Encoded Audio Synchronization Offset Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-room wireless audio systems face challenges in synchronizing playback among devices when a slave device joins an already playing audio stream, as it cannot align with the master device without proper seeding.
Innovation Solution
Determining and inserting an offset time into the frames of encoded audio data, allowing slave devices to synchronize with the master by using this offset time for playback initiation, ensuring all devices start rendering audio at the same time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a slave device joins an already playing audio stream, then the slave device can be added to the multi-room system dynamically, but the slave device cannot synchronize with the master device without proper seeding
Solution Approach 1:
The master device performs preliminary actions by determining and inserting offset times into audio frames before distributing them to slave devices. This preliminary timestamping enables slave devices to synchronize their playback without requiring complex seeding protocols when joining an ongoing stream.
Solution Approach 2:
Offset times serve as an intermediary mechanism between the master device and slave devices. These timestamps act as a mediator that carries synchronization information through the audio data stream, allowing slave devices to align their playback with the master device without direct handshaking or seeding exchanges.
2Reliability
If offset times are inserted into all frames of encoded audio data, then slave devices can synchronize playback accurately, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization information (offset times) is merged directly into the existing audio frame structure rather than being transmitted separately. This combining of synchronization data with audio data reduces the need for additional communication protocols and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio frames themselves carry their own synchronization information through embedded offset times. Each frame is self-contained with the timing information it needs for synchronized playback, eliminating the need for external synchronization signals or complex coordination between devices.
3Reliability
If the master device distributes frames with offset times to slave devices, then synchronization is achieved, but continuous transmission of synchronized frames increases data transmission overhead
Solution Approach 1:
Offset times are determined and inserted into frames in advance by the master device before distribution. This preliminary timestamping allows slave devices to autonomously synchronize playback without requiring continuous real-time coordination or repeated synchronization transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes feedback mechanisms where slave devices can report their synchronization status to the master device. This feedback allows the master to adjust offset times or re-synchronize frames only when necessary, rather than continuously transmitting all frames with offset information.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of synchronizing playback of audio over a plurality of wireless speaker packages that are each adapted to play audio, where the audio comprises a plurality of frames of encoded audio data. The method includes determining an offset time of a frame of encoded audio data, where the offset time corresponds to the time when the frame playback is to begin, and inserting the determined offset time into the frame of encoded audio data.