Wireless Audio Transmitter Pilot Packages for Seamless Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless audio streaming systems for hearing devices face challenges in maintaining audio stream reception when users move or signal strength decreases, leading to limited range and battery life issues due to the need for data transmission between transmitter units.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting pilot packages from transmitter units that include information about the channel and timing for receiving subsequent audio blocks, allowing seamless switching to alternative transmitter units without data transmission from the hearing device, thereby reducing power consumption and enhancing battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hearing device receives audio streams from multiple transmitter units, then the audio reception reliability is improved, but the data transmission requirement increases leading to higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter units transmit pilot packages in advance that contain timing and channel information for subsequent audio blocks. This preliminary action allows the hearing device to prepare for handover by storing the necessary control information without needing to continuously communicate with multiple transmitters, thus improving reliability while reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pilot packages as intermediary elements that carry control information about audio blocks. These pilot packages act as mediators between transmitter units and hearing devices, enabling the hearing device to switch between transmitters using pre-transmitted information rather than requiring active data transmission during handover.
2Area of stationary object
If the hearing device switches between transmitter units, then the audio coverage area is extended, but the data transmission time increases reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot packages are transmitted in advance and stored in the hearing device before the actual handover is needed. This preliminary transmission of control information eliminates the need for time-consuming data exchange during the handover process, allowing the hearing device to switch between transmitter units quickly and extend its operational area without increasing data transmission time.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the hearing device minimizes data transmission, then the battery life is prolonged, but the ability to switch between transmitter units is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential control information (timing and channel data) from the audio stream and places it in separate pilot packages. This extraction allows the hearing device to obtain the necessary switching information through minimal data reception (only the pilot packages) rather than requiring continuous data transmission, thus prolonging battery life while maintaining switching capability between transmitter units.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for transmitting wireless audio streams in an audio system comprising a first transmitter unit, the method includes: transmitting a first audio block in a first audio frame, the first audio block comprising a first primary audio package having a transmitter unit address of the first transmitter unit; transmitting a first primary pilot package, the first primary pilot package comprising the transmitter unit address of the first transmitter unit, a first primary time offset, and a channel identifier of a first primary audio package of a second audio block in a second audio frame; and transmitting the first primary audio package of the second audio block at a start time depending on the first primary time offset and the channel identifier.