PC Transceiver Wireless Audio Mixing for Gaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gaming audio solutions for PC-based gaming restrict user mobility and require complex volume control adjustments, as they often necessitate separate connections for game audio and network chat, limiting the ability to adjust audio balances wirelessly and disturbing others during gameplay.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a wireless PC transceiver to transmit separate game audio and network chat signals to a headset, allowing for wireless reception and adjustment of audio streams with a single connection, enabling local user chat transmission and reception without additional connections, and incorporating an audio mixing module for volume and balance control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gamer uses an external speaker for game audio and a headset for network chat, then the gamer can converse with networked players, but the gamer cannot listen to game audio in surround sound through the headset and must use two controllers to adjust volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple audio streams (game audio and network chat) into a single wireless transmission channel. The base station receives separate audio streams from the gaming device and transmits them as combined wireless signals to the headset, allowing the gamer to control both audio sources through one device interface rather than two separate controllers.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless headset is designed to handle multiple functions simultaneously: receiving game audio, receiving network chat audio, and providing wireless connectivity. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate external speakers and multiple control devices, as the headset becomes a universal audio interface for all gaming audio needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a daisy-chainable game exchange is plugged into the gaming device, then the user can utilize their own headset to play games in surround sound, but the user's range of motion is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection (daisy-chainable game exchange plugged into the gaming device) with a wireless transmission system. The base station communicates with the headset via wireless signals, eliminating the physical cable constraint and allowing the user to move freely within wireless range while maintaining headset compatibility for surround sound gaming.
3Reliability
If a base station uses separate wired connections for each audio stream, then the gamer can receive game audio and network chat, but the system requires an external adapter to convert network chat to a useable format
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reception of multiple audio streams (game audio and network chat) into a single wireless transmission channel from the base station to the headset. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate wired connections and external adapters, as the base station handles all audio stream conversions and transmissions through its wireless interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary device that receives all audio streams from the gaming device, performs necessary format conversions, and transmits them wirelessly to the headset. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for additional external adapters at the headset end, as all conversion functions are centralized in the base station.
4Ease of operation
If the PC combines video game audio and network chat audio into a single output stream, then the audio can be transmitted to the headset, but the balance between game audio and network chat audio cannot be adjusted by the receiving device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio balance control function into the headset device. Rather than having the PC combine audio streams before transmission, the headset receives separate audio streams and performs local mixing and balance adjustment. This segmentation allows the receiving device (headset) to independently control the balance between game audio and network chat audio according to user preference.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for providing multiple audio streams, such as a game audio stream and network chat audio stream, to a headset of a user of a gaming device are described. An exemplary system may include a gaming device having a port and that is adapted to transmit game audio and network chat to a transceiver inserted into the port thereof. The transceiver may be configured to receive local user chat. The system may also include a transceiver inserted into the port of the gaming device, the transceiver adapted to receive the game audio and the network chat transmitted from the gaming device, transmit the received game audio and network chat to a wireless headset, receive local user chat from the wireless headset, and transmit the received local user chat to the gaming device. In certain embodiments, the system may include at least one wireless headset wirelessly connected to the transceiver, the headset including a microphone and being adapted to receive the game audio and network chat from the transceiver, receive local user chat from the microphone, and transmit the local user chat wirelessly to the transceiver.