Wireless Media Stream Synchronization for Low-Skew Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems fail to ensure synchronized delivery of different type media streams in multimedia services, leading to unacceptable end-to-end latency and skew in rendering, particularly in tactile and multi-modality communication (TACMM) services.

Innovation Solution

Implement systems and methods for synchronized delivery of packets of different type media streams by aligning timestamps, setting equal priority for transmission, and managing latency budgets to ensure timely arrival and rendering of media streams, with network and wireless device assistance in downlink and uplink transmissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If media streams are transmitted with different priorities and latency budgets, then transmission efficiency is improved, but synchronization between media streams deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidsynchronization precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by aligning timestamps of different media streams at the source before transmission. This pre-synchronization ensures that even though streams may be transmitted at different rates and arrive at different times, they can be rendered in correct temporal relationship, resolving the contradiction between transmission efficiency and synchronization precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (timestamp alignment and buffering system) that mediates between the different transmission priorities of various media streams and the final synchronization requirement. The intermediary buffers and reorders packets based on aligned timestamps, enabling independent optimization of each stream's transmission while guaranteeing overall synchronization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If latency budgets are reduced to meet real-time requirements, then real-time performance is improved, but delivery reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoiddelivery reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts parameters including latency budgets, priority levels, and buffering strategies based on network conditions and service requirements. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system can meet real-time latency requirements while maintaining delivery reliability through appropriate redundancy and error handling mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If network assistance is implemented for packet synchronization, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the network infrastructure automatically performs timestamp alignment, priority assignment, and synchronization management without requiring complex external coordination. This automation improves synchronization accuracy while managing system complexity through standardized protocols and algorithms that operate autonomously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4381717B1Supporting inter-media synchronization in wireless communications
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4381717B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4381717B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4381717B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various embodiments provide systems and methods for supporting synchronized delivery of packets of different type media streams of a service. Various embodiments enable wireless device and/or network assistance of packet synchronization in downlink (DL) and/or uplink (UL) transmissions.