Companion microphone system and method
Systems and methods for wireless communication can include a first unit configured to synchronously transmit a first digital audio packet redundantly in at least a first dedicated slot and a second dedicated slot over a time period, and a second unit configured to receive wireless transmissions from the first unit. In certain embodiments, the second unit does not listen for a transmission in the second dedicated slot if the first digital audio packet is received in the first dedicated slot. In certain embodiments, the units are encoded with a group code that identifies group members, such that the units only receive data packets transmitted by group members with the same group code.
1. A wireless communication system comprising:
a first unit configured to synchronously transmit a first digital audio packet redundantly in at least a first dedicated slot of a plurality of dedicated slots of a first frame and a second dedicated slot of a plurality of dedicated slots of a second frame over a time period;
a second unit configured to synchronously transmit a second digital audio packet redundantly in at last a third dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the first frame and a fourth dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the second frame over the time period; and
a third unit configured to receive wireless transmissions from the first unit and the second unit.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third unit is configured to not listen for a transmission in the second dedicated slot if the first digital audio packet is received in the first dedicated slot.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third unit is configured to synchronously transmit a third digital audio packet redundantly in at least a fifth dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the first frame and a sixth dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the second frame over the time period, and wherein the first unit and the second unit are configured to receive wireless transmissions from the third unit.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first, second and third units are configured to synchronize transmissions and receptions based on the order in which the units are powered on.
5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first, second and third units are configured to synchronize transmissions and receptions independent of the order in which the units are powered on.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth unit configured to receive wireless transmissions from the first unit and the second unit.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth unit configured to synchronously transmit a third digital audio packet redundantly in at least a fifth dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the first frame and a sixth dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the second frame over the time period, wherein the third unit is configured to receive wireless transmissions from the fourth unit.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first unit is configured to convert an audio input into the first digital audio packet and the third unit is configured to convert the first digital audio packet into an audio output.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein a length of time between receiving the audio input at the first unit and outputting the audio output at the third unit is about 20 milliseconds or less.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first digital audio packet is compressed prior to transmission, and wherein the first digital audio packet is reduced from 16 bit to 4 bit.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the third unit is configured to ramp down a volume of the audio output if reception of the first digital audio packet is interfered with and then ramp up the volume of the audio output if a next digital audio packet is received.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first unit is configured to convert an audio input into the first digital audio packet using sub banded adaptive differential pulse-code modulation.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first unit is configured to convert an audio input received by a plurality of directional microphones into the first digital audio packet.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first unit is configured to redundantly transmit the first data packet in three dedicated slots over the time period of about 8 milliseconds or less, wherein each of the three dedicated slots is associated with a different frame.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first unit, the second unit and the third unit are encoded with a group code that identifies group members, and wherein the third unit is configured to only receive data packets transmitted by group members with the same group code.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the group code determines a pseudo random sequence to be used by a frequency hopping radio transmitter of the first unit.
17. A method for wireless communication comprising:
synchronously transmitting a first digital audio packet redundantly from a first unit in at least a first dedicated slot of a plurality of dedicated slots of a first frame and a second dedicated slot of a plurality of dedicated slots of a second frame over a time period;
synchronously transmitting a second digital audio packet redundantly from a second unit in at least a third dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the first frame and a fourth dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the second frame over the time period; and
receiving a wireless transmission from the first unit and the second unit at a third unit.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the third unit is configured to not listen for a transmission in the second dedicated slot if the first digital audio packet is received in the first dedicated slot.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
synchronously transmitting a third digital audio packet redundantly from the third unit in at least a fifth dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the first frame and a sixth dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the second frame over the time period; and
receiving a wireless transmission from the third unit at the first unit and the second unit.
20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
synchronously transmitting a third digital audio packet redundantly from a fourth unit in at least a fifth dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the first frame and a sixth dedicated slot of the plurality of dedicated slots of the second frame over the time period; and
receiving a wireless transmission from the fourth unit at the third unit.
21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising
converting an audio input at the first unit into the first digital audio packet;
converting the first digital audio packet into an audio output at the third unit.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein a length of time between receiving the audio input at the first unit and outputting the audio output at the third unit is about 20 milliseconds or less.
23. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
converting at least one audio signal at the first unit into the first digital audio packet using sub banded adaptive differential pulse-code modulation.
24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first unit is configured to redundantly transmit the first data packet in three dedicated slots over the time period of about 8 milliseconds or less, wherein each of the three dedicated slots is associated with a different frame.
25. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first unit, the second unit and the third unit are encoded with a group code that identifies group members, and wherein the third unit is configured to only receive data packets transmitted by group members with the same group code.