Audio Trigger Metadata for Dynamic Media Event Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for synchronizing audio-triggered events in dynamic user-influenced media experiences, such as video games, require developers to manually note target frames in animation reels, which is tedious and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A development tool that allows users to associate audio triggers with events by defining them in metadata, which is processed by an application engine to automatically synchronize events with audio content streams, decoupling the timing from animation frames.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual synchronization of events with animation frames is used, then precise timing alignment is achieved, but development time and effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming alignment precisionVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of watching animation reels and noting frame numbers with an automated audio-based triggering system. The development tool automatically detects audio triggers and synchronizes events without requiring developers to manually track animation frames, thereby eliminating the time-consuming manual synchronization process while maintaining precise timing alignment through audio timestamp correlation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If events are tied to specific animation frames, then synchronization accuracy is maintained, but adaptability to playback speed changes is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidplayback speed adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic synchronization system where events are tied to audio timestamps rather than fixed animation frames. This allows the system to automatically adapt to playback speed changes and format variations, as the audio trigger timestamps dynamically adjust event timing based on actual playback conditions while maintaining synchronization accuracy through real-time audio correlation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If developers wait for audio sync before adding effects, then accurate timing is achieved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming accuracyVSAvoiddevelopment productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables developers to add effects and events during the audio production phase itself, rather than waiting for post-audio synchronization. The development tool allows effects to be tied to audio triggers as the audio is being created and timed, performing the synchronization action preliminarily during audio production. This eliminates the sequential wait-and-sync process, improving productivity while maintaining timing accuracy through the audio-based triggering system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4165499B1Audio associations for interactive media event triggering
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4165499B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4165499B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4165499B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system includes a development tool for adding electronically-driven effects to a dynamic user-influenced media experience. The development tool is adapted to receive first user input and second user input. The first user input defines an audio trigger corresponding to one or more words or phrases appearing in a textual transcript of an audio content stream that includes audio data to be played as part of the dynamic user-influenced media experience. The second user input defines an event that is to be executed in temporal association with an audible occurrence of the audio trigger. The development tool generates metadata based on the first user input and the second user input, and an application engine interprets the metadata as an instruction to selectively trigger execution of the event in association with the audible occurrence of the audio trigger while presenting the dynamic user-influenced media experience.