Low overhead control channel for wireless audio systems

Abstract

To provide a wireless audio system using novel low over head zone bandwidth control and audio transmission.SOLUTION: The wireless audio system includes a first wireless audio device configured to operate separate physical layer channels for audio data and control data and to transmit the audio data and the control data using a single wideband carrier. The wireless audio system also includes one or more second wireless audio devices configured to receive the audio data and the control data and to execute instructions based on the control data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] cross reference This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 803,788, filed February 27, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This application generally relates to wireless audio systems that may include a plurality of subscriber devices and a base station. The base station and one or more of the subscriber devices are configured to transmit both audio data and control data. In particular, this application relates to wireless audio systems in which the audio data and control data are transmitted on the same wideband carrier. [Background technology]

[0003] Audio production can involve the use of many components, including microphones, wireless base stations, wireless subscriber devices, recorders, and / or mixers, to capture, record, and present audio for productions such as television programs, news broadcasts, movies, live events, and other types of productions. The microphone typically captures the audio for the production, and the audio is transmitted wirelessly from the microphone and / or wireless base station to the wireless subscriber device. The wireless base station can be connected to the recorder and / or mixer so that a crew member, e.g., a production sound mixer, can record and / or mix the audio. Electronic devices, such as computers and smartphones, may also be connected to the recorder and / or mixer to allow crew members to monitor audio levels and timecode.

[0004] Wireless base stations, wireless subscriber devices, wireless microphones, and other portable wireless communication devices include antennas for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, including digital or analog signals, such as modulated audio, data, and / or control signals. Users of portable wireless communication devices include stage performers, singers, actors, news reporters, and the like.

[0005] A wireless base station may transmit RF signals, including audio signals, to one or more wireless subscriber devices. A wireless base station may be contained within, for example, a wireless handheld microphone or body pack held or worn by a user, and includes an integrated transmitter and antenna. As another example, a wireless base station may be contained within an access point, rack-mounted transceiver, or other centralized unit. A wireless subscriber device may be a portable device such as a wireless earphone, wireless conference unit, body pack, in-ear wireless monitor, microphone, intercom device, etc.

[0006] In addition to transmitting and receiving audio data, audio systems may also require the transmission of various types of control information. Control information, or control data, may be used to control volume, transmit battery life data, encryption keys, and so on to enable proper operation of base stations and subscriber devices. In some examples, control data is transmitted using a separate out-of-band mechanism from the audio data. For example, control data may be transmitted over a separate communication link, such as via an infrared (IR) or Wi-Fi link. However, these techniques require separate transmit and receive hardware at the transmitter and receiver. Furthermore, using separate communication links for audio data and control data can lead to coverage area mismatches due to greater interference on one link than the other, line-of-sight issues (especially when control data is transmitted over an IR link), and so on. In other examples, audio data and control data are multiplexed into a single channel at the physical layer rather than transmitted using separate communication links. While this technique can solve some of the problems noted above, it introduces other issues. For example, the combined bit rate of audio and control data is limited by the physical layer channel, and therefore there is no flexibility in individually setting the relative link performance for audio and control data.

[0007] Therefore, a wireless audio system utilizing low-overhead in-band control that does not require separate communication links, provides the same coverage area for both audio and control data, and allows independent control of the coding rate and modulation scheme of the audio and control data is promising. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to solve or help solve the problems noted above by providing a wireless audio system that enables the transmission of both audio and control information using low-overhead in-band methods.

[0009] In one embodiment, an audio system includes a first wireless audio device (e.g., a base station or subscriber device) configured to operate separate physical layer channels for audio data and control data and to transmit the audio data and control data using a single wideband carrier. The audio system also includes one or more second wireless audio devices (e.g., one or more base stations or subscriber devices) configured to receive the audio data and the control data and to execute instructions based on the control data.

[0010] In some examples, the one or more second wireless audio devices are further configured to operate separate physical layer channels for the second audio data and the second control data and to transmit the second audio data and the second control data using a single wideband carrier. Still further, the first wireless audio device may be configured to receive the second audio data and the second control data and to execute instructions based on the second control data.

[0011] In some examples, the first wireless audio device is further configured to use different modulation schemes and / or coding rates for the audio data and the control data based on a desired bit error rate.

