Call Privacy Audio Using Masking Sound and Acoustic Beamforming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In confined public spaces, mobile phone users face significant risks of unintended eavesdropping, leading to potential identity theft, scams, corporate espionage, and social or professional repercussions due to lack of call privacy.
Innovation Solution
A personal electronic device with a main sound producing device and auxiliary sound producing devices that generate masking sounds or anti-sounds to reduce speech intelligibility of bystanders, utilizing acoustic beamforming to nullify acoustic energy in specific directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a main sound producing device is used to produce sound for the intended user, then the user can hear the intended sound clearly, but bystanders in confined public spaces can overhear the conversation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful acoustic energy that could be overheard by bystanders into a beneficial masking sound. The auxiliary sound producing device generates a masking sound that is intentionally made audible to bystanders, transforming the potential eavesdropping risk into a privacy protection mechanism. The masking sound creates acoustic interference that renders the intended conversation unintelligible to bystanders while remaining clear to the intended user.
Solution Approach 2:
The masking sound acts as an intermediary between the main sound producing device and the bystander's ear. Instead of directly transmitting the conversation sound to the bystander, the masking sound intervenes to block and distort the transmission. This intermediary sound wave creates acoustic interference patterns that prevent the bystander from intelligibly perceive the conversation while allowing the intended user to hear clearly.
2Reliability
If auxiliary sound producing devices are added to produce masking sounds, then speech intelligibility of bystanders is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary sound producing device is designed to perform multiple functions: it produces masking sounds to protect privacy, and can also function as part of the acoustic beamforming system to direct sound. By making the device multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving the privacy protection goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the masking sound production function with the existing sound producing infrastructure of the device. Rather than adding completely separate hardware systems, the auxiliary sound producing device integrates with the main sound producing device and audio processing system. This merging approach allows the device to generate masking sounds using existing acoustic pathways and processing circuits, minimizing the additional complexity burden.
3Reliability
If acoustic beamforming is used to nullify acoustic energy toward bystanders, then speech intelligibility is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic beamforming system operates periodically rather than continuously. The device activates beamforming operations only when needed to protect privacy, such as when the device is detected to be in a confined public space or when privacy protection is explicitly requested. This periodic activation significantly reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation, while still providing effective privacy protection during active use periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic beamforming system applies energy selectively in specific directional zones rather than uniformly in all directions. By concentrating acoustic energy only where needed (toward the intended user while nullifying it toward bystanders in specific angular directions), the system reduces total energy consumption. This localized application of acoustic energy allows privacy protection in specific zones without requiring excessive power throughout the entire operating environment.
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
Enhances call privacy by making overheard conversations unintelligible, thereby preventing information leakage and maintaining user confidentiality.
Implementation Method 1
an auxiliary sound producing device, configured to produce a masking sound or an anti-sound to reduce a speech intelligibility of a bystander within a neighborhood of the intended user
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of auxiliary sound producing devices, configured to perform an acoustic beamforming operation and to form at least an acoustic beam; wherein the at least an acoustic beam is configured to nullify or minimize an acoustic energy toward an angular direction of a bystander
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A personal electronic device includes a main sound producing device, configured to produce an intended sound for an intended user; and an auxiliary sound producing device, configured to produce a masking sound or an anti-sound to reduce a speech intelligibility of a bystander within a neighborhood of the intended user of the personal electronic device. The auxiliary sound producing device produces the masking sound or the anti-sound toward an ambient of the personal electronic device.