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BR-102025006550-A2 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING LATENCY IN WIRELESS SPEAKERS

BR102025006550A2BR 102025006550 A2BR102025006550 A2BR 102025006550A2BR-102025006550-A2

Abstract

The disclosure describes systems and methods for improving latency for wireless loudspeakers. The system can establish a buffer pipe between a wireless chip in a media player and a wireless chip in a wireless loudspeaker using an Inter-IC Sound protocol. The system can receive audio data samples through the media player. The system can communicate the audio data to the wireless loudspeaker using the buffer pipe to bypass the transport layer stack of the media player and the wireless loudspeaker. The system can have a transmitter in the wireless loudspeaker provide the audio data to a digital audio converter for output to a loudspeaker in the wireless loudspeaker.

Inventors

  • RAJESH SHANKARRAO MAMIDWAR
  • Prashant Katre

Assignees

  • AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20250402
Priority Date
20240430

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A method characterized in that it comprises: establishing a buffer pipe between a first wireless chip of a media player and a second wireless chip of a wireless speaker using an Inter-IC Sound (I2S) protocol, the wireless speaker communicating wirelessly with the media player; receiving, by a receiver of the first wireless chip of the media player, audio data samples; and communicating, by the first wireless chip, the audio data to the second wireless chip using the buffer pipe to bypass a transport layer stack of the media player and the wireless speaker, and a transmitter of the second wireless chip providing the audio data directly to a digital audio converter for output to a speaker of the wireless speaker.
  2. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises communicating pulse code modulation (PCM) audio data from the first wireless chip to the second wireless chip via the Inter-IC Sound (I2S) protocol.
  3. 3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises communicating audio data from the first wireless chip to the second wireless chip via a machine access control (MAC) layer of a network stack.
  4. 4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises communicating, from the first wireless chip to the second wireless chip, audio data via a buffer copy of the audio data from a first buffer of the first wireless chip to a second buffer of the second wireless chip.
  5. 5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the wireless speaker is in communication with the media player via an access point.
  6. 6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the media player comprises at least one of a set-top box, a television, a home theater system or an over-the-top (OTT) device.
  7. 7. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises receiving, by the receiver, samples of audio data from the output of an audio processor of the media player, wherein the receiver comprises an I2S receiver.
  8. 8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises receiving, by the transmitter, the audio data from a buffer of the second wireless chip, wherein the transmitter comprises an I2S transmitter.
  9. 9. System, characterized in that it comprises: a first wireless chip of a media player in wireless communication with a second wireless chip of a wireless speaker; wherein the first wireless chip and the second wireless chip are configured to establish a buffer pipe to transfer audio data using an Inter-IC Sound (I2S) protocol; wherein an I2S receiver of the first wireless chip of the media player is configured to receive audio data samples; and communicate the audio data to the second wireless chip using the buffer pipe to bypass a transport layer stack of the media player and the wireless speaker; and wherein an I2S transmitter of the second wireless chip provides the audio data directly to a digital audio converter for output to a speaker of the wireless speaker.
  10. 10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the I2S receiver is additionally configured to communicate pulse code modulation (PCM) audio data from the first wireless chip to the second wireless chip via the Inter-IC Sound (I2S) protocol.
  11. 11. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the first wireless chip is additionally configured to communicate audio data to the second wireless chip via a machine access control (MAC) layer of a network stack.
  12. 12. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the first wireless chip is additionally configured to communicate audio data to the second wireless chip via a buffer copy of the audio data from a first buffer of the first wireless chip to a second buffer of the second wireless chip.
  13. 13. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the media player comprises at least one of a set-top box, a television, a home theater system or an over-the-top (OTT) device.
  14. 14. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the I2S receiver is additionally configured to receive audio data samples from the output of an audio processor of the media player.
  15. 15. A method characterized in that it comprises: identifying a media player and a wireless loudspeaker for which to provide a low-latency data pipe through an access point, the access point providing wireless connectivity between the media player and the wireless loudspeaker; establishing a constant bitrate pipe between the media player and the access point; establishing a high-priority data pipe between the access point and the wireless loudspeaker; and communicating pulse-code modulation (PCM) audio data from the media player through the constant bitrate pipe to the access point and through the high-priority data pipe to the wireless loudspeaker.
  16. 16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that it further comprises disabling data aggregation by at least one of the media player, access point or wireless speaker.
  17. 17. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that it further comprises establishing a wireless link from the media player to the wireless speaker, bypassing any other mesh nodes in an access point network.
  18. 18. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the access point maintains a high-priority queue for audio data from the media player to be communicated via the high-priority data pipe to the wireless speaker.
  19. 19. A method according to claim 15, characterized in that it further comprises communicating uncompressed audio data.
  20. 20. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the media player comprises at least one of a set-top box, a television, a home theater system or an over-the-top (OTT) device.