[0012] In some examples, the first wireless audio device is further configured to combine the audio data and the control data into frames, each frame including a downlink portion and an uplink portion. The frames may be configured according to a frame scheme, the frame scheme repeating every N frames. Each frame in the frame scheme may include a broadcast channel slot. The broadcast channel slot may include information used by one or more subscriber devices to access the audio system, including the number N of frames in the frame scheme. Each of the N frames of the frame scheme may include M control channel slot pairs, a first slot of a given control channel slot pair being included in the downlink portion of the given frame, and a second slot of the control channel slot pair being included in the uplink portion of the frame. Each of the one or more second wireless audio devices is assigned one control channel slot pair.

[0013] In a second embodiment, a wireless base station of an audio system may include a processor configured to operate a first physical layer channel using audio data and a second physical layer channel using control data. The wireless base station of the audio system may also include an antenna configured to transmit the audio data and the control data using a single wideband carrier.

[0014] In some examples, the processor is further configured to use different modulation schemes and coding rates for the audio data and the control data.

[0015] In some examples, the processor is also configured to combine the audio data and control data into frames, each frame including a downlink portion and an uplink portion. The processor may operate using a frame scheme that repeats every N frames. Each frame in the frame scheme may include a broadcast channel slot. The broadcast channel slot may include information used by one or more subscriber devices to access the audio data and control data, including the number N of frames in the frame scheme.

[0016] In some embodiments, each of the N frames of the frame scheme may include M control channel slot pairs, with a first slot of a given control channel slot pair being included in a downlink portion of the given frame and a second slot of the control channel slot pair being included in an uplink portion of the frame. A wireless base station may be configured to communicate with one or more subscriber devices, each of which is assigned one control channel slot pair.

[0017] In a third embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable memory has stored therein instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a set of operations to be performed. The set of operations includes operating a first physical layer channel using audio data to be transmitted to a wireless subscriber device. The set of operations also includes operating a second physical layer channel using control data to be transmitted to the wireless subscriber device. The set of operations further includes controlling an antenna to transmit the audio data and the control data using a single wideband carrier.

[0018] These and other embodiments and various modifications and aspects will become apparent and will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings that set forth illustrative embodiments that illustrate various ways in which the principles of the present invention may be utilized. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless audio system according to some embodiments. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic diagram of an example computing device, such as a first wireless audio device, a second wireless audio device, a base station, and / or a subscriber device, of the wireless audio system of FIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example frame scheme according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating various operations for wirelessly transmitting audio and control information using a low-overhead in-band control channel scheme, according to some embodiments. [Figure 5] 1 is a flowchart illustrating various operations for wirelessly transmitting audio and control information using a low-overhead in-band control channel scheme, according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The following description describes and illustrates one or more specific embodiments of the present invention in accordance with the principles of the present invention. This description is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments described herein, but rather to explain and teach the principles of the present invention in a manner that will enable those skilled in the art to understand the principles and, with this understanding, be able to apply them to implement not only the embodiments described herein but also other embodiments that may be conceived in accordance with the principles. The scope of the present invention is intended to encompass all such embodiments that may fall within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

[0021] It should be noted that in the description and drawings, similar or substantially similar elements may be labeled with the same reference numerals. However, in some cases, these elements may be labeled with different numerals, for example, where such labeling facilitates a clearer description. Furthermore, the drawings presented herein are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some cases, proportions may be exaggerated to more clearly depict particular features. Such labeling and drawing conventions do not necessarily suggest any essential purpose behind them. As stated above, the specification is intended to be understood as a whole and to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of the present invention as taught herein and as understood by those skilled in the art.

[0022] The wireless audio systems described herein may utilize a single RF carrier to transmit both audio data and control data. Multiple audio and control channels may be transmitted together within a single frame. Embodiments of the present disclosure include using separate physical layer channels for audio and control information, which allows for separate and independent manipulation of channel modulation and channel coding rates. This configuration allows a user to set initial parameters for the control and audio channels at the time of wireless audio system setup, as well as to adjust the parameters of the control and audio channels in real time, providing improved functionality for the wireless audio system.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary wireless audio system 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless audio system 100 may include a first wireless audio device 110 (also referred to in some embodiments as a wireless base station 110) and multiple second wireless audio devices 120A-I (also referred to in some embodiments as wireless subscriber devices 120A-I). The first wireless audio device may be a base station, such as a wireless access point, a rack-mounted transceiver, or any other suitable device. The one or more second wireless audio devices may be subscriber devices, such as wireless earphones, wireless conference units, bodypacks, in-ear wireless monitors, microphones, intercom devices, etc. The wireless audio system 100 may also include an audio source (not shown) in communication with the first wireless audio device 110. The audio source may generate one or more audio source signals, which may include one or both of audio data and control data. The first wireless audio device 110 may modulate the audio data and / or control data received from the audio source.

