Audio Code Word Pairing for Device Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic data communication systems face challenges in efficiently embedding and recovering data within audio signals, particularly in synchronizing devices with encoded audio signals, especially in the presence of break points or skip events.
Innovation Solution
The method involves embedding pairs of code words, comprising an ID code word and a synchronization code word, within an audio signal, where ID code words are consistent and synchronization code words are unique, allowing for efficient synchronization and re-synchronization by generating timing information associated with the synchronization code words to help devices align with the audio signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If code words are embedded continuously in the audio signal, then data transmission completeness is improved, but synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The code words are segmented into pairs, where each pair consists of an ID code word and a synchronisation code word. This segmentation allows the receiver to process and synchronize using only the synchronisation code words, reducing synchronization complexity while maintaining complete data transmission through the paired structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronisation code word acts as an intermediary element between the ID code word and the data transmission process. It provides a dedicated mechanism for synchronization without requiring the entire code word structure to be processed for timing alignment, thus reducing complexity while ensuring reliability.
2Measurement precision
If unique synchronisation code words are used for each audio signal, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each audio signal is assigned a unique synchronisation code word specific to its local context or program identity. This local uniqueness provides high synchronization accuracy for each individual signal without requiring the receiving device to handle complex universal synchronization logic for all possible signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of synchronisation code word uniqueness at the signal level rather than requiring complex device-level differentiation. Each signal's unique synchronisation code word serves as a distinctive parameter that simplifies the receiving device's synchronization task while maintaining high accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional synchronisation code words are added after break points, then re-synchronization capability is improved, but audio signal complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Additional synchronisation code words are preemptively inserted at known break point locations in the audio signal. This preliminary action ensures that when a break occurs, the receiver can quickly re-synchronize using the pre-placed code words without complex search or recovery algorithms, improving adaptability while keeping the added complexity minimal and structured.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications system distributes code word pairs within the audio of a television or radio program or the like. Each pair of code words includes an ID code word that is the same for a given program and a synchronization code word that is unique within the program. A portable user device is able to synchronize itself to the program using the embedded synchronization code words.