Near-Field Communication for Low-Delay Cross-Device Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cross-device media playback technologies, such as between smartphones and smart speakers, suffer from significant delays due to Bluetooth connections and serial data transmission, leading to a poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
A communication method utilizing near field wireless communication to establish parallel execution of multimedia content caching and playback, where a first device sends synchronization information to a second device, enabling them to cache content based on estimated playback progress and speed, thereby reducing delays and improving seamless switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Bluetooth connection and serial data transmission are used for cross-device media playback, then device compatibility and connection stability are improved, but playback delay increases and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the second device cache multimedia content in advance based on synchronization information (playback progress and speed) received from the first device. This allows the content to be ready before actual playback is needed, eliminating waiting time during device switching while maintaining connection stability through the established Bluetooth connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous data transmission and caching operations while the first device continues playback. The second device continuously receives synchronization information and caches content in parallel with the first device's playback, ensuring no interruption in the useful action of content delivery and reducing overall delay.
2Loss of time
If parallel execution of data transmission and playback is implemented, then playback delay is reduced and user experience is improved, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the first device sends synchronization information including playback progress and speed to the second device. The second device uses this feedback to adjust its caching operations and estimate playback progress, creating a closed-loop control system that coordinates parallel operations without requiring complex centralized management.
Solution Approach 2:
The second device performs self-service by autonomously caching content based on synchronization information received from the first device. It calculates estimated playback progress using local time points and playback parameters, and independently manages its own caching operations without requiring complex coordination or control from the first device.
3Speed
If the second device caches content based on estimated playback progress, then switching speed is improved and delay is reduced, but caching accuracy may decrease compared to exact playback progress
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter basis for caching from exact playback progress to estimated playback progress. The second device calculates estimated progress using local time points (first time point for receiving sync info, second time point for detecting preset operation) combined with playback speed, allowing faster switching while accepting approximate positioning that is sufficiently accurate for the application.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a communication method. The communication method is applied to a communication system, the communication system includes at least a first electronic device and a second electronic device, and the method includes: The first electronic device plays multimedia content. The first electronic device sends first synchronization information through broadcast, so that the second electronic device receives the first synchronization information, where the first synchronization information includes at least a first address, and the first address is an obtaining address of the multimedia content. In response to a preset operation, the first electronic device establishes a near field wireless communication connection to the second electronic device, and the second electronic device caches the multimedia content based on at least the first address. The first electronic device sends a control instruction to the second electronic device by using the near field wireless communication connection. The second electronic device plays the multimedia content based on the control instruction. According to the communication method in this application, a delay caused when multimedia content is switched between devices for playing is reduced, and user using experience is improved.