Audio System Location-Based Adaptation for Wearables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of wearable devices, such as artificial reality headsets, face complexity in customizing audio presentation for different locations, requiring manual input adjustments to account for varying acoustic properties, which increases user interaction and complexity.

Innovation Solution

The method involves obtaining data on the local area using sensors, determining the location, and modifying audio content based on stored user preferences and acoustic parameters associated with that location, automatically updating audio presentation without manual user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration of audio parameters is used for different locations, then audio presentation can be tailored to local acoustic properties, but user interaction and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio presentation adaptationVSAvoiduser interaction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects the user's location using sensors (GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and retrieves pre-configured audio parameters for that location without requiring manual user input. The wearable device self-adjusts audio presentation based on stored location profiles, eliminating the need for users to manually configure audio settings for different environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Audio parameters for various locations are pre-configured and stored in the wearable device before the user arrives at those locations. When the user enters a new location, the system has already prepared the appropriate audio settings in advance, allowing for immediate adaptation without requiring real-time manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration of audio parameters is performed for each location, then audio can be optimized for local acoustic properties, but the amount of user interaction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation-specific audio optimizationVSAvoiduser interaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects the user's location using sensors (GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and retrieves pre-configured audio parameters for that location without requiring manual user input. The wearable device self-adjusts audio presentation based on stored location profiles, eliminating the need for users to manually configure audio settings for different environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If acoustic parameters are manually adjusted for different locations, then audio presentation accuracy improves, but system configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio presentation accuracyVSAvoidsystem configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Audio parameters for various locations are pre-configured and stored in the wearable device before the user arrives at those locations. When the user enters a new location, the system has already prepared the appropriate audio settings in advance, allowing for immediate adaptation without requiring real-time manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects the user's location using sensors (GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and retrieves pre-configured audio parameters for that location without requiring manual user input. The wearable device self-adjusts audio presentation based on stored location profiles, eliminating the need for users to manually configure audio settings for different environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4412243A1Modifying audio for presentation to a user based on a determined location of an audio system presenting the audio
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • EP4412243A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4412243A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4412243A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An audio system customizes presentation of audio content to a user based on a location of the user. The audio system may be integrated into a headset or another wearable device. The audio system includes a position sensor, a sensor array, a transducer array, and an audio controller. The audio controller determines a location of the headset from the position sensor. Based on the determined location and a model, the audio controller retrieves one or more audio parameters for the location. The controller updates parameters of one or more audio functions (e.g., noise suppression, beamforming, what audio is streamed, etc.) based on the audio parameters determined for the location. Active or passive feedback from the user may be used to update the model.