Mixer Client Coordinates Multiple Sub-Client Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voice over IP (VoIP) systems do not effectively utilize multiple available terminals with audio and video transducers on a local link for enhanced call quality and convenience, often requiring additional equipment and lacking efficient stream management.
Innovation Solution
A mixer client application that coordinates multiple lightweight sub-clients on local terminals to establish and manage voice and video streams, allowing simultaneous use of multiple devices for improved audio and video quality without the need for external equipment, by detecting and switching between different terminal states and stream sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple terminals are used for voice/video calls, then audio and video quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the call functionality into two segments: a full-featured mixer client that manages the call and receives streams from multiple sub-clients, and lightweight sub-clients that only capture and transmit audio/video streams from their respective terminals. This segmentation allows multiple terminals to contribute to improved quality without each terminal needing full call management capabilities, thus managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixer client acts as an intermediary between multiple sub-clients and the remote terminal. It receives streams from multiple local terminals, mixes them together, and transmits the combined stream to the remote party. This intermediary approach enables multiple terminals to work together for improved quality while the mixer manages the complexity of coordination and stream integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple terminals are integrated into the call, then versatility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic discovery and connection where the mixer client automatically detects available sub-clients on the local network and establishes connections without user intervention. Users simply need to launch the application, and the system automatically configures multi-terminal participation, maintaining ease of operation while achieving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the mixer client and sub-client architecture before the call begins. The mixer client proactively searches for and connects to available sub-clients on the network before the actual voice/video call starts, so that when the user initiates a call, multi-terminal functionality is already prepared and ready to use automatically.
Data Source
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AI summary
A first terminal is coupled to a wide-area packet-based network and installed with first client application. One or more second terminals are coupled to the first terminal via a local wireless link, and each installed with an instance of a lightweight sub-client having reduced functionality relative to the first client. The first client establishes a call with a remote, third terminal over the network, based on a user credential identifying the first client. Each second terminal generates an audio or video stream, and each sub-client transmits the respective stream to the first client over the local wireless link for use in the call. The first client switches between a second state in which the call uses the streams from the sub-clients and a first state in which the call uses a stream generated by the first terminal without the streams from the sub-clients.