Media Playback Synchronization via Latency Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital media content distribution systems often result in unsynchronized playback across multiple devices, leading to disruptions in live events and time-sensitive media consumption, as they do not inherently ensure the synchronization provided by traditional broadcast technologies.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to determine playback latency values for each media processor, calculate a target playback latency, and adjust buffers to ensure a coordinated playback time across devices, synchronizing media presentation by incorporating time deltas into the streaming media signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If digital media content distribution systems deliver content to multiple devices independently, then each device can process and play back media content autonomously, but playback synchronization across devices is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a synchronization controller that receives playback status information from multiple media processors and sends adjustment commands back to them. This feedback loop ensures that each device autonomously adjusts its playback timing based on real-time synchronization requirements, resolving the contradiction between autonomous operation and synchronized playback.
Solution Approach 2:
A synchronization controller acts as an intermediary between the media processors and the content source. It coordinates playback across multiple devices by managing buffer adjustments and timing corrections, enabling both autonomous device operation and synchronized content delivery simultaneously.
2Reliability
If buffers are adjusted to synchronize playback across devices, then playback synchronization is improved, but playback latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer adjustment mechanism is dynamic rather than static. The synchronization controller continuously monitors playback status and adjusts buffer sizes in real-time, increasing buffers only when synchronization drift is detected and reducing them when synchronization is achieved. This dynamic approach maintains synchronization while minimizing unnecessary latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes buffer parameter values dynamically based on synchronization requirements. Instead of using fixed large buffers that always introduce latency, the controller adjusts buffer sizes as needed to achieve synchronization, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If a target playback latency greater than all device latencies is used, then synchronized playback is achieved, but early playback on faster devices is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary buffer adjustments based on calculated target playback latency before actual playback begins. By pre-synchronizing all devices to the target latency threshold, the system ensures that faster devices delay their playback appropriately from the start, achieving synchronization without continuous intervention while maintaining optimal playback speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device to perform operations including determining a target playback latency not less than a greater of a first playback latency of a streaming media signal at a first media processor and a second playback latency of the first media signal at a second media processor. The streaming media signal includes a first in-content reference. A coordinated playback time is determined according to the target playback latency. A buffer, when adjusted by a buffer value, causes the first in-content reference to be encountered at a coordinated time during playback by the first media processor, which results in a synchronized playback of the streaming media between the first and second media processors. Other embodiments are disclosed.