Audio Diagnostics System for Real-Time Content Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Media devices often output audio content that does not match the intended audio content associated with video content, leading to suboptimal audio experience.

Innovation Solution

An audio diagnostics system equipped with a microphone and processor that detects output audio, compares it with the intended audio characteristics, and performs remedial actions to ensure alignment, such as changing audio input channels to match user preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the media device outputs audio content without verification, then the device complexity is reduced, but the audio content accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio content accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a microphone to capture output audio, processes it through audio fingerprinting to generate an audio signature, and compares this signature with the expected audio signature from metadata. This feedback loop enables automatic detection and correction of audio content mismatches without increasing physical device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces physical verification mechanisms with digital audio fingerprinting and signature comparison. Instead of using complex hardware to verify audio content, the system uses signal processing algorithms to generate and compare audio signatures, reducing mechanical complexity while improving accuracy.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If the system performs audio verification and correction, then the audio content accuracy is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio content accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs audio fingerprinting and signature generation in real-time as audio plays back, rather than waiting for complete playback. The microphone captures audio continuously, and the processor generates signatures on-the-fly, allowing early detection and correction without requiring full audio processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system compares audio signatures at multiple points during playback and can trigger correction after detecting a single mismatch. This partial verification approach is sufficient to ensure accuracy without requiring exhaustive checking of the entire audio content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If no audio verification is performed, then the processing power is reduced, but the audio content accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio content accuracyVSAvoidprocessing power
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential audio signature features from the complete audio signal for comparison purposes. By processing only the fingerprinted audio characteristics rather than the entire audio content, the system reduces processing power requirements while maintaining verification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10359991B2Apparatus, systems and methods for audio content diagnostics
Publication Date: 2019.07.23 DISH TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • US10359991B2 patent drawing
  • US10359991B2 patent drawing
  • US10359991B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Media content systems and methods are operable to detect sound using one or more microphones during presentation of a media content event. The audio content output is changed by a remedial action that is performed if the audio content detected by the microphones does not correspond to the intended audio content of the presented media content event.