Audio Video Synchronization via Network Time Protocol Latency Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing synchronization systems for multiple signals received through different transmission mediums struggle to ensure precise timing alignment, leading to undesirable results when mixing signals with varying delays.
Innovation Solution
The use of Network Time Protocol (NTP) to synchronize time bases of participating musicians or listeners, calculating latency differences, and adjusting transmission speeds to ensure all signals arrive simultaneously, with the server determining network latencies and clients adjusting their streams to match the latency of the furthest participant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If signals are transmitted over the internet from remote sources, then the system can support distributed collaboration and remote access, but timing alignment and synchronization between signals with varying delays become difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating latency differences between signals before they are mixed. The server determines network latencies for each signal source and pre-calculates the necessary timing adjustments, allowing signals to be synchronized without requiring complex real-time coordination during playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the server continuously monitors signal arrival times and adjusts timing parameters accordingly. By measuring actual latency differences and using this feedback to calculate correction values, the system maintains precise synchronization even as network conditions change.
2Measurement precision
If the server determines network latencies for each client stream, then precise synchronization can be achieved, but the system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that handles all latency calculations and synchronization processing centrally. Rather than requiring each client to independently measure and compensate for latency, the server performs these complex operations and returns simplified timing instructions to clients, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The server performs multiple functions including latency measurement, synchronization calculation, timing adjustment, and coordinate transformation all within a single centralized system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex processing components at each client, simplifying the overall architecture.
3Manufacturing precision
If clients adjust their streams to match the latency of the furthest participant, then all signals can arrive simultaneously, but the transmission speed and responsiveness of closer clients are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously adjusting transmission speed during playback, the system performs preliminary latency calculations and determines fixed timing offsets before signal transmission begins. This allows all clients to transmit at full speed while still achieving synchronization through pre-calculated timing adjustments rather than throttling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically calculates timing offsets based on actual network conditions and furthest participant latency, then applies these as fixed adjustments during transmission. Rather than continuously varying transmission speed, the system dynamically determines the appropriate synchronization offset and maintains it throughout the signal transmission, balancing speed and synchronization.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is an architecture and technology for a method for synchronizing multiple streams of time-based digital audio and video content from separate and distinct remote sources, so that when the streams are joined, they are perceived to be in unison.