[0024] The first wireless audio device 110 may be a computing device, such as the computing device described in more detail with respect to FIG. 2. In some examples, the first wireless audio device 110 may include one or more antennas. In some examples, the first wireless audio device 110 may utilize antenna diversity and may use multiple antennas. Antenna diversity may include, for example, using physically separated antennas (i.e., antennas positioned apart in space). It is contemplated and possible for the first wireless audio device 110 to have more than two antennas and for any number of second wireless audio devices 120A-I to be present. In some embodiments, the first wireless audio device 110 may be an access point or other centralized unit. The second wireless audio devices 120A-I may, in some embodiments, be portable wireless subscriber devices, such as wireless earphones, wireless conference units, or body packs.

[0025] In some embodiments, wireless audio system 100 may be an OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) wideband audio system, allowing different types of traffic to be carried on individual subcarriers and multiplexed together onto a single wideband carrier. RF signals transmitted by first wireless audio device 110 and received by one or more second wireless audio devices 120A-I may include, for example, data symbols having audio data and control data. The data symbols may, in some embodiments, be QPSK / QAM modulated subcarriers capable of carrying audio data signals and / or control signals. As noted below, other modulation schemes and coding rates may also be used.

[0026] As used herein, audio data may include information used by the second wireless audio devices 120A-I to output audio through one or more speakers. Control data may include information used to control volume, indicated battery life, information related to encryption keys, etc.

[0027] As noted above, both audio data and control data may be required for an audio system to function properly. In some cases, audio data and control data are transmitted and received using separate communication mechanisms, for example, by transmitting audio data via a radio frequency (RF) connection and transmitting control data by another mechanism, such as infrared (IR), Wi-Fi, or via a separate "out-of-band" link. The use of two different mechanisms may result in a mismatch in coverage area between the audio data and the control data. For example, if control data is transmitted via IR, visual line-of-sight may be required, while line-of-sight is not required for audio data transmitted via an RF carrier.

[0028] Alternatively, if a system instead wanted to transmit audio and control data over the same interface mechanism, one approach would be to multiplex the audio and control data together at the physical layer. However, this results in a combined bit rate that is limited by the physical layer channel. Furthermore, there is no flexibility in configuring the relative link performance of the audio and control data. Furthermore, there is a relatively high overhead due to the inability to dynamically change the performance characteristics associated with either or both of the audio and control data.

[0029] In embodiments of the present disclosure, audio system 100 is configured to help address some or all of these issues noted above. For example, first wireless audio device 110 is configured to operate separate physical layer channels for audio data and control data. This allows each physical layer channel to have a separate modulation scheme and coding rate. For example, the modulation scheme for audio data may be 16-QAM with a coding rate of ¾. Additionally, the modulation scheme for control data may be QPSK with a coding rate of ½. The modulation scheme and coding rate may be the same or different for audio data and control data based on one or more desired operating characteristics.

[0030] In some examples, the modulation scheme and coding rate for one or both of the audio data and the control data can be determined based on a desired bit error rate. A particular modulation scheme and coding rate is selected to balance minimizing the error rate while maintaining a sufficient data transmission rate. Selecting a more robust modulation scheme and coding rate (e.g., QPSK with a coding rate of 1 / 2 versus 16-QAM with a coding rate of 3 / 4) will result in a smaller bit error rate for a given transmission range, but at the expense of data transmission rate.

[0031] In another example, the modulation scheme and coding rate for one or both of the audio data and the control data can be set based on the desired range of transmission. In this case, the modulation scheme and coding rate are selected to balance maximizing range while maintaining sufficient data transmission rate. Selecting a more robust modulation scheme and coding rate reduces the transmission range but increases the transmission rate. In either case, a more robust modulation scheme and coding rate is typically selected for the control data than for the audio data so that the physical layer link can be established and maintained even under channel conditions that would result in poor audio channel performance.

[0032] The physical layer channels are then combined into a single RF carrier and transmitted or broadcast to multiple second wireless audio devices 120A-I, which receive both the audio data and the control data in the same signal.

