Virtual Line-In Playback Bridging for Cross-System Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Different media playback systems are not compatible with each other, preventing the formation of playback groups across systems, despite some features being similar, due to differences in implementation of control and timing signals.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual line-in (VLI) interface that adapts to the unique timing and control domains of other systems, allowing playback devices to synchronize and operate across different media playback systems by converting signals and maintaining native domain compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different media playback systems use their own native control and timing signal implementations, then each system maintains its own operational reliability and feature compatibility, but interoperability between systems is lost and playback groups cannot be formed across systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual line-in (VLI) interface as an intermediary between different media playback systems. The VLI receiver acts as a mediator that receives control and timing signals from a VLI sender in a foreign domain, translates them into native domain signals, and passes them to the native playback system. This intermediary layer enables interoperability without requiring changes to the native systems, resolving the contradiction between maintaining system reliability and achieving cross-system adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter domain of control and timing signals by implementing a domain conversion mechanism. The VLI interface converts signals from a foreign timing domain and control domain into the native timing domain and control domain that the playback system understands. This parameter transformation allows the system to maintain its native operational characteristics while accepting and responding to control signals from external systems, thus achieving interoperability without compromising internal reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a playback system accepts control signals from external systems, then interoperability is enabled, but complexity of signal conversion and domain adaptation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal conversion functionality into a separate virtual line-in interface module that is distinct from the native playback system. By dividing the system into a VLI receiver component handling foreign domain signals and the native playback component handling native domain signals, the complexity of signal conversion is isolated to a specific segment. This segmentation allows the main playback system to remain relatively simple while the VLI interface handles the adaptation complexity independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The VLI interface serves as an intermediary layer that absorbs and manages the complexity of signal conversion. Rather than embedding complex conversion logic throughout the playback system, the intermediary VLI receiver集中 handles all domain adaptations, translating foreign control and timing signals into native formats. This concentrates the complexity in a manageable intermediary component rather than distributing it throughout the entire system.
3Productivity
If native playback devices form playback groups using native domain signaling, then group coordination and synchronized playback are achieved, but compatibility with legacy devices and external systems is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal interface approach where the VLI receiver can handle multiple types of external systems and legacy devices through a single standardized virtual line-in interface. This multi-functional VLI interface can accept control signals from various foreign domains and translate them appropriately, allowing the native playback system to maintain its efficient native domain group coordination while also being compatible with legacy devices and external systems that would otherwise be incompatible.
Data Source
AI summary
Example systems and techniques disclosed herein facilitate interoperability between different media playback systems referred to herein as a virtual line-in (VLI) media playback system and a native playback system. When a VLI session is created by a VLI sender, a first native playback device can join a VLI group as a VLI receiver. As a VLI receiver, the first native playback device receives audio content and playback commands from the VLI sender to facilitate synchronous playback with other VLI receivers. At the same time, this native playback device can concurrently operate as a native domain group coordinator of a native domain synchrony group. As the native domain group coordinator, the native playback device translates VLI domain audio, control, and timing signals into the native domain and distributes such signals to native domain group members. In this way, the native domain group members can synchronize their playback with the VLI group.