Audio-Video Sync via Multi-Delay Audio Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional audio streaming methods for pop-up drive-in cinemas often result in audio and video synchronization delays due to hardware and software differences in user devices, leading to a suboptimal viewing experience.
Innovation Solution
The system generates multiple copies of the audio signal with varying delays, each smaller than the initial video delay, and broadcasts these as separate audio channels over a wireless network, allowing users to select the best synchronization with the displayed video.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If audio is streamed to individual user devices over a wireless network, then audio delivery is enabled, but synchronization delay between audio and video occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The audio signal is divided into multiple separate audio channels, each with a different delay compensation value. Instead of delivering a single audio stream, the system segments the audio into multiple versions that can be independently selected by users based on their device's specific latency characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the delay parameter of the audio signal by creating multiple copies with different delay compensation values. Each audio channel has a distinct delay parameter that can compensate for the wireless network latency, allowing users to select the channel that best synchronizes with the video playback.
2Reliability
If multiple copies of audio signal with different delays are generated and broadcast, then audio-video synchronization within tolerance is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The audio signal is segmented into multiple channels with different delay characteristics. This segmentation allows the system to provide multiple synchronization options without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms, as each channel is pre-configured with a specific delay compensation value.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates multiple copies of the audio signal, each copy having a different delay compensation applied. Rather than developing a complex real-time synchronization system, the invention uses simpler copying and preprocessing approaches to generate multiple audio channels that can be directly selected by users.
3Reliability
If video signal is delayed past maximum latency to accommodate audio streaming, then synchronization is attempted, but user experience deteriorates due to excessive delay
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of delaying the video signal to match the audio streaming latency, the invention inverts the approach by adding delay compensation to the audio channels. This allows the video to play at its optimal speed while the audio channels provide the necessary synchronization, avoiding the degradation of video quality and timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the delay parameter of the audio signal rather than the video signal. By adjusting the audio delay parameter through multiple channels with different compensation values, the system achieves synchronization without subjecting the video to excessive delays that would harm the user experience.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for delivering video and audio to one or more user devices. A method includes obtaining a video signal and an audio signal that are synchronized in time. The method includes applying a first time delay, greater than a predetermined maximum amount of time delay, to the video signal and outputting the delayed video signal to a display device. The method includes generating a plurality of copies of the audio signal and applying a plurality of time delays to the copies of the audio signal. A different time delay is applied to each of the plurality of copies of the audio signal and each of the plurality of time delays is smaller than the first time delay. The method includes outputting the plurality of delayed copies of the audio signal for broadcast to one or more user devices over a wireless network.