Bose Corporation

Rasmus Abildgren

Casper Stork Bonde

Douglas Warren Young

Nathan A Blagrove

Alaganandan Ganeshkumar

A system and method for managing simultaneous data streams from multiple sources is provided. At least one paired audio device within the system, is a managing device and coordinates the audio playback presented in each paired audio device. In this way, each device can produce an audio playback associated with different streams simultaneously. In some examples, the managing device is one of the two devices or a peripheral device, e.g., a smartphone. In some examples, each data stream contains data used to generate a priority level for each data stream. The managing device can allow a data stream having a higher priority level or the data stream with a detected change to 'barge-in' causing the playbacks of each device to be associated with a different data stream. Additionally, each device is capable of assuming the role of “stream scanner” to prevent uneven power consumption between the devices within the system.

Methods and systems for managing simultaneous data streams from multiple sources

A system and method for selecting audio capture sensors of wearable devices in obtaining voice data. The method provides obtaining signals associated with the user's voice at first and second wearable devices, comparing energy levels of the first and second signals, and selecting one or more audio capture sensors based on the energy levels of each signal. Due to the symmetry of the acoustic energy produced by the user's voice to a first and second wearable device, any difference in energy level between the total energy obtained by the first wearable device and the total energy obtained by the second wearable device can be attributed solely to ambient noise. Thus, the device with the higher total energy has a lower signal-to-noise ratio and selection of an audio capture sensor of the other wearable device with a higher signal-to-noise ratio is provided to obtain voice data moving forward.

Sensor management for wireless devices

Systems and methods directed to determining the distance between two devices are disclosed. The systems and methods utilize a Bluetooth connection between a first device, such as a smartphone with an acoustic transducer, and a second device, such as an earbud with an embedded microphone, and the audio capturing capabilities of the second device to determine a distance between the two devices. The first device plays audio via the acoustic transducer. This audio is captured by a microphone of the second device. The second device transmits data including the captured audio back to the first device via the Bluetooth connection. The first device calculates a time delay from the playing of the audio to the reception of the data over the Bluetooth connection. The first device then calculates the distance based on the time delay, the latency constant, and the speed of sound.

Audio-based method for determining device distance

The disclosed systems and method provide for an audio playback device to form a Bluetooth connection with an audio source device based on audio generated by an acoustic transducer. The audio is encoded with Bluetooth connectivity data corresponding to the audio source device. The acoustic transducer can be arranged on the audio source device, or it can be arranged on an audio playback device connected to the audio source device via a Bluetooth connection. The audio is received by a microphone of an audio playback device. The audio playback device then extracts the Bluetooth connectivity information from the audio, and forms a Bluetooth connection with the audio source device. If the Bluetooth connection is a Broadcast Audio stream, as defined by the LE Audio standard, multiple audio playback devices can be able to connect audio source device, allowing for a communal listening experience.

Audio-based near field communication

Systems, devices, and methods for initiating an action based on location of a first device are provided. The first device, such as an earbud, includes a Bluetooth receiver. The Bluetooth receiver is configured to receive a wave signal transmitted by a second device, such as a smartphone. The first device further includes a processor. The processor is configured to calculate a location of the first device relative to the second device based on the wave signal. The processor is further configured to determine a zone status of the first device based on the location of the first device relative to the second device and a predetermined zone. The processor is further configured to initiate the action based on the zone status.

Location-based systems and methods for initiating wireless device action

An audio system, method, and computer program product for synchronizing device clocks. The systems, methods and computer program product can establish a first isochronous data stream between a peripheral device and a first device and establish a second isochronous data stream between the first device and a second device to send data between the first and second device. As the two data streams may rely on two different device clocks, e.g., one clock which defines the timing for the first isochronous data stream and a second clock which defines the timing for the second isochronous data stream, the systems, methods, and computer program disclosed herein are configured to maintain synchronization and/or synchronize the first clock with the second clock to prevent data loss due to clock drift.

Systems and methods for synchronizing transmission of wireless data

An audio system and method for retransmission of data packets between audio devices. The audio system includes a source device, a first audio device and a second audio device configured to receive an isochronous data stream from the source device. Each audio device is configured to eavesdrop or otherwise monitor the packets within the isochronous data stream meant for each of the audio devices and each audio device can retransmit packets from one audio device to the other in the event one audio device fails to receive a packet. The audio system is configured to operate in at least a partial retransmission mode or a total retransmission mode where the partial retransmission mode allows each audio device to selectably retransmit packets between audio devices and where the total retransmission mode requires one audio device to retransmit all packets to the other audio device.

Systems and methods including wireless data packet retransmission schemes

Methods and systems for dynamically adjusting a data rate in a wireless connection are provided. The systems include a source device and a sink device configured to establish a wireless connection. The quality of the wireless connection is monitored. Should the quality degrade so as to satisfy a triggering event, the source controller can adjust the data rate, e.g., the bit rate or sample rate, used to reduce the number of dropped, lost, or retransmitted packets. The reduction in bit rate and/or sample rate results in packets of decreased size and additional unused air-time. The unused air-time provided can be filled with at least a portion of a frame of data originally associated with another packet. This will result in at least one packet being free to include additional retransmission packets. Additionally, should the quality of the connection improve, the source controller can adjust increase the data rate accordingly.

Dynamic transmission rates for isochronous streaming

Methods and systems for improving the robustness of wireless communications. The methods and systems provided transmit data packets over a first isochronous stream and transmit one or more supplemental data packets over the same time intervals. The one or more supplemental data packets are used to re-create and/or enhance at least a portion of one or more data packets of the plurality of data packets that have already been sent. Alternatively, the one or more supplemental data packets are used to create and/or enhance at least a portion of one or more data packets of the plurality of data packets that will be received during the next isochronous intervals. The methods and system described herein allow for increased robustness by allowing for better retransmission with correctly received packets and the methods set forth herein work with any Bluetooth broadcaster sink without modification.

Robust retransmission topologies using error correction

Systems and methods for broadcasting wireless data via one or more retransmission schemes to increase the packet reception in a wireless system. One or more devices of the system are configured to listen for an initial data packet from a source device. Should one or more devices successfully receive the initial packet, each device that received the packet can unconditionally retransmit a copy of the payload of the initial packet such that any device that failed to receive the initial packet payload has an opportunity to receive it during the respective retransmissions. Similarly, each device of the system can send acknowledgements to the other system devices that indicate whether they received the initial packet. Should one or more of the devices successfully receive the initial packet, the devices can conditionally retransmit a copy of the missing payload when one or more devices indicates they have failed to receive it.

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Skørping, Denmark

Rasmus Abildgren