Earphone Change Detection for Adaptive Audio Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
During audio communications sessions, changes in the earphone configuration, such as removal or alteration of audio output settings, can disrupt the perception of stereo or spatialized audio for one user without being apparent to the other user, potentially leading to missed information.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for detecting change events at a user's earphones, such as removal or alteration of audio settings, and signaling this event to the other user's device, modifying the audio content accordingly to maintain effective communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stereo or spatialized audio content is transmitted during an audio communications session, then the audio quality and spatial perception for the first user is improved, but the system cannot adapt when the first user removes an earphone, leading to loss of information for the second user
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by detecting change events (such as earphone removal) at the first user device and signaling this information to the second user device. This feedback loop allows the second user to be informed about changes in the first user's audio perception capability, enabling adaptive response to maintain communication effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting potential audio perception issues before they cause communication breakdown. The change event detection mechanism proactively identifies when a user removes an earphone or changes audio settings, allowing the system to adapt the audio content in advance rather than waiting for the problem to manifest.
2Ease of operation
If the first user removes an earphone or changes audio settings, then the first user's comfort or operational need is satisfied, but the stereo or spatialized audio content can no longer be properly perceived
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the audio content adaptive and flexible based on real-time detection of user actions. When a change event is detected (such as earphone removal), the system dynamically modifies the transmitted audio content from stereo or spatialized format to monaural format, allowing the audio perception capability to adapt to the current operational state of the user's device.
3Adaptability or versatility
If audio content is modified in real-time based on detected change events, then the adaptability of the audio system is improved, but the complexity of the audio processing system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and handles only the essential change events (such as earphone removal or muting actions) separately from the main audio stream. By detecting specific change events and signaling only these critical modifications to the other user device, the system achieves adaptability without requiring complex real-time processing of the entire audio content, thus managing system complexity effectively.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus, method and computer program for signaling change events at an audio output device are disclosed. The apparatus may comprise means for detecting, during an audio communications session between a first user device and a second user device, a change event at a first earphones device associated with the first user device, the first earphones device comprised of first and second earphones. The apparatus may also comprise means for signaling the detected change event to the second user device and/or a second audio output device associated with the second user device.