Battery-Powered Audio Playback Handover for Synchronous Streaming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional networked audio systems face challenges in conserving energy, particularly when devices transition between operating modes, as they often require high power consumption, making it impractical to 'go green' in energy-efficient environments.
Innovation Solution
A playback device that can transition between 'powered mode' and 'battery mode' based on the power source, serving as a network bridge in powered mode and a client device in battery mode to conserve power and adapt networking functions accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the playback device operates in powered mode with full networking functions, then the networking capability and bridge functionality are improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The playback device dynamically transitions between operating modes (powered mode and battery mode) based on power source availability. In powered mode, the device operates with full networking capabilities including bridge functionality. When battery power is detected, the device automatically transitions to battery mode with limited networking functions, thereby adapting networking capability to energy availability and resolving the contradiction between networking versatility and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (networking mode, bridge functionality) based on the power source parameter. When the power source changes from external power to battery, the device modifies its networking parameters to reduce energy consumption while maintaining essential client device functionality, thus balancing networking capability with energy efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If the playback device serves as a network bridge, then the networking functionality is improved, but the power consumption increases making it impractical for battery-powered operation
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically adjusts its networking role based on power source detection. When operating on battery power, the device automatically disables bridge functionality and operates only as a client device, making battery-powered operation practical. When external power is available, the device can serve as a network bridge, thus providing full networking functionality. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between networking functionality and ease of battery-powered operation
Data Source
AI summary
Example techniques related to battery-powered playback devices. In an example, a first battery-powered playback device receives audio content from a network device and forwards the audio content to a second playback device for synchronous playback of the audio content with the second playback device, plays back the audio content, detects that a battery level of a battery of the first playback device has fallen below a predefined threshold, and ceases the forwarding of the audio content after the battery level of the battery of the first playback device has fallen below the predefined threshold. After the battery level of the first playback device has fallen below the predefined threshold, the second playback device receives the audio content from the network device, forwards the audio content to the first playback device for synchronous playback with the first playback device, and plays back the audio content in synchrony with the first playback device.