Distributed Speaker Synchronization via Cross-Correlation Delay Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic audio devices often experience asynchronous sound output due to network delays and changes in device location, leading to decreased sound quality and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A signal synchronization component aligns audio signals from multiple electronic audio devices by determining delays and modifying transmission timing, using cross-correlation calculations and reference signals to synchronize output audio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If audio content is transmitted to multiple electronic audio devices over a network, then the audio can be played across multiple devices simultaneously, but network delays cause the audio to become asynchronous and degrade sound quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses microphones to capture audio output from multiple devices, performs cross-correlation analysis to detect timing delays, and feeds this information back to adjust transmission timing. This closed-loop feedback mechanism continuously monitors and corrects synchronization issues caused by network delays.
Solution Approach 2:
A signal synchronization component acts as an intermediary between the audio sources and the playback devices. This intermediary captures audio signals, analyzes timing relationships through cross-correlation, and coordinates transmission timing to ensure synchronized playback across multiple devices.
2Reliability
If the transmission timing of audio signals is adjusted to synchronize output across devices, then sound quality is improved, but additional processing and coordination complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the audio devices' own microphones to capture their output signals, eliminating the need for external measurement equipment. Each device essentially measures itself and participates in the synchronization process, reducing external complexity while maintaining synchronization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical timing adjustment mechanisms with signal processing-based timing coordination. Instead of physically adjusting transmission times through mechanical means, the system uses cross-correlation algorithms and software-based timing coordination to achieve synchronization.
3Measurement precision
If cross-correlation calculations are performed to determine delays between audio signals, then precise synchronization is achieved, but computational resources and processing time are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs cross-correlation analysis on representative audio signals rather than continuously analyzing all audio data. By selecting key reference signals and performing calculations only when necessary (e.g., when synchronization issues are detected), the system achieves adequate measurement precision while reducing unnecessary computational energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Audio of electronic audio devices may be synchronized by a signal synchronization component that receives one or more signals corresponding to elements of the audio output by the electronic audio devices. The signal synchronization component may perform calculations to align signals corresponding to the output audio of the electronic audio devices and then determine a delay for the output audio transmitted from the electronic audio devices with respect to each other. Additionally, the signal synchronization component may operate in conjunction with audio sources of the electronic audio devices to modify the timing for transmitting output audio by one or more of the electronic audio devices based, at least in part, on the delay. In this way, the output audio transmitted by the electronic audio devices may be synchronized.