Slave Unit Sampling Frequency Correction for Content Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In content reproduction systems, continuous use leads to synchronization issues between host and guest devices due to delayed reception of reproduction instructions, causing content to become out of sync.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that regularly query the master unit for a count value, correct the sampling frequency of the slave unit based on the received value, and adjust the number of samples to synchronize with the master unit, considering round trip time and residual differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the host device transmits reproduction instructions to guest devices continuously, then the content can be reproduced synchronously initially, but the reception timing gradually lags behind causing desynchronization over time
Solution Approach 1:
The slave unit periodically queries the master unit for the current reproduction position (count value) and uses this feedback to detect and correct any synchronization deviations. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that timing lags are detected and corrected before they cause significant desynchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous instruction transmission, the system uses periodic synchronization queries where the slave unit asks the master unit for its current position at regular intervals. This periodic action reduces communication overhead while maintaining synchronization accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the slave unit continuously monitors and adjusts sampling frequency to maintain synchronization, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slave unit adjusts its sampling frequency as a controllable parameter to match the master unit's reproduction rate. By making the sampling frequency adjustable and synchronizing it with the master unit's clock, the system achieves precise synchronization without complex control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The slave unit copies the master unit's reproduction position (count value) and uses this copied information to align its own reproduction timeline. This copying approach simplifies the synchronization control by eliminating the need for complex timing calculations.
3Productivity
If the system uses multicast for content distribution to multiple client devices, then content delivery efficiency is improved, but synchronization management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the master unit transmit synchronization instructions to all slave units (traditional approach), the system inverts the approach by having each slave unit periodically query the master unit for its current position. This inversion simplifies the master unit's task while maintaining synchronization across all devices.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a transmission unit for transmitting a query request for querying another device for a count value held by such other device, a reception unit for receiving a return of the count value from such other device, a correction unit for performing, at a predetermined period, correction processing for synchronizing sampling frequency with such other device based on the received count value, and a reproduction unit for reproducing content in synchronization with such other device based on the sampling frequency. The correction unit corrects by taking into account a Round Trip Time between the transmission of the query request and the reception of the return and residual difference occurred at a previous correction time.