Wireless Audio Device Synchronous Dropping for Packet Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless audio output devices experience packet loss during transmission, leading to significant differences in audio waveforms between left and right channels, resulting in imbalanced audio and deteriorated subjective auditory perception when one channel fails to receive data.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a synchronous dropping mechanism in wireless audio output devices, where both audio output units generate and play concealment audio data using a Packet Loss Concealment (PLC) algorithm when either unit fails to receive data, ensuring balanced audio by synchronizing the dropout of successfully received data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless transmission is used to increase portability and dispense with wired connections, then ease of operation is improved, but packet loss occurs during transmission leading to audio quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares concealment audio data in advance using PLC algorithms before actual packet loss occurs. When packet loss is detected, the pre-prepared concealment data is immediately activated to cushion the impact on audio quality, ensuring continuous playback without noticeable gaps or distortions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary concealment audio data generation mechanism that mediates between the transmitted audio data and the output. When original audio packets are lost during wireless transmission, the intermediary PLC algorithm generates substitute audio data that bridges the gap, maintaining audio continuity and quality without requiring retransmission.
2Reliability
If packet loss concealment is implemented to maintain audio quality, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The audio output device performs self-service by automatically detecting packet loss and generating its own concealment audio data using integrated PLC algorithms. The system monitors its own transmission status and independently corrects errors without requiring external intervention or complex external processing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the packet loss concealment functionality directly into the audio output device's existing processing chain. The PLC algorithm is integrated with the audio decoding and playback components, combining multiple functions into a unified processing system that reduces overall device complexity compared to having separate independent correction systems.
3Productivity
If one audio output unit receives data successfully while the other experiences packet loss, then productivity is maintained, but audio balance deteriorates due to waveform differences between channels
Solution Approach 1:
The system intentionally introduces asymmetry in the audio processing path. When one channel experiences packet loss, the other channel's audio data is deliberately modified or dropped to create an asymmetric processing approach that ultimately produces symmetric (balanced) output. This asymmetric intermediate state resolves the imbalance caused by differential packet loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies homogeneity by ensuring both audio channels undergo identical processing and experience the same packet loss conditions through synchronized operation. The audio output units are coordinated to maintain homogeneous processing states, so that even when packet loss occurs, both channels are affected equally and remain balanced in the output.
4Reliability
If synchronous dropping mechanism is implemented to maintain audio balance, then audio quality is improved, but loss of information increases as successfully received data is discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harm of discarding successfully received data into a benefit for maintaining audio balance. By deliberately dropping data from the successfully received channel to match the packet-loss channel, the system transforms what would be wasted information into a tool for achieving symmetric audio output, where the 'loss' creates the desired balance between channels.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless audio output device including a first audio output unit and a second audio output unit is provided. The wireless audio output device establishes a wireless link with an audio source, which outputs a first original audio data and a second original audio data. The first and the second audio output units simultaneously output and play the first and the second original audio data. When the first audio output unit successfully receives the first original audio data but the second audio output unit fails to receive the second original audio data, the first audio output unit drops the received first original audio data, and the first and the second audio output units generate a first concealment audio data and a second concealment audio data, respectively, by using a PLC algorithm and play the first concealment audio data and the second concealment audio data, respectively.