PAN from the second playback device and play, via the one or more speaker drivers, the audio content received via the second PAN from the second playback device.

A system comprising a first playback device, wherein the first playback device comprises:

• one or more first processors;
• one or more first speaker drivers;
• one or more first communication interfaces configured to communicate via a Personal Area Network (PAN) and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN);
• a first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory;
• and
• first program instructions stored on the first tangible, non-transitory computer-readable memory, wherein the first program instructions, when executed by the one or more first processors, configure the first playback device to:
• transmit clock timing information to a second playback device, wherein the clock timing information is associated with a first clock at the first playback device;
• obtain audio content from an audio content source via the WLAN according to a first communications protocol;
• generate playback times for individual portions of the audio content, wherein the playback time for an individual portion of the audio content is indicative of a future time relative to the first clock at the first playback device;
• transmit a series of frames to the second playback device via the WLAN according to the first communications protocol, wherein the series of frames comprises the individual portions of the audio content, and the playback times for the individual portions of the audio content;
• and
• based on a current clock time of the first clock at the first playback device and the playback time for an individual portion of the audio content, broadcast, via a second communications protocol that is different than the first communications protocol, that individual portion of the audio content to a first PAN in synchrony with the second playback device broadcasting that portion of the audio content to a second PAN.