AV Amplifier Audio Switching for Server-Based Multi-Channel Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing AV amplifiers require a demand-side platform (DSP) to process multi-channel digital signals, leading to complex configurations and high costs, necessitating frequent replacements as channel numbers increase, resulting in resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
An AV amplifier that includes an input unit, operation unit, server interface unit, audio reproduction unit, output unit, and control unit, which can switch between processing digital data locally or transmitting it to a server for processing, allowing multi-channel audio reproduction without requiring a DSP in the amplifier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a DSP is provided in the AV amplifier to process multi-channel digital signals, then multi-channel audio reproduction capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal processing function from the AV amplifier by connecting it to an external processing device via network. The amplifier retains only basic audio processing capabilities while offloading complex multi-channel signal processing to the external device, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining multi-channel reproduction capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the AV amplifier universal by enabling it to handle both stereo and multi-channel audio through a unified architecture. By incorporating a network interface and signal switching mechanism, the amplifier can adapt to different audio formats and processing configurations without requiring separate hardware for each function
2Adaptability or versatility
If the AV amplifier supports an increasing number of audio channels, then adaptability to new audio formats is improved, but the burden on the DSP and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy processing burden from the amplifier's DSP by implementing network-based signal processing. The amplifier transmits raw or minimally processed audio signals over the network to an external processing device, significantly reducing local DSP resource consumption while maintaining support for high-channel-count formats
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network communication interface as an intermediary between the amplifier and the signal processing function. This intermediary enables the amplifier to access advanced processing capabilities externally without requiring proportional increases in local DSP capacity
3Adaptability or versatility
If users replace AV amplifiers to support new channel configurations, then adaptability to new audio formats is improved, but resource wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the AV amplifier universal so that a single device can support multiple audio configurations (stereo, 5.1, 7.1, and higher channel counts) through software and network-based processing. This eliminates the need for hardware replacement when new audio formats are introduced, preventing resource wastage
4Ease of manufacture
If a DSP is provided in the AV amplifier, then local signal processing capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex signal processing function from the amplifier hardware and implements it externally via network connection. This allows the amplifier to be manufactured with simpler, more cost-effective components while still providing advanced signal processing capabilities through the external device
Data Source
AI summary
An AV amplifier contains an input unit to input digital data and an operation unit that receives a reproduction instruction. A switching unit switches whether to output the digital data input to a server interface unit or DSP in response to the reproduction instruction. The DSP processes the digital data output to obtain and output a two-channel signal, which the server interface unit transmits by the switching unit to a server and receives an audio signal from the server. An audio reproduction unit reproduces the server interface unit received audio signal and an audio signal output by the DSP. An output unit outputs the reproduced audio signal to each speaker and a control unit controls the switching unit and the server interface unit in response to the reproduction instruction from the user. The control unit controls the switching unit, when two-channel audio reproduction is instructed from the user.