Audio Frame Buffering for Bluetooth Packet Loss Resilience

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices face disconnection issues when transmitting audio data using Bluetooth or BLE specifications, as they cannot separately buffer audio data due to the fixed frame length matching the transmission cycle, leading to disconnection upon packet loss.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device includes a processor and memory to receive and store audio frames, allowing for the output of audio signals based on received frames and buffering subsequent frames for seamless playback even if packets are lost, utilizing a specified codec to generate frames corresponding to connection intervals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If audio data is transmitted using fixed frame length matching transmission cycle, then real-time playback is achieved, but buffer capability is lost and disconnection occurs upon packet loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time playback speedVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by buffering audio frames in advance before they are needed for playback. The receiver stores received audio frames in a buffer, preparing them ahead of time, so that if packet loss occurs, the buffered frames can be used to maintain playback continuity and prevent disconnection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If audio frames are buffered in advance, then robustness against packet loss is improved, but transmission delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobustness against packet lossVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by buffering only a limited number of audio frames (not all frames indefinitely). The buffer holds a specific quantity of frames received in advance, providing robustness against packet loss while limiting the buffer size to minimize transmission delay and avoid excessive latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If data packets are transmitted at specified intervals, then communication protocol compliance is achieved, but traffic margin is reduced and retransmission capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidretransmission capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by creating a traffic margin through the buffering mechanism. The buffer acts as a cushion that absorbs the impact of packet loss, providing a margin of tolerance that enables retransmission capability without violating the specified transmission intervals, thus maintaining protocol compliance while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3895163B1Method for processing audio data and electronic device therefor
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3895163B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3895163B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3895163B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is an electronic device including a speaker, a communication circuit, a processor, and a memory. The processor is configured to receive first data including a first audio frame corresponding to a first interval and a second audio frame corresponding to a second interval subsequent to the first interval, using the communication circuit, to store the second audio frame in the memory in response to reception of the first data, to output a first audio signal generated based on the first audio frame, through the speaker, and to store the third audio frame in the memory and output a second audio signal generated based on the second audio frame of the second data through the speaker when second data including the second audio frame and a third audio frame corresponding to a third interval subsequent to the second interval is received using the communication circuit.