Peripheral Device Stereo Audio Packet Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy technologies face limitations such as limited range, data capacity throughput, and susceptibility to interference from other devices, which affect the reliability and quality of wireless audio streaming in personal area networks.
Innovation Solution
A method for wireless communication between peripheral devices involves receiving audio stream packets, synchronizing with a paired device to identify missed packets, and transmitting a response message to ensure complete audio streaming, even in configurations where packets may be decrypted using aligned packet counters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If Bluetooth BR/EDR is used for wireless audio streaming, then data transmission rate and audio quality are improved, but power consumption increases making it impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio streaming function across multiple peripheral devices (owner device and sniffer devices). The owner device receives packets from the central device, while sniffer devices monitor and capture copies of the audio packets. This segmentation allows BLE to be used for control signaling while audio data is distributed through multiple paths, improving reliability without requiring continuous high-power BR/EDR connections.
Solution Approach 2:
Sniffer devices perform preliminary packet capture and buffering before the owner device needs the audio data. By pre-capturing audio packets and storing them locally, sniffer devices can quickly provide audio data to the central device or other peripherals when needed, reducing latency and allowing the system to use lower-power BLE for coordination while maintaining high-quality audio streaming capabilities.
2Use of energy by moving object
If BLE is used for low power wireless communication, then power consumption is reduced, but data capacity throughput and range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges BLE and BR/EDR technologies in a hybrid architecture. BLE is used for low-power control signaling, device discovery, and synchronization, while BR/EDR is utilized for high-throughput audio data transmission when available. The system dynamically switches between or combines these protocols based on power availability and performance requirements, achieving both low power consumption and high data throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
Sniffer devices act as intermediaries that capture audio packets using one protocol (e.g., BR/EDR) and can relay or forward them using another protocol (e.g., BLE). This intermediary approach allows the system to overcome the limitations of individual protocols by combining their strengths, enabling extended range and improved throughput while maintaining low power consumption for control functions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple peripheral devices sniff the same owner audio stream for stereo functionality, then audio coverage and spatial distribution are improved, but packet synchronization and reliability deteriorate due to missed packets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sniffer devices report which audio packets they have successfully captured and which packets are missing. The owner device receives this feedback information and can then retransmit missed packets or adjust its transmission strategy. This feedback loop ensures that all sniffer devices receive complete and synchronized audio streams, maintaining high reliability for stereo functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential packet loss by implementing redundancy mechanisms in advance. The owner device transmits audio packets with sufficient redundancy and error correction capabilities, and sniffer devices buffer packets ahead of time. When packet loss is detected, the system can recover from the buffered copies or retransmit from the owner device, cushioning against the reliability issues that arise from multiple devices sniffing the same stream.
4Use of energy by moving object
If peripheral devices operate in sleep mode between data transmissions to conserve power, then energy efficiency is improved, but communication responsiveness and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic wake-up and sleep cycles for peripheral devices, optimized for audio streaming requirements. Devices wake up at scheduled intervals to receive or transmit audio packets, then return to sleep mode. The periodic schedule is synchronized across all devices in the network, ensuring that wake-up times are coordinated to minimize latency while maximizing power savings during non-transmission periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous audio streaming functionality despite devices operating in sleep mode by using sniffer devices that remain active or wake up simultaneously. When the owner device is in sleep mode, sniffer devices can continue capturing packets or quickly wake up to take over audio reception. This continuity mechanism ensures that audio streaming never fully stops, maintaining low latency while allowing most devices to spend the majority of time in low-power sleep mode.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a first peripheral device may receive audio stream packets sniffed from an owner audio stream assigned to a second peripheral device paired with the first peripheral device. The first peripheral device may receive a synchronization message from the second peripheral device that includes an owner packet bitmap that identifies packets in the owner audio stream. The first peripheral device may identify missed packets that the first peripheral device missed from the owner audio stream, based on a result of a comparison of the owner packet bitmap and a sniffer packet bitmap that identifies sniffed audio stream packets. The first peripheral device may transmit a response message indicating the missed packets. Numerous other aspects are described.