Wireless Audio Transmission In-Band Control Data Merging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless audio systems face challenges in minimizing power consumption overhead and delay in control data transmission, as existing methods either introduce significant delay or high power consumption overhead when transmitting control data alongside audio data.
Innovation Solution
The system replaces part of the audio data with control data blocks, using markers for recognition by the receiver and employs masking techniques such as beep signals or packet loss concealment algorithms to compensate for temporary audio data absence, while ensuring redundant audio packet transmission to maintain audio continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control data is transmitted in separate digital streams (out-of-band), then control data transmission is reliable, but power consumption overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges control data and audio data into a single digital stream for transmission. Control data is embedded within the audio data stream using in-band transmission, where control commands are inserted into the audio bitstream at specific time positions. This eliminates the need for separate control channels, thereby reducing power consumption overhead while maintaining transmission reliability through the unified stream approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio data stream serves dual purposes: it carries both audio information and control data. The system uses the existing audio transmission infrastructure to convey control commands, making the audio stream universal for both media types. This multi-functionality approach allows control data to be transmitted without requiring additional dedicated power-consuming channels.
2Reliability
If control data is transmitted using dedicated control packets (out-of-band), then control commands are clearly delimited, but transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines control data transmission with audio data transmission in the same time-multiplexed stream. Control commands are inserted into the audio bitstream at predetermined time positions, allowing control data to be transmitted concurrently with audio data rather than in separate dedicated packets. This merging approach reduces transmission delay while maintaining clear delimitation through time-position encoding and synchronization mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-allocates specific time positions within the audio stream for control data insertion. By preparing the audio stream with predetermined control data positions before transmission, the system eliminates the need for separate control packet processing and reduces overall transmission delay. The receiver can expect control data at known time positions, enabling efficient extraction without waiting for dedicated control packets.
3Reliability
If audio data is continuously transmitted, then audio quality is maintained, but power consumption increases when control data is also transmitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges control data transmission into the existing audio data stream, eliminating the need for separate control transmission that would consume additional power. By embedding control commands within the audio bitstream at specific time positions, the system maintains continuous audio transmission for quality while avoiding the extra power consumption associated with parallel control channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio transmission system is designed to handle both audio data and control data through a single channel. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain continuous audio transmission for quality assurance while using the same channel for control data, thereby avoiding the additional power consumption that would result from dedicated control transmission paths.
Data Source
AI summary
Method for providing sound to at least one user, involves supplying audio signals from an audio signal source to a transmission unit; compressing the audio signals to generate compressed audio data; transmitting compressed audio data from the transmission unit to at least one receiver unit; decompressing the compressed audio data to generate decompressed audio signals; and stimulating the hearing of the user(s) according to decompressed audio signals supplied from the receiver unit. During certain time periods, transmission of compressed audio data is interrupted, and instead, at least one control data block is generated by the transmission unit in such a manner that audio data transmission is replaced by control data block transmission, thereby temporarily interrupting flow of received compressed audio data, each control data block includes a marker recognized by the at least one receiver unit as a control data block and a command for control of the receiver unit.