Earphone Volume Adjustment Using Context-Aware Noise Time Windows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing earphone volume adjustment methods often result in inappropriate and rapid volume changes due to errors in determining user scenarios, leading to a poor user experience, especially when external noise levels fluctuate rapidly, such as during events like an ambulance passing by.

Innovation Solution

The method involves obtaining position and motion status information to determine a time window and adjust earphone volume based on external noise intensity within that window, considering environment type and user physiological status to prevent sudden volume changes and ensure appropriate volume adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If earphone volume is adjusted according to external environmental noise intensity alone, then the system responds quickly to noise changes, but the volume adjustment becomes inappropriate and fluctuates rapidly causing poor user experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speed to noise changesVSAvoidappropriateness of volume adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by obtaining position information and motion status before adjusting volume. It determines a time window based on user context (e.g., running, walking, stationary) and pre-processes noise intensity data within this window, thereby avoiding hasty volume adjustments and ensuring more reliable and appropriate volume control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If earphone volume is adjusted in real-time based on noise intensity, then the system adapts to environmental changes, but sudden volume changes occur when noise fluctuates rapidly leading to inappropriate adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to environmental noiseVSAvoidstability of volume adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system determines a time window based on position information and motion status before adjusting volume. This preliminary action filters out transient noise fluctuations and ensures that volume adjustments are based on sustained environmental conditions, thereby maintaining stability while adapting to genuine changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the time window size based on user motion status. When the user is running or moving quickly, a shorter time window is used; when stationary, a longer time window is applied. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to respond appropriately to environmental changes while maintaining stability based on user context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the system uses only noise intensity for volume adjustment, then the adjustment process is simple, but errors in scenario determination lead to inappropriate volume changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of adjustment mechanismVSAvoidaccuracy of scenario determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple data sources including position information, motion status, and noise intensity to determine the appropriate time window for volume adjustment. This combination of multiple parameters improves scenario determination accuracy while maintaining a relatively simple adjustment mechanism through integrated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3383063B1Method and device for adjusting earphone sound volume
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3383063B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3383063B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide an earphone volume adjustment method and apparatus. The method includes: when it is detected that an intensity of external environmental noise is greater than a preset threshold, obtaining position information and/or a motion status of a user; determining a time window according to the position information and/or the motion status; and adjusting earphone volume according to an intensity of external environmental noise in the time window. According to the embodiments of the present invention, an inappropriate phenomenon such as turning up or turning down the earphone volume in a short time can be avoided, and the earphone volume can be appropriately adjusted by comprehensively considering the intensity of the external environmental noise and the position information and/or the motion status of the user. Therefore, user experience is improved.