# US 2019/0246221 A1 · Low-latency streaming for cros and bicros > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0246221 A1 - Document ID: US20190246221A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/888,313 - Filed: 2018-02-05 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-05 - Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC - Applicants: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC - Inventors: Hamidreza SHARIATI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190246221A1 ## CPC - H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils} - H04L 1/00: Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received {(correcting synchronisation H04L7/00)} - H04N 21/00: Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] (real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 {; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18}) - H04R 25/558: {Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency} - H04R 25/604: {of acoustic or vibrational transducers} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H04L 1/1685: {the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal} - H04L 1/1854: {Scheduling and prioritising arrangements} - H04N 21/43637: {involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth®, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] (arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114)} - H04R 25/356: {Amplitude, e.g. amplitude shift or compression} - H04R 25/405: {by combining a plurality of transducers} - H04R 25/552: {Binaural} - H04R 2225/31: Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells - H04R 2225/51: Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids - H04R 2225/53: Hearing aid for unilateral hearing impairment using Contralateral Routing Of Signals [CROS] - H04R 2225/61: Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Disclosed wireless systems, devices, and methods can leverage existing hardware for BLE communications to provide a low-latency streaming (LLS) link suitable for supporting CROS and BiCROS features in hearing aids. An illustrative embodiment of a low-latency audio streaming method includes: (a) sending intermittent packets of digital audio data as a wireless signal; and (b) for each intermittent packet: (A) listening for a responsive packet; and (B) sending the digital audio data in a retransmitted packet only if no responsive packet is detected. Any retransmitted packet that is sent follows the corresponding intermittent packet with a delay no greater than a length of two interframe spacing (IFS) intervals separated by a responsive packet. An illustrative embodiment of a low-latency audio streaming device includes a transmit chain and a receive chain. The transmit chain periodically transmits intermittent packets of digital audio data as a wireless signal. The receive chain operates to detect a responsive packet to each intermittent packet. The transmit chain retransmits a packet of digital audio data each time the receive chain fails to detect a responsive packet, ensuring a delay no greater than a length of two IFS intervals separated by a responsive packet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A low-latency audio streaming method that comprises: sending intermittent packets of digital audio data as a wireless signal; and for each intermittent packet: listening for a responsive packet; and sending the digital audio data in a retransmitted packet only if no responsive packet is detected, wherein any retransmitted packet that is sent follows the corresponding intermittent packet with a delay no greater than a length of two interframe spacing (IFS) intervals separated by a responsive packet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein any retransmitted packet that is sent is transmitted on a different wireless frequency than the corresponding intermittent packet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein any retransmitted packet that is sent includes additional error correction information relative to the corresponding intermittent packet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the digital audio data is for contralateral routing of signal (CROS) and the responsive packet is an acknowledgement packet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the responsive packet comprises a responsive digital audio packet for bidirectional CROS, and wherein the method further comprises sending an acknowledgement packet only if the responsive digital audio packet is successfully received. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising, after sending the retransmitted packet, listening for a responsive retransmitted packet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said sending intermittent packets is performed with frequency hopping by changing to a next frequency in a channel list before sending a next intermittent packet, and wherein the sending employs a reduced channel list for frequency hopping until a low latency link is deemed established by the detection of at least one responsive packet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising setting low latency streaming parameters via a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) link before sending said intermittent packets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the low latency streaming parameter comprises a timing offset between BLE connection intervals and connection intervals for sending the intermittent packets. ### Claim 10 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, 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 delay no greater than a length of two interframe spacing (IFS) intervals separated by a responsive packet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein any retransmitted packet that is sent is transmitted on a different wireless frequency than the corresponding intermittent packet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein any retransmitted packet that is sent includes additional error correction information relative to the corresponding intermittent packet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the digital audio data is for contralateral routing of signal (CROS) and the responsive packet is an acknowledgement packet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the responsive packet comprises a responsive digital audio packet for bidirectional CROS, and wherein the transmit chain sends an acknowledgement packet only if the responsive digital audio packet is successfully received. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein after the transmit chain sends the retransmitted packet, the receive chain operates to detect a responsive retransmitted packet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the transmit chain performs frequency hopping by changing to a next frequency in a channel list before sending a next intermittent packet, and wherein the transmit chain employs a reduced channel list for frequency hopping until at least one responsive packet is detected. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the device negotiates a low latency streaming parameter via a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) link before sending said intermittent packets. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the low latency streaming parameter comprises a timing offset between BLE connection intervals and connection intervals for sending the intermittent packets. ### Claim 19 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 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 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 IFS interval after each intermittent packet that is received, and, if an intermittent packet is missed, to receive a retransmission packet beginning one 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the responsive packets include digitized audio data from an input transducer in the second hearing aid, and wherein the first hearing aid includes an output transducer that produces an augmented audio signal based on the digital audio data from the microphone and the digitized audio data from the input transducer.