Media Synchronization via Timestamp Pair Rate Scalar Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for synchronizing media playback among devices are inefficient due to manufacturing variations in system components, leading to clock skew and desynchronization, as devices lack circuitry to effectively synchronize their local clocks for synchronous playback.
Innovation Solution
The use of time stamp pairs communicated via a hardware abstraction layer to perform sample rate conversion, allowing devices to calculate a rate scalar and adjust their playback to match a master device, ensuring synchronized audio output across multiple devices over any communication network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices use their own local clocks for media playback, then each device can operate independently, but clock variations and drift cause desynchronization between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses timestamp pairs communicated between devices to measure clock skew and provides feedback for adjusting playback rate. The feedback mechanism allows devices to detect synchronization errors and correct them dynamically, resolving the contradiction between independent operation and synchronization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the playback rate parameter dynamically based on measured clock skew. By changing the playback rate parameter in response to timestamp comparisons, the system maintains synchronization while allowing devices to operate with their own local clocks, thus preserving independence while achieving reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional synchronization methods are used, then clock skew can be compensated, but devices must be familiar with each other's hardware structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces timestamp pairs as an intermediary mechanism that operates at the software/protocol level. This intermediary allows devices to synchronize their playback without needing to understand each other's hardware structure, as the timestamp comparison method is device-agnostic and works across heterogeneous platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization method is designed to be universal and device-independent. The same timestamp-based approach works across different device types, operating systems, and hardware configurations, eliminating the need for device-specific hardware knowledge while maintaining synchronization accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If devices request media segments independently from the server, then each device can control its own playback, but network delays and processing variations cause desynchronization
Solution Approach 1:
Devices use timestamp pairs to provide feedback about their playback progress and timing. This feedback allows the system to detect and compensate for network delays and processing variations, maintaining synchronization accuracy while preserving independent playback control through the feedback-driven adjustment mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems provide control of media synchronization using time stamp pairs. In an embodiment, a first device may request a time stamp from a second device. The first device may determine any de-synchronization between the first and second devices based on the requested time stamp and characteristics of the request. The first device may define a rate scalar based on the determined de-synchronization. A sample rate conversion may be performed for the first device based on the rate scalar such that the outputs of the first device and the second device are synchronized.