Radio–IP Simulcast Switching With Adaptive Audio Stretching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radio devices struggle to minimize user discomfort during broadcast switching due to conflicting requirements of minimizing stretch rate and matching switching timing, leading to discomfort from audio deviations or prolonged waiting times.

Innovation Solution

A radio device with first and second reception units for radio and IP simulcast broadcasting, a time difference calculation unit, a prediction unit for grace time, and a switching unit that stretches broadcast audio using a calculated stretch rate to seamlessly transition to IP audio output when the grace time elapses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the stretch rate of the playback speed of the audio before the switching is increased, then the switching timing can be matched more quickly, but the user may feel uncomfortable about the content of the audio in proportion thereto

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime required for switching timing to matchVSAvoiduser discomfort from audio content distortion

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the stretch rate adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically determines the stretch rate based on the predicted grace time, allowing the system to adapt the degree of audio stretching to match the available switching window. This resolves the contradiction by enabling quick switching when grace time is short while avoiding excessive stretching that would cause user discomfort when grace time is long.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of stretch rate based on the predicted grace time. When the grace time is short, a higher stretch rate is applied to accelerate the switching process. When the grace time is long, a lower stretch rate is used to maintain audio quality. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize both switching speed and audio quality according to actual conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the stretch rate is set to be small, then the user discomfort from audio content distortion is reduced, but a time required for switching timing to match becomes long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser discomfort from audio content distortionVSAvoidtime required for switching timing to match

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the stretch rate based on the predicted grace time. When grace time is long, the system can use a smaller stretch rate to maintain audio quality. When grace time is short, the system increases the stretch rate to ensure timely switching. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by matching the stretch rate to the actual time constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stretch rate parameter is changed according to the predicted grace time. The control unit calculates an appropriate stretch rate that balances audio quality preservation with timely switching completion. This parameter optimization allows the system to achieve both low user discomfort and acceptable switching time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the radio broadcasting cannot be played due to deterioration of reception condition, then switching to IP radio broadcasting is necessary, but waiting for switching timing causes deviation between audios and user discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereception quality of radio broadcastingVSAvoiduser discomfort from audio deviation during switching

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by predicting the grace time in advance before switching occurs. The prediction unit estimates how long the current radio broadcasting can continue before reception deteriorates further, allowing the control unit to prepare the IP radio broadcasting switch in advance. This preliminary prediction enables timely switching that prevents audio deviation while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the reception quality monitoring to adjust the switching strategy. The control unit continuously monitors reception conditions and uses this feedback to determine when switching is necessary. By combining this feedback with the grace time prediction, the system can trigger switching at the optimal moment that prevents both reception failure and audio deviation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250286639A1Radio device, radio device control method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for program

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYST CO LTD

AI summary

There is provided a radio device including: a reception unit that receives a radio signal of radio broadcasting; another reception unit that receives a radio signal of IP simulcast radio broadcasting; a calculation unit that calculates a time difference between a broadcast radio audio based on the radio signal received by the reception unit and an IP radio audio based on the radio signal received by another reception unit; a prediction unit that predicts a grace time until switching from the broadcast radio audio to the IP radio audio based on the time difference; another calculation unit that calculates a stretch rate based on the grace time; and a switching unit that stretches the broadcast radio audio using the stretch rate to output an audio until the grace time elapses, and switches to an audio output of the IP radio audio when the grace time elapses.