Dynamic Call Alert Volume Adjustment Based on Missed or Rejected Communications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often miss important calls due to low volume settings on their mobile devices, especially in noisy environments, and receive unwanted calls at the same volume as important ones, causing inconvenience and nuisance.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that intelligently adjust the volume level for incoming call and message alerts based on missed or rejected communications, increasing the volume for missed calls from specific individuals and decreasing it for rejected calls to enhance notification effectiveness and reduce nuisance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the volume level is set to a low level, then the device is easier to use in quiet environments and reduces disturbance, but important calls may be missed in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the volume level based on real-time detection of ambient noise conditions. When noise is detected, the volume is automatically increased to ensure call alerts are audible, whereas in quiet environments the volume remains low to avoid disturbance. This resolves the contradiction by making the volume adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the volume parameter based on detected environmental conditions (noise levels). By monitoring ambient sound and adjusting the alert volume accordingly, the system ensures reliable call notification in noisy environments while maintaining ease of use in quiet settings, thus resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Reliability
If the volume level is set to a high level, then important calls can be heard in noisy environments, but unwanted calls become more annoying and disruptive
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments call alerts into different categories (important vs. unwanted) based on caller identification and user preferences. Different volume levels are assigned to different segments: high volume for important calls and low volume or silent mode for unwanted calls. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing high volume only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different volume qualities to different callers or call types based on user-defined criteria. Important callers receive high-volume alerts while unwanted callers receive low-volume or suppressed alerts. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by tailoring the volume quality to the specific call context.
3Ease of operation
If the device uses a fixed volume setting, then the system is simpler to operate, but it cannot adapt to different environmental conditions or user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects ambient noise levels and adjusts the volume setting without requiring user intervention. It self-regulates the volume based on environmental conditions, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while maintaining simplicity of operation. This resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive through automation rather than complex user controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors ambient noise levels and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the volume setting. The feedback loop ensures the volume adapts to environmental conditions while the automation keeps the interface simple. This resolves the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability by using automatic feedback-based adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for intelligently adjusting a volume level for call/message alerts includes a processor, an interface(s), a memory, a timer and a volume adjuster. The processor receives a call(s)/message(s) and causes the memory to store data associated with the call(s)/message(s). The processor invokes a timer and instructs a ringer to generate a call/message alert. The processor receives an additional call(s)/message(s) and determines if these calls/messages are sent from the same user of an electronic device as a previous call/message within a time period. If a previous call/message was missed by a user of a terminal, the processor causes a ringer to increase the volume of a subsequent call/message sent from the user of the electronic device. If a previous call/message was rejected by a user of a terminal, the processor causes the ringer to decrease the volume of a subsequent call/message sent from the user of the electronic device.