Distributed Audio Playback Synchronization via Component Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional portable electronic devices lack the functionality to coordinate sound generation across multiple devices and users, limiting their ability to create synchronized musical compositions or sound effects.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for collectively generating sound by assigning component pieces of a sound composition to multiple devices, which can be synchronized to produce the overall sound composition, using network protocols like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular networks, allowing for spatial effects and dynamic reassignment of components to create movement illusions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple portable electronic devices are used to generate sound components, then the spatial effects and audio quality are improved, but the device complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a complete musical composition into multiple component pieces (melody, harmony, bass, percussion) and assigns each component to a separate portable device. This segmentation allows the system to achieve rich spatial audio effects and high audio quality through multiple devices while managing complexity by giving each device a simple, dedicated function rather than requiring all devices to perform all functions.
2Ease of operation
If manual coordination techniques are used to synchronize multiple devices, then the functionality is simplified, but the productivity and synchronization precision are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual coordination techniques (mechanical/human-based) with electronic synchronization systems. Each portable device uses its processor and communication interfaces to automatically receive and execute synchronization commands, ensuring precise timing and coordination across all devices without requiring manual intervention, thereby achieving both ease of operation and high synchronization efficiency.
3Illumination intensity
If component pieces are assigned to different devices, then the spatial effects are enhanced, but the loss of information about the overall composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where each portable device receives not only its assigned component piece but also information about the overall sound composition and the components being played by other devices. This allows each device to adjust its output in real-time to maintain proper context and balance, preventing information loss about the overall composition while still achieving enhanced spatial effects through distributed playback.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for collectively generating sound are provided. A sound composition can include multiple component pieces and those component pieces can be divided amongst devices so that the devices can collectively generate the sound composition. For example, each component piece may be assigned to a different device and the each device may provide its assigned component pieces in a synchronized manner so that the overall sound composition is collectively generated. By generating a sound composition in this manner, the network may create new and exciting spatial effects.