Acoustic Room Impulse Response Matching for Location Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal assistant devices struggle to accurately determine their location within a home, leading to inconsistent command interpretation and user experience, as existing methods are intrusive, data-intensive, and constrained by line-of-sight requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a microphone to acquire a room sample, including a room impulse response, to identify the device's location by matching it with stored profiles, allowing for seamless location determination and application of contextual settings without cameras or line-of-sight constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cameras or line-of-sight methods are used to determine location, then location determination accuracy is improved, but device complexity and privacy intrusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces camera-based visual positioning systems with an acoustic field-based system. Instead of using cameras to capture images and mechanically process them to determine location, the system uses speakers to emit acoustic stimuli and microphones to capture the resulting acoustic field, processing the acoustic signals to determine location. This substitution eliminates the need for complex camera hardware and image processing mechanisms while achieving location determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic fields as an intermediary medium between the device and the environment. Rather than directly using cameras to detect location or requiring direct line-of-sight visibility, the system uses sound waves as an intermediary that can penetrate obstacles and propagate through the environment. The acoustic field serves as a mediator that carries location information without requiring direct optical detection, thereby reducing device complexity and improving positioning capability in obstructed environments.
2Measurement precision
If cameras or line-of-sight methods are used to determine location, then location determination accuracy is improved, but privacy intrusion and user comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces camera-based visual surveillance with acoustic field-based detection. Instead of using cameras to capture visual data that can be used for surveillance and privacy intrusion, the system uses acoustic signals that are less intrusive and more difficult to misuse for surveillance purposes. The acoustic field method achieves location determination without the privacy concerns associated with visual monitoring, thereby reducing the harmful effect of privacy intrusion while maintaining location accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional location methods are used, then device functionality is maintained, but adaptability to different rooms and locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the device automatically determine its location and retrieve relevant room information before the user issues commands. The system proactively acquires acoustic field data, processes it to identify the current room, and loads the corresponding room profile with relevant information and settings. This preliminary location determination and information retrieval enables the device to adapt to different rooms and provide contextually appropriate responses, significantly improving adaptability while maintaining or enhancing command interpretation efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables a non-intrusive, privacy-friendly, and efficient method for personal assistant devices to determine their location, improving user experience by tailoring responses based on room-specific settings, and allowing for easy movement between rooms.
Implementation Method 1
at least one speaker configured to emit a stimulus
Implementation Method 2
acquire a room sample based on the stimulus, the room sample including a sample room impulse response
Data Source
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AI summary
A personal assistant device configured to determine a location of the personal assistant device and apply settings specific to the location may include at least one speaker configured to emit a stimulus noise, at least one microphone configured to acquire a room sample based on the stimulus noise, the room sample including a sample room impulse response, and a memory configured to maintain a plurality of room profiles, each room profile including a room location, a stored room impulse response, and a room specific response. A processor may be configured to receive the room sample, compare the sample room impulse response with at least one of the stored room impulse responses, determine whether the sample room impulse response matches one of the stored room impulse responses, apply the room specific response associated with the room profile of the matched stored room impulse response.