Apple has filed for a patent for an “Un-Tethered Wireless Audio System.”
About the patent filing
It relates generally to un-tethered wireless transceivers that communicate with an audio source, and more particularly to an audio system which eliminates the need for a wired connection between the first and second wireless transceivers.
In the patent filing Apple notes that the most common type of wireless stereo audio loudspeakers consists of a single radio frequency (RF) transceiver delivering audio to separate left and right loudspeakers via a wired connection.
The tech giant says that a significant disadvantage of wireless stereo loudspeakers that use a proprietary wireless protocol is that a separate RF transmitter must be added to the audio source since the audio source doesn’t otherwise support the proprietary protocol. These RF transmitters are typically in the form of a dongle, which plugs into the audio source.
The dongle adds bulk to portable systems, and shortens battery life if it draws power from the audio source. If the dongle has its own power source, then it becomes one more item that requires a charger.
Another significant disadvantage of wireless stereo loudspeakers that use standard protocols, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi or the like, is that these protocols weren’t designed to reliably carry stereo audio traffic to separate left and right receivers.
Apple says these factors mean that current systems use standard protocols with a wired connection between the left and right loudspeakers. This results in “unsightly or otherwise inconvenient cables for traditional loudspeaker systems, or awkward form factors for small devices such as headphones,” the company adds. Apple thinks it can do better.
Summary of the patent filing
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “A wireless speaker audio system configured to receive audio information wirelessly transmitted by an audio source including first and second wireless transceivers. The first wireless transceiver establishes a bidirectional secondary wireless link with the audio source for receiving and acknowledging receipt of the audio information. The first and second wireless transceivers communicate with each other via a primary wireless link.
“A wireless audio system including an audio source and first and second wireless transceivers. The first and second wireless transceivers communicate via a primary wireless link. The audio source communicates audio information to the first wireless transceiver via a secondary wireless link which is configured according to a standard wireless protocol. The first wireless transceiver is configured to acknowledge successful reception of audio information via the secondary wireless link. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.”
