Earpiece Audio Assistant with External Control Interface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio content playing devices are separate from headphones due to size constraints and user interaction difficulties, lacking a system for registration and download of audio content directly into an earpiece.
Innovation Solution
A Personal Audio Assistant system integrated into an earpiece that enables digital audio playback, subscription-based services, and seamless download of personalized audio content based on user preferences, allowing for music files, reminders, and other services through a single-button interface, with features like text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and sonification for financial data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If audio content player is integrated into earpiece system, then user convenience and device functionality are improved, but device size and complexity increase making user interaction difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the user interaction functions (buttons, controls) from the earpiece device and places them on an external device such as a mobile phone or remote control. This allows the earpiece to maintain its small size while still providing full user interaction capabilities through the external device's interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (mobile phone, remote control) that mediates between the user and the earpiece system. This intermediary handles all user interactions and transmits control signals to the earpiece, resolving the contradiction between small device size and ease of operation.
2Duration of action of moving object
If audio content storage capacity is increased in earpiece, then playback duration is improved, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the storage functionality of the earpiece with the storage capabilities of an external device (mobile phone, computer). Audio content is stored on the external device and transferred to the earpiece for playback, allowing extended playback duration without increasing earpiece storage capacity or size.
Solution Approach 2:
The earpiece system is designed to work with multiple external devices (mobile phones, computers, remote controls) that provide storage and control functions. This multi-functionality allows the earpiece to access large amounts of audio content from external sources without needing large onboard storage.
3Shape
If earpiece size is reduced for comfort, then wearability is improved, but integration of audio player and controls becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio system into two parts: a small earpiece for wearing and an external device for housing the audio player and controls. The earpiece contains only the essential audio output components, while the external device contains the complex player and control interface, making the overall system both comfortable to wear and fully functional.
Data Source
AI summary
A personal audio assistant that includes a speaker, microphone, memory, and a logic circuit that receives a request from a user for audio content, where the logic circuit retrieves a listening history envelope of the user, then retrieves a set of personalized playlist content from a remote server using the listening history envelop as a filter and sends a list of the set of personalized playlist content to the user.