Acoustic Token Locator for Misplaced Remote Controls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of high definition audio and video playback devices often misplace or forget the location of remote controls, especially in shared usage scenarios, making it difficult to locate them.

Innovation Solution

A mobile device based control device locator system that uses acoustic token transmission and reception to determine the distance and direction of a control device, utilizing electroacoustic transducers and acoustic sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If acoustic token transmission information is transmitted to activate electroacoustic transducer, then distance and direction information can be determined, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance and direction information accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses acoustic tokens as intermediary signals between the mobile device and control device. The electroacoustic transducer converts electrical signals to acoustic waves, which serve as carriers of location information. This intermediary approach enables precise measurement without requiring direct complex communication protocols between devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical or direct electronic location tracking systems with acoustic field-based measurement. By using sound waves generated by electroacoustic transducers and detected by acoustic sensors, the system achieves location determination through physical acoustic propagation rather than complex electronic coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If multiple acoustic sensors are used to receive acoustic signals, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic signal detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor array complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the detection function across multiple acoustic sensors positioned at different locations within the mobile device. Each sensor captures acoustic signals from different spatial perspectives, and the system processes these segmented measurements to determine the control device's location with higher precision through triangulation or signal comparison.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If real-time location tracking is implemented, then productivity improves, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation finding efficiencyVSAvoidmobile device energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements location tracking through periodic acoustic token transmission rather than continuous monitoring. The mobile device or control device periodically emits acoustic tokens, and location is determined at these discrete intervals. This periodic approach provides real-time location information when needed while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 users to efficiently locate control devices by providing real-time distance and direction information, improving usability and reducing the time spent searching for misplaced remote controls.

Implementation Method 1

transmit acoustic token transmission information to the control device to activate an electroacoustic transducer on the control device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 2

receiving an acoustic signal including an acoustic token signal from the control device via a plurality of acoustic sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection:

Data Source

PatentUS20250028018A1Mobile device based control device locator

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 ROKU INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method, and/or computer program product embodiments for a mobile device based control device locator. An embodiment operates by receiving a request to locate a control device, transmitting acoustic token transmission information to the control device to activate an electroacoustic transducer on the control device, receiving an acoustic signal including an acoustic token signal from the control device via a plurality of acoustic sensors, and determining distance information of the control device based on the received acoustic token signal generated by the electroacoustic transducer of the control device.