Method to synchronize playback of multicast audio streams on a local network
First Claim
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1. A method of audio synchronization on a home network, comprising:
- sending digital audio streams to two or more receiver devices, said digital audio streams including a control code to a specific one of the two or more receiver devices;
outputting sound wave signals from two or more receiver devices on the home network;
recording a first time difference between a first time of sending a control code to the specific one of the two or more receiver devices and a second time the sound wave signal is received from the specific one of the two or more receiver devices;
recording a second time difference between a third time of sending a control code to an other specific one of the two or more receiver devices and a fourth time the sound wave signal is received from the other one of the two or more receiver devices; and
automatically adjusting a relative delay of the sound wave signals outputted from the specific one of the two or more receiver devices;
wherein the relative delay is adjusted by buffering the digital audio stream received in the specific one of the two or more receiver devices.
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Abstract
A method is provided for synchronizing the playback of a digital audio broadcast on a plurality of network output devices using a microphone near a source, embedded control codes, and the audio patterns from the network output devices. An optional, additional manual adjustment method relies on a graphical user interface for adjustment and audible pulses from the devices which are to be synchronized. Synchronization of the audio is accomplished with clock synchronization of the network output devices. The digital audio broadcast from multiple receivers does not present to a listener any audible delay or echo effect.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of audio synchronization on a home network, comprising:
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sending digital audio streams to two or more receiver devices, said digital audio streams including a control code to a specific one of the two or more receiver devices; outputting sound wave signals from two or more receiver devices on the home network; recording a first time difference between a first time of sending a control code to the specific one of the two or more receiver devices and a second time the sound wave signal is received from the specific one of the two or more receiver devices; recording a second time difference between a third time of sending a control code to an other specific one of the two or more receiver devices and a fourth time the sound wave signal is received from the other one of the two or more receiver devices; and automatically adjusting a relative delay of the sound wave signals outputted from the specific one of the two or more receiver devices; wherein the relative delay is adjusted by buffering the digital audio stream received in the specific one of the two or more receiver devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 25)
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17. A system for synchronizing audio playback of multiple receiving devices, comprising:
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a transmitting device configured to transmit digital audio stream data with embedded control code; two or more receiving devices, each of which is configured to produce an audio pattern based on the control code embedded in the digital audio stream, wherein the receiving devices are synchronized by comparing time differences from times the control codes are sent from the transmitting device to each of the two or more receiving devices to reception of audio patterns based on the control codes transmitted from each of the two or more receiving devices to the transmitting device; and means for buffering the audio stream data in at least one of the two or more receiving devices by a relative delay equal to said time differences; wherein the audio patterns are detected by a microphone in proximity to the transmitting device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26)
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27. A method of audio synchronization on a home network, comprising:
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sending a first digital audio stream including an embedded first digital control code from a source device to a first receiver device; producing a first audio pattern by the first receiver device based on said first digital control code, said first audio pattern being detected by a pickup device; determining a first time difference between the sending of the first digital control code and the detection of the first audio pattern by the pickup device; sending a second digital audio stream including an embedded second digital control code from the source device to a second receiver device; producing a second audio pattern by the second receiver device based on said second digital control code, said second audio pattern being detected by the pickup device; determining a second time difference between the sending of the second digital control code and the detection of the second audio pattern by the pickup device; calculating a relative delay between the first and second time differences; and buffering one of the first or second digital audio streams by an amount of time based on the calculated relative delay to synchronize audio outputs from the first and second receiver devices; wherein said first audio pattern and said second audio pattern are not audible to humans. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification