Method and system for precise synchronization of audio and video streams during a distributed communication session with multiple participants

A computer system including a playout buffer module, the playout buffer module comprising:

• means for selecting a time shift interval;
• means for performing linear cross-mixing WkW′k=Wk−x during a first time window for backward time shift;
• and
• means for performing a forward time shift WkW′k=Wk+x and performing linear cross-mixing during a second time window if sound data in a playout buffer exceeds a threshold value.

A computer implemented method for addressing jitter in an audio signal transmitted across a specific network, the method comprising:

• receiving the audio signal;
• storing data from the audio signal in a jitter buffer;
• dynamically adjusting the size of the jitter buffer in order to address jitter in the specific network, the dynamically adjusting including:
• analyzing latency spikes of the audio signal in the specific network;
• determining that a given latency spike is beginning;
• predicting characteristics of the given latency spike;
• and
• changing the size of the jitter buffer according to the predicted characteristics of the given latency spike.