Audio Distribution Master Selection via Network Performance Ranking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In networked audio systems, link speed degradation of the master device can significantly impact the performance of the entire network, leading to interruptions in audio data delivery, especially when multiple playback devices are connected and the master's link speed slows down.
Innovation Solution
Dynamically select the master playback device based on network-related performance criteria such as successful data transfer rates, and designate multiple devices as masters to manageably-sized groups of slaves, ensuring consistent and efficient audio data distribution by comparing and ranking the performance of all connected devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single master device is used to distribute audio data to multiple slave devices, then the system structure is simple and easy to manage, but the master device's link speed degradation significantly impacts the performance of the entire network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single master device into multiple master devices, each responsible for managing a subset of slave devices. This segmentation reduces the load on each master device and prevents single-point failure, thereby improving network reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity through distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the parameter of master device selection based on link speed performance. Devices are evaluated and selected as masters based on their current link speed capabilities, allowing the system to adapt to changing network conditions and maintain optimal performance.
2Productivity
If the master device link speed is high, then the audio data delivery performance is good, but the link speed may degrade over time or be slow initially
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic master device selection where devices are continuously evaluated based on their link speed performance. The master device designation is not static but can change over time based on current network conditions, allowing the system to adapt to link speed variations and maintain high audio data delivery performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from link speed measurements to dynamically adjust master device selection. By monitoring the performance of potential master devices and selecting those with the highest link speeds, the system ensures optimal audio data delivery performance while accounting for temporal variations in link speed stability.
3Reliability
If multiple master devices are designated to manage slave devices, then the data delivery performance is maintained, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the slave devices into multiple groups, each managed by a dedicated master device. This segmentation distributes the management load and improves data delivery performance by reducing the number of slaves each master must handle, while the structured grouping approach keeps system complexity manageable.
4Quantity of substance
If the master device services many slave devices, then the network coverage is extensive, but the master's link speed slows considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large group of slave devices into smaller subgroups, each served by its own master device. This segmentation reduces the number of slaves per master, preventing link speed degradation while maintaining extensive network coverage through the distributed master-slave architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimensional master-slave hierarchy to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture where multiple masters operate in parallel. This dimensional change allows the system to scale to more slave devices without compromising individual master link speeds, as each master operates independently within its own subgroup.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method and device for distributing audio data to a number of audio playback devices that are connected to a network. One or more network-related performance criteria of a plurality of the audio playback devices are compared. Based on the comparison, at least one of the audio playback devices is designated as a master device and at least one other of the audio playback devices is designated as a slave device. The master device then controls the distribution of audio data to one or more of the slave devices.