Buffer Read Position Advancement for Audio Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Audio signals cannot be synchronized across multiple devices with different transmission line performances, leading to delayed sound and unsynchronized reproduction, especially when devices from different manufacturers are involved.
Innovation Solution
An output control system with a buffer unit that advances the read position for devices with delayed communication, ensuring synchronized reproduction by temporarily storing and outputting audio signals to devices with varying delay times, allowing for synchronized playback across devices with different transmission rates and qualities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If audio signals are transmitted through multiple transmission lines with different performances to multiple reproducing devices, then the system can support diverse transmission paths and devices, but sound synchronization fails due to different delay times and transmission rates
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer unit pre-stores audio signals before transmission. By advancing the second read position ahead of the first read position by the delay time period, the system prepares compensated signals in advance for devices with different transmission delays, ensuring synchronized reproduction without requiring real-time adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the read position parameter in the buffer unit based on transmission line characteristics. Specifically, it sets the second read position ahead of the first read position by an amount corresponding to the delay time period of the second transmission line, dynamically adjusting signal timing to match different transmission path performances
2Reliability
If the buffer read position is advanced for devices with delayed communication, then synchronized reproduction is achieved, but the buffer management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer unit implements different read positions for different output destinations. The first read position serves devices with standard transmission, while the second read position (advanced by delay time) serves devices with delayed transmission. This localized differentiation within the buffer simplifies control compared to universal repositioning
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an output control device, including: a signal input unit configured to receive an audio signal; a first output unit configured to output the audio signal to a first reproducing device; a second output unit configured to output the audio signal to a second reproducing device via communication in which a delay of a first delay time period occurs; and a buffer unit configured to temporarily store the audio signal, to read the temporarily-stored signal, and to output the read signal to the first output unit and the second output unit, the buffer unit being configured to advance a second read position, which is a read position in the buffer unit of a buffer signal to be output to the second output unit, by the first delay time period ahead of a first read position, which is a read position of a buffer signal to be output to the first output unit.