Audio Sync Signal Mediates Multi-Room Playback Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-room audio systems face limitations in synchronization effectiveness, resulting in perceptible audio delays and low synchronization precision due to the use of WiFi clock synchronization protocols.
Innovation Solution
An audio synchronization playback method and system that involves a primary playback device and secondary playback devices, where the primary device obtains target audio data, synchronizes its local time with a reference clock device, and starts playback from a specific audio frame corresponding to a reference playback timestamp, ensuring precise synchronization across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If WiFi clock synchronization protocol is used for multi-room audio system, then the system can achieve basic synchronized playback, but the synchronization precision is low and audio delays are perceptible to human ear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an audio synchronization signal as an intermediary carrier that transports both time synchronization information and audio data. This signal acts as a mediator between the primary playback device and secondary playback devices, enabling precise synchronization without relying on separate clock protocols. The synchronization signal includes timestamp information that allows secondary devices to accurately align their playback timing with the primary device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines clock synchronization function and audio data transmission into a single audio synchronization signal. Instead of using separate WiFi clock protocols and audio streams, the invention merges these functions by embedding time synchronization timestamps within the audio synchronization signal itself, thereby achieving precise synchronization while reducing system complexity.
2Device complexity
If separate clock synchronization protocol is used, then time alignment can be achieved, but audio data transmission and synchronization are handled separately causing additional complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges clock synchronization and audio data transmission into a single integrated audio synchronization signal. This unified approach ensures that time alignment information and audio data travel together through the same transmission channel, eliminating the complexity of coordinating separate protocols while maintaining reliable synchronization through the embedded timestamp mechanism.
3Measurement precision
If hardware parameter differences between devices are not compensated, then system implementation is simpler, but synchronization precision deteriorates due to varying playback characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where secondary playback devices send audio synchronization feedback signals back to the primary device. This feedback loop allows the primary device to detect and compensate for hardware parameter differences between devices by adjusting synchronization timestamps, thereby achieving high synchronization precision without requiring complex manual configuration or calibration.
Data Source
AI summary
An audio synchronization playback method includes: obtaining, by the primary playback device, target audio data; sending, by the primary playback device, the target audio data to at least one secondary playback device for playback; synchronizing, by the primary playback device, local time of the primary playback device with local time of the reference clock device based on a target audio synchronization signal in response to receiving the target audio synchronization signal and obtaining, by the primary playback device, reference playback timestamp of the target audio synchronization signal; where the target audio synchronization signal is a periodic signal sent by the reference clock device, and the reference clock device is the primary playback device or one secondary playback device of the preset quantity of secondary playback devices; and starting, by the primary playback device, playback from a target audio data frame corresponding to the reference playback timestamp.