Adaptive Audio Interface for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of mobile devices with touchscreens face difficulties in determining the proper orientation for making or receiving calls, as they need to position the device with the speaker above and microphone below, which can be confusing and time-consuming, especially when the device is rotated.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an orientation component, such as accelerometers or gyroscopes, to automatically detect the device's orientation and activate the appropriate speaker and microphone based on the detected position, allowing for adaptive graphical and audio user interfaces that adjust according to the device's orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the device uses a touchscreen display with fixed speaker and microphone positions, then the audio components are simple to manufacture, but the user must manually determine the proper orientation which increases operation complexity and time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of determining device orientationVSAvoidcomplexity of orientation detection system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device automatically determines its own orientation using an orientation detection mechanism and self-configures the audio components accordingly, eliminating the need for user intervention. The system serves itself by detecting orientation and autonomously selecting the appropriate speaker-microphone pair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the audio components based on the detected orientation parameter. When orientation is detected, the system dynamically selects which speaker and microphone to activate, changing the operational state from static to adaptive based on physical orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the device activates all audio components regardless of orientation, then the response time is fast, but energy is wasted by activating unnecessary components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of activating audio componentsVSAvoidenergy consumption of audio components
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The orientation detection is performed preliminarily before activating audio components. The system detects the device orientation first, then based on this pre-detected information, selectively activates only the necessary audio components, avoiding energy waste while maintaining fast response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of activating all audio components excessively, the system applies partial action by activating only the specific speaker and microphone needed for the current orientation. This selective activation reduces energy consumption while maintaining full functionality when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive 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

This solution enables users to quickly respond to or initiate calls without manually determining the device's orientation, reducing call duration and network congestion by automatically configuring the audio components based on the device's position, thus enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating an orientation component, such as accelerometers or gyroscopes, to automatically detect the device's orientation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAccelerometer: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

Incorporating an orientation component, such as accelerometers or gyroscopes, to automatically detect the device's orientation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGyroscope: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 3

a first audio component, such as a speaker, is activated based on the detected orientation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 4

a second audio component, such as a microphone, is activated based on the detected orientation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Data Source

PatentEP2434732B1System and method for rotating a user interface for a mobile device
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2434732B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2434732B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2434732B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and method for determining the orientation of a mobile device for displaying a graphical user interface and for activating an audio user interface in response to an incoming call or outgoing call. For the graphical user interface, depending on the detected orientation of the mobile device, the graphical user interface can be displayed in a first vertical orientation, a second vertical orientation, a first horizontal orientation, and a second horizontal orientation. For the audio user interface, depending on the detected orientation of the mobile device, a speaker and a microphone can be activated based on the detected vertical orientation so that the activated speaker is near the top of the mobile device and the activated microphone is near the bottom of mobile device.