Multi-Display Playback Synchronization Using Master-Client Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face playback time discrepancies when sharing content due to varying network latencies, leading to synchronization issues between multiple devices.

Innovation Solution

A display system and method that determines whether a device operates as a master or client within a sync group, synchronizing playback times using multicast communication protocols and master playback information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If content is shared between multiple electronic devices, then content sharing capability is improved, but playback time synchronization deteriorates due to varying network latencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent sharing capabilityVSAvoidplayback time synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the reference playback time for each client device based on its individual network latency to the server. Each client device calculates its specific latency and uses this information to determine when to start and resume playback, ensuring synchronized playback across all devices despite varying network conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the server transmits playback time information to client devices, and client devices use this feedback to adjust their playback timing. The server receives playback status from clients and can send corrective playback time information to maintain synchronization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If playback time synchronization is implemented using server-transmitted time information, then synchronization capability is improved, but network dependency increases leading to vulnerability against network latency variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback time synchronizationVSAvoidnetwork dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary measurement of network latency between each client device and the server before playback begins. This pre-measured latency information is stored and used to calculate the appropriate reference playback time for each device, allowing the system to compensate for network delays in advance rather than reacting to them during playback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that collects playback status from all client devices and distributes synchronized playback time information back to them. This intermediary role allows the system to maintain centralized coordination while enabling each device to independently adjust its playback timing based on the server's guidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260075278A1Display system for synchronizing of output image and display method using the same

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A display system includes: a host; and at least one display device, wherein a display device of the at least one display device is configured to: receive a video playback signal from the host, recognize a sync group based on the video playback signal; determine whether to operate as a master device or a client device within the sync group; based on a determination of operating as the client device within the sync group, synchronize a playback time of an output video with at least one other display device based on master playback information from the master device.