[0033] The second wireless audio devices 120A-I may be computing devices, such as those described in more detail with respect to FIG. 2. In some examples, the second wireless audio devices 120A-I may each include one or more antennas. In some examples, the second wireless audio devices 120A-I may utilize antenna diversity and may use multiple antennas. Antenna diversity may include, for example, using physically separated antennas (i.e., antennas positioned apart in space). It is contemplated and possible for the second wireless audio devices 120A-I to have three or more antennas. The second wireless audio devices 120A-I, in some embodiments, may be portable wireless subscriber devices, such as wireless earphones, wireless conference units, bodypacks, in-ear wireless monitors, microphones, intercom devices, etc.

[0034] In some examples, the second wireless audio device 120A-I may receive audio data and control data transmitted by the first wireless audio device 110. The second wireless audio device 120A-I may then demodulate, convert, and / or process the received RF signals to generate analog or digital output audio signals and control signals. The second wireless audio device 120A-I is also configured to execute various instructions based on the received control data. For example, the second wireless audio device may be configured to modify volume, change encryption, adjust timing, etc.

[0035] In some examples, the first wireless audio device and the one or more second audio devices may be further configured to operate as transceivers. In this case, the one or more second wireless audio devices may be further configured to operate separate physical layer channels for the second audio data and the second control data and to transmit the second audio data and the second control data using a single wideband carrier. The first wireless audio device may then be further configured to receive the second audio data and the second control data and to execute instructions based on the second control data. Thus, if the first wireless audio device is a base station capable of operating as both a transmitter and a receiver and the one or more second wireless audio devices are subscriber devices capable of operating as both a transmitter and a receiver, each device may be configured to operate separate physical layer channels for the audio data and the control data and to transmit both the audio data and the control data using a single wideband carrier.

[0036] 2 shows a simplified block diagram of an example computing device 200, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. One or more of first wireless audio device 110 and second wireless audio devices 120A-I may be computing devices such as computing device 200. In that case, first wireless audio device 110 and / or second wireless audio devices 120A-I may include one or more of the components of computing device 200.

[0037] Computing device 200 may be configured to perform various functions or operations, such as those described in this disclosure (and the accompanying drawings). Computing device 200 may include various components, including, for example, processor 210, memory 220, user interface 230, and communication interface 240, all communicatively coupled by a system bus, network, or other connection mechanism 250. It should be understood that examples disclosed herein may refer to computing devices and / or systems having components that may or may not be physically located in close proximity to one another. Some embodiments may take the form of a cloud-based system or device, and the term “computing device” should be understood to include distributed systems and devices (e.g., cloud-based), as well as software, firmware, and other components configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein. Furthermore, as noted above, one or more features of computing device 200 may be physically remote and still be communicatively coupled to the computing device, for example, via communication interface 240.

[0038] Processor 210 may include a general-purpose processor (e.g., a microphone processor) and / or a special-purpose processor (e.g., a digital signal processor (DSP)). Processor 210 may be any suitable processing device or set of processing devices, such as, but not limited to, a microphone processor, a microphone controller-based platform, an integrated circuit, one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and / or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

[0039] Memory 220 may be volatile memory (e.g., RAM including non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, etc.), non-volatile memory (e.g., disk memory, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM, memristor-based non-volatile solid-state memory, etc.), non-alterable memory (e.g., EPROM), read-only memory, and / or mass storage devices (e.g., hard drives, solid-state drives, etc.). In some examples, memory 220 includes more than one type of memory, particularly volatile and non-volatile memory.

[0040] Memory 220 may be a computer-readable medium in which one or more sets of instructions, such as software for performing the methods of the present disclosure, may be embedded. The instructions may embody one or more of the methods or logic described herein. For example, the instructions may reside, completely or at least partially, within memory 220, any one or more of the computer-readable media, and / or within processor 210 during execution of the instructions.

[0041] The terms "non-transitory computer-readable medium" and "computer-readable medium" include a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database and / or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. Furthermore, the terms "non-transitory computer-readable medium" and "computer-readable medium" include any tangible medium that can store, encode, or carry a set of instructions that are executed by a processor or that cause a system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein. As used herein, the term "computer-readable medium" is expressly defined to include any type of computer-readable storage device and / or storage disk, and to exclude propagating signals.

