Audio Bidirectional

Description

The Audio Bidirectional application uses the SPARK Wireless Core to transmit a stereo audio stream with 48kHz/24-bit depth from the line-in connector of the Coordinator to the headphone connector of the Node (the Main Channel), and conversely, a mono audio stream with 32kHz/16-bit depth from the Node back to the Coordinator (the Back Channel). When the link quality degrades, it will automatically switch to fallback mode which involves a compressed audio stream on both sides. The audio stream will revert to uncompressed once the link quality returns to normal.

Behavior

The application receives audio from the line in of either the Coordinator or the Node, utilizes the audio codec to transmit it over the I2S line using DMA transfers, and outputs the audio to the headphone out of the opposite device.

The audio core pipeline processes audio samples coming from the I2S to format them to be sent over the air using the SWC. The I2S end of transfer callback and the SWC transmission success callback will trigger the audio processing to synchronize the I2S production rate and the SWC consumption rate.

Audio application timings

Figure 7: Audio application timings.

Audio application processes

Figure 8: Audio application processes.

When a packet transmission fails, the audio packets will accumulate in the audio consumer queue until the wireless core can transmit it’s payloads and free a space in its queue.

Audio application timings

Figure 9: Audio application timings.

The bidirectional link also allows for the transmission of various data such as the status of a button and the link margin. The link margin makes it possible for the Coordinator to track the quality of the connection, thereby switching between fallback and normal modes as needed. This data is transmitted when the wireless is free. The transmission and reception of data are assigned the lowest priority, prioritizing audio transfers while still being capable of transferring this data.

The wireless schedule allocates 7 timeslots for the transmissions from the Coordinator and 2 timeslots for its reception. The schedule is designed to reserve more bandwidth for transmitting a higher-quality audio stream from the Coordinator to the Node.

In the UWB frequency range, the wireless core alternates between 4 different frequency bands at each transmission.

Application Schedule

The following diagram illustrates the general structure of the schedule used in this application.

Audio Bidirectionnal schedule

Figure 10: Audio Bidirectional Application’s Schedule.

Pairing

On boot, devices attempt to pair automatically. If unsuccessful, manual pairing can be performed afterward to use the application.

Auto Pairing:

  • On boot, devices automatically start the pairing process. RGB blinks blue twice to indicate that pairing is in progress.

  • If the pairing procedure is unsuccessful, RGB blinks red twice after 10 seconds.

  • Once successfully paired, RGB turns magenta, and the devices begin exchanging application data.

Manual Pairing:

  • Press the SW1 button on both devices to start the pairing procedure; RGB blinks blue twice when doing so.

  • If the pairing procedure is unsuccessful, RGB blinks red twice after 10 seconds.

  • Once successfully paired, RGB turns magenta, and the devices begin exchanging application data.

Unpairing:

  • When paired, pressing the SW1 button again unpairs the device; RGB blinks red twice to indicate that unpairing has been completed.

  • Unpairing causes the devices to forget their learned addresses. The devices are no longer able to exchange application data.

  • To start a new pairing procedure, both devices must be unpaired first.

Note

LED behavior changes in pairing mode versus normal execution mode. During pairing mode, LEDs indicate pairing status as described below. Once paired, LEDs indicate packet transmission and reception and fallback mode status.

Auto Pairing:

  • On boot, devices automatically start the pairing process. LED0 blinks twice to indicate the pairing is in progress.

  • If the pairing procedure is unsuccessful, all LEDs blink twice after 10 seconds.

  • Once successfully paired, LEDs turn on sequentially, then turn off, and the devices begin exchanging application data.

Manual Pairing:

  • Press and hold the SW1 button on both devices for 3 seconds to start the pairing procedure; LED0 blinks twice when doing so.

  • If the pairing procedure is unsuccessful, all LEDs blink twice after 10 seconds.

  • Once successfully paired, LEDs turn on sequenstially, then turn off, and the devices begin exchanging application data.

Unpairing:

  • When paired, press and hold the SW1 button for 3 seconds to unpair the device; All LEDs blink twice to indicate that unpairing has been completed.

