Distributed Audio Synchronization Across Independent Device Clocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media playback systems face challenges in synchronizing audio playback across multiple networked devices when they operate at different clocking rates or are connected via asynchronous networks, leading to timing discrepancies and unreliable playback of multiple audio streams.
Innovation Solution
The system configures groups of playback devices to play audio content in synchrony by generating and adjusting playback timing based on clock timing information shared among devices, decoupling playback timing from clock timing generation, and enabling any device to provide clock timing for synchronous playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices operate at different clocking rates or are connected via asynchronous networks, then device independence and network flexibility are improved, but timing synchronization and playback reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a timing packet as an intermediary carrier that transports timing information between devices with different clocking rates. The timing packet contains playback timing data generated by a master device and is used by slave devices to synchronize their playback, thereby mediating between independent device clocks and achieving coordinated playback without requiring devices to operate at the same clocking rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the timing generation function from the audio playback function by dividing devices into master devices (which generate timing information) and slave devices (which receive and follow timing information). This segmentation allows each device to maintain its own clocking independence while still achieving synchronized playback through the distributed timing protocol.
2Device complexity
If playback timing is coupled with clock timing generation, then device operation is simplified, but synchronization precision across multiple devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timing information from the audio data stream and transmits it separately through dedicated timing packets. This separation allows timing information to be processed and synchronized independently from audio playback, enabling precise synchronization control without adding complexity to the audio processing path.
Solution Approach 2:
The master device generates playback timing information in advance and embeds it in timing packets that are transmitted to slave devices before playback occurs. This preliminary timing preparation allows slave devices to pre-synchronize their playback operations, achieving precise synchronization without requiring complex real-time coordination during actual playback.
3Reliability
If a centralized clock system is used for synchronization, then timing consistency is improved, but system scalability and device autonomy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic master-slave relationship where any device can potentially become a master device and generate timing information. The master device is not fixed but can change based on system conditions, allowing the synchronization architecture to adapt dynamically to different network configurations and device additions, thereby maintaining timing consistency while enabling system scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing packet structure and protocol are designed to be universally applicable across different device types and network configurations. Any device capable of receiving and processing timing packets can participate in the synchronized playback, whether as a master or slave, making the system universally scalable without requiring specialized hardware or fixed architectural roles.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are playback devices, groups of playback devices, and methods of operating playback devices and groupings thereof to cause the playback devices in a group of playback devices to play audio content together in synchrony based on playback timing and clock timing, where the audio content and playback timing and the clock timing for use with playing the audio content according to the clock timing are provided by different playback devices in the group of playback devices.