Audio Input Selection via Server Score Calculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Listening electronic devices, such as hearing aids, often receive audio inputs with reduced clarity and volume due to noise and distance, resulting in suboptimal audio quality.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that calculate audio scores for multiple electronic devices to select the best audio source, improving audio quality by presenting the device audio with superior clarity and volume at the listening electronic device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the listening electronic device receives audio input directly from the environment, then the device can capture audio without requiring other electronic devices, but the audio clarity and volume are reduced due to noise and distance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that receives audio inputs from multiple electronic devices, calculates audio scores based on various factors, and selects the optimal audio source. This mediator enables the listening electronic device to access high-quality audio from remote devices without direct peer-to-peer connection, resolving the contradiction between audio quality and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The server performs multiple functions including receiving audio inputs from various device types, calculating audio scores using different parameters, selecting the best audio source, and transmitting the selected audio to the listening device. This multi-functional approach consolidates complex operations into a single universal component, improving audio quality while managing system complexity.

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

2Reliability

If the listening electronic device uses audio from multiple electronic devices, then the audio quality can be improved by selecting the best source, but the complexity of selecting and managing multiple audio sources increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio clarityVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service through automated audio score calculation and source selection. The server automatically evaluates audio inputs from multiple devices using predefined criteria, selects the optimal source without user intervention, and presents it to the listening device. This automation maintains audio clarity while preserving operational simplicity for the end user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback mechanisms by calculating audio scores based on multiple parameters and using this information to select the best audio source. The continuous evaluation and selection process provides feedback-driven optimization, ensuring high audio clarity while maintaining simple operation through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the listening electronic device relies on nearby audio sources, then the system operation is simple, but the audio volume and clarity are reduced due to distance and noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio volumeVSAvoidcoverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the audio source selection from spatial proximity to a network dimension. Instead of being limited to nearby physical devices, the system can access audio inputs from remote electronic devices through network connections. This dimensional shift enables high-volume, clear audio transmission regardless of physical distance, while the server manages the expanded coverage area systematically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11432075B2Selecting audio input
Publication Date: 2022.08.30 LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
  • US11432075B2 patent drawing
  • US11432075B2 patent drawing
  • US11432075B2 patent drawing

AI summary

For selecting audio input, a processor calculates audio scores for device audio from a plurality of electronic devices. The processor further selects a first device audio based on the audio scores. The processor presents present the first device audio at a listening electronic device.