Assistive Listening Device Multilingual Audio Stream Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing assistive listening systems often broadcast only one language at a time, requiring multiple systems for multilingual contexts, and face challenges with wireless channel overcrowding due to simultaneous audio streams.

Innovation Solution

The system includes assistive listening devices and audio communication devices that can configure and select appropriate audio streams based on user preferences, hearing requirements, and authorization status, while optimizing bandwidth usage to accommodate multiple languages and improve audio quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple audio streams are broadcast simultaneously for different languages, then multilingual support is improved, but wireless channel overcrowding worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultilingual supportVSAvoidwireless channel overcrowding

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the audio streaming service into multiple simultaneous audio streams, each dedicated to a specific language. The system divides the broadcast content into separate language tracks (e.g., English, Spanish, French) that can be independently selected by users based on their language preferences, thereby achieving multilingual support without requiring separate physical systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal assistive listening system that can simultaneously serve multiple language groups through a single infrastructure. The system is designed to handle multiple audio streams concurrently, allowing one system to perform the function of multiple single-language systems, thus achieving multilingual capability while optimizing bandwidth utilization through shared transmission resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If a single system supports multiple languages, then system complexity is reduced, but bandwidth management difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structureVSAvoidbandwidth management

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors language preference selections from users and adjusts audio stream allocation accordingly. The system receives feedback about which languages are currently needed and dynamically manages bandwidth allocation to prioritize active language streams, optimizing resource utilization based on real-time demand patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of audio stream configuration by allowing dynamic selection of language preferences. Instead of fixed single-language broadcasts, the system adjusts its output parameters to match user preferences, enabling flexible bandwidth allocation where transmission resources are allocated based on the number of users selecting each language, thereby simplifying management through parameter-based control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If audio streams are optimized for quality, then listening experience is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio qualityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting only the specific language streams that are currently needed by users, rather than broadcasting all possible language streams continuously. The system transmits audio at optimized quality levels for active streams while reducing or eliminating transmission for inactive language streams, thereby maintaining high audio quality for selected languages while reducing overall bandwidth consumption through selective transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12256199B2Assistive listening device systems, devices and methods for providing audio streams within sound fields

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 STARKEY LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

Embodiments herein relate to assistive listening devices and systems for providing audio streams to device wearers within sound fields. In an embodiment an assistive listening device is included having a control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a communications circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The control circuit can be configured to issue a communication to an audio communication device or audio provisioning device including at least one of a language preference, a set of hearing requirements, data regarding a presentation delay, and an authorization status identifier, digital code, digital token, or digital key specific to a wearer of the assistive listening device. Other embodiments are also included herein.