Audio Signal Strength Visualization on Portable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio communication technologies lack efficient feedback schemes for audio signal strength, making it difficult for users to determine if an audio recording is successful or of sufficient quality, leading to unnecessary re-recordings and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that collect audio signals, determine their strength, and visualize this strength using a mapping function to superimpose an illustrative scale on a graphic area, typically configured as concentric circles, allowing users to assess recording quality instantly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If no audio signal strength feedback is provided, then the system is simple, but users cannot determine recording quality leading to unnecessary re-recordings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback by calculating audio signal strength from collected audio data and displaying it through visual indicators (progress bars, circular progress, or numerical values). This feedback loop allows users to immediately see recording quality and make informed decisions about whether to re-record, eliminating the information loss while maintaining manageable system complexity through efficient signal processing algorithms.
2Ease of operation
If audio signal strength feedback is implemented, then users can determine recording quality, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual indicator elements as intermediaries between the audio signal strength data and the user. These indicators (progress bars, circular progress displays, or numerical readings) translate complex audio processing results into intuitive visual representations, making quality assessment easy for users while containing the processing complexity within the system's computational operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces potential mechanical or manual audio quality assessment methods with electronic signal processing and digital display systems. Audio signals are processed through computational algorithms that calculate strength metrics, which are then presented through graphical user interface elements, substituting any physical or manual evaluation processes with efficient electronic operations.
3Loss of time
If real-time audio feedback is displayed, then users get instant feedback, but more system resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial processing by calculating audio signal strength based on sampled portions of the audio data rather than analyzing every single data point in real-time. This approach provides sufficiently accurate feedback for user decision-making while consuming fewer computational resources, achieving a balance between immediate feedback and energy efficiency through strategic sampling and selective processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of illustrating audio signal strength includes at a portable computer device having one or more processors and memory storing programs executed by the one or more processors, collecting audio signal using the portable computer device; determining strength of the collected audio signal; computing an illustrative scale that corresponds to the audio signal strength using a mapping function; and superimposing the audio signal strength with the illustrative scale on a graphic area, wherein the graphic area includes an initial sub-area.