Low-latency streaming for CROS and BiCROS

A low-latency audio streaming device that comprises:

• a transmit chain that periodically transmits intermittent packets of digital audio data as a wireless signal;
• and
• a receive chain that operates to detect a responsive packet to each intermittent packet, the responsive packet having a predefined length and a start time of one predefined interframe spacing (IFS) interval after the intermittent packet,
• wherein the transmit chain retransmits a packet of digital audio data each time the receive chain fails to detect a responsive packet, wherein the retransmission occurs with a predetermined delay no greater than a length of two IFS intervals separated by a responsive packet.

A wireless system that comprises:

• a first hearing aid for a first ear, the first hearing aid including:
• a microphone to capture and digitize an input audio signal into digital audio data;
• and
• a first wireless transceiver that operates to send a wireless signal having intermittent packets of the digital audio data, to receive a responsive packet beginning one predefined interframe spacing (IFS) interval after each intermittent packet, and, if a responsive packet is missed, to resend the digital audio data in a retransmission packet beginning one predefined IFS interval after an expected completion of the responsive packet that is missed;
• and
• a second hearing aid for a second ear, the second hearing aid including:
• a second wireless transceiver that operates to receive said intermittent packets, to send a responsive packet beginning one predefined IFS interval after each intermittent packet that is received, and, if an intermittent packet is missed, to receive a retransmission packet beginning one predefined IFS interval after an expected completion of a responsive packet;
• and
• an output transducer that produces an output audio signal based at least in part on the digital audio data in said intermittent packets or said retransmission packets.