Wireless Audio Packetization for Synchronized Multimedia Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for delivering audio from multimedia channels to wireless devices are hindered by environmental noise, individual preferences, and the inability to interact with or gauge viewer interest, especially in public settings where multiple video monitors display different content.
Innovation Solution
A system that extracts the audio component of a multimedia channel, packetizes it, and transmits it wirelessly to synchronize with the video on a monitor, allowing users to select alternative audio streams and interact with non-synced visual content, while also enabling the system to suggest and adjust video channel settings based on user votes and interest assessments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If loudspeakers are used to broadcast audio in public settings, then audio can be heard by multiple viewers, but environmental noise interferes with audio quality and different individuals have different audio preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio delivery system by separating the audio stream from the video stream. Each viewer receives their own personalized audio stream via wireless device while the video is displayed on public monitors. This allows individual audio preferences and quiet zones to be maintained while still providing public video access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless audio devices as an intermediary between the public video display system and individual viewers. These devices receive audio streams and play them locally through personal headphones or speakers, eliminating the need for public loudspeakers and thus removing environmental noise interference from the audio delivery path.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple video monitors display different content, then viewer choices are limited to what is shown on monitors, but viewers cannot access or interact with content not currently displayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a digital dimension to the traditional physical monitor-based content delivery. Viewers can access content through wireless devices in the digital domain, which is not constrained by the physical limitations of monitor availability. This allows viewers to access any content in the library, not just what is currently displayed on monitors.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless audio device serves multiple functions: it delivers audio for currently displayed content, provides access to content not on any monitor, enables interaction with content, and allows viewers to control their own viewing experience. This multi-functionality resolves the limitation of monitor-based content access.
3Ease of operation
If audio is transmitted wirelessly to synchronize with video on monitors, then individual audio preferences can be accommodated, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless audio system operates autonomously by automatically synchronizing with video monitors and detecting their presence and content. The system self-configures audio streams based on detected video content and viewer preferences without requiring manual intervention, thus managing complexity through automation rather than simplification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where wireless audio devices communicate with video monitors and content management systems to automatically synchronize audio with the correct video content. This feedback loop handles the complexity of synchronization automatically, making the system easy to operate despite its technical complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If viewers can select from multiple audio streams, then individual preferences are satisfied, but the ability to gauge viewership and interact with viewers is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback channels where wireless audio devices communicate viewer selections, preferences, and usage data back to the content management system. This allows the system to gauge viewership, understand content preferences, and interact with viewers despite the decentralized nature of personal audio delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless audio device acts as an intermediary that collects viewer preference data and transmits it to the content management system. This intermediary function enables the system to maintain personalized audio delivery while simultaneously gathering viewership information for analysis and content optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, or method wirelessly sends an audio component of a multimedia channel to one or more wireless computing devices while a visual component of the multimedia channel is playing on a video monitor. The audio component may be packetized into data packets and broadcast via a network such that the data packets can be received and played by the wireless computing devices in synchronization with the visual component playing on the video monitor. A channel listing may inform the wireless computing devices what channels are available. A user of the wireless computing device may request that the visual component playing on a video monitor be set to a user-selected component.