Audio Volume Control Using External Device Noise State Data
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content reproducing electronic apparatuses without microphones face difficulties in automatically adjusting volume based on ambient noise, as they cannot effectively measure or account for noise levels from neighboring devices.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus that communicates with neighboring devices to receive state information, obtains noise information, and adjusts the volume of the audio output accordingly, using both predetermined noise data and user-set volume histories, even in the absence of a built-in microphone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a content reproducing electronic apparatus does not include a microphone, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to automatically adjust volume based on ambient noise is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external electronic apparatus (such as a smartphone or wearable device with a microphone) as an intermediary to perform noise measurement. The external device captures ambient noise and transmits noise level information to the content reproducing apparatus, enabling automatic volume adjustment without requiring the apparatus itself to have a microphone, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced device complexity and maintained automation capability.
2Extent of automation
If an electronic apparatus includes a microphone for measuring noise, then the automatic volume adjustment capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the noise measurement function from the content reproducing electronic apparatus and relocates it to an external electronic apparatus. By separating the microphone function from the main device, the content reproducing apparatus can achieve automatic volume adjustment capability while maintaining simpler device complexity, as it only needs to receive and process noise level data from the external device rather than incorporating its own microphone and associated hardware.
3Measurement precision
If the electronic apparatus uses state information from external devices to determine noise levels, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an external electronic apparatus as a mediator that performs the complex task of noise measurement and state information transmission. The external device captures ambient noise through its microphone, processes the information, and transmits relevant noise level data to the content reproducing apparatus. This approach improves measurement precision by utilizing the external device's noise measurement capabilities while managing device complexity through selective data reception rather than full noise analysis functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A content reproducing electronic apparatus includes a communicator including circuitry, an audio output device, and a processor configured to receive state information indicating a state of an external electronic apparatus from the external electronic apparatus located around the electronic apparatus via the communicator, obtain noise information corresponding to the received state information, and control the audio output device to output an audio signal of a content based on a volume corresponding to the obtained noise information.