Synchronized mesh audio communications

1. A communications system comprising:

a root node;

a plurality of nodes in communication with the root node, the plurality of nodes defining a mesh network;

the root node configured to:

transmit audio data to the plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes configured to produce audio corresponding to the audio data;

wherein the audio data is transmitted to the plurality of nodes in a series of frames, wherein each frame includes a frame identifier and a message containing the audio data;

the root node is further configured to determine a time delay to each node of the plurality of nodes; and

transmit a delay code to the plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes producing the audio corresponding to the audio data at a time corresponding to the delay code;

a node of the plurality of nodes is configured to:

detect a missing frame in response to a sequence of frame identifiers; and

upon the node of the plurality of nodes detecting the missing frame and determining that a playback time is greater than a time for data re-transmission between the root node and the node of the plurality of nodes, the node of the plurality of nodes sending a request to the root node to resend the missing frame.

2. The communications system of claim 1 wherein:

each of the plurality of nodes is associated with a unique node identifier.

3. The communications system of claim 2 wherein:

the root node is configured to associate each of the plurality of nodes with a zone identifier.

4. The communications system of claim 1 wherein:

determining the time delay to each node of the plurality of nodes comprises the root node sending an initialization message including a timestamp to each of the plurality of nodes and receiving a reply message from each node of the plurality of nodes indicating the time delay.

5. The communications system of claim 1 wherein: the node of the plurality of nodes detects a missing frame in response to a sequence of frame identifiers.

6. The communications system of claim 5 wherein: the root node resends the missing frame ahead of frames being sent in a sequential order.

7. A method for sending messages between a root node and a plurality of nodes in communication with the root node, the plurality of nodes defining a mesh network, the method comprising:

at the root node:

transmitting audio data to the plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes configured to produce audio corresponding to the audio data;

the root node determining a time delay to each node of the plurality of nodes;

the root node transmitting a delay code to the plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes producing the audio corresponding to the audio data at a time corresponding to the delay code;

the audio data being transmitted to the plurality of nodes in a series of frames wherein each frame includes a frame identifier and a message containing the audio data;

a node of the plurality of nodes receiving the series of frames, and the node of the urality of nodes a missing frame in response to a sequence of frame identifiers;

upon the node of the plurality of nodes detecting the missing frame, the node of the plurality of nodes sending a request to the root node to resend the missing frame when the node of the plurality of nodes determines a playback time is greater than a time for data retransmission between the root node and the node of the plurality of nodes.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

each of the plurality of nodes is associated with a unique node identifier.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the root node associates each of the plurality of nodes with a zone identifier.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein:

determining the time delay to each node of the plurality of nodes comprises the root node sending an initialization message including a timestamp to each of the plurality of nodes and receiving a reply message from each node of the plurality of nodes indicating the time delay.

11. The method of claim 1 further wherein the node of the plurality of nodes detects a missing frame in response to a sequence of frame identifiers.

12. The communications system of claim 1 wherein:

the playback time corresponds to the time available until the audio data needs to be played in a correct sequence, the playback time is measured from reception of a first frame at the node of the plurality of nodes and is calculated using a buffer time and a length of the audio data in the message.