Enabling concurrent proprietary audio and Bluetooth low energy using enhanced LE link layer for hearing device
First Claim
1. A method of concurrent use of a radio transceiver for both control data and audio streaming, comprising:
- controlling a physical layer of a radio transceiver in a battery-powered mobile device using a Bluetooth low energy link layer, wherein the link layer;
establishes regular anchor timing for transception of control data through connection events, with idle time periods between connection events, all in accordance with Bluetooth low energy protocol;
for each connection event, clocks a remaining duration of the current idle time period;
receives requests for real time audio streaming transmissions in bursts, such bursts having a duration shorter than the regular anchor timing and no greater than 10 ms, the bursts collectively providing real time audio streaming of at least 34 kbps, the requests including time slot information;
determines, based on the time slot information, whether each requested burst can be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, wherein;
if the requested burst cannot be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, the link layer maintains communication between a control data stack and the physical layer of the Bluetooth low energy radio; and
if the requested burst can be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, the link layer provides communication between an audio stack and the physical layer of the Bluetooth low energy radio.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery-powered mobile device allows concurrent wireless transception of control data via standard Bluetooth low energy (BLE) and proprietary audio streaming, using the same physical layer of the radio. Following each BLE connection event, an enhanced link layer clocks a remaining duration of the current idle time period. Requests provided to the enhanced link layer include time slot information for the proprietary audio bursts. The enhanced link layer determines, based on the time slot information, whether each requested burst can be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, appropriately linking payload information of each packet with the BLE control data stack or with a proprietary audio stack, with the BLE control data having priority over the proprietary audio requests.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of concurrent use of a radio transceiver for both control data and audio streaming, comprising:
controlling a physical layer of a radio transceiver in a battery-powered mobile device using a Bluetooth low energy link layer, wherein the link layer; establishes regular anchor timing for transception of control data through connection events, with idle time periods between connection events, all in accordance with Bluetooth low energy protocol; for each connection event, clocks a remaining duration of the current idle time period; receives requests for real time audio streaming transmissions in bursts, such bursts having a duration shorter than the regular anchor timing and no greater than 10 ms, the bursts collectively providing real time audio streaming of at least 34 kbps, the requests including time slot information; determines, based on the time slot information, whether each requested burst can be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, wherein; if the requested burst cannot be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, the link layer maintains communication between a control data stack and the physical layer of the Bluetooth low energy radio; and if the requested burst can be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, the link layer provides communication between an audio stack and the physical layer of the Bluetooth low energy radio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A battery-powered mobile hearing device which allows concurrent use of a radio transceiver for both Bluetooth low energy control data and audio streaming, comprising:
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a physical layer of a radio transceiver; a link layer controlling the physical layer, wherein the link layer; establishes regular anchor timing for transception of control data through connection events, with idle time periods between connection events, all in accordance with Bluetooth low energy protocol; for each connection event, clocks a remaining duration of the current idle time period; receives requests for real time audio streaming transmissions in bursts, such bursts having a duration shorter than the regular anchor timing and no greater than 10 ms, the bursts collectively providing real time audio streaming of at least 34 kbps, the requests including time slot information; determines, based on the time slot information, whether each requested burst can be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period; a control data stack for transception of Bluetooth low energy control data in communication with the link layer; and an audio stack for reception of the real time audio streaming in communication with the link layer; wherein; if the requested burst cannot be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, the link layer maintains communication between the control data stack and the physical layer of the radio transceiver; and if the requested burst can be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, the link layer provides communication between the audio stack and the physical layer of the radio transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A system for wireless audio streaming, comprising:
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a first device programmed to transceive control data in accordance with Bluetooth low energy protocol and using regular anchor timing; a second device which transmits real time audio transmissions in bursts, such bursts having a duration shorter than the regular anchor timing and no greater than 10 ms, the bursts collectively providing real time audio streaming of at least 34 kbps; and a battery powered mobile hearing device having a sound output for real time audio under concurrent control via the control data, the hearing device comprising; a physical layer of a radio transceiver; a link layer controlling the physical layer, wherein the link layer; establishes regular anchor timing for transception of control data through connection events, with idle time periods between connection events, all in accordance with Bluetooth low energy protocol; for each connection event, clocks a remaining duration of the current idle time period; receives requests for real time audio streaming transmissions in bursts, the requests including time slot information; determines, based on the time slot information, whether each requested burst can be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period; a control data stack for transception of Bluetooth low energy control data in communication with the link layer; and an audio stack for reception of the real time audio streaming in communication with the link layer; wherein; if the requested burst cannot be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, the link layer maintains communication between the control data stack and the physical layer of the radio transceiver; and if the requested burst can be completed during the remaining duration of the current idle time period, the link layer provides communication between the audio stack and the physical layer of the radio transceiver.
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Specification