Description

FIELD OF DISSEMINATION [001] This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for synchronizing network-based content playback, including, without limitation, improving latency in wireless loudspeaker systems. BACKGROUND [002] The quality of the user experience when consuming multimedia content depends on audio and video synchronization. Any deviation from alignment, even by milliseconds, can disrupt the viewing experience and impair enjoyment. In wireless entertainment systems, during content playback, the audio transmitted to wireless speakers via a wireless medium must be synchronized with the corresponding video of the content being played. SUMMARY [003] During playback of multimedia content, such as TV programs, movies, and music, the wireless entertainment system may wirelessly transmit audio data from the source (e.g., a media player) to wireless speakers. The wireless entertainment system may experience delays due to network latency, where transmission delays can vary based on network conditions, including but not limited to congestion, bandwidth limitations, or interference. Additionally, the wireless entertainment system may experience processing delays, as both the source device and the wireless speakers need time to process the audio data, increasing the overall delay. The choice of wireless transmission technology, including Bluetooth and WiFi, may have latency characteristics that affect synchronization. The positioning of the speakers relative to the source may introduce a fixed delay that requires compensation. These variable delays can disrupt the balance between audio and video, leading to problems such as audio lag relative to video, creating a disconnect between visual and auditory cues, or causing audio artifacts such as echo or distortion, which further impair the listening experience. [004] The technical solutions disclosed in the present invention overcome these challenges by establishing a buffer pipe directly between the media player and the wireless speaker, bypassing network protocols such as the transport layer stack. The technical solution reduces latency by avoiding unnecessary processing steps. The buffer pipe can use a protocol configuration for transferring audio data between digital audio devices. As a result, the technical solution of the present disclosure reduces the latency of audio communications for wireless speakers. [005] At least one aspect of the technical solutions is directed toward a method for improving latency for wireless loudspeakers. The method may involve establishing a buffer pipe between a first wireless chip of a media player and a second wireless chip of a wireless loudspeaker using an Inter-IC Sound (I2S) protocol, with the wireless loudspeaker in wireless communication with the media player. The method may involve receiving, via a receiver of the first wireless chip of the media player, samples of audio data. The method may involve communicating, via the first wireless chip, the audio data to the second wireless chip using the buffer pipe to bypass a transport layer stack of the media player and the wireless loudspeaker. A transmitter of the second wireless chip may provide the audio data directly to a digital audio converter for output to a loudspeaker of the wireless loudspeaker. [006] The method may include communicating pulse-code modulation (PCM) audio data from the first wireless chip to the second wireless chip via the I2S protocol. The method may include the first wireless chip communicating audio data to the second wireless chip via a machine access control (MAC) layer of a network stack. The method may include communicating audio data from the first wireless chip to the second wireless chip via a buffer copy of the audio data from a first buffer of the first wireless chip to a second buffer of the second wireless chip. The wireless speaker may be in communication with the media player via an access point. The media player may include at least one of a set-top box, a television, a home theater system, or an over-the-top (OTT) device. [007] The method may involve receiving, by the receiver, audio data samples from the output of an audio processor in the media player. The receiver may include an I2S receiver. The method may involve receiving, by the transmitter, audio data from a buffer in the second wireless chip. The transmitter may include an I2S transmitter. [008] At least one aspect of the technical solutions is directed to a system. The system may include one or more memory-coupled processors. The one or more processors may be configured to include a first wireless chip of a media player in wireless communication with a second wireless chip of a wireless speaker. The first wireless chip and the second wireless chip may be configured to establish a buffer pipe to transfer audio data using an Inter-IC Sound (I2S) protocol. An I2S receiver of the first wireless chip of the media player may be configured to receive audio data sampl