Native Playback Coordination Through Virtual Line-In Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Different media playback systems are not compatible with each other, preventing interoperability and synchronized playback across devices from various manufacturers, due to differences in control and timing signal protocols and domains.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual line-in (VLI) interface that adapts to the specific domain of a third-party media playback system, allowing devices to synchronize and communicate through a VLI domain, while maintaining native domain signaling for compatibility with other devices within the same system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices use different control and timing signal protocols, then each device can operate independently with optimized performance, but interoperability between devices from different manufacturers is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a timing signal converter as an intermediary device that receives timing signals from a first media playback system and converts them into compatible timing signals for a second media playback system. This mediator enables interoperability between devices with different protocols without requiring changes to the original devices, thus maintaining their independent reliability while achieving cross-system compatibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If devices maintain native domain signaling, then compatibility within the same system is ensured, but communication with third-party systems is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing into distinct domains: native domain signaling for internal system compatibility and VLI domain signaling for third-party interoperability. The timing signal converter operates as a separate entity that handles the translation between these domains, allowing each system to maintain its native signaling complexity while achieving external compatibility through the segmented converter interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If synchronized playback is implemented across different systems, then unified audio distribution is achieved, but synchronization precision may be compromised due to protocol differences
Solution Approach 1:
The timing signal converter changes the parameters of timing signals to adapt them between different protocol domains. It receives timing signals with specific parameter formats from the first system and transforms them into equivalent parameter formats for the second system, preserving the synchronization function while accommodating protocol differences. This parameter transformation enables cross-system synchronized playback without sacrificing timing accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Example systems and techniques disclosed herein facilitate interoperability between different media playback systems referred to herein as a virtual line-in (VLI) media playback system and a native playback system. When a VLI session is created by a VLI sender, a first native playback device can join a VLI group as a VLI receiver. As a VLI receiver, the first native playback device receives audio content and playback commands from the VLI sender to facilitate synchronous playback with other VLI receivers. At the same time, this native playback device can concurrently operate as a native domain group coordinator of a native domain synchrony group. As the native domain group coordinator, the native playback device translates VLI domain audio, control, and timing signals into the native domain and distributes such signals to native domain group members. In this way, the native domain group members can synchronize their playback with the VLI group.