Media Stream Synchronization via Independent Time Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Synchronization of media streams in asynchronous networked environments faces challenges due to time uncertainties, leading to inaccuracies in cross-correlation and user experience, especially with network latency affecting timestamp values across multiple streams.
Innovation Solution
The use of an independent time source, such as a wireless or global atomic clock, provides accurate timing signals to media servers and clients, allowing for precise synchronization of media streams by bypassing the asynchronous data network, thereby reducing playback latency and improving synchronization accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If timing information is retrieved from a network time server using NTP, then media streams can be synchronized across the network, but time uncertainty of hundreds of milliseconds occurs due to network latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timing signal delivery from the asynchronous data network path and establishes a separate dedicated path for timing signals. This separates the timing synchronization function from the data transmission function, eliminating the timing uncertainties introduced by network latency in the data path while maintaining network connectivity for media stream delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated timing signal path as an intermediary mechanism between the time source and the media processing devices. This intermediary timing path provides accurate time references without being subject to the variable latency of the asynchronous data network, enabling precise synchronization.
2Ease of operation
If timing information is embedded in each packet of media streams, then packets can be organized in designated order and played back at designated rate, but overall time uncertainty increases as the number of streams increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timing delivery mechanism by providing separate timing signals to each device rather than relying on packet-embedded timing that must be correlated across multiple streams. Each device receives its own timing reference independently, eliminating the cumulative uncertainty that occurs when correlating timing information across multiple packet streams.
3Measurement precision
If an independent time source is used to provide timing signals outside the asynchronous network, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal timing signal distribution approach where a single independent time source serves multiple media processing devices simultaneously. This multi-functional timing infrastructure provides accurate synchronization to all devices without requiring each device to implement its own independent timing mechanism, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described herein that synchronize media streams using time signal(s) from an independent time source. An independent time source is a time source that is independent from (i.e., that is not connected to) an asynchronous data network via which the media streams are transferred. In accordance with the techniques described herein, media server(s) transfer the media streams to client(s) via an asynchronous data network. The independent time source provides the time signal(s) to the media server(s) and/or the client(s). If the time signal(s) are provided to the media server(s), the media server(s) may provide timing information that is based on the timing signal(s) to the client(s). The client(s) use the timing information from the media server(s) and/or the timing signal(s) from the timing source to synchronize the media streams.