Whole-Home Entertainment Adaptive Switching for Audio-Video Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Synchronizing audio and video playback in whole home entertainment systems using wireless networks is challenging due to transmission delays, especially with high-definition video, leading to unsynchronized playback and a degraded user experience.
Innovation Solution
Adaptive switching between video encodings based on the current state of the wireless network, including buffering and prioritizing audio transmission, and dynamically adjusting video resolution to maintain synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high definition video is transmitted wirelessly to improve video quality, then video resolution is improved, but transmission delays increase causing audio-video synchronization issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts video encoding parameters (resolution, bitrate) based on real-time network conditions. The media player continuously monitors wireless network performance and adapts video quality and transmission characteristics to maintain optimal audio-video synchronization while maximizing video quality under current network constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes multiple video encoding parameters (resolution, bitrate, frame rate) and transmission parameters (buffering duration, priority levels) to resolve the contradiction. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can deliver high definition video when network conditions permit while preventing excessive transmission delays that would cause synchronization issues.
2Reliability
If audio transmission is prioritized to maintain synchronization, then audio-video sync is improved, but video quality may be degraded due to network bandwidth limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the priority allocation between audio and video streams based on network conditions and buffering states. When video buffering is sufficient, audio transmission priority is increased to maintain synchronization. When video buffering is low, priority shifts to video transmission to prevent quality degradation, resolving the contradiction between sync reliability and video quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The media player pre-buffers video content before playback to anticipate network variability. By having video data ready in advance, the system can prioritize audio transmission during playback without compromising video quality, as the buffered video can be delivered at optimal quality regardless of real-time transmission priority.
3Reliability
If video buffering is increased to compensate for transmission delays, then audio-video synchronization is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts buffering duration based on real-time network performance metrics and playback progress. Rather than using fixed large buffers that consume excessive bandwidth, the player adapts buffer size to the minimum necessary to maintain synchronization under current network conditions, optimizing the trade-off between sync reliability and bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The media player continuously monitors playback synchronization status and network conditions, using this feedback to adjust buffering behavior. When synchronization is maintained with minimal buffering, the system reduces bandwidth consumption. When sync issues detect, the system increases buffering temporarily to restore synchronization, then reduces again, optimizing the overall trade-off.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for synchronizing playback of audio and video associated with a content, such as a movie or TV show. Also provided herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for coordinating devices in a whole home entertainment system that includes a wireless network, to improve collective utilization of the wireless network and thereby enhance user experience.