Media Synchronization via Network Delay Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a broadcast environment with diverse media sources like drone and action cameras, synchronization of media streams across user terminals is challenging due to hardware and codec differences, leading to delays and desynchronization issues, especially in VR environments where precise timing is required for multi-tile views.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for media synchronization that collects stream source information, generates network delay information, sets synchronization information, and performs time synchronization using common time stamps to correct delays and ensure synchronized playback across user terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different recording devices (drone camera, action camera) are used to record the same subject, then diverse media sources and viewing options are provided, but hardware and codec differences cause delays and desynchronization between streams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that receives streams from multiple recording devices, performs synchronization processing by adjusting timing based on device characteristics and network delay measurements, and then distributes synchronized streams to user terminals. This mediator resolves the synchronization conflicts caused by hardware and codec differences between diverse recording devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts synchronization parameters including timing offsets, buffer sizes, and playback rates based on measured network delays and device characteristics. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system maintains synchronization across streams from different recording devices with varying hardware and codec properties.
2Productivity
If stream sources are provided to multiple user terminals through a server, then content distribution is achieved, but time differences occur in the transmission process causing desynchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary synchronization processing on the server side before distributing streams to multiple user terminals. The server pre-calculates and applies timing adjustments based on device characteristics and conducts delay tests to establish synchronization offsets in advance, preventing time differences from occurring during actual content distribution to multiple terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the server measures network delay to each user terminal and adjusts synchronization parameters based on this feedback. By continuously monitoring transmission delays and adapting synchronization settings, the system compensates for time differences introduced during content distribution to multiple terminals.
3Device complexity
If synchronization is not performed, then device complexity is reduced, but media streams from multiple recording devices cannot be correctly synchronized for PIP, multi-view, or VR applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent offloads complex synchronization processing to a dedicated server that acts as an intermediary between recording devices and user terminals. This centralizes the complexity of timing adjustment, buffer management, and delay compensation in one location, allowing individual devices to remain simple while achieving precise synchronization for PIP, multi-view, and VR applications through the server's processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for media synchronization are described. The method for media synchronization may include collecting stream source information, generating network delay information between stream sources by performing a delay test between the stream sources, setting synchronization information of a stream source corresponding to a specific channel based on the collected stream source information and the network delay information, measuring network delay with at least one user terminal to receive the stream source, and updating the synchronization information based on the measured network delay.