Adaptive Alert System for Noise Masked Exposure Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

In noisy and vibrational environments, conventional mobile communication devices struggle to effectively alert users to excessive sound and vibration exposure, as audible alerts may be missed in noise, and tactile alerts can be weak or masked by ambient vibrations, posing health risks and compliance challenges.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that measure ambient sound and vibration levels using a mobile communication device and an associated vibration accessory, adjusting alert settings to increase perception, including increasing speaker volume and vibration intensity, and reporting exposure to a backend system for compliance monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If audible alerts are used to notify users of excessive exposure, then the alert can be heard clearly, but the alert may not be perceived in noisy environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealert perception reliabilityVSAvoidnoise interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple alert modalities (audible, visual, and tactile vibrations) into a single alert system. When noise levels are high, the system merges visual and tactile alerts with audible alerts to ensure the user perceives the notification despite noisy environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The alert system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on measured environmental noise levels. When ambient noise exceeds a threshold, the system automatically enhances or switches to alternative alert modalities (visual indicators, stronger vibrations) to maintain reliable alert perception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If tactile alerts are used to notify users of excessive exposure, then the alert can be perceived in noisy environments, but the vibration may be weak or masked by ambient vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealert perception reliabilityVSAvoidambient vibration interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple alert modalities (audible, visual, and tactile vibrations) into a single alert system. When ambient vibration levels are high, the system merges visual and audible alerts with tactile vibrations to ensure the user perceives the notification despite vibrational interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The alert system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on measured environmental vibration levels. When ambient vibrations exceed a threshold, the system automatically enhances or switches to alternative alert modalities (visual indicators, audible alerts, stronger vibrations) to maintain reliable alert perception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If visual alerts are used to notify users of excessive exposure, then the alert can be seen clearly, but the user may not notice it long after the message is received

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealert perception reliabilityVSAvoidalert response time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple alert modalities (audible, visual, and tactile vibrations) into a single alert system. By merging these modalities, the system increases the likelihood that the user will perceive the alert immediately through at least one sense, reducing the time delay before the user notices and responds to the excessive exposure warning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 users are alerted to excessive exposure levels, enhancing compliance with occupational safety standards by increasing the likelihood of alert perception and reducing health risks through adaptive alert mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a first audio level of ambient sound at a location of the mobile device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Sound

Implementation Method 2

measuring a first ambient vibration level at the location of the mobile communication device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration detection: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

the mobile communication device playing a preselected audio sound over a speaker component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 4

a typical vibration system in conventional communication devices is relatively weak

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromechanical transduction:

Data Source

PatentUS10134245B1System, method, and apparatus for monitoring audio and vibrational exposure of users and alerting users to excessive exposure

Publication Date: 2018.11.20 TRACTOUCH MOBILE PARTNERS LLC

AI summary

A system, method, and apparatus for monitoring ambient sound and vibration levels at the location of a user allows a determination as to whether the user is exceeding a maximum allowed exposure time as determined by an occupational standard. The sound and vibration level data can be evaluated locally at the mobile communication device, as well as transmitted to a backend system to allow supervision of personnel associated with the backend system as a further assurance that personnel comply with exposure limits. Further, the mobile communication device, in response to ambient conditions, adjusts the settings of its alerting sound and the vibration level of an associated vibration accessory to ensure perception of alerts by the mobile communication device for the user of the mobile communication device.