Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast Assistant Pairing Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing assistive listening systems for educational settings face challenges in efficiently connecting hearing devices from different brands to the correct audio source, particularly in environments where multiple classrooms share a broadcast microphone, and require convenient operation while managing limited storage for pairing entries.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system with a common Bluetooth identity for Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast Assistant devices, allowing each audio receiver device to pair once with a Broadcast Assistant and sharing pairing information among all devices, enabling seamless connection to any audio source without customizations, using a common Identity Resolving Key or public Bluetooth address, and employing proximity detection to register devices within a specific zone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If each audio receiver device pairs with multiple Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast Assistant devices, then the device can connect to any audio source, but the pairing procedure must be repeated and storage capacity is quickly exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to connect to any audio sourceVSAvoidpairing table capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal pairing mechanism where the first Broadcast Assistant device serves multiple functions: it pairs with the audio receiver device, obtains pairing information, and then transmits this information to second Broadcast Assistant devices. This allows the audio receiver device to connect to any audio source through any Broadcast Assistant device without requiring multiple separate pairing procedures, thus preserving pairing table capacity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If hearing devices are required to pair with multiple broadcast assistant devices, then connectivity flexibility is improved, but user burden increases due to repeated pairing procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity flexibilityVSAvoidpairing procedure burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the first Broadcast Assistant device obtain and transmit pairing information to second Broadcast Assistant devices before the audio receiver device needs to connect to them. This pre-prepared pairing information eliminates the need for users to repeatedly perform pairing procedures, significantly reducing operational burden while maintaining connectivity flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The first Broadcast Assistant device acts as an intermediary that facilitates the pairing process. It pairs with the audio receiver device, extracts pairing information, and transmits this information to second Broadcast Assistant devices. This intermediary role automates the pairing process, eliminating the need for user intervention in repeated pairing procedures while maintaining the ability to connect to multiple audio sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Length of moving object

If Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast Assistant devices use individual identities, then device individuality is maintained, but pairing information cannot be shared among devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice identity uniquenessVSAvoidpairing information sharing
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the identity system into two parts: a common identifier that all Broadcast Assistant devices share (enabling pairing information sharing) and device-specific identifiers that maintain individuality when needed. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve information sharing and device individuality through different identifier types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4358563A1Method and system for transmitting audio signals
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 SONOVA AG
  • EP4358563A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4358563A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4358563A1 patent drawing

AI summary

There is provided a method of providing assistive listening to a plurality of users (30) of audio receiver devices (10) configured to receive broadcast Bluetooth LE Audio streams (60), comprising: providing a plurality of audio source devices (50) configured to broadcast Bluetooth LE Audio streams and a plurality of Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast Assistant devices (20); providing the Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast Assistant devices with a common Bluetooth identity; pairing or bonding each audio receiver device with one of the Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast Assistant devices to obtain pairing or bonding information; sharing all pairing or bonding information concerning each audio receiver device that has been obtained by any of the Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast Assistant devices among the Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast Assistant devices; and using one of the Bluetooth LE Audio Broadcast Assistant devices for directing at least one of the audio receiver devices to one of the audio source devices for enabling the audio receiver device to receive a broadcast Bluetooth LE Audio stream from said one of the audio source devices in an audio session.