Auditory Wearable Device Management System for Accurate Audio Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies do not provide a mechanism for effectively managing auditory wearable devices shared among multiple users, particularly in scenarios where rapid changes in wearers and audio information distribution are necessary, leading to difficulties in accurately delivering audio information to the correct wearer in environments with multiple audio sources.

Innovation Solution

An auditory wearable device management system that includes wearing information holding means to associate wearers with their status, audio information distribution control means to designate the correct recipient, and wearer sound field forming means to process audio information based on the wearer's status and attributes, ensuring accurate audio delivery and identification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If auditory devices are shared among multiple users with frequent wearer changes, then device versatility and adaptability improve, but the ability to accurately deliver audio information to the correct wearer deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sharing flexibilityVSAvoidaudio information delivery accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors wearing status through feedback mechanisms and dynamically adjusts audio information distribution based on real-time wearer identification, ensuring accurate delivery despite frequent device transfers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A management server acts as an intermediary between audio information sources and wearable devices, coordinating the distribution of audio information based on current wearer status to resolve the mismatch caused by frequent device sharing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system tracks individual wearer status for each auditory device, then audio information delivery accuracy improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio information delivery accuracyVSAvoidwearing status management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management server performs multiple functions including wearer identification, audio information distribution control, and device coordination through a single centralized system, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining accurate tracking

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

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of implementing complex tracking mechanisms in each individual device, the system uses simplified wearable devices that communicate basic status information to a centralized management server, distributing the complexity management workload

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Quantity of substance

If the auditory device can simultaneously transmit multiple types of audio information, then information completeness improves, but the ability to separate and identify individual information streams deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of audio informationVSAvoidinformation stream identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments audio information into distinct streams with unique identifiers and attributes, allowing multiple information types to be transmitted simultaneously while maintaining clear separation and identifiability through structured data organization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11696086B2Auditory wearable device management system, auditory wearable device management method, and program thereof
Publication Date: 2023.07.04 NEC CORP
  • US11696086B2 patent drawing
  • US11696086B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An auditory wearable device management system for supporting effective use of an auditory wearable device shared by a collection of people (hereinafter abbreviated as an auditory device) is provided. An auditory wearable device management system for distributing audio information from one or more information sound sources to an auditory device worn by each wearer constituting a collection of people and acting collectively includes wearing information holding means that associates the wearer with a wearing status of the auditory device worn by the wearer as wearing information, audio information distribution control means that outputs distribution control information for designating the wearer, the wearer being a distribution destination of the audio information from each of the one or more information sound sources.