Networked Media Synchronization via Single Ethernet AVB
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multimedia presentation systems face synchronization challenges due to differences in channel characteristics such as speed and latency, causing desynchronization of audio and visual components across separate communication channels and networks.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a single communication network with standard technologies like Ethernet and Audio Video Bridging (AVB) to synchronize digital media signals, employing audio synchronization messages to resample and align audio signals with video signals, ensuring coherent playback across media components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate communication channels and networks are used for different media components, then each component can be transmitted independently, but synchronization between audio and visual components deteriorates due to differences in channel characteristics such as speed and latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate communication channels into a single unified network infrastructure for transmitting all media components. This consolidation eliminates the need for specialized synchronization hardware by using standard network protocols and timing mechanisms that work across all media types, thereby maintaining synchronization reliability while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal network infrastructure that handles multiple media types (audio, video, effects) through common protocols and timing mechanisms. This multi-functional approach allows standard network equipment to perform synchronization functions previously requiring specialized hardware, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability
2Reliability
If specialized synchronization hardware is employed at each media playback device, then synchronization reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive specialized synchronization hardware with inexpensive standard network equipment and software-based synchronization mechanisms. By using readily available components with standardized interfaces, the system achieves comparable synchronization reliability at significantly lower cost, making the system more economically viable for various deployment scenarios
3Productivity
If separate communication channels are used for media components, then transmission independence is maintained, but latency differences cause desynchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary timing synchronization at the network level before media components reach individual playback devices. By establishing a common timing reference and pre-synchronizing packet transmission across all media types, the system compensates for latency differences proactively, ensuring that audio and visual components arrive at their respective devices simultaneously despite traveling through the same shared network infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure illustrates systems and methods for generating synchronized audio output signals. The synchronization may be performed based on an audio synchronization message received by an audio synchronization computing platform over a communication network. The audio synchronization computing platform may generate a synchronized audio output signal from an audio signal. The audio synchronization computing platform may provide the synchronized audio output signal to one or more audio playback devices over the same communication network. The communication network may be a single ethernet network.