Though not commonly known among many consumers, Bluetooth® technology is constantly and consistently advancing to include more features, widening the inclusion of device types that can benefit from Bluetooth connectivity, and progressing the evolution of a world without wires.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) typically has more than 50 active specification development projects at any given time. These projects include everything from adding minor features to existing Bluetooth specifications to creating new specifications that add major functionality to Bluetooth wireless technology.
A good example is the work currently in progress to add additional capabilities and features to Bluetooth LE Audio. Released only a few years ago, ongoing work on Bluetooth LE Audio is in motion to further enhance the next generation of wireless audio.
Bluetooth LE Audio Project Enhancements
Bluetooth LE Audio represents an entirely new platform for supporting audio applications on Bluetooth technology. Beyond enhancing existing Bluetooth applications like wireless calling and media, Bluetooth LE Audio is set to drive innovation in wireless audio for decades to come. Currently, there are three categories of Bluetooth LE Audio advancements in progress: standardization of specific capabilities, sound exposure, and enhancements to Auracast™ broadcast audio.
FEATURED PAPER
Bluetooth® Channel Sounding: A Technical Overview
This paper provides an overview of the forthcoming update to the Bluetooth® Core Specification. The update adds Bluetooth Channel Sounding, a new feature that enables secure fine ranging between two Bluetooth devices.
Standardization of Capabilities/Features – These advancements are being made in direct response to industry demand for standardization of certain Bluetooth LE Audio features, including:
- High-Resolution and Lossless Audio – Enhancing Bluetooth LE Audio to meet the growing demand for high-resolution and lossless audio
- Spatial Audio – Establishing a standardized approach for supporting spatial audio on Bluetooth headphones
- Surround Sound – Developing a standardized method for creating Bluetooth based, interoperable, multi-channel surround sound systems
Sound Exposure – This category of Bluetooth LE Audio enhancements will standardize the reporting of sound pressure data from Bluetooth headphones to media players, allowing users to monitor their sound exposure
Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Enhancements – In response to the positive reception and swift adoption of this new Bluetooth capability, demand has risen for extended coverage, increased capability, and a standardized method for joining broadcasts without an assistant
- Extended Auracast™ Coverage – Defining a standardized method for deploying multiple Auracast™ transmitters to provide coverage in large environments
- Increasing Auracast™ Capacity – Establishing a standardized approach for using multiple Auracast™ transmitters to support broadcasts with more audio streams than a single transmitter can handle (e.g., multi-language broadcasts)
- Discovering Auracast™ Broadcasts – Creating a standardized method for users with UI-constrained Auracast™ receivers (e.g., hearing aids) to easily join an Auracast™ broadcast without needing an additional device (e.g., a smartphone)
How to Get Involved
Employees of all Bluetooth SIG member companies are welcome to view the list of active specification development projects in our online specification development support tool, Specification Workspace. Employees of all Associate and Promoter member companies are also welcome to join any working group and participate in its specification development projects.
Learn more about other Bluetooth specifications in development.
NEW PAPER
Developing Auracast™ Receivers with an Assistant Application for Legacy Smartphones
This guide explains how audio receiver manufacturers can start supporting Auracast™ broadcast audio in their products today and increase the likelihood users can immediately take advantage of Auracast™ broadcast audio in public spaces with existing, new, and future products.
一般消費者には知られていないかもしれませんが、Bluetooth®︎技術は常に進化を続けています。新機能の、Bluetooth接続の恩恵を受けられるデバイスの種類の拡大、そして有線から解放された世界の実現に向けて、着実に前進しています。
Bluetooth SIG（Special Interest Group）では、常に50件以上の仕様策定プロジェクトが進行中です。プロジェクトには、既存のBluetooth仕様への小規模な機能追加から、Bluetoothワイヤレス技術に主要な機能変更をもたらす新仕様の策定まで、幅広い範囲をカバーしています。
その好例が、Bluetooth LE Audioに各種機能を追加するために現在進められている作業です。数年前にリリースされたばかりのBluetooth LE Audioでは、次世代ワイヤレスオーディオをさらに拡充するための作業が現在も続いています。
Bluetooth LE Audioプロジェクトの機能拡充
Bluetooth LE Audioは、Bluetooth技術を用いたオーディオアプリケーションのための全く新しいプラットフォームです。既存のワイヤレス通話やメディア再生の機能強化にとどまらず、などBluetoothアプリケーションに対する機能拡充にとどまらず、今後数十年にわたるワイヤスのオーディオのイノベーションを牽引していでしょう。現在、Bluetooth LE Audioについては3種類の作業が進められています。具体的には、特定の各種機能の標準化、音響曝露、AuracastTM ブロードキャスト オーディオの機能拡充です。
性能・機能の標準化：Bluetooth LE Audio機能の標準化を求める業界からの要求に直接応える形で、以下をはじめとする作業が進められています。
- ハイレゾ/ロスレスオーディオ：高まる需要に対応するためのBluetooth LE Audioの拡充
- 空間オーディオ：Bluetoothヘッドホンで空間オーディオに対応するための標準的アプローチの確立
- サラウンドサウンド – Bluetoothを基盤とし、相互運用性のある、マルチチャンネルのサラウンドサウンドシステムを構築するための標準的方法の策定
音響曝露 – Bluetooth LE Audioの機能拡充に関するこのカテゴリーでは、Bluetoothヘッドホンからメディアプレーヤーへの音圧データの報告に関する標準を策定し、ユーザーによる音響曝露のモニタリングを可能にします。
AuracastTM ブロードキャスト オーディオの機能拡充 – このBluetoothの新機能が好評を博し、採用が急速に進んでいることを受け、対応範囲の拡大、機能追加、アシスタントを介さずに配信を受信するための標準的方法への需要が高まっています。
- AuracastTMの対象範囲の拡大 – 複数のAuracastTM送信機を使用して大規模な環境の中で配信範囲を拡大するための方法に関する標準の策定
- AuracastTMの性能の強化 – AuracastTMの複数の送信機を使用し、1台の送信機のみでは対応できない数のオーディオストリーム（複数言語での配信など）を配信する方法に関する標準の確立
- AuracastTMの配信の検出 – UIに制約のあるAuracastTM 受信機（補聴器など）で、追加のデバイス（スマートフォンなど）を必要とせずにAuracastTM配信を容易に受信する方法に関する標準の策定
活動に参加するには
Bluetooth SIGメンバー企業の従業員の方はどなたでも、オンライン仕様開発サポートツールの「Specification Workspace」から、進行中の仕様策定プロジェクトの一覧を見ることができます。アソシエイト、プロモーターのメンバー企業の従業員の方は、いずれのワーキンググループでも参加でき、仕様策定プロジェクトの一員となれます。
他の開発中のBluetooth仕様については、こちらをご覧ください。
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