Media Stream Synchronization Across Multiple Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems are unable to reliably synchronize media streams across multiple computing devices participating in a multimedia network session, such as audio and video streams, when different devices are used for each media type.

Innovation Solution

A method is established to synchronize incoming audio and video streams by creating a communication channel between devices, calculating the delay in the audio stream, and adjusting the video stream to match this delay, ensuring synchronized rendering across multiple devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple computing devices are used to transmit different media streams, then the versatility and adaptability of the system is improved, but the synchronization reliability of media streams deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to use multiple devices for different media typesVSAvoidsynchronization reliability of media streams

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors network conditions (packet loss, jitter, delay) for each media stream and uses this feedback to dynamically calculate and adjust synchronization parameters. The synchronization offset is updated based on real-time network condition changes, ensuring reliable synchronization across multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-calculates synchronization offsets based on estimated network conditions before media streams are fully transmitted. This preliminary synchronization setup, combined with continuous adjustments, ensures that audio and video streams are properly aligned even when transmitted through different devices with varying network paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If different computing devices are used for audio and video streams, then the flexibility of the system is improved, but the complexity of synchronizing these streams increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in device assignmentVSAvoidcomplexity of stream synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a synchronization mechanism that acts as an intermediary between audio and video streams transmitted through different devices. This mediator calculates synchronization offsets based on network conditions and applies timing adjustments to align the streams, abstracting the complexity from the user while enabling flexible device assignments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts synchronization parameters (offsets, timing adjustments) based on measured network conditions such as packet loss, jitter, and delay. By continuously modifying these parameters, the system maintains synchronization reliability across different device configurations without requiring complex manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If media streams are transmitted through different network paths to different devices, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring synchronization parameters increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to use different network pathsVSAvoiddifficulty of measuring synchronization parameters

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor network conditions (packet loss, jitter, delay) for each media stream path. This feedback data is used to calculate synchronization offsets and adjust timing parameters, making the detection and measurement of synchronization parameters automated and continuous rather than manual and difficult.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex manual synchronization mechanisms with automated protocols that use standard network measurement techniques. By substituting mechanical/manual synchronization with protocol-based automated adjustment, the system simplifies the detection and measurement of synchronization parameters while maintaining adaptability across different network paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7953118B2Synchronizing media streams across multiple devices

Publication Date: 2011.05.31 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Aspects of the present invention are directed at establishing a multimedia network session in which the transmission of media streams is synchronized. In one embodiment, a method is provided for synchronizing incoming audio and video streams. The method includes establishing a communication channel between a first computing device that is receiving an incoming audio stream with the second computing device that is receiving an incoming video stream. Once the communication channel is established, the current network conditions that describe attributes of the incoming audio stream are obtained by the first computing device. Then, the delay in the incoming audio stream is calculated. When the delay is known, the method causes the incoming video stream to be delayed to match the delay in the incoming audio stream.