Audio System Control Terminal Stereo Pair Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In audio systems with multiple devices connected via a network, there is a need to display the relationship between devices on a list screen to facilitate easy selection for command transmission, particularly for stereo reproduction, where devices with single speaker units can only produce monaural output, and there is a demand to treat multiple devices as a single unit for stereo reproduction.
Innovation Solution
The audio system configures a network with a mobile terminal device acting as a controller, allowing devices to be set as stereo pairs, where one device acts as a parent and another as a child, enabling them to reproduce different channels of the same content, and displays them on the list screen as a single unit, with commands transmitted only to the parent device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple audio devices are displayed separately on the list screen, then each device can be individually selected, but it becomes difficult to select multiple devices for stereo reproduction as a single unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple audio devices that form a stereo pair into a single composite display unit on the list screen. This composite unit represents both devices together, allowing the user to select the entire stereo pair with a single action rather than having to select individual devices separately. The merging principle directly resolves the contradiction by combining the display representation of multiple devices while preserving their stereo relationship information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the composite display unit contains information about multiple audio devices within it. The composite unit acts as a container that nests the individual device identities and their stereo pairing relationship. This nesting allows the UI to present a simplified selection interface while maintaining access to the underlying individual device information when needed.
2Loss of information
If audio devices are displayed with their relationship information, then stereo reproduction capability is visible, but the display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the display representation of stereo-paired devices into a single composite unit, the patent reduces display complexity. Instead of showing multiple separate device entries that would require additional visual indicators for relationships, the composite unit inherently represents the relationship through its unified appearance. This merging approach preserves relationship information while simplifying the overall display structure.
3Productivity
If commands are transmitted to each audio device individually, then precise control is achieved, but the number of commands and processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the command transmission process by sending a single command to the composite display unit, which then distributes the command to both audio devices in the stereo pair. This approach improves productivity by reducing the number of individual command transmissions from two separate commands to one unified command, while still maintaining precise control over both devices through the coordinated distribution mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control unit of a control terminal device displays a list screen of a plurality of reproduction devices on a display unit based on relationship information between the plurality of reproduction devices, receives selection of a reproduction device as a target which is made to perform a content reproduction operation among the plurality of reproduction devices, and transmits a command to the reproduction device selected as the target.