Focused Listening Audio Sync for Noisy External Speakers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in tuning into audio from external loudspeakers due to ambient noise and difficulty in synchronizing audio playback across devices.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with control circuitry that listens to ambient audio using a microphone, identifies the audio track, and synchronizes playback on a personal speaker device with the external speaker, allowing users to tune in and control volume while removing background noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If users increase volume to hear audio from external loudspeaker, then audio becomes audible, but ambient noise interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the desired audio signal from the mixed ambient sound field by using the mobile device's microphone to capture the external loudspeaker's output and isolate it from background conversations and other noise sources through audio processing and identification algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the external loudspeaker and the user's ears, capturing the audio signal from the environment, processing it to remove ambient noise, and delivering the cleaned signal through the device's speaker or headphones
2Manufacturing precision
If users manually synchronize audio playback across devices, then audio alignment is achieved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-synchronization by automatically detecting the audio track playing from the external loudspeaker, identifying its timing and structure, and autonomously aligning the mobile device's playback without requiring manual user intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device uses its microphone to continuously monitor the audio environment, detect the external loudspeaker's output in real-time, and use this feedback to automatically adjust and maintain synchronization of the audio playback across devices
3Power
If users want to listen to audio in noisy environment, then audio becomes audible, but background noise cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful ambient noise into a useful signal by using the mobile device's microphone to capture the external loudspeaker's sound output that is mixed with background noise, then processing this captured signal to extract and enhance the desired audio while filtering out the harmful background conversations and other noise
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may include control circuitry that allows a user to listen to audio playing from an external speaker in the environment from the user's personal speaker device such as a pair of headphones, earbuds, or a personal loudspeaker. In response to receiving user input, the control circuitry may gather audio input from the environment with a microphone. The control circuitry may process the detected audio input to identify what audio track is currently playing from the external speaker and to determine which part of the audio track is currently playing. The control circuitry may then start playing the identified audio track from the user's personal speaker device in sync with the audio track playing from the external speaker. The electronic device may search music streaming platforms, public radio station information, and other public music content sources to anticipate and buffer upcoming songs.