Source Buffer Flush for Audio-Video Playback Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Playback platforms such as web browsers often cause audio and video tracks to become out of synchronization during content streaming, leading to desynchronized playback.

Innovation Solution

Implement a system that monitors and analyzes data streams to identify synchronization issues, flushes the source buffer at the appropriate time, and writes new audio and video segments to correct the synchronization, using a playback controller to manage the source buffer and ensure synchronized playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If the source buffer is continuously written with new content segments during streaming, then the playback continuity is maintained, but audio and video tracks become out of synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback continuityVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by flushing the source buffer at specific discontinuity points before writing new content segments. This preliminary flush operation prevents synchronization errors from accumulating, allowing continuous playback while maintaining audio-video sync by resetting the buffer at predetermined intervals when discontinuities are detected in the content stream

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the source buffer is flushed to reset synchronization, then audio and video tracks become synchronized, but playback interruption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidplayback interruption time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the buffer flush operation in advance at discontinuity points where synchronization issues are anticipated, rather than waiting for desynchronization to occur. This preliminary action allows the buffer to be reset at optimal moments in the content stream structure, minimizing disruption to playback while ensuring synchronization is maintained

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses an intermediary approach by detecting discontinuities in the content stream structure and using these discontinuity points as mediators for buffer flush operations. These discontinuities serve as natural transition points where flushing the buffer causes minimal disruption, effectively mediating between the need to maintain sync and the need to maintain continuous playback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12532043B2Systems, methods, and apparatuses for buffer management

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for content deliver, buffer management and synchronization are described herein. Content being played back on a playback platform is analyzed and based on the analysis, asynchronous playback of the content may be determined. A source buffer flush may be performed to correct the asynchronous playback. After the source buffer flush is performed, content segments may be written to the source buffer so that playback of the content on the playback platform resumes with synchronized audio and video.