Systems and methods of audio decoder determination and selection

1. A method of playing back audio content comprising:

receiving, at a playback device, first audio data from a video display device;

receiving an indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in a compressed audio format;

determining, independently of receiving the indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format, whether the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format;

if the first audio data is determined to be encoded in the compressed audio format, consistent with the indication from the video display device:

selecting a decoder from among a plurality of decoders;

decoding the first audio data using the selected decoder; and

playing back the decoded first audio data via the playback device; and

if the first audio data is determined not to be encoded in the compressed audio format, inconsistent with the indication from the video display device:

inhibiting playback of the first audio data;

receiving, at the playback device, second audio data from the video display device, the second audio data encoded via the compressed audio format;

decoding and playing back the second audio data via the playback device;

while playing back the second audio data, receiving, at the playback device, third audio data from the video display device, the third audio data encoded via an uncompressed pulse-code modulation (PCM) format;

determining, via the playback device, that the third audio data is encoded in the uncompressed PCM format;

after determining that the third audio data is encoded in the uncompressed PCM format, initiating playback of the third audio data only after a predetermined delay.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format comprises detecting a channel status block (CSB) indicating that the first audio data is encoded in a compressed audio format.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, independently of receiving the indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format, whether the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format comprises:

searching a predetermined number of frames of the first audio data to detect a sync word; and

analyzing a data burst of the first audio data subsequent to the sync word to identify an encoding scheme.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

after detecting the sync word;

searching a second predetermined number of frames subsequent to the sync word to identify a second repetition of the sync word.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein analyzing the data burst of the first audio data subsequent to the sync word comprises determining whether the data burst corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined valid sequences corresponding to an encoding scheme, wherein:

if the data burst corresponds to one of the plurality of predetermined valid sequences, determining that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format; and

if the data burst does not correspond to one of the plurality of predetermined valid sequences, determining that the first audio data is not encoded in the compressed audio format.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video display device comprises a television, and wherein the playback devices comprises a soundbar.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of decoders comprises at least two or more of: a DOLBY DIGITAL decoder; a DOLBY DIGITAL PLUS decoder, a MAP decoder; a DOLBY ATMOS decoder; a DTS:X decoder; or a MAP decoder.

8. A playback device comprising:

at least one amplifier configured to drive an audio transducer;

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the playback device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a playback device, first audio data from a video display device;

receiving an indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in a compressed audio format;

determining, independently of receiving the indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format, whether the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format;

if the first audio data is determined to be encoded in the compressed audio format, consistent with the indication from the video display device:

selecting a decoder from among a plurality of decoders;

decoding the first audio data using the selected decoder; and

playing back the decoded first audio data via the playback device; and

if the first audio data is determined not to be encoded in the compressed audio format, inconsistent with the indication from the video display device:

inhibiting playback of the first audio data;

receiving, at the playback device, second audio data from the video display device, the second audio data encoded via the compressed audio format;

decoding and playing back the second audio data via the playback device;

while playing back the second audio data, receiving, at the playback device, third audio data from the video display device, the third audio data encoded via an uncompressed pulse-code modulation (PCM) format;

determining, via the playback device, that the third audio data is encoded in the uncompressed PCM format;

after determining that the third audio data is encoded in the uncompressed PCM format, initiating playback of the third audio data only after a predetermined delay.

9. The playback device of claim 8 , wherein receiving the indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format comprises detecting a channel status block (CSB) indicating that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format.

10. The playback device of claim 8 , wherein determining, independently of receiving the indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format, whether the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format comprises:

searching a predetermined number of frames of the first audio data to detect a sync word; and

analyzing a data burst of the first audio data subsequent to the sync word to identify an encoding scheme.

11. The playback device of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:

after detecting the sync word, searching a second predetermined number of frames subsequent to the sync word to identify a second repetition of the sync word.

12. The playback device of claim 10 , wherein analyzing the data burst of the first audio data subsequent to the sync word comprises determining whether the data burst corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined valid sequences corresponding to an encoding scheme, wherein:

if the data burst corresponds to one of the plurality of predetermined valid sequences, determining that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format; and

if the data burst does not correspond to one of the plurality of predetermined valid sequences, determining that the first audio data is not encoded in the compressed audio format.

13. Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of a playback device, cause the playback device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a playback device, first audio data from a video display device;

receiving an indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in a compressed audio format;

determining, independently of receiving the indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format, whether the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format;

if the first audio data is determined to be encoded in the compressed audio format, consistent with the indication from the video display device:

selecting a decoder from among a plurality of decoders;

decoding the first audio data using the selected decoder; and

playing back the decoded first audio data via the playback device; and

if the audio data is determined not to be encoded in the compressed audio format, inconsistent with the indication from the video display device:

inhibiting playback of the first audio data;

receiving, at the playback device, second audio data from the video display device, the second audio data encoded via the compressed audio format;

decoding and playing back the second audio data via the playback device;

while playing back the second audio data, receiving, at the playback device, third audio data from the video display device, the third audio data encoded via an uncompressed pulse-code modulation (PCM) format;

determining, via the playback device, that the third audio data is encoded in the uncompressed PCM format;

after determining that the third audio data is encoded in the uncompressed PCM format, initiating playback of the third audio data only after a predetermined delay.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein receiving the indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format comprises detecting a channel status block (CSB) indicating that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein determining, independently of receiving the indication from the video display device that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format, whether the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format comprises:

searching a predetermined number of frames of the first audio data to detect a sync word; and

analyzing a data burst of the first audio data subsequent to the sync word to identify an encoding scheme.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

after detecting the sync word, searching a second predetermined number of frames subsequent to the sync word to identify a second repetition of the sync word.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein analyzing the data burst of the first audio data subsequent to the sync word comprises determining whether the data burst corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined valid sequences corresponding to an encoding scheme, wherein:

if the data burst corresponds to one of the plurality of predetermined valid sequences, determining that the first audio data is encoded in the compressed audio format; and

if the data burst does not correspond to one of the plurality of predetermined valid sequences, determining that the first audio data is not encoded in the compressed audio format.