Synchronizing Split Audio Video Streams Across Sink Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication protocols, such as BLUETOOTH, face challenges in synchronizing the output of audio and video data across multiple sink devices, leading to potential distortion or desynchronization of audio and video streams.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves determining the data output latency in each sink device, comparing it to a desired latency, and adjusting the data output rate to synchronize the timing across devices, using a local clock signal synchronized with the source device's clock and a latency calculator to adjust the codec clock rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication protocols are used to stream data to multiple sink devices, then wireless data transmission is enabled, but synchronization of data output across sink devices becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where sink devices transmit their local clock information and latency measurements back to the source device. The source device uses this feedback to calculate timing adjustments and generate synchronization commands that are sent back to sink devices, creating a closed-loop control system that continuously refines synchronization accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The source device acts as an intermediary that coordinates synchronization across multiple sink devices. It receives timing information from all sink devices, processes the data to determine optimal synchronization parameters, and distributes adjustment commands to ensure coherent data output across the entire system
2Ease of operation
If data is processed and output by sink devices independently, then device autonomy is maintained, but timing coordination and synchronization are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary timing calculations and synchronization adjustments before data processing begins. Sink devices calculate their local latency values and timing offsets in advance, and the source device pre-computes synchronization commands based on predicted processing times, ensuring that timing coordination is established before independent processing occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts timing parameters such as clock rates, latency values, and synchronization offsets to coordinate data output across devices. These parameter changes are applied to the sink devices' processing operations to maintain timing coordination while preserving their independent operation capability
3Reliability
If latency compensation is implemented in each sink device, then data output synchronization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each sink device independently calculates its own latency value by measuring the time difference between receiving data and its local clock at the time of output. This self-service approach allows devices to autonomously determine their timing characteristics without requiring complex external coordination or manual configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical synchronization mechanisms with software-based latency calculation and adjustment algorithms. By using computational methods to determine and compensate for timing differences, the patent achieves synchronization without requiring complex hardware modifications or dedicated synchronization circuits
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for synchronizing one or more output/sink devices are described. In each sink device, a communication packet is received from a source device. The communication packet includes data and a source clock timestamp. A local clock signal is generated that is synchronized with a source clock signal of the source device. The data is decoded using a codec. At least one delay and the source clock timestamp are subtracted from a current value of the local clock signal to generate a local latency value. A difference between a desired latency value and the local latency value is determined. A rate of a clock signal of the codec is adjusted according to the determined difference. Because each sink device adjusts its latency to a common desired latency value, the sink devices are thereby synchronized.