Aircraft Handset Speech Intelligibility Feedback via Vibration Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems in airplanes struggle with assessing and improving speech intelligibility, as users are often unaware of their own speech clarity issues, leading to incomplete or prolonged communication due to reduced intelligibility.

Innovation Solution

A method and devices that analyze speech intelligibility using a control unit with a control program, providing alarm routines through vibration signals to alert users of poor speech clarity, allowing for immediate improvement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If speech information data is transmitted between technical devices, then communication functionality is achieved, but speech intelligibility cannot be assessed by the user in real-time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeech intelligibility assessmentVSAvoiduser awareness of speech quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system analyzes speech information data exchanged between technical devices and provides feedback to the user through alarm routines when speech intelligibility falls below acceptable thresholds. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables users to become aware of their speech quality issues in real-time and make immediate corrections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A control unit with control program acts as an intermediary between the speech communication system and the user. It receives speech information data, performs intelligibility analysis, and translates the analysis results into user-comprehensible alarm routines, thereby bridging the gap between technical measurement and user perception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If users speak without awareness of their speech clarity, then communication can proceed without interruption, but speech intelligibility deteriorates leading to incomplete communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm routine provides immediate feedback to users about their speech intelligibility, enabling them to self-correct without interrupting the overall communication flow. This maintains productivity while ensuring reliability by preventing incomplete communications caused by poor speech intelligibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual self-assessment of speech quality with automated acoustic analysis. The control unit objectively measures speech intelligibility parameters and compares them against predefined thresholds, eliminating the need for users to subjectively evaluate their own speech clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If alarm routines are provided to alert users of poor speech intelligibility, then speech clarity can be improved, but additional processing and control mechanisms are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeech intelligibility monitoringVSAvoidcontrol system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit with control program serves multiple functions: it manages the analysis of speech information data, determines intelligibility quality, decides when alarm routines should be triggered, and controls the delivery of feedback to users. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the existing speech information data already being transmitted between technical devices for analysis, rather than requiring separate microphones or sensors. The control unit leverages available communication infrastructure to perform intelligibility assessment without adding significant hardware complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4645906A1Method for informing about speech intelligibility qualities, headset device, hand microphone device, handset for airplanes, system for communication routines in and around airplanes, airplane
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP4645906A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4645906A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4645906A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method (M) for informing about speech intelligibility qualities comprising: receiving (M1) of speech information data exchanged between a first technical device and a second technical device that is currently used by a user; analyzing (M2) a speech intelligibility of the speech information data using a control unit (2) with a control program (3); providing (M3) at least one alarm routine for the user depending on the analysis result of the speech intelligibility of the speech information data. Furthermore a headset device (8), a hand microphone device (6), a handset for airplanes (1), a system (13) for communication routines in and around airplanes and an airplane (100) are presented.