Low-Latency Audio Transmission via LTE Subframe Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless microphone systems experience significant latency issues in audio transmission, exceeding 4 ms, which disrupts lip synchronization and causes comb filter effects, especially in live performances, due to the limitations of proprietary radio communication systems and the inefficiencies of standard mobile communication networks like LTE.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize the LTE network to achieve low-latency audio transmission by allowing the wireless microphone and receiver to share the same base station, enabling direct access to the uplink data and encoding audio data in shorter frames, thereby reducing processing time and latency, while maintaining compatibility with mobile communication standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If proprietary radio communication systems are used for wireless microphone transmission, then transmission latency can be reduced below 4 ms, but system complexity and cost increase due to specialized hardware development
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes mobile communication networks (designed for general-purpose data transmission) perform the specialized function of low-latency audio transmission by configuring them with specific parameters such as short transmission time intervals, reduced processing blocks, and optimized buffering, thereby eliminating the need for proprietary hardware while achieving sub-4ms latency
2Ease of operation
If standard mobile communication networks like LTE are used for audio transmission, then system compatibility and ease of operation improve, but transmission latency exceeds 4 ms causing lip synchronization issues and comb filter effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes key parameters of the LTE network including transmission time interval (TTI) duration, processing block sizes, buffering configurations, and scheduling intervals to optimize for low-latency audio transmission while maintaining compatibility with standard mobile communication infrastructure
3Adaptability or versatility
If audio data is transmitted through the base station using standard LTE protocols, then network compatibility is maintained, but processing time and latency increase due to block-based encoding and decoding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional LTE transmission frame structure into smaller subframes with reduced processing blocks, allowing audio data to be encoded and decoded in smaller units that can be processed more quickly while still maintaining compatibility with the overall LTE protocol framework
4Reliability
If frequency coordination is performed for wireless microphone systems, then transmission reliability improves, but setup time and operational flexibility decrease especially in spontaneous uses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables wireless microphone systems to automatically operate within existing mobile communication network frequency allocations without requiring manual frequency coordination or licensing, as the network infrastructure already provides organized spectrum management for general use
Data Source
AI summary
A method of low-latency audio transmission in a mobile communications network utilizing first data frames or subframes encoded according to a first format and shorter second data frames encoded in another second format for audio data. An audio transmission system includes a terminal, a base station, and an audio receiver. The terminal transmits via an uplink audio data that are encoded in the second format and other data that are encoded in the first format. The audio receiver directly receives the audio data transmitted via the uplink. The encoding/decoding of the audio data of one of the second data frames is influenced by other audio data of the same second data frame but not by audio data of another second data frame. Audio transmission from the terminal to the audio receiver is effected in the allocated time slots and frequencies in a waveform in conformity with the mobile communications network.