Client Media Synchronization Module for Audio-Video Timing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interactive streaming applications face delays in synchronizing audio and video streams due to differences in packet sizes and transmission paths, affecting user experience, especially in real-time applications like gaming where video delays are more noticeable.
Innovation Solution
A client streaming device executes a media synchronization module to measure video display time changes and adjusts audio presentation times using an audio adjustment module, synchronizing audio streams with video streams by inserting silent packets, resampling, or dropping packets based on synchronization metrics to align audio and video playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If audio and video streams are transmitted separately through different paths, then transmission efficiency is improved, but synchronization between audio and video deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures the actual display time of video packets and uses this feedback to calculate synchronization metrics that adjust audio packet timing. The media synchronization module continuously monitors video display time changes and feeds this information back to the audio adjustment module, which modifies audio presentation times based on the calculated synchronization metrics, ensuring synchronized playback despite separate transmission paths
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a synchronization metric as an intermediary element that mediates between separately transmitted audio and video streams. This metric acts as a reference that both audio and video processing use to align their timing, enabling synchronized playback even when the streams travel through different network paths with varying delays
2Loss of time
If video delay is reduced for real-time interaction, then user experience is improved, but audio-video synchronization becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts audio presentation times based on real-time video display time measurements. Rather than using fixed timing offsets, the audio adjustment module continuously recalculates synchronization metrics as video display times change, allowing the system to adapt to varying network conditions and maintain synchronization even when video delay is minimized for real-time interaction
3Speed
If packet transmission is optimized for speed, then real-time performance is improved, but timing accuracy between audio and video packets deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical timing synchronization methods with a software-based measurement and calculation system. Instead of relying on fixed timing mechanisms or hardware clock synchronization, the system uses the media synchronization module to measure actual video display times and calculate appropriate audio timing adjustments, achieving accurate synchronization despite high-speed packet transmission
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a client device interacting with a streaming application server may synchronize an audio stream to a corresponding video stream. The client streaming device may have an audio channel to receive a current audio packet of an audio stream from a streaming application server. The client streaming device may have a video channel to receive a current video packet of a video stream from the streaming application server. The client streaming device may execute a media synchronization module to synchronize the audio stream to the video stream by measuring a video display time change for the video stream describing a video delay between generating video data at the streaming application server and displaying the video data at the streaming client device to a user. The client streaming device may execute an audio adjustment module to adjust an audio presentation time for the audio stream indicating when a subsequent audio packet is played to the user based on the video display time change.