Audio Bridging With Moving Output Devices for Consistent Sound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio playback systems, such as smart speakers, provide limited sound output range, leading to inconsistent listening experiences as users move within a space, causing portions of audio content to be missed or faintly heard.
Innovation Solution
An output device, like a headset, synchronizes and adjusts audio playback with a playback device to maintain a consistent sound level by compensating for distance changes using acoustic time of flight and sound level adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If audio content is played back through a single playback device (e.g., smart speaker), then the system complexity is low, but the sound output range is limited and listening experience becomes inconsistent as users move within the space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the audio playback function across multiple devices: a first playback device (e.g., smart speaker) and a second playback device (e.g., portable media player). This segmentation allows the audio content to be distributed across different spatial locations, expanding the effective sound output range while maintaining manageable complexity at each individual device level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component that coordinates between the first playback device, the second playback device, and the user device. This mediator manages the complex synchronization and switching logic, allowing the system to achieve extended adaptability without proportionally increasing the complexity burden on individual components.
2Ease of operation
If the user moves away from the playback device, then the user gains mobility and freedom of movement, but the sound level decreases and audio content becomes faint or missed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller receives information about user position or device movement and dynamically adjusts the audio playback configuration. Based on this feedback, the system determines when to switch between playback devices or adjust volume levels to maintain consistent audio quality despite user mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic audio playback system where the active playback device can change based on user movement. The system transitions from a static single-device playback mode to a dynamic multi-device mode, allowing the audio source to adapt to the user's changing position and maintain reliable audio quality throughout the space.
3Reliability
If audio playback is switched between multiple devices, then the sound output range and listening experience consistency improve, but the synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves as a centralized intermediary that manages all synchronization logic between multiple playback devices. By concentrating the coordination function in a single controller rather than requiring peer-to-peer synchronization between devices, the system achieves reliable listening experience consistency while keeping the synchronization complexity localized and manageable within the controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by having the controller pre-coordinate playback switching and synchronization before audio quality degradation occurs. The system proactively manages device transitions and timing adjustments in advance, preventing synchronization issues rather than reacting to them, thereby reducing the effective complexity of real-time coordination.
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 a continuous and uninterrupted audio experience by synchronizing and adjusting sound levels as the user moves away from or towards the playback device, maintaining a consistent perceived sound level.
Implementation Method 1
determining an acoustic time of flight (ToF) of sound produced by the second speaker
Implementation Method 2
play back the audio content through the first speaker
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a first electronic device that includes a first speaker, the method includes, receiving, via a network, a representation of audio content, while a second electronic device is playing back the audio content through a second speaker, determining that the first electronic device is moving away from the second electronic device, and, in response to determining that the first electronic device is moving away from the second electronic device, using the representation of audio to play back the audio content through the first speaker.