Binaural Hearing Device Synchronized Audio Rendering Coordination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional binaural hearing systems experience poor and disjointed user experiences due to independent monitoring of signal quality measures by each hearing device, leading to asynchronous entry and exit from wireless audio rendering mode, causing binaural artefacts.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where only one hearing device monitors the wireless signal from the remote audio source, coordinating both devices to enter and exit the wireless audio rendering mode synchronously based on signal quality thresholds, reducing resource consumption and ensuring a unified audio experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If each hearing device independently monitors signal quality measures, then the system can detect signal quality at both devices, but the devices enter and exit wireless audio rendering mode at different times causing binaural artefacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the independent monitoring functions of both hearing devices into a coordinated system. The first hearing device monitors the wireless signal and determines when to enter wireless audio rendering mode, then communicates this decision to the second hearing device. Both devices enter and exit the rendering mode simultaneously based on the first device's determination, ensuring synchronized operation and eliminating binaural artefacts while maintaining accurate signal quality detection.
2Measurement precision
If both hearing devices monitor the wireless signal independently, then signal quality can be assessed at each device, but resource consumption increases and coordination becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal monitoring and decision-making function from the second hearing device and consolidates it in the first hearing device. The first device performs the signal quality assessment and determines when to enter wireless audio rendering mode, then communicates this determination to the second device. This extraction eliminates the complexity of coordinating independent monitoring while maintaining comprehensive signal quality assessment capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If hearing devices operate independently in wireless audio rendering mode, then each device can optimize its own operation, but the user experiences disjointed and unnatural audio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the first hearing device determines when to enter wireless audio rendering mode based on signal quality, communicates this determination to the second device, and both devices synchronize their operation accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that both devices operate in a coordinated manner, providing a unified and natural audio experience while maintaining the ability of each device to function independently when not in synchronized rendering mode.
Data Source
AI summary
A binaural hearing system includes first and second hearing devices communicatively coupled by way of a binaural communication link. The first hearing device determines that a signal quality measure of a wireless signal transmitted by the remote audio source is greater than an upper threshold level. In response, both hearing devices enter a wireless audio rendering mode in which they render a remote audio stream from the remote audio source to a user. While operating in the wireless audio rendering mode, both hearing devices determine that a signal quality measure of the remote audio stream drops below a lower threshold level. In response to this determination, both hearing devices exit the wireless audio rendering mode.