Audio Streaming Device Synchronization for Live Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

Live audio streaming to personal recording devices at events is often compromised by sub-optimal acoustic conditions and noise interference, especially in large venues, which affects the quality of recorded audio and video.

Innovation Solution

An audio streaming device that establishes a network connection with personal recording devices, receives live audio content, and streams it in a synchronized manner with video, using packetized data and heartbeat signals to ensure timing alignment, while disabling embedded microphones to prevent interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If live audio is captured using embedded microphones in personal recording devices at large venues, then the recording can be made, but the audio quality deteriorates due to sub-optimal acoustic conditions and noise interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio qualityVSAvoidnoise interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the audio capture function from the personal recording device's embedded microphone and relocates it to a dedicated audio streaming device positioned at the event. This separation allows the audio to be captured in a controlled environment away from the harmful acoustic conditions and noise interference present in large venues, while the personal recording device focuses on video capture and reception of the cleaned audio stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The audio streaming device acts as an intermediary between the event source and the personal recording devices. It receives audio input from professional microphones or audio sources, processes and cleans the signal, then streams the improved audio to multiple personal recording devices simultaneously. This intermediary role enables high-quality audio distribution without each device needing to capture audio directly in the noisy venue environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If audio is streamed to multiple personal recording devices simultaneously, then more devices can record the event, but synchronization between audio and video becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-device streaming capabilityVSAvoidaudio-video synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The audio streaming device incorporates feedback mechanisms where receiving personal recording devices send acknowledgment signals about their reception status and timing. The streaming device uses this feedback to adjust and re-synchronize audio packets, ensuring that all devices receive properly synchronized audio-video streams despite network variations. This closed-loop feedback system maintains synchronization precision across multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary synchronization actions by embedding timing metadata and synchronization markers in the audio stream before transmission. Personal recording devices use these pre-included synchronization cues to align audio with video playback and recording, eliminating the need for complex post-processing synchronization and ensuring precise alignment from the start.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If embedded microphones are used in personal recording devices, then the devices can capture audio independently, but the audio quality is compromised by venue acoustics and audience noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent audio captureVSAvoidaudio quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the audio capture function from the personal recording devices and centralizes it in a dedicated audio streaming device. This extraction eliminates the conflict between independent capture capability and audio quality, as the centralized device uses professional-grade microphones and processing in a controlled environment, while personal devices focus on their strengths in video capture and wireless reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2658209B1Methods and apparatus for streaming audio content
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 THE BOEING CO
  • EP2658209B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2658209B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An audio streaming device (102) for providing live audio content to a plurality of personal recording devices (104) is provided. The audio streaming device (102) includes one or more processors (112) programmed to establish a network connection with at least one of the plurality of personal recording devices (104), receive live audio from an audio capturing device (106, 110), and stream the live audio to the at least one of the plurality of personal recording devices (104). (Fig. 1)