[0042] The user interface 230 may facilitate interaction with a user of the device. To this end, the user interface 230 may include input components such as a keyboard, keypad, mouse, touch-sensitive panel, microphone, and camera, and output components such as a display screen (e.g., which may be combined with a touch-sensitive panel), sound speakers, and a haptic feedback system. The user interface 230 may also include devices that communicate with the input or output, such as short-range transceivers (RFID, Bluetooth, etc.), telephone interfaces, cellular communication ports, routers, or other types of network interface equipment. The user interface 230 may be internal to the computing device 200 or external and connected wirelessly or via a connecting cable, such as through a Universal Serial Bus port.

[0043] Communications interface 240 may be configured to enable device 200 to communicate with one or more devices (or systems) according to one or more protocols. In one example, communications interface 240 may be a wired interface, such as an Ethernet interface or a high-definition serial digital interface (HD-SDI). As another example, communications interface 240 may be a wireless interface, such as a cellular, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi interface. In some examples, communications interface may include one or more antennas and may be configured to transmit and receive RF signals.

[0044] Data bus 250 may include one or more wires, traces, or other mechanisms for communicatively coupling processor 210, memory 220, user interface 230, and communication interface 240, and / or any other applicable computing device components.

[0045] 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an example frame scheme 300, according to some embodiments. A first wireless audio device 110 (e.g., a wireless base station) may be configured to combine audio data and control data into frames, which are then transmitted or broadcast to a plurality of second wireless audio devices 120A-I (e.g., wireless subscriber devices). Each frame may include a downlink portion and an uplink portion. In some examples, the frame is divided evenly between the downlink and uplink portions. In other examples, the downlink portion is larger (i.e., has a greater data capacity) than the uplink portion, or vice versa.

[0046] The wireless audio system operates according to a frame scheme 300, where frames are repeated in a pattern. For example, scheme 300 includes N frames, where a first frame i, a second frame i+1, and a last frame i+N-1 are shown. The scheme then repeats again from frame i after transmitting frame i+N-1.

[0047] It should be appreciated that the illustrated example of FIG. 3 is just one example provided to illustrate certain features, and that many other examples can be used while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] The exemplary frame scheme shown in FIG. 3 shows that each frame includes multiple slots and capacity for audio data. In one example, each frame of the frame scheme 300 includes a broadcast channel slot 302. The broadcast channel slot 302 includes information used by one or more of the second wireless audio devices 120A-I to access the audio system 100, including the number N of frames in the frame scheme. This allows each second wireless audio device 120A-I to determine when a frame is to be repeated. The broadcast channel slot may also include various other information used by the second wireless audio devices 120A-I to access the audio system 100.

[0049] The frames in the frame scheme 300, in some examples, include one or more slots reserved for a common control channel (e.g., a random access channel 306 and / or a common control channel slot 304). These slots may be shared so that each of the multiple second wireless audio devices 120A-I has access to these slots. The random access channel slot 306 and / or the common control channel slot 304 may be included in all frames of the frame scheme 300 or may be included in only a subset of the frames (e.g., only the first frame of the scheme).

[0050] In some examples, the multiple frames in the frame scheme 300 also include multiple control channel slot pairs. Each control channel slot pair corresponds to one of the multiple second wireless audio devices 120A-I. In the illustrated example, each frame includes M control channel slot pairs. Each control channel slot pair includes a first slot in an uplink portion of the frame and a second slot in a downlink portion of the frame. For example, the first control channel slot pair includes a first slot 308A in the uplink portion of frame i+1 and a second slot 308B in the downlink portion of frame i+1.

[0051] In the illustrated example, the frame scheme 300 includes N frames. Each of the N frames may include M channel slot pairs. Thus, the frame scheme 300 may support M×N separate second wireless audio devices, although one or more of the N frames may include shared slots (e.g., the common control channel 304 and / or the random access channel 306), reducing the total number of supported second wireless audio devices.

[0052] In some examples, the parameters N (i.e., the number of frames in a frame scheme) and M (i.e., the number of control channel slot pairs in a given frame) are selected by a user at configuration time. That is, these parameters can be changed based on the requirements of the environment in which they are used and can be optionally modified to ensure that latency, audio data throughput, and other desired operating characteristics are met. The selected values ​​of M and N can be based on the desired maximum number of audio channels needed while still meeting system requirements for control channel bit rate and latency. For example, if fewer wireless subscriber devices are needed, M can be decreased to reduce control channel latency. Alternatively, if more wireless subscriber devices are used, the latency can be increased to accommodate the additional wireless subscriber devices while maintaining the audio data bit rate.

