Adaptive Telephone Audible Alerts Against Ambient Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Missed calls often occur due to ambient noise interfering with audible alerts from telephones, as visual and vibration alerts are not always effective in noisy environments or when the phone is not in view.
Innovation Solution
A telephone system that electronically samples ambient sound and automatically generates an audible alert with frequencies dissonant or maximally dissonant with the ambient sound, dynamically adjusting tempo and volume to ensure the alert is more noticeable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional audible alerts are used, then the alert can be heard in quiet environments, but the alert becomes indistinguishable from ambient noise in noisy conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The audible alert dynamically adapts its frequency characteristics based on real-time ambient noise analysis. The system continuously monitors the acoustic environment and adjusts the alert frequency to be dissonant with dominant ambient frequencies, ensuring the alert remains distinguishable from background noise throughout the call waiting period
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the frequency parameter of the audible alert based on measured ambient noise characteristics. By analyzing the spectral content of ambient sound and selecting alert frequencies that are maximally dissonant with ambient frequencies, the system ensures the alert stands out from background noise while maintaining audibility
2Ease of operation
If visual alerts are used, then the alert can be seen, but the alert goes unnoticed if the phone is not in view
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses ambient noise characteristics as an intermediary to generate the alert frequency. By analyzing the acoustic environment and using its spectral properties to determine the alert frequency, the system creates an alert that is inherently distinguishable from background noise without requiring visual attention
3Ease of operation
If vibration alerts are used, then the alert can be felt, but the alert is unnoticeable during physical activity or in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical vibration alerts with acoustically-adapted audible alerts. Instead of relying on mechanical vibration that can be masked by physical activity, the system uses sound waves with frequencies specifically chosen to be distinguishable from ambient noise, providing a more reliable alert mechanism in active environments
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, ambient sound in audible range of a telephone is electronically sampled, and an audible alert is automatically generated in response to an incoming call signal as a function of the sampled ambient sound. The ambient sound sample may be analyzed in terms of selected parameters such as frequency, amplitude, and tempo. The audible alert may then be generated as a function of the selected parameters in such a way that the audible alert is more noticeable in the presence of the ambient sound. For example, an alert frequency that is dissonant with an identified frequency of the ambient sound may be generated.