MM104 - Auracast, New Bluetooth LE Audio Protocol, for Listening at the Movies, Theatre, Church, and More

Abstract:
Bluetooth is the most widely used system for wireless transmission of sound to headsets and loudspeakers. Bluetooth Low Energy - BTLE - has been used for hearing aid programming. A new version of Bluetooth – BTLE-Audio – is coming soon. This new version introduces a novel high-quality codec which will allow for a broadcasting mode where any number of hearing aids and other Bluetooth devices can receive the signal, i.e. hear the sound broadcast. This presentation will explain the process of developing this new Bluetooth protocol and the uses of the new Bluetooth LE for hearing aid users.

Summary:
Background
Bluetooth is the most widely used system for wireless transmission of sound to headsets and loudspeakers. The Bluetooth version Low Energy - BTLE - has been used for hearing aid programming for several years. A new version of Bluetooth – BTLE-Audio – is soon coming. This new version introduces a novel high-quality codec for fast encoding and decoding of the audio signal transmission that reduces latency from input to output. Most notably BTLE-Audio also brings a broadcasting mode where any number of devices can receive a sound transmission.

Method
The hearing industry started to work with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (BT SIG) more than seven years ago. The desire was to enhance Bluetooth with a low latency codec that could work with sound reinforcement systems where the direct and transmitted sound should arrive at the same time at the user’s ears. It was also suggested to create a broadcasting mode that would allow any number of users to connect without any pairing process. After years of hard work this new version of Bluetooth is just about to be launched. Among many other improvements it has a Hearing Access Profile specially designed for hearing aids and a Public Broadcast Profile intended to enable easy access public sound transmissions.

Results
The BT SIG decided to define the public broadcasting as a service and has named the service Audio Sharing. An Audio Sharing Project Team has been established to define the exact setup needed for a reliable and easily accessible service. The working group has representatives from both hearing aid manufacturers, assistive listening system manufacturers and hard of hearing user organisations. A very detailed specification of a universal service is being developed and a certification process will be established. That will secure that only suppliers that abide to the full specification will be allowed to use the Audio Sharing name and logo.

Discussion
The BTLEA Audio Sharing system has a huge potential for the world of hearing aids. In the future a simple transmitter can be connected to a sound system in a place where hearing aid users come and all users with hearing aids with the new BTLEA system can easily connect and receive direct sound in their ears. The system can be applied at many different venues: Churches, theatres, cinemas, lecture halls and even train stations and airports. The fact that this new service also can be utilized by anyone with Bluetooth headsets and earbuds will likely drive a rapid dissemination of the transmitters to the benefit of hearing aid users and many others.