Audio-Video Playback Sync Correction Using Embedded Frame Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Synchronization issues between audio and video streams in telecommunications and audio/video communications result in noticeable delays and distractions, leading to a degraded user experience and potential abandonment of communication services.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for measuring and correcting audio and video synchronization by embedding diagnostic data and timing information in video frames, allowing devices to detect and adjust the playback of audio and video streams to align them accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If audio and video streams are transmitted separately over the network, then network flexibility and adaptability are improved, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to varying network conditions and device performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system embeds timing information and diagnostic data in video frames during encoding, before transmission occurs. This preliminary action allows the receiving device to accurately measure synchronization offset by comparing embedded timestamps with actual playback timing, resolving the synchronization accuracy issue while maintaining network flexibility for separate stream transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where synchronization measurements are continuously made by comparing embedded timing data with actual playback timing. The receiving device uses this feedback to detect synchronization issues and apply corrections, maintaining accurate audio-video alignment despite separate network transmission paths
2Measurement precision
If timing information is embedded in video frames, then synchronization measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges timing information and diagnostic data directly into the video frame structure during encoding. By combining synchronization data with the video stream itself rather than transmitting separate timing channels, the system achieves precise synchronization measurements while minimizing additional device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The video stream itself carries the timing information needed for its own synchronization measurement. The embedded timing data in video frames enables the receiving device to self-diagnose and measure synchronization offset without requiring complex external synchronization infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device and associated systems and methods accurately measure amounts by which audio and video playback for a communication become unsynchronized and automatically synchronized the playback based on the measurements. The communication device receives a video stream and an audio stream of the communication with a synchronization signal. The communication device decodes video frames and a unique frame identifier for each video frame from the video stream, an decodes an audio signal from the audio stream. The communication device detects the unique frame identifier of a particular video frame that is played back at a same time at which the audio signal satisfies a threshold, and measures a synchronization offset between the audio and video playback based on a difference between the unique frame identifier of the particular video frame and the unique frame identifier of a different video frame that is identified in the synchronization signal.