System and method for synchronizing simultaneous media stream playback across nonsynchronized network timing/clock islands

摘要

A system and method for synchronizing simultaneous media stream playback across disjoint network timing/clock islands. An embodiment of a method includes determining a closest device to a source device in a network communications path between the source device and one or more target devices. Here, clocks of the closest device and the one or more target devices are synchronized and a clock of the source device is not necessarily synchronized with the clocks of the closest device and the one or more target devices. A current time for the closest device is then determined. A start time is assigned to at least the current time plus a maximum latency across the network communications path. A data stream and the start time are sent to the one or more target devices for rendering. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
determining, by a source device, a closest device to the source device in a network communications path between the source device and one or more target devices, wherein the target devices represent audio or video devices capable of rendering media data, and wherein clocks of the closest device and the one or more target devices are synchronized and wherein a clock of the source device is not synchronized with the clocks of the closest device and the one or more target devices; determining a current time for the closest device; assigning a start time to be at least the current time plus a maximum latency across the network communications path, wherein the start time represents the time at which the target devices are to render the media data; and sending the media data and the start time to the one or more target devices, wherein the closeness of the closest device to the source device represents proximity in the topology of the network, and wherein said determining of the closest device, said determining of the current time, said assigning, and said sending are performed by the source device.