Acoustic Alert System for Caller Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional audible alerts for electronic communication devices are often disruptive, confusing, and inconvenient, particularly in settings where multiple devices are present, as they lack distinctiveness and require cumbersome setup processes, leading to missed calls and distractions.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic alert system that conveys caller ID information through subtle variations in sound, allowing users to recognize specific callers without the need for a contacts list or complex setup, using a combination of sounds and silences to differentiate alerts, ensuring privacy and anonymity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional audible alerts are used, then users can be notified of incoming calls, but users experience confusion and distractions when multiple devices are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the alert function by creating unique acoustic signatures for each device and caller combination. Instead of using a single generic alert sound, the system divides the alert space into distinct segments where each device recognizes its own alerts through unique patterns derived from its device identifier and the caller's information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making each device's alert experience unique through device-specific acoustic characteristics. Each device generates alerts with locally adapted qualities based on its own identifier, ensuring that only the intended device responds to its specific alert pattern while ignoring others.
2Reliability
If distinctive ring tones are assigned to each contact, then callers can be distinguished, but the setup process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling devices to automatically generate and configure their own distinctive alert patterns without user intervention. The system uses the device's own identifier and incoming call information to autonomously create unique acoustic signatures, eliminating the need for manual contacts list management and ring tone assignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring each device with its unique identifier that serves as the basis for generating alert patterns. This preliminary setup allows the device to immediately begin using distinctive alerts upon receiving calls, without requiring subsequent manual configuration of contacts or ring tones.
3Reliability
If familiar ring tones are used, then users can easily recognize alerts, but infrequent callers become unrecognizable with less familiar alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making alert patterns adaptive rather than static. The acoustic signatures dynamically incorporate both device-specific characteristics and caller-specific information, allowing the system to maintain recognizability for frequent callers while providing distinct identification for infrequent callers through the same dynamic generation process.
4Reliability
If personalized ring tones are used, then users can distinguish their device alerts, but many people find the available rings irritating or silly sounding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying acoustic parameters such as frequency, duration, and pattern based on device identifiers and caller information. Rather than selecting from pre-defined irritating ring tones, the system dynamically adjusts acoustic parameters to generate distinctive yet pleasant alert patterns that are less likely to cause user irritation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of generating at least two distinctive auditory alerts upon receiving a transmission or telephone call at a device is described. Data indicative of a first plurality of sounds corresponding to a user of a device configured to receive the transmission or telephone call is accessed, such as from a memory. The first plurality of sounds is played at the device so as to identify a received transmission or telephone call being directed to the user. A telephone number, subscriber name or identifier associated with a transmitting or calling party of the transmission or telephone call is accessed. Data indicative of a second plurality of sounds designating the transmitting or calling party based on the subscriber name, telephone number or identifier is retrieved, such as from a data structure, and the second plurality of sounds is played at the device so as to identify the transmitting or calling party.