Synchronized Audio and Illumination Control Across Multiple Reproduction Apparatuses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current audio content reproduction systems lack the capability to provide a high-quality viewing experience that integrates synchronized audio and illumination control across multiple reproduction apparatuses, limiting the immersive and engaging experience for users.

Innovation Solution

A reproduction apparatus and method that includes an illumination unit, acquisition unit, generation unit, transmission unit, and synchronization control unit, which acquires audio information, generates illumination control information, and transmits synchronization control information to other apparatuses for synchronized audio and illumination reproduction, allowing for precise control of illumination patterns and colors based on audio content analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If synchronous reproduction of audio content across multiple reproduction apparatuses is implemented, then the immersive viewing experience is improved, but the coordination and synchronization complexity between apparatuses increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing experience qualityVSAvoidsynchronization control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the synchronization control function into separate modules: the acquisition unit obtains audio information, the generation unit creates illumination control information, the transmission unit sends synchronization data, and the synchronization control unit coordinates execution. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific tasks independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high-quality synchronous reproduction across multiple apparatuses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces synchronization control information as an intermediary element that mediates between audio content and illumination control. This intermediary carries timing and control data between reproduction apparatuses, enabling coordinated operation without requiring complex direct communication between all components, thus simplifying the synchronization mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If illumination control information is generated and transmitted to multiple reproduction apparatuses, then the synchronous illumination control capability is improved, but the data transmission and processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronous control accuracyVSAvoiddata transmission energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The generation unit creates illumination control information in advance based on audio content analysis before transmission to multiple apparatuses. By preparing the synchronization control information beforehand, the system ensures accurate timing and coordination without requiring real-time processing during playback, reducing energy consumption during actual synchronous operation while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If audio information analysis is performed to generate illumination control information, then the precision of illumination synchronization is improved, but the processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination synchronization precisionVSAvoidaudio information processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The generation unit performs audio information analysis and generates illumination control information in advance before the actual reproduction occurs. This preliminary processing allows the system to extract timing and synchronization data from the audio content beforehand, ensuring precise illumination synchronization during playback without incurring processing delays during the actual performance, thus resolving the time precision trade-off.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3518552B1Reproduction device, reproduction method, program, and reproduction system
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3518552B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3518552B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3518552B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A reproduction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology is a reproduction apparatus capable of executing synchronous reproduction of audio content with a different reproduction apparatus, the reproduction apparatus including: an illumination unit; an acquisition unit; a generation unit; a transmission unit; and a synchronization control unit. The acquisition unit acquires audio information. The generation unit generates illumination control information associated with the acquired audio information. The transmission unit transmits, to the different reproduction apparatus, synchronization control information that includes the audio information and the illumination control information. The synchronization control unit executes synchronous reproduction of the audio content with the different reproduction apparatus and synchronous control of the illumination unit, on the basis of the synchronization control information.