Seamless Looping Compressed Audio Playback in Wagering Games
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating gapless looping MP3 files in web browsers are inefficient, often requiring additional software or plugins and result in audible silence or drift during playback, which is undesirable in immersive environments like wagering games.
Innovation Solution
Divide a raw audio file into two portions, encode each separately with MP3 encoding, and use timers to manage the padding delays introduced by the encoding process, allowing seamless looping without additional software or plugins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If MP3 encoding is applied to create looping audio files, then audio compression and file size reduction is achieved, but audible silence gaps are introduced between loops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and removing the encoder/decoder delay during the encoding phase. The encoder is instructed to not add padding samples, and the decoding process is adjusted to compensate for the inherent delay, thereby preventing silence gaps before playback even begins
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful encoder/decoder delay into a beneficial feature by using it to calculate precise timing offsets. The known delay amount is used to pre-position audio segments so that when decoded with their inherent delay, they seamlessly connect without silence gaps
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional software or plugins are used to create gapless looping, then seamless audio playback is achieved, but device complexity and user installation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by embedding all necessary timing and synchronization information directly into the audio file metadata during encoding. The playback system uses this embedded information to automatically achieve gapless looping without requiring external software, plugins, or additional components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the audio content into multiple encoded segments with specific timing relationships. Each segment is encoded with precise timing metadata that allows the playback system to reconstruct seamless looping by playing segments in the correct sequence with appropriate timing offsets
3Duration of action of stationary object
If timer-based synchronization is used for looping, then continuous playback is maintained, but timer drift causes audible pops and hiccups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using the known encoder/decoder delay as a reference value to continuously adjust timing calculations. The system monitors actual playback timing and uses the pre-known delay characteristics to compensate for drift, ensuring segments connect at the correct moments without pops or hiccups
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameters of audio segments based on their decoded position in the playback sequence. Each segment's start time is dynamically adjusted using the formula: start_time = (segment_index × total_duration) - (encoder_decoder_delay × segment_index), ensuring precise synchronization that prevents timer drift artifacts
Data Source
AI summary
Gapless looping playback of an audio sound seamlessly without any silence between loops. An uncompressed digital audio file is divided and encoded using an MP3 encoder to produce two encoded files, A and B. The MP3 encoder adds a padding delay at the beginning and end of each file. Two timers are defined: T1=A−(a+b) and T2=B−(d+c), where a is the padding delay at the end of A, b is the delay at the beginning of B, c is the delay at the beginning of A, and d is the delay at the end of B. Simultaneously, a decoder starts to decode A on Track 1 and T1 is started. Immediately after T1 expires, a decoder starts to decode B on Track 2 and T2 is started. Thanks to the timers, the respective end and beginning of the sound portions of A and B temporally align so that no silence is heard.