Single Container Multi-Lingual Audio Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audiovisual playback systems face issues with synchronizing and seamlessly transitioning associated audio content, such as audio description tracks, with main content, especially when switching languages, leading to auditory artifacts like pops or glitches, and requiring separate management and user interface settings.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a single multimedia container file to store both main and associated audio data sets in multiple languages, allowing for automatic switching and synchronization of audio streams, reducing the incidence of auditory artifacts and simplifying user interface management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If associated audio content is stored in a separate container from main audio, then the associated content can be obtained online via streaming or downloading, but coordination between separate components and sources increases complexity and may result in auditory artifacts

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to obtain associated content onlineVSAvoidCoordination complexity between separate components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines main audio and associated audio content into a single container file, eliminating the need for separate storage and coordination of multiple components. This merging approach maintains the ability to obtain content online while simplifying the playback system to a single coordinated unit, thereby reducing complexity and preventing synchronization artifacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If associated content is provided separately from main content, then users can manage and obtain content from separate sources, but users must change settings separately for main content and associated content

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSeparate content managementVSAvoidUser interface complexity for changing settings

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By storing main audio and associated audio in a single container, the patent enables unified control through a single user interface. When users change settings for the container, both main content and associated content are updated together, eliminating the need for separate setting management while preserving content flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate containers are used for main audio and associated audio, then each can be optimized independently, but transitions and synchronization between them are more difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIndependent optimization capabilityVSAvoidSynchronization reliability during transitions

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single container structure ensures that main audio and associated audio are inherently synchronized through shared timing and playback control mechanisms. Transitions between different audio tracks or languages occur seamlessly within the unified container, eliminating synchronization issues that arise from coordinating separate external files.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9883136B2System and method of outputting multi-lingual audio and associated audio from a single container

Publication Date: 2018.01.30 DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORP

AI summary

A method of storing and outputting associated audio. The associated audio and the main audio are stored in, and output from, a single multimedia container. In this manner, when the main language is changed, the associated audio automatically changes with minimal audio artifacts.