Audio-Visual Synchronization via Trigger-Based Visual Data Retrieval

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Solution Overview

Problem

Audio data presentation is limited as users can only listen, lacking engagement of other senses, and fails to convey visual information such as images or charts associated with the audio content, leading to a less effective communication and user experience.

Innovation Solution

Synchronizing visual data with audio data by detecting triggers within the audio file, accessing a local or remote database to retrieve corresponding visual data, and displaying it in real-time or ahead of the audio playback, enhancing the user experience by providing a richer and more meaningful communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If audio data is presented through audio players only, then the device complexity is low and ease of operation is high, but the information conveyance effectiveness is limited and user engagement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation conveyance effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines audio data presentation with visual data display by integrating an audio player and a display device into a unified system. The synchronization module coordinates both audio and visual outputs, allowing charts, graphs, and images to be displayed simultaneously with audio playback, thereby reducing information loss without significantly increasing perceived system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The audio player system is enhanced with multi-functionality by adding visual display capabilities and synchronization functions. The same device that plays audio now also displays visual data related to the audio content, making it a universal presentation device that handles both auditory and visual information channels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If visual data is integrated with audio data, then user engagement and information conveyance are improved, but the device complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser engagementVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Visual data is prepared and synchronized with audio data in advance before playback begins. The system pre-loads and coordinates visual content with corresponding audio segments, reducing real-time processing complexity during actual playback while maintaining high user engagement through seamless audio-visual synchronization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A synchronization module acts as an intermediary between the audio player and display device. This mediator coordinates the timing and content of visual data display with audio playback, managing the increased system complexity through a dedicated control component that simplifies the interaction between subsystems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If separate documents are used for audio and visual content, then data organization is simple, but user convenience and information integration are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidinformation integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges separate audio and visual content into a unified presentation by synchronizing visual data display with audio playback. Charts, graphs, and images are automatically displayed alongside corresponding audio segments, eliminating the need for users to manually coordinate separate documents while preserving complete information integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of information

If audio data is enhanced with visual data, then the richness of communication is improved, but the data processing and synchronization complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication richnessVSAvoidsynchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Visual data is pre-synchronized with audio data before playback begins. The system prepares the coordination of visual and auditory content in advance, reducing real-time synchronization complexity during actual presentation while maintaining rich, integrated communication between audio and visual elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8861925B1Methods and systems for audio-visual synchronization
Publication Date: 2014.10.14 INTUIT INC
  • US8861925B1 patent drawing
  • US8861925B1 patent drawing
  • US8861925B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Audio-visual synchronization using retrieval of visual data through a network to enhance the content presented to the user and to provide the user with a more meaningful and engaging audio-visual experience. An audio player such as an electronic book reader or stereo plays an audio file. The audio file, whether in analog form as played through a speaker or in digital form, is provided to a controller, which scans the audio file to detect a trigger or cue identifying visual data stored in a data store or database that is local or accessible through a network. The controller accesses the data store or database, downloads the pre-determined visual data, and controls the audio player and display such that playing of audio data and display of the retrieved visual data are synchronized with each other.