Audio Waveform Enhancement Item Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current software applications for audio recording do not allow users to dynamically view and edit additional data, such as photos or videos, alongside the waveform representation of an audio recording.

Innovation Solution

An enhanced system and method that identifies entities associated with an audio recording, such as photos or videos, and presents them as enhancement items within the user interface, allowing users to view and edit these entities by modifying their timestamps or locations on the waveform.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If additional data (photos, videos) are presented with the waveform, then the information content is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because users cannot dynamically view and edit this additional data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation contentVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The additional data associated with the audio recording is segmented into discrete enhancement items, each linked to specific waveform sections. This allows the system to manage and present multiple types of data (photos, videos, notes) as separate, independently editable units while maintaining their association with the audio waveform, thus preserving information content while improving operability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a temporal dimension to the interaction with additional data by allowing users to navigate and edit photos and videos in synchronization with the waveform timeline. This dimensional approach enables dynamic viewing and editing of enhancement items along the time axis of the audio recording, resolving the contradiction between information richness and operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple enhancement items are presented with the waveform, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a universal enhancement item structure that can accommodate multiple types of data (photos, videos, notes, bookmarks) through a common interface and data model. This multi-functional approach allows the same system architecture to handle diverse enhancement items, increasing adaptability while avoiding the need for separate complex subsystems for each data type.

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

Solution Approach 2:

Enhancement items are nested within the waveform structure, with each enhancement item containing its own metadata and association information. This nested organization allows the system to manage complex relationships between audio segments and additional data in a hierarchical manner, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3776549B1Displaying enhancement items associated with an audio recording
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3776549B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3776549B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3776549B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for displaying visual representations of entities associated with an audio recording. A waveform associated with an audio recording is presented in a user interface to an application. A set of entities associated with the audio recording are then identified. Responsive to identifying the set of entities, a set of enhancement items associated with the set of entities is presented. In response to a selection of a given one of the enhancement items, a visual representation of an associated one of the entities in the user interface to the application.