Audio Recording Retrieval Using Microphone Sound Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for retrieving sound recordings are time-consuming and cumbersome, requiring users to provide multiple inputs to locate and select desired sound files, especially when the storage location is unknown.

Innovation Solution

A data processing apparatus and method that utilizes input data from microphones to automatically select candidate sound recordings based on speech-based or non-speech-based inputs, employing audio analysis and machine learning to match user sounds with stored sound recordings, and allows for mixing or modifying these recordings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional manual search methods are used to locate sound recordings, then users can retrieve stored sound recordings, but the process becomes time-consuming and troublesome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound recording retrieval efficiencyVSAvoidtime required to locate and retrieve sound recordings
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical search operations with an automated acoustic system. The microphone captures sound waves from user inputs (clapping, stomping, whistling), and the processor automatically analyzes these acoustic patterns to retrieve matching sound recordings from storage, eliminating the need for manual navigation through file systems or libraries.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service retrieval where the user's own body sounds (claps, stomps, whistles) become the search query. The apparatus automatically processes these sounds, compares them against stored recordings, and retrieves matches without requiring the user to manually search or navigate interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If users are not familiar with storage locations of sound recordings, then users cannot easily locate desired files, but requiring user inputs with displayed user interfaces complicates the retrieval process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of sound recording retrievalVSAvoidcomplexity of user interface interactions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex graphical user interface interactions with acoustic signal processing. Instead of requiring users to navigate menus, search bars, or file directories, the system captures acoustic signals from user inputs and automatically retrieves sound recordings based on acoustic pattern matching, significantly simplifying the operation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides a universal search mechanism that works regardless of the user's familiarity with storage locations or file organization. The acoustic-based retrieval method is independent of how sound recordings are stored or organized in the database, making the system equally easy to use for all users regardless of their knowledge of the storage system.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4210052B1Apparatus and method for audio data analysis
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP4210052B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4210052B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4210052B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A data processing apparatus comprises storage circuitry to store a plurality of sound recordings, receiving circuitry to receive input data indicative of one or more sounds detected by a microphone, selection circuitry to select, from the plurality of sounds recordings, one or more candidate sound recordings in dependence upon the input data and output circuitry to output data in dependence upon one or more of the candidate sound recordings.