Automatic Muting for Home Automation Audio Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Audio output from electronic devices can be masked by louder sounds from nearby devices, leading to missed notifications, such as a phone ringing during a TV show, due to insufficient volume adjustment mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for adjusting the volume levels of home automation devices by sending a remote find instruction to a remote control to emit a sound and simultaneously lowering the volume of other devices, ensuring the desired sound is not masked, using a television receiver that determines sound levels and sends temporary quiet instructions to devices outputting sound above a threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the volume level of home automation devices is maintained at normal levels, then the audio output quality is preserved, but important sounds from other devices (like remote control beeps or phone rings) may be masked and not heard
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively identifies when a device needs to emit an important sound (such as a remote control needing to beep for location) and preemptively lowers the volume of other audio-outputting devices before the important sound is emitted. This preliminary volume adjustment ensures the important sound will not be masked, and the original volume is restored after the operation completes.
2Reliability
If the volume level of home automation devices is lowered to allow important sounds to be heard, then the detectability of important sounds is improved, but the audio output quality and user experience are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the volume level of home automation devices based on real-time operational context. Volume is temporarily reduced only during specific operations (like remote control location) and automatically restored to the original level after the operation completes, providing both important sound detectability and maintained user audio experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The volume adjustment occurs in periodic cycles: normal volume operation → temporary volume reduction during critical operation → restoration to normal volume. This periodic pattern ensures important sounds are heard when needed while maintaining normal audio experience during regular operation.
3Extent of automation
If manual volume adjustment mechanisms are provided, then users can control audio levels, but the system cannot automatically respond to dynamic situations where important sounds need to be prioritized
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where devices communicate their operational state and audio output status to the control system. The control system receives feedback about which devices are outputting sound and adjusts volumes accordingly, then receives confirmation feedback to verify the adjustment was successful and to know when to restore original volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system serves multiple functions: it monitors audio output from various home automation devices, determines when important sounds need to be prioritized, automatically adjusts volume levels, coordinates the timing of volume changes across multiple devices, and restores volumes after operations complete. This multi-functionality enables automatic response to dynamic situations.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for altering a volume level of an electronic device may include receiving a user input indicative of triggering a remote find operation to locate a remote control, and in response to the user input, sending a remote find instruction to the remote control. The remote find instruction may trigger the remote control to emit a sound. Systems and methods may include, in response to the user input, sending a temporary quiet instruction to the home automation device. The quiet instruction may initiate a lowering of the volume level of the home automation device while the remote control is emitting the sound as a part of the remote find operation.