Low Energy Audio Streaming via BLE Packet Fragmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable end user devices have limited energy sources, necessitating energy-efficient communication methods to extend their operational life, particularly in audio communication systems where existing technologies do not effectively manage energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing low energy audio streaming using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication between end user devices and intermediate communication devices, where audio data is transmitted as cyclically updated BLE characteristics, assembled into packets, and processed for efficient transmission and reception, allowing for secure and energy-efficient audio data transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If traditional audio communication methods are used in portable end user devices, then audio quality and communication functionality are maintained, but energy consumption increases and operational life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational lifeVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments audio data transmission into discrete packets that are cyclically updated and transmitted through BLE characteristics. Each characteristic update contains a portion of the audio data, allowing the system to transmit audio information in manageable segments rather than continuous streams, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining audio quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic action by cyclically updating and transmitting BLE characteristics at specific intervals. Audio data is packaged into packets and transmitted in periodic cycles through the communication device, enabling efficient use of the BLE radio by keeping it active only when data needs to be transmitted, thus extending operational life of the portable device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If audio data is transmitted continuously to maintain real-time communication, then communication quality is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Audio data is divided into discrete packets that are transmitted cyclically through BLE characteristics. Each packet contains a specific portion of the audio stream, allowing the system to maintain real-time communication quality while transmitting only when necessary, rather than maintaining continuous data flow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmission parameters by using BLE characteristic updates with specific cycle intervals and packet structures. By adjusting the cycling frequency and packet size, the system optimizes the balance between communication quality and energy consumption, transmitting audio data reliably while minimizing radio activation time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3779917B1Low energy audio streaming
Publication Date: 2022.11.09 ORION LABS
  • EP3779917B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3779917B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3779917B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, software and apparatus enable low energy communication of audio data between an end user device and an associated intermediate communication device. Audio data is transmitted between the end user source device and associated intermediate communication device by cyclical updating and low energy transmission of data values as audio data packet fragments representing the audio data, which are assembled into audio data packets by the associated intermediate communication device. Packaged audio data is transmitted from one intermediate communication device to another intermediate communication device that is associated with an end user sink device. The end user sink device's associated intermediate communication device unpacks and transmits audio data packet fragments to the end user sink device by cyclical updating of and low energy transmission of data values as audio data packet fragments representing the audio data that are converted into acoustic signals.