Hearing Aid Bit-Error Concealment for Low-Power Wireless Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aids face challenges in receiving wireless audio signals due to limited processing power and battery capacity, leading to bit-errors and audible artefacts, as forward error-correcting codes are not viable, and existing error-checks are power-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A method for hearing aids that performs an error check on audio frames, determines difference values between expected and observed histogram values, and enables rendering only if a fitness value satisfies a criterion, allowing frames with tolerable bit-errors to be rendered, while falling back to packet loss concealment for frames with excessive errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If forward error-correcting codes (FEC) are implemented to correct bit-errors, then audio quality is improved, but processing power and battery consumption become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial error correction by using CRC to identify erroneous frames and then selectively applying histogram-based correction only to suspected error regions rather than implementing full FEC on all audio data. This partial approach corrects enough errors to maintain audio quality while avoiding the excessive processing power requirements of complete FEC implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses lightweight, computationally inexpensive error detection (CRC) and correction (histogram analysis) methods that can be applied quickly to individual audio frames without requiring complex, power-intensive FEC algorithms. These simple error handling mechanisms are applied frame-by-frame rather than requiring sustained high-power processing.
2Reliability
If error-check mechanisms are performed on all audio frames, then bit-errors are detected, but battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs error checking selectively rather than on every frame. CRC error detection is applied to identify frames with errors, and then histogram-based correction is applied only to frames that fail the CRC check or show suspicious patterns, rather than processing every single frame through full error checking and correction procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The histogram-based correction mechanism uses the statistical properties of the audio data itself to identify and correct errors without requiring additional complex error correction codes or external reference data. The system serves its own error correction needs using the inherent structure of the audio signal and simple histogram analysis.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If all audio frames are rendered regardless of errors, then audio continuity is maintained, but audible artefacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of bit-errors into a beneficial outcome by using histogram analysis to detect erroneous frames and apply targeted correction. Frames that fail CRC checks or show abnormal histograms are identified and corrected using the statistical expected values, transforming what would be audible artefacts into corrected audio that maintains continuity without degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares expected histogram values in advance for different audio conditions and uses these pre-computed references to quickly assess whether received frames contain errors. This beforehand preparation allows the system to rapidly identify and correct errors without introducing audible artefacts, cushioning against the potential harm of error-induced degradation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, at a hearing aid, including receiving a wireless signal including a succession of frames including a first frame including first encoded audio samples and determining a first codec, performing an error check based on the first frame, and in accordance with a determination that the first frame fails to pass the error check, performing a test.