Multimedia Synchronization Using Hit Weighting for Buffer Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multimedia data synchronization methods, such as those used in NICAM broadcasting, face challenges with slow and inaccurate synchronization due to the need for large RAM buffers and real-time decoding delays, leading to frequent false alarms.

Innovation Solution

A synchronization method and system that utilizes a hit weighting calculation to determine the frame starting point by checking for a valid FAW pattern and additional information, reducing the required buffer size and enabling immediate decoding upon synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If large RAM buffers are used to store input data for decoding, then the decoder can find a starting point for data decoding, but the synchronization becomes slow and inaccurate with frequent false alarms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoiddecoding delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary synchronization information (FAW pattern and additional information bits) from the bitstream, rather than buffering the entire frame. This allows the decoder to identify synchronization points without storing large amounts of data, thereby reducing memory requirements and eliminating decoding delays while maintaining synchronization accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary checks of the FAW pattern and additional information bits before full decoding begins. By validating these preliminary synchronization indicators, the system can confidently identify the correct starting point without requiring extensive buffering, thus avoiding false alarms and reducing synchronization time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If real-time decoding is performed without sufficient buffering, then decoding speed increases, but synchronization accuracy decreases and false alarms occur frequently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding speedVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing qualities to different parts of the bitstream. The FAW pattern and additional information bits are processed with high scrutiny and validation (local quality enhancement), while the rest of the data can be decoded more rapidly. This selective approach maintains synchronization accuracy without requiring uniform high-performance processing throughout the entire stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If additional information is validated during synchronization, then synchronization accuracy improves, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization precisionVSAvoidsynchronization time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs partial validation of the additional information bits rather than exhaustive verification. By checking only the necessary bits (C1-C4) against the FAW pattern, the system achieves sufficient synchronization precision without the time cost of complete validation, thus balancing accuracy and speed effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2043365B1Multimedia data synchronization method and system
Publication Date: 2013.06.19 MEDIATEK INC
  • EP2043365B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2043365B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2043365B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A multimedia data system comprising a synchronization unit. The synchronization unit receives a demodulated bitstream, checks whether a FAW pattern corresponding to a candidate of the bitstream exists, checks whether an additional information corresponding to the candidate of the bitstream is valid when the FAW pattern exists, determines a hit weighting corresponding to the candidate according to the checking result, determines whether the hit weighting meets a criterion and outputs a synchronization signal when the hit weighting meets the criterion.