  • Unpairing causes the devices to forget their learned addresses. The devices are no longer able to exchange application data.

  • To start a new pairing procedure, both devices must be unpaired first.

Fallback

The Coordinator continuously monitors the link quality. If the link quality degrades, the system will enter fallback mode to compress audio packets on both sides. It employs the ADPCM algorithm for audio data compression. This compression algorithm reduces audio samples by a factor of 4. This stage helps lower the application’s throughput to increase range while still ensuring relatively good audio quality. While in fallback mode, if the link quality remains strong for 5 seconds and the CCA try count stays below a defined threshold, the system will revert to normal mode. The thresholds for entering and exiting fallback mode differ, creating hysteresis to prevent the system from toggling frequently in conditions of marginal link quality.

Clock Drift Compensation (CDC)

Clock Drift Compensation (CDC) is used to adjust the timing difference between the two devices. The Coordinator is the reference clock. Therefore, for the stereo audio Main Channel stream, the Node can use its internal PLL (when hardware allows) to adjust its clock frequency to the Coordinator’s. For the mono audio Back Channel stream, the Coordinator cannot modify its clock since it is the reference. CDC is therefore performed by using software resampling. For more information regarding CDC, refer to Clock Drift Compensation.

Board User Interface

The board user interfaces are identical for the Node and the Coordinator and includes LEDs, RGB and button switches.

Table 1: Quasar Board User Interface Description

Interface

Name

Description

SW1

Pairing process

Pair, unpair, or abort the pairing process depending on the current state.

SW2

Button activity

Turn on the LED state of the remote device.

SW3

Volume up

Raises the received audio volume (default at 100%).

SW4

Volume down

Lowers the received audio volume.

LED1

Transmission success

Toggles every time an audio packet is successfully transmitted.

LED2

Reception success

Toggles every time an audio packet is successfully received.

LED3

Fallback status

LED is OFF in Normal mode and ON in Fallback mode.

LED4

Button state

Turn on upon receiving button state.

RGB

Pairing Event

Indicate pairing event as described in the pairing section.

Note

  • LEDs assigned to transmission or reception status are almost always on because of the high packet rate.

  • Audio volume can be adjusted by the receiving device, meaning both the Coordinator and Node control the output gain of their respective streams. This control is managed through the SW3 and SW4 buttons.

The board user interfaces are identical for the Node and the Coordinator and includes LEDs and button switches.

Table 2: EVK1.4 Board User Interface Description

Interface

Name

Description

SW1

Pairing process

Press and hold for 3 seconds: Pair, unpair, or abort the pairing process depending on the current state.

Volume level

Press for less than 250 ms: Increase output jack volume level.

SW2

Button activity

Turn on the LED state of the remote device.

Volume level

Press for less than 250 ms: Decrease output jack volume level.

LED0

Audio transfers success

Toggles every time an audio packet is successfully transmitted or received.

LED1

Fallback status

LED is off in Normal mode and on in Fallback mode.

LED2

Button state

Turn on upon receiving button state.

Note

  • LEDs assigned to transmission or reception status are almost always on because of the high packet rate.

Certification

This application has the ability to run in Certification Mode.

Different levels of certification are required to test the fallback modes and data connection.

  • Depending of which mode is requested, the max_payload_size of the audio connection will be changed.

  • The order in which connection are initialized and their priority will be swapped if the data connection needs to be tested.

Activating the Certification Mode

Table 3: Certification Mode Activation

Certification Mode

Activation Process

24-bit Audio

Hold SW2 at startup until the LED 1 blinks once, then release.

ADPCM Audio

Hold SW2 at startup until the LED 1 blinks twice, then release.

Control Data

Hold SW2 at startup until the LED 1 blinks three times, then release.

Terminal

The following figure shows the terminal output of this application.

See Viewing the Terminal for details on how to view the terminal output.

Audio Bidirectional Terminal Output

Figure 11: Audio Bidirectional Terminal Output (from left: Coordinator & Node).

See Audio Core API - Statistics and Wireless Core API - Statistics for more details.