Vehicle Audio Command Visualization With Source Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicles, particularly autonomous vehicles, struggle to effectively process and interpret external audio commands from authorized sources like emergency vehicles or law enforcement officers, which are crucial for operational decisions and passenger safety, often obscuring vital information due to serene cabin environments.

Innovation Solution

A system that processes external audio signals using microphones, noise cancellation, and authentication techniques to convert commands into clear visual indications, utilizing machine learning and sensor data to verify authenticity and generate visual cues on vehicle displays or handheld devices, ensuring only authorized commands are translated.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the vehicle maintains a serene cabin environment, then passenger comfort is improved, but external audio commands become obscured and harder to detect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger comfortVSAvoidexternal audio commands
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of external microphones, audio processing units, and visual display devices that mediate between external audio commands and passengers. The system captures audio externally, processes it through authentication and command detection algorithms, and presents it visually, thereby maintaining cabin serenity while ensuring command detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/audio-based command delivery system with an optical/visual system. Instead of relying on passengers to hear audio commands directly through the cabin environment, the system converts audio commands into visual representations displayed on screens or through other visual interfaces, substituting acoustic transmission with optical transmission.

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

2Measurement precision

If the vehicle processes all external audio, then command detection capability is improved, but false commands from unauthorized sources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommand detection capabilityVSAvoidauthorization accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing authentication verification before processing audio commands. The system first checks whether the audio source is authorized (e.g., emergency vehicles, law enforcement) using identification algorithms and authentication databases, and only then proceeds to detect and process commands from verified sources, preventing false commands from unauthorized sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors audio sources, verifies their authorization status, and adjusts processing based on authentication results. The feedback loop ensures that only commands from verified authorized sources are acted upon, maintaining reliability while preserving detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If visual representations of commands are displayed, then information accessibility is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidaudio processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional integrated system that combines audio capture, noise cancellation, authentication verification, command detection, and visual display capabilities within a unified architecture. This allows the same system to handle multiple tasks (audio processing, security verification, information presentation) without requiring separate independent systems, thereby managing complexity while enhancing accessibility.

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

Data Source

PatentUS20250340118A1Visualization of external audio commands
Publication Date: 2025.11.06 ZOOX INC
  • US20250340118A1 patent drawing
  • US20250340118A1 patent drawing
  • US20250340118A1 patent drawing

AI summary

This disclosure relates to methods, systems, and techniques for visualizing external audio captured by a microphone of the vehicle. Using the techniques described herein, external audio signals may be interpreted and converted into clear visual indicium that can be understood by individuals associated with the vehicle, such as passengers inside the vehicle or individuals awaiting pickup.