Audio Dose Management in Media Players
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile media players contribute significantly to 'social noise,' posing a hearing impairment risk due to high sound pressure levels, exceeding safe limits, and existing technologies fail to effectively manage cumulative audio doses to prevent hearing damage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining and managing the cumulative audio dose of media players by calculating the audio dose of media tracks based on sound pressure levels, using weighting curves to account for human auditory perception, and generating playlists that keep the cumulative audio dose below safe limits, ensuring user safety while maintaining user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users listen to music at high audio volume levels for longer periods, then user experience and music enjoyment are improved, but hearing impairment risk increases due to excessive sound pressure levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the cumulative audio dose and provides feedback by adjusting playlist selection and volume levels. The processor tracks the user's listening history and automatically modifies future music selections to keep the cumulative sound pressure level within safe limits, creating a closed-loop control system that balances enjoyment with hearing protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The media player automatically manages audio dose without requiring user intervention. The system self-adjusts by selecting appropriate music tracks from the library and controlling volume levels based on the calculated cumulative audio dose, eliminating the need for manual volume adjustments or user awareness of safe listening limits.
2Reliability
If the media player automatically adjusts playlists to meet audio dose targets, then hearing safety is improved, but user control and manual selection freedom are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts playlist selection based on real-time cumulative audio dose calculations. The processor continuously evaluates the user's listening history and automatically modifies future music selections to keep the cumulative sound pressure level within safe limits, creating a flexible system that adapts to both safety requirements and user preferences.
3Reliability
If the system monitors and calculates cumulative audio dose in real-time, then hearing protection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores audio dose information for music tracks in the database. When a user requests music playback, the processor quickly retrieves pre-computed dose values and makes immediate playlist adjustments based on the cumulative total, avoiding complex real-time calculations during actual playback and reducing computational burden.
Data Source
AI summary
The present document relates to media players, such as portable electronic devices, vehicle audio systems, home stereo systems, etc. In particular, it relates to the management of the sound pressure level generated by portable electronic devices. A method and system for controlling the cumulated audio dose of a user of a media player is described. The method comprises the steps of determining the audio dose already consumed by the user and of selecting one or more media tracks for play back on the media player based on the audio dose of the media track and the already consumed audio dose of the user.