Auracast

Auracast is the marketing name given to a group of enhanced audio capabilities introduced in Bluetooth 5.2, which include: one-to-many broadcasting, high efficiency codecs compatible with low power devices, and easier ways for users to discover and join audio channels. [1]

Auracast was officially released in 2022, although some of the underlying technologies were introduced earlier in 2020: [2]

  • LE Audio (Low Energy Audio): Audio delivery over Bluetooth Low Energy channels instead of regular Bluetooth Classic channels
  • LC3 (codec) (Low Complexity Communication Codec): a more efficient audio compression algorithm, that is less demanding on battery power
  • Public Broadcast Profile (PBP): the software specification that advertises channels, binds sender and receiver relationship, and controls content formats

Expected applications

As a trademark owned by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the name is used to identify:

  • Devices and applications that passed certification to interoperate correctly, such as headsets and transmitters
  • Locations that have Auracast-compatible audio broadcasts channels, such as airports, conference halls, houses of worship
  • Applications where Auracast technologies allow for enhanced listening, such as simultaneous translations, silent TV screens, or customized hearing aids

Initially, Auracast is expected to be mainly used to enhance hearing aids.

Broadcast audio

Traditional bluetooth audio uses the concept of "pairing" to link up one source device with one client device (headphone, speaker etc.) This is a 1-to-1 relationship, and is usually limited to a short wireless distance of several metres.

In broadcast audio, the source device can simultaneously send audio to multiple client devices in a 1-to-many relationship. The transmission range may be as large as a football field, if the audio source has a big transmission power. Receivers do not need to use big power, so they can be battery-operated.

Discovery of broadcast channels

Auracast provides a number of ways to discover and join channels:

  • Like in classic Bluetooth audio transmission, a smart device can scan the airwaves to detect nearby wireless transmission and their channel information, and for the user to pick one channel to listen.
  • A smart device can also scan a QR code or read an NFC tag to find the channel identification.
  • Bluetooth SIG also maintains a geographical directory of Auracast-locations in a database. This makes it possible to lookup the information via applications, e.g. to find out the channel schedules at convention halls or airports.

References
  1. Introducing Auracast | https://www.bluetooth.com/auracast/
  2. "What is LE Audio and LC3, the latest in Bluetooth audio". Retrieved 2023-08-09.
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