Audio Control Interface With Real-Time Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional single- or multi-channel audio recording devices lack real-time feedback and user input capabilities during recording or playback, limiting the ability to adjust audio parameters and enhance audio quality.

Innovation Solution

A computing device with a microphone array and graphical user interface (GUI) that receives real-time audio signals, allows user input to process and adjust audio parameters, and outputs processed signals, enabling real-time feedback and adjustments during recording or playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If real-time feedback and user input capabilities are added to audio recording devices, then user experience and audio quality are enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser input capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements real-time feedback mechanisms by displaying audio information from multiple microphones on a graphical user interface during recording. This allows users to see audio levels, waveform representations, and channel information in real-time, enabling them to make immediate adjustments to recording parameters and microphone selections to optimize audio quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system integrates multiple functions into a single audio recording device, including multi-channel audio capture, real-time display, user interaction interface, and audio processing capabilities. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require separate devices into one unified system, managing complexity through integration rather than proliferation of components.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple audio channels are processed in real-time with user adjustments, then audio quality is improved, but processing requirements and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system processes multiple audio channels in real-time but allows users to selectively enable or disable specific processing functions and audio channels based on their needs. This partial processing approach means that not all available channels and processing algorithms are always active, reducing energy consumption while maintaining the capability for high-quality audio processing when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3165004B1Single-channel or multi-channel audio control interface
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3165004B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3165004B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3165004B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A method of processing audio may include receiving, by a computing device, a plurality of real-time audio signals outputted by a plurality of microphones communicatively coupled to the computing device. The computing device may output to a display a graphical user interface (GUI) that presents audio information associated with the received audio signals. The one or more received audio signals may be processed based on a user input associated with the audio information presented via the GUI to generate one or more processed audio signals. The one or more processed audio signals may be output to, for example, one or more output devices such as speakers, headsets, and the like.