Biometric Ambient Sound Control for Focused Listening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio systems require manual user input to control ambient sounds, which can distract from tasks and is inconvenient, especially when users are focused or unable to interact with controls.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses biometric sensors to determine a user's focus level and automatically adjusts ambient sound levels, incorporating a sensing engine, tradeoff engine, and ambience subsystem to generate awareness signals or cancellation signals based on the focus level and ambient awareness level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If sealed earbuds are used to deliver sound without degradation, then sound quality is improved, but the user is isolated from environmental sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of external microphones, signal processing circuitry, and speakers that mediate between the sealed earbud environment and the external acoustic environment. This intermediary system captures environmental sounds externally and reproduces them internally, allowing the user to maintain the sealed fit for sound quality while still perceiving environmental sounds through the playback system.
2Ease of operation
If manual control of ambient sound volume is provided, then the user can selectively perceive environmental sounds, but the user's ability to concentrate on tasks is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs biometric sensors (such as EEG, ECG, or GSR sensors) to automatically detect the user's focus state and autonomously adjust the ambient sound volume accordingly. When the sensor detects high focus levels, the system automatically reduces ambient sound volume without requiring user intervention, thereby maintaining concentration while still providing adaptive environmental sound control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where biometric sensors continuously monitor the user's physiological state (focus level), and this information is fed back to the signal processing circuitry which automatically adjusts the ambient sound volume. This closed-loop feedback system enables dynamic adaptation to the user's cognitive state without breaking concentration.
3Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of ambient sound volume is required, then the user can control sound perception, but the complexity of operation increases when wearing gloves or forgetting control locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for manual control operations by using biometric sensors to automatically detect the user's focus state and adjust ambient sound volume accordingly. This self-service approach removes physical controls from the user's interaction model, making the system equally easy to use whether the user is wearing gloves or not, and eliminates the need to remember control locations.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a focus application controls ambient sounds perceived by a user. In operation, the focus application determines a focus level associated with the user based on a biometric signal associated with the user. The focus application then determines an ambient awareness level based on the focus level. Subsequently, the focus application modifies at least one characteristic of an ambient sound perceived by the user based on the ambient awareness level.