Synchronizing data between personal and timecode devices

A method for syncing a personal device to a timecode generator, the method comprising:

• connecting a personal device to an adapter having a timecode module, wherein the timecode module includes an RF transceiver;
• acquiring media data with the personal device;
• communicating with a timecode generator associated with a base station over a wireless network;
• determining whether communication with the base station is corrupt or out of range;
• if communication with the base station is not corrupt or out of range, receiving, using a timecode module associated with the personal device, timecode data over an RF network and if communication with the base station is corrupt or out of range, generating timecode data using an internal clock of the timecode module, wherein the timecode module is configured to operate in and transition between a slave mode and a master mode, wherein the timecode module operates in a slave mode when receiving timecode data from the timecode generator of the base station and communication is not corrupt or out of range and the internal clock is constantly soft-synced with the timecode generator during slave mode and the timecode module, when operating in the master mode, is configured to transmit timecode data;
• sending a timecode package including the timecode data to the connected personal device;
• decoding the timecode package to obtain the timecode data;
• and
• embedding the timecode data into a media stream including the acquired media data.

An adapter for connecting a personal device to a timecode generator, the adapter comprising:

• a housing configured to removably connect to the personal device, the housing comprising:
• a timecode module including:
• an RF transceiver configured to receive and send timecode data over an RF network to a timecode generator associated with a base station based on a determination that communication with the base station is not corrupt or out of range;
• an internal clock configured to generate timecode data based on a determination that communication with the base station is corrupt or out of range, wherein the timecode module is configured to operate in and transition between a slave mode and a master mode, wherein the timecode module operates in a slave mode when receiving timecode data from the timecode generator of the base station and communication is not corrupt or out of range and the internal clock is constantly soft-synced with the timecode generator during slave mode, and the timecode module, when operating in the master mode, is configured to transmit timecode data;
• and
• a processing module configured to generate a timecode package from the timecode data;
• a special purpose logic circuit programmed to encode and decode the data;
• and
• a connector compatible with the personal device.

A method for syncing a camera to a timecode generator, the method comprising:

• acquiring media data using a camera sensor system chip, the chip comprising:
• one or more image sensors;
• a processing unit configured to receive media data from the one or more image sensors;
• and
• a timecode module including:
• an RF transceiver configured to receive and send timecode data over an RF network to a timecode generator associated with a base station based on a determination that communication with the base station is not corrupt or out of range;
• and
• an internal clock configured to generate timecode data based on a determination that communication with the base station is corrupt or out of range;
• wherein the timecode module is configured to operate in and transition between a slave mode and a master mode, wherein the timecode module operates in a slave mode when receiving timecode data from the timecode generator of the base station and communication is not corrupt or out of range and the internal clock is constantly soft-synced with the timecode generator during slave mode, and wherein the timecode module, when operating in the master mode, is configured to send the timecode data to the processing unit;
• and
• embedding, using the processing unit, the timecode data into a media stream including the acquired media data.