Audio Volume Stabilization Using User-Defined Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users experience discomfort due to significant volume changes when switching between audio streams, requiring constant manual adjustments to maintain a comfortable listening level, especially in shared environments where sudden spikes or drops in volume can be disturbing.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device sets minimum and maximum threshold volumes for audio signals, buffers the audio stream, determines volume peaks and valleys, and applies a calculated adjustment using a predefined algorithm to stabilize the volume within these thresholds, ensuring the audio remains within the desired dynamic range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual volume adjustment is used to maintain comfortable listening levels, then the user can control the volume to avoid discomfort, but the user must constantly adjust the volume which reduces ease of operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidtime for manual adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically monitors audio stream volume levels and adjusts the volume without user intervention. The processor detects volume peaks and valleys in real-time and applies gain adjustments autonomously, eliminating the need for manual volume control while maintaining comfortable listening levels throughout the audio stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the audio stream volume and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the volume output. By detecting volume peaks and valleys and responding with appropriate gain adjustments, the system creates a closed-loop control system that automatically maintains optimal volume levels based on real-time audio content analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If volume is increased to ensure clear audio content, then the audio becomes clearly audible, but sudden volume spikes may wake a baby or disturb others in adjacent rooms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio clarityVSAvoiddisturbance to others

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the volume based on the characteristics of the audio content being played. By detecting volume peaks and valleys in real-time and applying appropriate gain adjustments, the system adapts the output volume to match the audio stream's dynamic range, ensuring clear audio reproduction while preventing excessive volume spikes that could disturb others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the volume parameter dynamically based on the detected audio stream characteristics. By monitoring the audio signal and adjusting the gain parameter in response to detected peaks and valleys, the system maintains optimal audio clarity while preventing harmful volume excursions that could disturb sleeping infants or others in adjacent spaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If volume is decreased to avoid loud spikes, then disturbance to others is minimized, but the audio content may become too low to hear clearly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisturbance to othersVSAvoidaudio clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the volume based on the characteristics of the audio stream. By detecting volume peaks and valleys in real-time and applying appropriate gain adjustments, the system adapts the output volume to match the audio content's dynamic range, ensuring clear audio reproduction while preventing excessive volume spikes that could disturb others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If constant manual volume adjustment is performed to maintain comfortable levels, then audio comfort is maintained, but the user cannot hear the baby in the adjacent room when wearing a headset

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio comfortVSAvoidsituational adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10824385B2Automated audio volume stabilizer

Publication Date: 2020.11.03 CHARTER COMM OPERATING LLC

AI summary

The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software related product (e.g., a computer readable memory or a storage device) for automatically stabilizing a volume of different audio streams/contents to predefined boundary levels which may be requested by a user. According to an embodiment, an automated volume control feature may allow a user to set the highest level of volume for any audio stream played on a user's device for automatically adjusting the incoming audio content volume of audio streams not to exceed at least the highest level of volume set as the maximum threshold volume.