Wireless Audio Video Synchronization via Intermediary Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless audio systems face synchronization issues between audio and video streams when communicated independently, as there is no timing communication between devices, leading to potential desynchronization during playback.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that synchronize video playback at a video sink device with an audio signal at an audio sink device by generating a synchronization signal at the video sink device, which is then communicated to the audio sink device, allowing for comparison and adjustment of the audio signal's timing to match the video signal's timestamp, ensuring synchronized playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If audio and video streams are communicated independently through wireless network, then wireless accessibility and ease of operation are improved, but synchronization between audio and video playback deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A synchronization signal is introduced as an intermediary element between the independently communicated audio and video streams. The video sink device generates a synch signal based on video timestamps and communicates it to the audio sink device, which uses this intermediary signal to adjust its playback timing and maintain synchronization with the video stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having the audio sink device compare the received synch signal with its own playback timing and adjust its audio output accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that any drift in synchronization is detected and corrected, maintaining reliable audio-video alignment despite independent wireless transmission.
2Reliability
If audio signal timing is adjusted to match video timestamp, then audio-video synchronization is improved, but device complexity increases due to timing communication and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The audio sink device performs self-service by autonomously comparing the received synch signal with its playback timing and adjusting its own output without requiring external intervention or complex centralized control. This distributes the synchronization complexity to the endpoint device rather than requiring sophisticated coordination infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The video sink device performs preliminary action by generating the synch signal in advance based on video timestamps before the actual playback occurs. This allows the audio sink device to receive timing information ahead of time and proactively adjust its playback schedule, simplifying the overall synchronization mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for synchronizing an audio signal and a video signal includes a source device receiving an audio-video signal comprising the audio signal and the video signal. The video signal has a video time stamp. The source device communicates the audio signal from the source device to a first sink device through a wireless network with a second time stamp and communicates the video signal to the second sink device with the video time stamp. The second sink device generates a synchronization (synch) signal and communicates the synch signal to the first sink device. The first sink device compares the synch signal to the second time stamp, adjusts a relative timing of the playback of the audio signal in response to comparing and generates an audible signal from the audio signal.