SYNCHRONIZATION OF COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EFFECTS

摘要

Synchronization of effects across multiple devices using local, distributed control, and eliminating the need for central direction of the effects with the associated large bandwidth required. In one embodiment, each device stores data and instructions for creating its own effects. The devices periodically communicate with a host or each other to maintain synchronization, and compensate for any drift. This approach minimizes the use of bandwidth and battery power in the devices.

主权项

1. A system for synchronizing effects among multiple devices, comprising:
a first device; a first effect system in the first device programmed to provide a first effect over a period of time and to provide a series of first timing reports on the current timing of the first effect; a transceiver coupled to the first device and configured to receive the first timing reports from the first effect system and transmit the reports wirelessly; the first effect subsystem being programmed to receive a first synchronization signal and to modify the timing of the first effect in accordance with the first synchronization signal; non-transitory computer readable code for execution on a host, having instructions to process a signal indicating the synchronized start of the first effect and a second effect; initiate a host timer corresponding to the synchronized start of the first and second effects; receive the first report and a second report and compare them to the host timer; determine if the timing of the first effect has varied from the host timer by more than a predetermined amount; send the first synchronization signal to the first device if the first effect has varied from the host timer by more than the predetermined amount; determine if the timing of a second effect has varied from the host timer by more than a predetermined amount; and send the second synchronization signal to a second device if the second effect has varied from the host timer by more than the predetermined amount.