Wireless Audio Synchronization via Relative Time Difference Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In digital media playback systems, synchronizing multiple digital media renders (DMRs) via wireless connections is challenging due to instability and asynchronous issues caused by frequency differences and interference, as conventional methods rely on absolute timing information that is often not available.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for synchronizing audio playback among multiple DMRs, involving a digital media controller (DMC) with a detecting circuit to identify relative time position differences and a control circuit to adjust playback accordingly, ensuring synchronous audio output across DMRs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless connections are used to connect DMRs, then simplified wired configuration and enhanced flexibility are achieved, but transmission stability deteriorates due to interference and frequency differences
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the relative time position differences between DMRs and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust playback timing. The detecting circuit measures timing offsets and the control circuit uses this information to generate correction signals that synchronize audio playback across all DMRs, resolving the stability issue while maintaining wireless flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic timing adjustment by continuously adapting the playback timing based on real-time relative time position differences. Rather than using fixed absolute timing, the system dynamically corrects timing variations caused by wireless transmission instability, allowing the system to maintain synchronization despite changing transmission conditions
2Measurement precision
If conventional absolute timing synchronization method is used, then synchronization precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirement of absolute timing information
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using absolute timing information to achieve synchronization (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using relative time position differences between devices. The control circuit calculates timing corrections based on the relative timing offsets measured by the detecting circuit, eliminating the need for absolute timing infrastructure while achieving precise synchronization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary relative timing information from the timing system, discarding the complex absolute timing infrastructure. By focusing solely on the relative time position differences between DMRs, the system achieves synchronization precision without requiring absolute timing signals, thereby reducing overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for synchronizing audio playback of a plurality of digital media renders including a first digital audio media render and at least one second digital audio media render. The method includes: detecting a relative time difference between the first digital audio media render and the at least one second digital audio media render, and controlling audio playback of the at least one second digital audio media render according to the relative time difference, to make audio playback of the at least one second digital media render synchronized with audio playback of the first digital audio media render.