Personalizing Conversation Audio via Simulated Environments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional conversation assistance audio devices are challenging to personalize for individual users without professional medical help, limiting their effectiveness in enhancing conversation clarity and ambient acoustic signal enhancement.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a software module or mobile application that allows users to personalize audio settings through simulated environments and feedback-based adjustments, using a conversation assistance audio engine to modify settings based on user input and known audio characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional conversation assistance audio devices are used, then background noise reduction and reverberation reduction are achieved, but personalization for individual users is difficult without professional medical help

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization capabilityVSAvoidsetup complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables users to perform self-calibration through automated algorithms that analyze user responses to test stimuli and automatically adjust audio settings, eliminating the need for professional audiologists to personalize device parameters for individual users

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts multiple audio parameters including gain, compression, and frequency response based on real-time analysis of user responses during calibration, allowing adaptive personalization of device characteristics without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If professional medical help is sought for personalization, then accurate audio settings can be configured, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires external assistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio settings accuracyVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates real-time feedback loops where user responses to test stimuli are analyzed and used to iteratively refine audio settings, enabling automated calibration that achieves professional-level accuracy without requiring multiple appointments with audiologists

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calibration procedures automatically during initial setup by presenting test stimuli and analyzing user responses beforehand, so that accurate personalization is achieved during the first use rather than requiring ongoing professional adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3867741B1Conversation assistance audio device personalization
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 BOSE CORP
  • EP3867741B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3867741B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3867741B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various implementations include conversation assistance audio devices with settings that are adjustable based upon user feedback. In some cases, the conversation assistance audio device is configured to use a set of simulated audio environments to personalize audio settings for a user. In other cases, the conversation assistance audio device is configured to iteratively adjust audio settings from a baseline set of audio settings in response to user commands.