Automatically synchronizing multiple real-time video sources

A computer program product to synchronize multiple real-time video sources, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code executable by one or more computer processors to perform an operation comprising:
• receiving a first video frame as part of a first video feed from a first video source, the first video frame having an associated data space specifying a first timestamp generated by a first one of a plurality of timestamp insertion devices collectively referenced to a remote time source;
• receiving, as part of a second video feed from a second video source, an Internet Protocol (IP) frame that encapsulates (i) at least part of a second video frame and (ii) a second timestamp generated by a second one of the plurality of timestamp insertion devices, wherein the first and second video sources are configured to concurrently film a common scene from distinct viewing perspectives, wherein the first and second video frames are received with distinct measures of latency introduced by distinct types of transmissions media, respectively;
• determining that the first timestamp is later in time than the second timestamp, based on comparing (i) a first difference between the first timestamp and a current time provided by a local time source and (ii) a second difference between the second timestamp and the current time provided by the local time source;
• queuing the first video frame in a variable-length buffer until a third video frame, specifying a third timestamp equal to the first timestamp, is received from the second video source, the variable-length buffer having a length that varies over time based on a count of frames by which the first and second video feeds are currently offset relative to one another;
• and
• aligning the first and second video feeds in time relative to one another, based on the variable-length buffer, whereafter the first and second video feeds are concurrently output via a single transmissions medium.

A system of synchronizing multiple real-time video sources, the system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• a memory containing a program which, when executed by the one or more computer processors, performs an operation comprising:
• receiving a first video frame as part of a first video feed from a first video source, the first video frame having an associated data space specifying a first timestamp generated by a first one of a plurality of timestamp insertion devices collectively referenced to a remote time source;
• receiving, as part of a second video feed from a second video source, an Internet Protocol (IP) frame that encapsulates (i) at least part of a second video frame and (ii) a second timestamp generated by a second one of the plurality of timestamp insertion devices, wherein the first and second video sources are configured to concurrently film a common scene from distinct viewing perspectives, wherein the first and second video frames are received with distinct measures of latency introduced by distinct types of transmissions media, respectively;
• determining that the first timestamp is later in time than the second timestamp based on comparing (i) a first difference between the first timestamp and a current time provided by a local time source and (ii) a second difference between the second timestamp and the current time provided by the local time source;
• queuing the first video frame in a variable-length buffer until a third video frame, specifying a third timestamp equal to the first timestamp, is received from the second video source, the variable-length buffer having a length that varies over time based on a count of frames by which the first and second video feeds are currently offset relative to one another;
• and
• aligning the first and second video feeds in time relative to one another, based on the variable-length buffer, whereafter the first and second video feeds are concurrently output via a single transmissions medium.