Wireless Stereo Headset Bidirectional Diversity Protocol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Truly wireless stereo headsets face challenges in maintaining robust radio performance, especially in outdoor environments where Non-Line-of-Sight propagation conditions and human tissue attenuation hinder signal transmission between the headset and the host device.
Innovation Solution
A communication protocol that establishes bidirectional wireless communication channels between a host device and both ear pieces of a wireless stereo headset, as well as a communication path between the two ear pieces, allowing for the exchange of operating parameters and the monitoring of each other's channels to achieve path diversity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If truly wireless stereo headsets use a single radio transceiver in one ear piece for communication with the host device, then device complexity is reduced, but radio performance reliability deteriorates in outdoor environments with Non-Line-of-Sight propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the communication function by assigning separate radio transceivers to both ear pieces. Instead of having one ear piece handle all communication with the host device, each ear piece has its own transceiver, allowing independent communication paths. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing the communication load and creating redundant paths, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the radio transceivers by enabling each ear piece to operate as an independent communication node. The transceivers can be activated or deactivated based on propagation conditions, and the system dynamically adjusts which ear piece communicates with the host device. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to outdoor environments with Non-Line-of-Sight propagation, improving reliability while maintaining manageable device complexity.
2Device complexity
If the host device communicates wirelessly with only one ear piece, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability worsens due to signal attenuation through human tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication path between the two ear pieces. When one ear piece experiences poor propagation conditions (e.g., blocked by the user's body), the other ear piece can act as an intermediary by receiving the signal from the host device and forwarding it to the affected ear piece via a secondary communication link. This intermediary mechanism improves communication reliability without requiring the host device to maintain complex simultaneous connections with both ear pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic role assignment where the primary communicating ear piece can switch based on propagation conditions. The system continuously monitors signal quality and dynamically determines which ear piece should maintain the primary communication link with the host device. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to overcome signal attenuation issues in outdoor environments while keeping the communication architecture relatively simple.
3Ease of manufacture
If truly wireless headsets use RF-based ear-to-ear communication, then product integration is improved, but propagation challenges persist in outdoor environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the radio transceivers universal by enabling them to perform multiple functions: direct communication with the host device, peer-to-peer communication between ear pieces, and adaptive switching between different communication modes. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware components to address both the integration benefits and the propagation challenges, as the transceivers can operate in optimal modes depending on the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary establishment of alternative communication paths between ear pieces. Before primary communication fails due to propagation issues, the system pre-configures backup paths through the other ear piece. This preliminary action ensures that when outdoor propagation challenges arise, the communication can seamlessly transition to the pre-established alternative path, maintaining reliability while leveraging the integrated RF architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication protocol provides diversity in UL and DL between a headset and a host device that transmits right and left audio data on separate channels. Each ear piece establishes an independent channel to the host device, and there is another channel between them. Each ear piece monitors not only its own channel to the host, but also the other ear piece's channel to the host. One ear piece may acknowledge the host device for a correctly received packet, which the other ear piece missed, on the other ear piece's channel to the host device, avoiding retransmissions. The eavesdropped data is provided to the other ear piece on the shared channel, providing for path diversity in DL. The ear pieces may exchange picked-up voice content to send to the host device, providing for path diversity in UL.