Multimedia Playback Calibration for Audio-Video Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern mobile communication devices face inefficiencies in multimedia playback calibration, leading to loss of synchronization between audio and video streams due to varying data processing paths, resulting in perceptible issues for users.
Innovation Solution
A multimedia playback calibration method and system that introduces test data at one end of a playback path, receives and compares it at the other end using a sensor, and configures the device to compensate for characteristics such as delay or signal degradation, ensuring synchronized playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple playback configurations are supported with different data processing paths, then device versatility and adaptability are improved, but synchronization between audio and video streams deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system measures the actual playback characteristics (delay, distortion) of each playback path and uses this information to automatically adjust and compensate for synchronization issues. The calibration process provides feedback about the playback path characteristics, enabling the system to maintain synchronization across different configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters such as buffer sizes, sample rates, and timing offsets based on the detected playback path characteristics. By dynamically adjusting these parameters during calibration and playback, the system maintains synchronization reliability across diverse playback configurations without sacrificing versatility.
2Device complexity
If playback path characteristics are not compensated, then device complexity is reduced, but playback quality and synchronization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration actions in advance before actual playback. By pre-measuring and storing the characteristics of different playback paths during a calibration phase, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time analysis during playback, maintaining low device complexity while achieving high synchronization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital model or copy of the playback path characteristics during calibration. This copied information (delay values, distortion profiles) is then used to compensate for issues during actual playback, separating the measurement function from the playback function and reducing overall system complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If calibration is performed for each playback configuration, then playback quality is improved, but calibration time and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal calibration framework where a single calibration process can characterize multiple playback configurations. The calibration system is designed to handle different playback paths (speaker, headphones, wireless audio) through a unified approach, reducing the need for separate calibration procedures for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs calibration periodically or on-demand rather than continuously for each configuration change. By implementing efficient calibration that can be performed infrequently and caching the results, the system achieves high calibration accuracy without excessive time loss during normal operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multimedia playback calibration method includes a calibration module (185) operating on a mobile communications device (100) to cause it to: introduce (610) test data (520) at a first end (340), in the mobile device (100), of a first playback path (430) and receive (620) data (514), played back by a playback device (350,360) at a second end (460) of the first playback path (430), at a sensor (121) integral to the mobile device (100); compare (630) the received data (514) against the test data (520) to determine a characteristic of the first playback path (430); and configure (640) the mobile device (100) to compensate for this characteristic. The mobile device (100) may comprise a handheld casing enclosing a central processing unit (105), a multimedia player module (183) for initiating playback of at least one data stream (312) on a playback device (360), communication capability (145,153,155,170) for forwarding the at least one data stream (312) from the mobile device (100) to the playback device (360) along a first playback path (430) and the calibration module (185).