Hearing Device Diversity Scheme for Stereo Audio Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication between hearing devices and audio sources in the 2.4 GHz ISM band faces challenges due to body shadowing and power asymmetry, leading to errors and signal degradations, which can result in interruptions and unreliable stereo audio streams.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a diversity scheme that suspends the transmission of acknowledgment packets by a secondary hearing device until the primary device receives confirmation of a signaling packet, ensuring that only one device transmits ACK packets, thereby increasing the probability of correct acknowledgment receipt and reducing signal distortions and bandwidth usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both hearing devices transmit acknowledgment packets simultaneously in a diversity scheme, then the probability of correct acknowledgment receipt increases, but signal interference and communication reliability deteriorate due to power asymmetry and body shadowing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designating one hearing device as primary and another as secondary, creating an asymmetric acknowledgment transmission scheme. The primary device transmits acknowledgments while the secondary device suspends acknowledgment transmission, eliminating the interference that would occur if both devices transmitted simultaneously. This asymmetric approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through the primary device while preventing harmful signal interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the secondary hearing device suspend acknowledgment transmission in advance before interference occurs. The secondary device proactively stops transmitting acknowledgments when operating in diversity mode with another device, preventing the harmful interference from occurring in the first place. This preliminary suspension of action resolves the contradiction between potential reliability benefits and actual signal interference.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the secondary hearing device eavesdrops on the audio stream, then stereo audio capability is achieved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to body shadowing and power asymmetry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the stereo audio reception function between two hearing devices. One device (primary) maintains the official Bluetooth connection with the audio source, while the other device (secondary) eavesdrops on the audio stream to provide stereo capability. This segmentation allows each device to have a specialized role, with the primary device ensuring reliable communication and the secondary device providing stereo versatility through eavesdropping.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary hearing device acts as an intermediary between the audio source and the secondary hearing device. The primary device receives audio packets reliably through its official connection and can forward or coordinate with the secondary device that is eavesdropping. This intermediary role resolves the contradiction by ensuring that at least one device maintains reliable communication while enabling stereo capability through the eavesdropping secondary device.
3Use of energy by moving object
If hearing devices transmit with low power to meet battery requirements, then energy consumption is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates due to power asymmetry with the audio source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the acknowledgment transmission function of both hearing devices into a coordinated system. Instead of each device independently transmitting acknowledgments (which would waste energy and cause interference), the system merges their functions so that the primary device handles acknowledgment transmission while the secondary device suspends this function. This merging reduces total energy consumption while maintaining reliability through the primary device's acknowledgments.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary hearing device creates a copy of the audio stream by eavesdropping on the Bluetooth transmission, rather than requiring a separate high-power connection. This copying approach allows the secondary device to obtain audio content with minimal power consumption, while the primary device maintains the official low-power connection for reliable acknowledgment transmission. The copying mechanism resolves the contradiction between low power usage and reliable communication.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology generally relates to wireless communication. More specifically, the disclosed technology relates to activating and suspending diversity in transmission and reception of packets for hearing devices that are streaming audio information from a wireless communication device. For example, when a first hearing device is waiting for an acknowledgment of a signaling packet, the disclosed technology can suspend the transmission of acknowledgement packets in response to correctly received audio packets by a second hearing device until the first hearing device has successfully received an acknowledgment of the signaling packet. The disclosed technology also includes a policy that ensures correct sequence numbers are used in a packet header after diversity is resumed.