Audio Stream Clock Alignment via Sample Rate Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio data stream synchronization technologies face challenges in accurately aligning audio streams with system clocks across multiple devices due to timing uncertainties introduced by sample rate conversion, especially when frame rates are not integral multiples of each other.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of mechanisms to determine the relative positions of audio and system clocks, using indicators or ratios to align sample points, and pre-calculating offsets for lookup tables to ensure accurate timestamping and reduce timing uncertainty during sample rate conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sample rate conversion is performed to interface audio data sampled at a first sampling rate with a system operating at a different rate, then audio data can be processed across devices with different frame rates, but timing uncertainty is introduced between the audio clock and system clock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by determining the relationship between the audio clock and system clock before processing audio data, and by pre-calculating timing information for use during audio stream processing. This advance preparation enables accurate timing correlation without introducing uncertainty during actual audio processing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that correlates the audio clock with the system clock through determined relationships between them. This intermediary correlation layer allows audio data from sources with different frame rates to be accurately synchronized with the system clock, resolving the timing uncertainty introduced by sample rate conversion.
2Reliability
If audio data is synchronized with a system clock across multiple devices, then audio rendering is coordinated, but timing uncertainty from sample rate conversion degrades synchronization accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms by continuously determining the relationship between the audio clock and system clock, and by using this determined relationship to adjust and refine timing correlations. This feedback loop maintains accurate synchronization across devices despite variations in frame rates and sample rate conversions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary determination of the clock relationship and pre-calculates timing offsets before audio synchronization operations. This advance preparation ensures that accurate timing information is available for coordinating audio rendering across multiple devices, preventing timing uncertainty from degrading synchronization accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If frame rates are not related by an integer ratio, then heterogeneous audio sources can be processed, but timing uncertainty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the approach from assuming integer ratio relationships between frame rates to determining the actual relationship between the audio clock and system clock. By measuring and adapting to the actual clock relationship regardless of whether it follows an integer ratio, the system maintains accurate timing correlation while supporting heterogeneous frame rates from different audio sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary clock relationship determination that mediates between the audio clock and system clock. This intermediary mechanism accurately correlates timing information even when frame rates are not related by an integer ratio, preventing timing uncertainty from increasing while enabling processing of heterogeneous audio sources.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for time aware audio streams is described herein. The apparatus includes a converter and an alignment unit. The converter is to perform sample rate conversion of data from a first clock to a second clock. The alignment unit is to indicate valid sample points in the data based on a relationship between the first clock and the second clock.