DCF Audio Relay for Multi-Device BLE Playback

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication technologies, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), limit the number of audio devices that can simultaneously stream audio data from a computing device to two, preventing simultaneous playback across more than two wireless audio devices or a combination of wired and wireless devices.

Innovation Solution

Employing a distributed context fabriq (DCF) protocol over a wireless channel, such as a Bluetooth channel, to enable simultaneous streaming of audio data from a computing device to multiple audio devices, including both wired and wireless earbuds, for simultaneous playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is used for wireless audio streaming, then power consumption is reduced, but the number of audio devices that can simultaneously stream audio data is limited to two

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnumber of simultaneously streaming audio devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the audio streaming function across multiple independent computing devices, where each device can independently stream audio to its own audio devices via BLE. This allows the first computing device to stream to a first audio device while a second computing device streams to a second audio device, effectively bypassing the two-device limitation while maintaining low power consumption through BLE technology.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple computing devices act as intermediaries in the audio streaming architecture. Each computing device receives audio data from a source and relays it to its associated audio device via BLE. This intermediary approach enables simultaneous streaming to multiple audio devices by distributing the streaming function across multiple computing devices rather than requiring a single device to handle all connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single computing device streams audio to multiple audio devices, then simultaneous playback across multiple devices is achieved, but the system exceeds the two-device connection limit of Bluetooth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of simultaneously streaming audio devicesVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the multi-device audio streaming task into separate one-to-one connections. Instead of requiring a single computing device to maintain multiple simultaneous Bluetooth connections (which exceeds the two-device limit), the system segments the function so that each computing device maintains a single stable connection to its own audio device, ensuring connection reliability while achieving simultaneous playback across multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If wireless Bluetooth communication is used for audio streaming, then wireless freedom is achieved, but the number of simultaneous connections is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless operationVSAvoidnumber of simultaneously connected audio devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the wireless audio streaming function across multiple computing devices, where each device independently establishes its own wireless Bluetooth connection to its associated audio device. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the ease of wireless operation while overcoming the two-device connection limit by distributing connections across multiple computing devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple computing devices are utilized to provide universal audio streaming capability. Each computing device performs the same audio streaming function to its own audio device, and collectively they provide simultaneous wireless audio playback across multiple devices, effectively multiplying the system's adaptability while maintaining wireless operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250280221A1Audio relay across multiple devices

Publication Date: 2025.09.04 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Systems and techniques are described herein for processing audio data. For example, a first computing device can include receive audio data from a second computing device via a communications protocol over a wireless channel. The first computing device can output, to a first audio device associated with the first computing device, the audio data for playing the audio data. The audio data is played simultaneously on the first audio device associated with the first computing device and on a second audio device associated with the second computing device.