IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,021,465
Granted Patent B2
US 10,021,465 · App. 15/290,125 · Granted Jul 10, 2018

Synchronizing media devices

Inventors: Paul Leslie Bannister (Worcester, GB); Paul Scurrell (Worcester, GB)
Assignee: Timecode Systems Limited
H04N21/8547G11B27/10G11B27/3036H04J3/0661H04N5/0733H04N5/765H04N9/8205H04N21/242H04N21/262H04N21/27H04N21/4305H04N21/435H04N21/44209H04N21/458
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,021,465
App. No.
15/290,125
Granted
Jul 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Synchronizing media devices can include generating a synchronization schedule based on a frequency of generation of one or more timecode packets. Each timecode packet of the one or more time packets includes a timecode. A timecode can be expressed in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. One or more media devices are synchronized using the synchronization schedule.

Claims (48)

1. A method for synchronizing media devices, the method comprising:

generating a synchronization schedule based on a frequency of generation of one or more timecode packets, each timecode packet of the one or more timecode packets including a timecode; and

synchronizing one or more media devices using the synchronization schedule by transmitting synchronization information, wherein transmitting synchronization information includes:

holding a transmit packet in a ready state prior to a scheduled timecode transmission time based on the synchronization schedule, the transmit packet carrying the synchronization information, and

using a gate array (GA) in communication with a clock to trigger a radio frequency (RF) transmitter to transmit the transmit packet at the scheduled timecode transmission time.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a generation time for each timecode packet of the one or more timecode packets; and

determining the frequency of generation based on the generation time of a set of the one or more timecode packets.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the synchronization schedule includes using a clock having an accuracy of at least about 1 parts per million (PPM).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the synchronization schedule includes determining at least one subject frame per second in which the one or more timecode packets are to be transmitted to at least one slave media device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one subject frame per second corresponds to the frequency of generation of each timecode packet.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing an initial synchronization with at least one slave media device, the initial synchronization achieving a clock synchronization with the at least one slave device of least 20 microseconds.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a local timecode, the local timecode having a time corresponding to a local clock;

receiving the one or more timecode packets from a master device; and

synchronizing the local clock with a master device clock based on a comparison of the local timecode and a master device timecode, the master device timecode included in the one or more timecode packets.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

monitoring receive time of each timecode packet of the one or more timecode packets based on the synchronization schedule; and

maintaining clock synchronization with the master device based on the receive time of the one or more timecode packets and the synchronization schedule.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

monitoring incoming radio frequency (RF) packets to for a SYNCH word to identify a subject packet of the incoming RF packets as a timecode packet;

triggering an RF receiver to issue a signal pulse, the signal pulse used to measure an arrival time of the subject packet in response to detecting the SYNCH word; and

tuning the local clock using at least one of: the synchronization schedule, the arrival time of the time subject packet, and a transmission time embedded in the subject packet.

10. A system for synchronizing media devices, the system comprising:

a device comprising:

a synchronization module configured to:

generate a synchronization schedule based on a frequency of generation of one or more timecode packets, each timecode packet of the one or more timecode packets including a timecode, and

synchronize one or more media devices using the synchronization schedule;

a memory configured to hold a transmit packet in a ready state prior to a scheduled timecode transmission time based on the synchronization schedule, the transmit packet carrying synchronization information; and

a gate array (GA), in communication with a clock, configured to trigger a radio frequency (RF) transmitter to transmit the transmit packet at the scheduled timecode transmission time.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the synchronization module is further configured to:

determine a generation time for each timecode packet of the one or more timecode packets; and

determine the frequency of generation based on the generation time of a set of the one or more timecode packets.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising a clock having an accuracy of at least about 1 parts per million (PPM).

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the synchronization module is further configured to generate the synchronization schedule by determining at least one subject frame per second in which the one or more timecode packets are to be transmitted to at least one slave media device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one subject frame per second corresponds to the frequency of generation of each timecode packet.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the synchronization module is further configured to perform an initial synchronization with at least one slave media device, the initial synchronization achieving a clock synchronization with the at least one slave device of least 20 microseconds.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the one or more media devices further comprise:

a timecode module configured to generate a local timecode, the local timecode having a time corresponding to a local clock;

an RF receiver configured to receive one or more timecode packets from a master device; and

the timecode module configured to synchronize the local clock with a master device clock based on a comparison of the local timecode and a master device timecode, the master device timecode included in the one or more timecode packets.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the RF receiver is further configured to:

monitor incoming radio frequency (RF) packets to for a SYNCH word to identify a subject packet of the incoming RF packets as a timecode packet,

issue a signal pulse to the GA, in communication with the local clock, in response to detecting the SYNCH word;

the GA is further configured to:

measure an arrival time of the subject packet in response to receiving the signal pulse, and

tune the local clock using at least one of: the synchronization schedule, the arrival time of the time subject packet, and a transmission time embedded in the subject packet.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2025
From: ATOMOS LIMITED
To: ATOMOS IP PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 070554/0381 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2025
From: TIMECODE SYSTEMS LIMITED
To: ATOMOS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 070554/0532 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2016
From: BANNISTER, PAUL LESLIE; SCURRELL, PAUL
To: TIMECODE SYSTEMS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 041127/0903 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62240352 · Oct 12, 2015
Provisional Application 62307820 · Mar 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62323139 · Apr 15, 2016
Related Publication 20170105054A1 · Apr 13, 2017