[0053] In some examples, each second wireless audio device receives control information specific to that device in only one of the total N frames, where the larger the number N of frames in the frame scheme, the longer the delay (i.e., latency) between frames containing control data for a given second wireless audio device.

[0054] Alternatively, if fewer frames N are used but the number M of control channel-pair slots is included in each frame, the capacity available for audio data in each frame will be less. Thus, a shorter control latency will result in a smaller audio data bit rate. In this case, a balance must be struck between increasing latency (i.e., adding additional frames N) so that less overhead is present in a given frame (i.e., a smaller M of control channel-pair slots).

[0055] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Method 400 may enable a wireless audio system to use low-overhead in-band control data transmission along with audio data, without the limitations of existing techniques for transmitting audio and control data. Method 400 details a network entry process for a wireless subscriber device to join the system. The flowchart of FIG. 4 represents machine-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., memory 220), which may include one or more programs that, when executed by a processor (e.g., processor 210), can cause computing device 200 and / or one or more systems or devices to perform one or more functions described herein. Although the example program is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 4, many other methods for implementing the functions described herein may instead be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be rearranged or performed sequentially or in parallel with each other, and blocks may be modified, eliminated, and / or combined to implement method 400. Furthermore, because method 400 is disclosed in conjunction with the components of FIGS. 1-3, the functionality of some of those components will not be described in detail below.

[0056] The method 400 may begin at block 402. At block 404, the method 400 includes synchronizing to the system frequency and timing by the wireless subscriber device attempting network entry into the audio system.

[0057] At block 406, the method 400 includes decoding a broadcast channel (e.g., BCH 302 of FIG. 3). The decoded BCH information allows the wireless subscriber device to determine the value of N, i.e., the number of frames N in the frame scheme. This allows the wireless subscriber device to determine when the next repeating frame occurs.

[0058] At block 408, the method 400 includes sending a random access channel (RACH) request in a slot allocated for random access (e.g., slot 306 of FIG. 3). The RACH request includes a request for allocation of a dedicated control channel pair to be associated with the wireless subscriber device.

[0059] At block 410, the method 400 includes the wireless subscriber device monitoring a common control channel (CCCH) slot for a RACH response.

[0060] At block 412, the method 400 includes determining whether a response is received on the CCCH. If a response is not received, the method 400 includes delaying for an optional period of time at block 414. The method 400 then returns to block 408, where a new RACH request is sent by the wireless subscriber device.

[0061] If a RACH response is received by the wireless subscriber device at block 412, the method 400 proceeds to block 416. At block 416, the wireless subscriber device obtains a dedicated control channel pair assignment (e.g., slots 308A and 308B of FIG. 3) based on the RACH response.

[0062] At block 418, the method 400 then includes the wireless subscriber device performing one or more actions, such as requesting bandwidth, using the dedicated control channel pair.

[0063] The method 400 then ends at block 420 .

[0064] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of an example method 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Method 500 may enable a wireless audio system to use low-overhead in-band control data transmission along with audio data, without the limitations of existing techniques for transmitting audio data and control data. Method 500 details a method for transmitting both audio data and control data from a wireless base station to a wireless subscriber device. The flowchart of FIG. 5 represents machine-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., memory 220), which may include one or more programs that, when executed by a processor (e.g., processor 210), can cause computing device 200 and / or one or more systems or devices to perform one or more functions described herein. Although the example program is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 5, many other ways of implementing the functions described herein may instead be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be rearranged or performed sequentially or in parallel with each other, and blocks may be modified, eliminated, and / or combined to implement method 500. Furthermore, because the method 500 is disclosed in conjunction with the components of FIGS. 1-3, the functionality of some of those components will not be described in detail below.

[0065] Method 500 begins at block 502. At block 504, method 500 includes operating a first physical layer channel for audio data. At block 506, method 500 includes operating a second physical layer channel for control data. The control data and audio data may have separate physical layer channels, and the control data may correspond to the audio data (i.e., include instructions to change playback volume, timing, etc., of the wireless subscriber device).

[0066] At block 508, the method 500 includes transmitting the audio data and the control data from separate physical layers using a single wideband carrier. At block 510, the method 500 includes the wireless subscriber device receiving the combined audio data and control data. The wireless subscriber device can then decode and / or process the received data to determine if there is a command included in the data. At block 512, the method 500 includes the wireless subscriber device executing a command (e.g., change volume) based on the received control data. The method 500 then ends at block 514.

