Acoustic TV State Detection via Signal Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication systems fail to detect whether a connected television is turned off or configured to a different input, leading to unawareness of ongoing communication sessions by local users.

Innovation Solution

The communication system outputs a reference audio signal and compares it with an ambient audio signal to determine if the television is properly configured for outputting audio, using techniques such as cross-correlation and signal presence detection to determine the television's state and take appropriate actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the communication system transmits signals without detecting television state, then the communication session can proceed without interruption, but the local user remains unaware that the television is not outputting the video or audio

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication session continuityVSAvoiduser awareness of television state

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by capturing ambient audio through a microphone, comparing it with the reference audio signal being transmitted, and using this feedback information to determine television state. This allows the system to detect whether the television is properly configured and provide appropriate user notifications while maintaining communication session continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If the communication system implements audio signal comparison to detect television state, then user awareness of television configuration is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional detection and comparison mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser awareness of television stateVSAvoiddetection and comparison system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an intermediary approach by introducing a microphone as a simple audio capture device and a comparison module that analyzes ambient audio signals. This intermediary mechanism provides television state detection without requiring complex direct communication with the television, using instead the already-present audio output as a mediator for state determination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic detection mechanisms with an acoustic field-based approach. Instead of using dedicated sensors or communication protocols to detect television state, the system substitutes this with acoustic signal capture and analysis, using the television's own audio output as the detection medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If the communication system continuously monitors audio signals to detect television state, then detection accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetelevision state detection accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption for continuous monitoring

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic monitoring of audio signals rather than continuous monitoring. The comparison module can check ambient audio at intervals or trigger comparisons based on specific events (such as when audio output is expected), thereby maintaining detection accuracy while reducing energy consumption associated with constant monitoring.

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

Ensures that communication sessions are properly managed by determining the television's state, allowing for actions like ending sessions or switching to internal speakers if the television is not correctly configured, thereby maintaining effective communication.

Implementation Method 1

The communication system obtains an ambient audio signal from a local microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrophone transduction:

Implementation Method 2

The communication system may compare the audio signals by performing a cross correlation on the audio signals to obtain a similarity measure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCross-correlation analysis:

Implementation Method 3

the communication system may perform signal presence detection to determine if the identification audio signal is contained within the ambient audio signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal presence detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11627361B2Method to acoustically detect a state of an external media device using an identification signal

Publication Date: 2023.04.11 META PLATFORMS INC

AI summary

A communication system detects a state of a connected television. The communication system receives a request to establish a communication session with a local communication device via a network. The communication system outputs a reference audio signal to a locally connected audio output device. The communication system captures an ambient audio signal from a local microphone and compares the reference audio signal and the ambient audio signal to determine if the reference audio signal and the ambient audio signal match by meeting a similarity threshold. initiates an action with respect to the communication session based on the comparison.