Distributed Audio DSP Coordination for Bandwidth Bottlenecks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio systems face limitations in digital signal processing (DSP) due to constraints on processing speed, bandwidth, and capacity, primarily relying on a centralized processor that can become overloaded and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A distributed audio system is implemented, where DSP features are shared across multiple devices, including endpoints and an aggregator, allowing for flexible and efficient use of DSP capabilities based on device capabilities and conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a centralized processor performs all DSP for an audio system, then control and coordination are simplified, but processing capacity and bandwidth become bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized DSP functionality into distributed DSP capabilities across multiple endpoint devices. Each endpoint can perform local DSP operations on audio signals, reducing the burden on any single device while maintaining system-wide processing capacity. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing computational tasks rather than concentrating them in one processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension centralized processing model to a multi-dimensional distributed processing architecture. By adding the spatial dimension of multiple processing nodes across the network, the system achieves both simplified control (through the aggregator coordinating these nodes) and enhanced processing capacity (through parallel distributed operations).
2Ease of operation
If a centralized processor handles all audio processing, then system coordination is simplified, but the processor becomes overloaded and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monolithic centralized processor into multiple distributed processing units located at different endpoints. The aggregator coordinates these segmented units, maintaining ease of operation through centralized management while preventing any single processor from becoming overloaded. This segmentation improves reliability by distributing the computational load across multiple efficient processing nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The aggregator serves as an intermediary that coordinates DSP operations across distributed endpoints. It manages task allocation, resource sharing, and synchronization without requiring direct peer-to-peer communication between all endpoints. This intermediary approach maintains simplified system coordination while enabling efficient distributed processing that prevents any single processor from becoming a bottleneck.
3Device complexity
If DSP capabilities are concentrated in one device, then device management is simpler, but bandwidth and capacity limitations reduce overall system performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments DSP capabilities into multiple distributed units across different endpoints rather than concentrating them in one device. Each endpoint maintains local DSP functionality, and the aggregator coordinates these segmented capabilities. This approach preserves relatively simple device management through centralized coordination while dramatically improving system performance through parallel distributed processing that overcomes bandwidth and capacity limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the DSP capabilities of multiple endpoints into a coordinated distributed system. By combining the processing power of multiple devices under the management of an aggregator, the system achieves enhanced overall performance that exceeds what any single device could provide, while maintaining simplified management through the aggregator's coordination of these merged resources.
4Device complexity
If all DSP is performed by a single aggregator, then system architecture is simpler, but the aggregator cannot handle the processing load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing load from the aggregator by distributing DSP tasks to multiple endpoint devices. The aggregator maintains architectural simplicity as the coordination center while endpoints execute the actual processing tasks. This segmentation allows the system to scale processing power across multiple devices without increasing the architectural complexity at the aggregator level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the dimensional aspect of multiple processing nodes to the system architecture. Instead of a single-point aggregator handling all processing, the system transitions to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture where the aggregator coordinates across multiple spatial nodes. This dimensional expansion increases available processing power while the aggregator's coordination role remains architecturally simple.
Data Source
AI summary
Digital signal processing (DSP) may be distributed across a plurality of endpoints and one or more aggregators in an audio system. An aggregator may perform DSP and/or may control DSP features performed by endpoints based on DSP feature capability of the endpoints and the aggregator. Links may be established between the aggregator and the endpoints to communicate audio signals and related information for performing the DSP features.