[0067] Any process description or block in the figures should be understood to represent a module, segment, or portion of code that contains one or more executable instructions for implementing a particular logical function or step in the process, and as will be understood by those skilled in the art, the scope of the embodiments of the present invention includes alternative implementations in which functions may be performed in a different order than that shown or discussed, such as substantially simultaneously or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved.

[0068] The present disclosure is intended to describe how to make and use various embodiments in accordance with the technology, but is not intended to limit the true intended fair scope and spirit of the present invention. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain the principles and practical applications of the described technology and to enable those skilled in the art to utilize the technology in various embodiments with various modifications suited to the particular uses contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the embodiments, as determined by the appended claims (as they may be amended during the pendency of this patent application) and any equivalents thereof, when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. a first wireless audio device; operating separate physical layer channels for audio data and control data; a first wireless audio device configured to transmit the audio data and control data using a single wideband carrier; and one or more second wireless audio devices; receiving the audio data and control data; one or more second wireless audio devices configured to execute instructions based on the control data; and An audio system equipped with.

2. the one or more second wireless audio devices; operating separate physical layer channels for the second audio data and the second control data; further configured to transmit the second audio data and the second control data using a single wideband carrier; the first wireless audio device receiving the second audio data and second control data; further configured to execute instructions based on the second control data.

10. The audio system of claim 1.

3. 10. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless audio device is a base station and the one or more second wireless audio devices include one or more subscriber devices.

4. The audio system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless audio device is further configured to use different modulation schemes for the audio data and the control data.

5. The audio system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless audio device is further configured to use different coding rates for the audio data and the control data.

6. 10. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless audio device is further configured to determine different modulation schemes or coding rates for the audio data and the control data based on a desired bit error rate.

7. 10. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless audio device is further configured to combine the audio data and the control data into frames, each frame including a downlink portion and an uplink portion, and wherein the first wireless audio device operates using a frame scheme that repeats every N frames.

8. 8. The audio system of claim 7, wherein the frames of the frame scheme are organized such that each frame in the frame scheme includes a broadcast channel slot.

9. 9. The audio system of claim 8, wherein the broadcast channel slot contains information used by the one or more second wireless audio devices to access the audio system, including the number N of frames in the frame scheme.

10. 8. The audio system of claim 7, wherein one or more of the N frames of the frame scheme include M control channel slot pairs, a first slot of a given control channel slot pair being included in the downlink portion of the given frame, and a second slot of the control channel slot pair being included in the uplink portion of the frame.

11. 11. The audio system of claim 10, wherein each of the one or more second wireless audio devices is assigned one control channel slot pair.

12. 1. A wireless base station for an audio system, comprising: a processor, operating a first physical layer channel using audio data; a processor configured to operate a second physical layer channel using the control data; and an antenna configured to transmit the audio data and control data using a single wideband carrier; and A wireless base station comprising:

13. The wireless base station of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to use different modulation schemes for the audio data and the control data.

14. The wireless base station of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to use different coding rates for the audio data and the control data.

15. 13. The wireless base station of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to combine the audio data and the control data into frames, each frame including a downlink portion and an uplink portion, and wherein the processor operates using a frame scheme that repeats every N frames.

16. 16. The wireless base station of claim 15, wherein the frames of the frame scheme are organized such that each frame in the frame scheme includes a broadcast channel slot.

17. 17. The wireless base station of claim 16, wherein the broadcast channel slot contains information used by one or more subscriber devices to access the audio and control data, including the number N of frames in the frame scheme.

18. 16. The wireless base station of claim 15, wherein one or more of the N frames of the frame scheme include M control channel slot pairs, a first slot of a given control channel slot pair being included in the downlink portion of a given frame and a second slot of the control channel slot pair being included in the uplink portion of the frame.

19. 20. The wireless base station of claim 18, wherein the wireless base station is configured to communicate with one or more subscriber devices, each of the one or more subscriber devices being assigned one control channel slot pair.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, operating a first physical layer channel using audio data to be transmitted to a wireless subscriber device; operating a second physical layer channel using control data to be transmitted to said wireless subscriber device; controlling an antenna to transmit said audio data and control data using a single wideband carrier; a non-transitory computer-readable memory configured to cause a set of operations to be performed, the set including:

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