System and method for determining lip synchronization between audio and video in a digitized environment using buffer calculation

1. A system that maintains synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks that are locked, the system comprising:

a component that determines an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer, the initial midpoint level is computed as being equal to half of the initial maximum operating level plus half of the initial minimum operating level;

a component that determines at least one current level of the buffer; and

a component that determines an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one current level of the buffer and adjusts the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

2. The system set forth in claim 1 , wherein the at least one current level of the buffer comprises a current midpoint level.

3. The system set forth in claim 1 , wherein the at least one current level of the buffer comprises a current minimum operating level, a current maximum operating level, and a current midpoint level.

4. The system set forth in claim 3 , wherein the current midpoint level is calculated as being equal to the current minimum operating level plus the initial midpoint level minus the initial minimum operating level.

5. The system set forth in claim 1 , wherein the audio signal and the video signal comprise a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) signal.

6. The system set forth in claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a portion of a television set.

7. The system set forth in claim 6 , wherein the television set comprises a High Definition Television (HDTV) set.

8. A system that maintains synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks that are locked, the system comprising:

means for determining an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer, the initial midpoint level is computed as being equal to half of the initial maximum operating level plus half of the initial minimum operating level;

means for determining at least one current level of the buffer;

means for determining an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one current level of the buffer; and

means for adjusting the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

9. The system set forth in claim 8 , wherein the at least one current level of the buffer comprises a current midpoint level.

10. The system set forth in claim 8 , wherein the at least one current level of the buffer comprises a current minimum operating level, a current maximum operating level, and a current midpoint level.

11. The system set forth in claim 10 , wherein the current midpoint level is calculated as being equal to the current minimum operating level plus the initial midpoint level minus the initial minimum operating level.

12. A method of maintaining synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks that are locked, the method comprising:

determining an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer, the initial midpoint level is computed as being equal to half of the initial maximum operating level plus half of the initial minimum operating level;

determining at least one current level of the buffer; and

determining an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one current level of the buffer; and

adjusting the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

13. The method set forth in claim 12 , comprising:

defining the at least one current level of the buffer to comprise a current minimum operating level, a current maximum operating level, and a current midpoint level; and

computing the current midpoint level (Cur Mid) as being equal to the current minimum operating level plus the initial midpoint level minus the initial minimum operating level.

14. A system that maintains synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks that are locked, the system comprising:

a component that determines an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer;

a component that determines a current minimum operating level, a current maximum operating level, and a current midpoint level of the buffer, the current midpoint level is calculated as being equal to the current minimum operating level plus the initial midpoint level minus the initial minimum operating level; and

a component that determines an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one of the current minimum operating level, the current maximum operating level, and the current midpoint level of the buffer and adjusts the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

15. A system that maintains synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks that are locked, the system comprising:

means for determining an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer;

means for determining a current minimum operating level, a current maximum operating level, and a current midpoint level of the buffer, the current midpoint level is calculated as being equal to the current minimum operating level plus the initial midpoint level minus the initial minimum operating level;

means for determining an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one of the current minimum operating level, the current maximum operating level, and the current midpoint level of the buffer; and

means for adjusting the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

16. A method of maintaining synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks that are locked, the method comprising:

determining an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer;

determining a current minimum operating level, a current maximum operating level, and a current midpoint level of the buffer, the current midpoint level is calculated as being equal to the current minimum operating level plus the initial midpoint level minus the initial minimum operating level;

determining an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one of the current minimum operating level, the current maximum operating level, and the current midpoint level of the buffer; and

adjusting the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

17. A system that maintains synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks, the system comprising:

a component that determines an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer, the initial midpoint level being derived from the initial maximum operating level and the initial minimum operating level;

a component that determines at least one current level of the buffer; and

a component that determines an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one current level of the buffer and adjusts the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

18. A system that maintains synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks, the system comprising:

means for determining an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer, the initial midpoint level being derived from the initial maximum operating level and the initial minimum operating level;

means for determining at least one current level of the buffer;

means for determining an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one current level of the buffer; and

means for adjusting the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

19. A method of maintaining synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks, the method comprising:

determining an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer, the initial midpoint level being derived from the initial maximum operating level and the initial minimum operating level;

determining at least one current level of the buffer; and

determining an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one current level of the buffer; and

adjusting the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

20. A system that maintains synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks that are locked, the system comprising:

a component that determines an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer;

a component that determines a current minimum operating level, a current maximum operating level, and a current midpoint level of the buffer, the current midpoint level is derived from the current minimum operating level, the initial midpoint level and the initial minimum operating level; and

a component that determines an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one of the current minimum operating level, the current maximum operating level, and the current midpoint level of the buffer of the buffer and adjusts the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

21. A system that maintains synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks, the system comprising:

means for determining an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer;

means for determining a current minimum operating level, a current maximum operating level, and a current midpoint level of the buffer, the current midpoint level is derived from the current minimum operating level, the initial midpoint level, and the initial minimum operating level;

means for determining an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one of the current minimum operating level, the current maximum operating level, and the current midpoint level of the buffer; and

means for adjusting the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.

22. A method of maintaining synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal that are processed using clocks, the method comprising:

determining an initial minimum operating level, an initial maximum operating level, and an initial midpoint level of a buffer;

determining a current minimum operating level, a current maximum operating level, and a current midpoint level of the buffer, the current midpoint level being derived from the current minimum operating level, the initial midpoint level, and the initial minimum operating level;

determining an amount of drift by comparing at least one of the initial minimum operating level, the initial maximum operating level, and the initial midpoint level of the buffer to the at least one of the current minimum operating level, the current maximum operating level, and the current midpoint level of the buffer; and

adjusting the clocks to maintain the initial midpoint level of the buffer if the amount of drift reaches a threshold level.