Method for synchronizing data flows

Abstract

The first data flow is buffered at a receiver, and the buffer contents are scanned for metadata. Where metadata are found indicating a second data flow which has not yet arrived, the system enters a stalling phase during which the length of any silent periods in the first data flow are stretched. As the point in the first data flow at which the second data flow is necessary gets closer, the factor by which silent periods are stretched increases exponentially. Once the expected second data flow in fact arrives, playback of two data flows is accelerated by compressing silent periods so as to clear the backlog of additional data that built up in the buffer during the stalling phase.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for synchronizing data streams, such as audio, image, video, or computer programs. Background technique [0002] Due to increasing bandwidth, storage and computing power, users of computer programs tend to generate and consume more and more multimedia content. These environments, sometimes referred to as media-rich environments, are characterized by the use of multiple media, each with different characteristics. For example, these contents may be presentation slides, images, videos, animations, graphs, maps, web pages or any other media objects (animated or non-animated), even executable programs and their resulting displays. Thus, the resulting data stream displayed to the user may consist of multiple media objects. Note that any of these objects can be synchronized with the other, and that the relationship between objects can change over time. ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0009] In the complex media environment thus described involving multiple content and networks, there is no means for synchronizing the various incoming data streams

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