Combined Game-Chat Audio Control for Audible Voice During Gameplay
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multiplayer gaming, the wide dynamic range of game audio can overpower chat audio, making it difficult for users to hear voice communications, especially during intense game events, as conventional solutions require manual volume adjustments that disrupt gameplay.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of automatic volume control systems in gaming consoles and headsets that process combined game and chat audio signals, using audio processing units to detect the strength of both components and adjust volume settings dynamically to maintain audible chat audio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If manual volume adjustment is used to ensure chat audio is audible, then chat audio comprehensibility is improved, but gameplay continuity deteriorates due to user distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors and adjusts volume levels without user intervention. The audio processing unit continuously analyzes game audio and chat audio signals, detecting when chat audio becomes inaudible and automatically adjusting volumes to maintain comprehensibility while the user remains focused on gameplay.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where the audio processing unit continuously monitors the audibility of chat audio relative to game audio, and automatically adjusts volume levels in response. This closed-loop control ensures chat remains comprehensible without requiring manual user adjustment during gameplay.
2Use of energy by moving object
If game audio volume is increased for immersive experience, then gaming immersion is improved, but chat audio detectability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts volume levels based on real-time audio conditions. During intense game events with high game audio levels, the system automatically increases chat audio volume or decreases game audio volume to maintain chat detectability, then returns to normal levels when game events subside, preserving both immersion and communicability.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio processing unit changes audio parameters (volume levels) of both game audio and chat audio based on detected conditions. When chat audio becomes undetectable against the game audio backdrop, the system adjusts the parameters to restore detectability while maintaining overall gaming experience quality.
3Loss of information
If automatic volume control is implemented, then chat audio comprehensibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an audio processing unit as an intermediary component between the game audio source and the user's ears. This dedicated intermediary handles the complex task of analyzing and adjusting audio levels, isolating the complexity from the main gaming system and providing a clean interface for automatic volume control functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprising audio processing circuitry is provided. The audio processing circuitry is operable to receive combined-game-and-chat audio signals. The audio processing circuitry is operable to process the combined-game-and-chat audio signals to detect strength of a chat component of the combined-game-and-chat audio signals and strength of a game component of the combined-game-and-chat audio signals. The audio processing circuitry is operable to automatically control a volume setting based on one or both of: the detected strength of the chat component, and the detected strength of the game component. The combined-game-and-chat audio signals may comprise a left channel signal and a right channel signal. The processing of the combined-game-and-chat audio signals may comprise measuring strength of a vocal-band signal component that is common to the left channel signal and the right channel signal.