Wireless Audio Control Channels on a Unified Wideband Carrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless audio systems face issues with separate communication links for audio and control data leading to mismatched coverage areas, interference, and limited flexibility in setting relative link performance.
Innovation Solution
A wireless audio system that transmits both audio and control data using a low overhead in-band approach with separate physical layer channels for each data type, allowing independent control of modulation scheme and coding rate, and combines them into a single wideband carrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate communication links are used for audio data and control data, then control data can be transmitted independently, but coverage areas become mismatched and interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines audio data and control data into a single RF carrier signal, eliminating the need for separate communication links. This merging approach ensures both data types share the same coverage area and are subject to the same interference conditions, resolving the coverage mismatch and interference issues inherent in separate links.
Solution Approach 2:
Within the unified RF carrier, the patent segments the transmission into separate physical layer channels for audio data and control data. This segmentation allows independent control of modulation schemes and coding rates for each data type while maintaining a single carrier, thus achieving both reliability and coverage consistency.
2Area of stationary object
If audio data and control data are multiplexed into a single channel at the physical layer, then coverage area is unified, but flexibility in setting relative link performance is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the physical layer channel into separate sub-channels for audio data and control data within the unified RF carrier. This segmentation enables independent configuration of modulation schemes and coding rates for each data type, providing flexibility in setting relative link performance while maintaining a single carrier for unified coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different modulation schemes and coding rates to different data types within the same carrier. Control data can use robust modulation for reliable transmission, while audio data can use higher rate modulation for efficiency, allowing local optimization of performance characteristics for each data type.
3Loss of energy
If a single wideband carrier is used for both audio and control data, then overhead is reduced and coverage is unified, but separate physical layer channels are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges audio and control data transmissions onto a single wideband carrier, reducing overall transmission overhead and eliminating the need for separate RF carriers. This unified carrier approach simplifies the system architecture while enabling efficient use of spectral resources.
Solution Approach 2:
Within the single wideband carrier, the patent implements separate physical layer channels for audio and control data. This segmentation is achieved through frequency division or code division within the carrier spectrum, allowing independent data transmission while maintaining a unified carrier structure that reduces overhead.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless audio system using low overhead in-band control and audio transmission is provided. The wireless audio system includes a first wireless audio device configured to operate separate physical layer channels for audio data and control data, and transmit the audio data and control data using a single wideband carrier. The wireless audio system also includes one or more second wireless audio devices configured to receive the audio data and control data, and execute an instruction based on the control data.