Audio Environment Manager for Dynamic Volume Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio devices, such as portable music players and mobile phones, isolate users from their surroundings, making it difficult for others to get their attention without interrupting the music or requiring the user to manually pause the audio.
Innovation Solution
An audio environment manager that identifies audio events in the surrounding environment and controls the audio player accordingly, such as pausing or lowering the volume, and records audio input to replay obscured sounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If music is played at high volume to provide immersive audio experience, then audio quality and user engagement are improved, but awareness of environmental audio events deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The audio player dynamically adjusts its output volume based on real-time environmental audio detection. When environmental audio events are detected, the system automatically lowers the music volume or pauses playback, creating a dynamic balance between immersive audio experience and environmental awareness without requiring manual user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the environmental audio landscape and uses this feedback to automatically control the audio player. The feedback loop detects environmental sounds, processes this information, and automatically adjusts music playback accordingly, resolving the contradiction between high volume enjoyment and environmental awareness.
2Device complexity
If manual control is required to pause music for conversations, then audio player simplicity is maintained, but ease of social interaction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The audio player performs self-service by automatically detecting environmental audio events and adjusting its own playback without requiring user commands. The system serves itself by monitoring conversations, music playback, and environmental sounds, then automatically pausing or lowering volume when needed, making social interaction convenient while maintaining simple user operation.
3Device complexity
If audio events are not recorded and replayed, then device complexity remains low, but loss of information regarding obscured environmental sounds increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by continuously recording environmental audio events before they are obscured by music playback. When environmental audio events are detected, the system has already captured the relevant audio information and can replay it later, preventing information loss without requiring complex real-time processing during critical moments.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and computer program product containing instructions for analyzing audio input to a receiver coupled to an audio player to identify an audio event as one of a plurality of pre-determined audio event types. In response to identifying the audio event, the audio player is caused to adjust an audio output. Adjusting the audio output may include causing the audio player to pause playing audio output or to lower the volume of the audio output. The audio input to the receiver may be recorded. In response to identifying the audio event, the audio player may be caused to replay a recorded portion of the audio input. The recorded portion of the audio input may include a portion recorded prior to identifying the audio event.