Earphone Audio Notification Control Based on User State
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing use of fully independent earphones for notifications results in the need for timely and appropriate sound-based notifications, as screen-based notifications are less efficient.
Innovation Solution
A notification system that utilizes a notification controlling server to manage sound-based notifications based on user state detection, including sensors for DND settings, conversation, movement, and application usage, to determine appropriate timing and importance levels for outputting notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If notification is performed by sound using earphone, then notification can be delivered without visual attention, but time is required for sound reproduction and notification delivery is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting user state (music playback, conversation, movement) and determining appropriate notification timing before actually delivering the notification. The notification controlling server proactively identifies optimal moments to deliver notifications based on predicted user availability, rather than simply waiting for user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification delivery system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time user state detection. When music is playing or conversation is detected, the system suppresses notifications. When movement is detected or music stops, the system becomes active and delivers notifications. This dynamic adaptation resolves the timing contradiction by making notification delivery responsive to user context.
2Productivity
If notification is output continuously regardless of user state, then all notifications are delivered timely, but user disturbance increases and important notifications may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors user state through feedback mechanisms (music playback detection, conversation detection, movement detection) and adjusts notification delivery based on this feedback. When user state indicates music playback or conversation, notification output is suppressed. When user state changes to indicate availability, notifications are delivered. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by ensuring timely delivery only when appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of notification output based on detected user state parameters. The notification controlling server switches between suppression mode (when music/conversation detected) and delivery mode (when movement detected or music stops). This parameter change strategy allows the system to maintain high delivery efficiency while minimizing user disturbance.
3Reliability
If notification priority is set high to ensure timely delivery, then important notifications are not missed, but unnecessary notifications during music/conversation increase disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different notification delivery policies to different contexts or local conditions. When music playback or conversation is detected, the system creates a local suppression zone where notifications are not delivered. When movement is detected or music stops, the system creates a local delivery zone. This local quality differentiation ensures reliable delivery of important notifications while preventing disturbance during appropriate suppression periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an outputting apparatus, an outputting method, a program, and a notification system that make it possible to output a notification by sound of the appropriate contents at an appropriate timing. An information processing apparatus of an aspect of the present technology controls, according to a state of a user, the state being decided on the basis of multiple types of detection results relating to a situation of the user, and an importance level set to each of notifications to the user, outputting of the notifications by sound. The present technology can be applied to an apparatus in which a notification by sound is outputted from a headphone worn by a user.