Serial Daisy Chain for Synchronized Remote Performances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video conferencing systems face significant latency issues when multiple users attempt to synchronize live performances, such as music or singing, due to the round-trip delay of audio and video signals, making it difficult for remote performers to coordinate in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A system of connected computing devices transmits communication streams in series, allowing each device to receive and playback the previous stream while capturing and transmitting its own performance, effectively creating a synchronized mix that is passed through the chain, eliminating the need for timing data and reducing latency by using a serial daisy chain of overdub mixes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional video conferencing systems are used for remote performances, then communication can be established between remote performers, but significant latency occurs due to round-trip delays making synchronization impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the traditional round-trip communication path into unidirectional series connections. Each computing device in the series transmits performance data to the next device without waiting for acknowledgment, creating multiple independent transmission paths rather than a single round-trip path. This segmentation eliminates the need for synchronized round-trip timing while maintaining performance coherence across remote locations.
2Loss of time
If internet hardware and software are optimized to reduce latency, then some latency reduction is achieved, but the theoretical limit of light-speed data transport cannot be overcome
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from thinking about latency as a single-dimensional problem (round-trip time) to a multi-dimensional solution space. By organizing devices in a series topology where each device processes and forwards performance data independently, the system creates multiple parallel dimensions of data flow. This allows performance data to propagate through the network without being constrained by the single round-trip latency bottleneck.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more computing devices are added to the series chain to include more performers, then collaboration capability increases, but the complexity of coordinating multiple streams increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each computing device in the series independently processes its own performance data and automatically forwards it to the next device without requiring centralized coordination. The system enables self-service operation where each node autonomously manages its transmission timing and data formatting, eliminating the need for complex external coordination mechanisms while supporting arbitrary numbers of performers in the series chain.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for producing a live performance combining separate performances of remote players comprises a plurality of connected computing devices transmitting a plurality of communication streams to one another in series. The system can employ the plurality of series conceded computing devices, each for receiving and playing back an immediate predecessor communication stream from an immediate predecessor computing device, and each for capturing and transmitting a current performance along with the played back immediate predecessor communication stream. Typically, the individual performances of remote players can comprise live instrument music and/or vocals which can also include live video.