Method of manually fine tuning audio synchronization of a home network
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorsGary E. Sullivan, Dusty D. Rector
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Abstract
A method is provided for manually synchronizing the playback of a digital audio broadcast on a plurality of network output devices. The method is applicable for use with methods such as those that use a time code, insert a control track pulse, or use an audio waveform sample for synchronization. The manual adjustment method relies on a graphical user interface for adjustment and audible pulses from the devices which are to be synchronized. The digital audio broadcast from multiple receivers does not present to a listener any audible delay or echo effect.
Claims42
A method of synchronizing the playback of an audio broadcast on a plurality of network output devices, comprising:
- initially synchronizing the audio playback of the plurality of network output devices by an automated process involving an audio stream;
- and
- then manually synchronizing the audio playback of the plurality of network output devices such that the digital audio broadcast from multiple receiving devices does not present to a listener any audible delay or echo effect,
- said automated process including inserting, into the audio stream, at least one of a reference time value transmitted by a transmitting device, and a control track pulse transmitted by a transmitting device.
A system for synchronizing audio playback of multiple receiving devices, comprising:
- a transmitting device;
- two or more receiving devices;
- and
- means for synchronizing the receiving devices through at least two of the group consisting of a control track pulse, a time code, and an audio waveform sample,
- wherein one of the devices allows a user to manually synchronize the audio playback of the devices.
A system for synchronizing the audio playback of two or more receiving devices, comprising:
- transmitting means for transmitting consecutive unique signals in an audio stream;
- receiving means for receiving the consecutive unique signals in the audio stream, the receiving means including an internal processor for determining a communications latency between the transmitting means and the receiving means and a processing latency, the time that the receiving means takes to act upon the unique signals being determined by the communications latency between the transmitting means and the receiving means and the processing latency resulting from internal processing by the internal processor of the receiving means;
- and
- means for manually synchronizing audio playback.
A system for synchronizing audio playback of multiple receiving devices, comprising:
- a transmitting device;
- two or more receiving devices;
- and
- means for synchronizing the receiving devices through communication latency and processing latency, said synchronizing means synchronizing the receiving devices by determining and correcting for communication latency and processing latency;
- and
- wherein one of the devices allows a user to manually synchronize the audio playback of the devices.
A system for synchronizing audio playback of multiple receiving devices, comprising:
- a transmitting device;
- two or more receiving devices;
- and
- means for synchronizing the receiving devices through at least two of the group consisting of a control track pulse, a time code, and an audio waveform sample,
- wherein one of the devices allows a user to manually synchronize the audio playback of the devices, and wherein said system further includes a time drift detector.
A system for synchronizing the audio playback of two or more receiving devices, comprising:
- transmitting means for transmitting consecutive unique signals in an audio stream;
- receiving means for receiving the consecutive unique signals in the audio stream, the receiving means including an internal processor for determining a communications latency between the transmitting means and the receiving means, and the time that the receiving means takes to act upon the unique signals being determined by the communications latency between the transmitting means and the receiving means and a processing latency resulting from internal processing by the internal processor of the receiving means;
- means for manually synchronizing audio playback;
- and
- means for synchronizing clocks located in the receiving means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.