Auto Pause Media Playback via Ambient Sound Threshold

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in listening to media content on electronic devices due to ambient disturbances, requiring manual rewinding to resume playback from the point before the disturbance, which is time-consuming and tedious.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a processor and media player module that monitors ambient sound, automatically pausing media playback when the sound exceeds a prescribed threshold and resuming when it falls below, allowing user-controlled resumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual rewinding is used to resume playback after disturbance, then playback can be resumed, but user effort and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of resuming playbackVSAvoidtime to find playback position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically recording and marking the playback position before disturbance occurs. When disturbance is detected, the system has already prepared the resume position information, eliminating the need for manual rewinding and position searching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service by automatically detecting disturbances, pausing playback at the correct position, and resuming from the marked position without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by managing the playback state based on environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If automatic pause based on sound monitoring is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated playback controlVSAvoidsound monitoring and analysis system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system leverages the existing microphone and processor of the electronic device, which are already present for other functions like voice calls and notifications. By making these existing components serve the additional function of disturbance detection, the patent avoids adding dedicated hardware while achieving automated playback control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the device's own existing resources (microphone, processor, memory) to perform the monitoring and control functions. Rather than requiring external or dedicated components, the device serves itself by utilizing its built-in capabilities for disturbance detection and automated playback management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Automatically pauses and resumes media playback based on ambient noise levels, reducing user effort and minimizing interruptions during media consumption.

Implementation Method 1

monitor sound within an ambient environment in which the electronic device resides

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS11070864B2Auto pause when disturbed

Publication Date: 2021.07.20 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A device and method of automatically pausing media content executing on the electronic device are provided. Sound within an ambient environment in which the electronic device resides is monitored, and the sound in the ambient environment is compared to a prescribed sound threshold. Upon the sound in the ambient environment exceeding the prescribed sound threshold, execution of media content on the electronic device is automatically paused.