Multi-language Audio Synchronization in Home Media Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for multi-lingual audio streaming in households with mixed language capabilities often lack synchronization between audio and video content, and existing devices can only play one language at a time, failing to accommodate different language preferences within the same viewing environment.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for extracting digital video and audio data from a source, processing it into primary and secondary audio assets, and transmitting these assets to personal media devices within a premises for synchronized playback, allowing users to select and listen to different languages simultaneously while viewing the same content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple audio streams in different languages are transmitted to multiple receiver devices, then language accessibility for different users is improved, but synchronization between audio and video streams becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the audio stream into multiple independent language channels, each assigned to different receiver devices. This allows each device to receive and process only its designated language stream, simplifying synchronization control for each individual stream while maintaining overall multi-language accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where receiver devices report their synchronization status and timing information back to the transmitter. This enables the transmitter to adjust transmission timing dynamically, compensating for variations in device processing speeds and network conditions to maintain synchronized playback across all devices.
2Device complexity
If a single audio stream is transmitted to all receiver devices, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to accommodate different language preferences in the same household is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter device is designed with multi-functionality to handle both single-stream and multi-stream transmission modes. It can dynamically switch between transmitting a single audio stream to all devices or distributing multiple language-specific streams to different devices, providing universal compatibility across various household configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic stream assignment where the transmitter can adaptively allocate different audio streams to different receiver devices based on user preferences and device capabilities. This dynamic allocation enables the system to accommodate changing language needs within the household without requiring hardware changes.
3Ease of operation
If audio data is processed and transmitted to multiple personal media devices, then user customization for different language preferences is enabled, but data transmission time and network bandwidth consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of audio data into multiple language streams at the transmitter before transmission begins. By pre-segmenting and preparing the audio data in advance, the system reduces the complexity of real-time processing during transmission, thereby minimizing overall data transmission time despite the increased number of streams.
Data Source
AI summary
Digital video data and digital multiple-audio data are extracted from a source, using a hardware processor in a content source device within a premises. The extracted digital video data is processed for display on a main display device in the premises; and the extracted digital multiple-audio data is processed into a primary soundtrack in a primary language, to be listened to within the premises in synchronization with the displayed extracted digital video data. The primary soundtrack corresponds to the displayed extracted digital video data, in the primary language. The extracted digital multiple-audio data is processed into at least one secondary audio asset, different than the primary soundtrack; and the at least one secondary audio asset is transmitted to a personal media device within the premises, for apprehension by a user of the personal media device in synchronization with the displayed extracted digital video data.