Group Call Speech Reproduction Based on Receiver Distance

Solution Overview

Problem

In group calls, the existing technologies fail to effectively manage speech signal reproduction across multiple terminal devices, leading to unclear audio due to distance variations and simultaneous speech from nearby devices, which complicates user comprehension and increases power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A determination device and method that select a recipient terminal device for speech signal transmission based on the distance between terminal devices, excluding the device initiating the request, to optimize speech reproduction and reduce power consumption by limiting unnecessary device involvement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all terminal devices in the group reproduce the speech signal, then the speech can be heard by all group members, but the speech clarity deteriorates due to simultaneous speech from nearby devices and the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech clarityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by determining different reproduction processes for different terminal devices based on their specific conditions. The determination unit evaluates each terminal device's distance from the caller and distance from other receivers to assign appropriate reproduction actions (reproduce, inhibit, or wait), thereby optimizing speech clarity and power consumption for each device locally rather than applying a uniform approach to all devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of reproduction process based on distance parameters. The determination unit calculates distances between terminal devices and uses these distance parameters to dynamically adjust the reproduction behavior of each device, selecting from multiple possible processes (reproduce, inhibit, wait) based on the calculated distance relationships

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If all terminal devices in the group reproduce the speech signal, then the speech can be heard by all group members, but the speech clarity deteriorates due to simultaneous speech from nearby devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech clarityVSAvoidspeech interference from nearby devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively inhibiting speech reproduction in terminal devices that are likely to cause or receive interference. The determination unit predicts potential speech interference scenarios based on distance calculations and preemptively prevents reproduction in devices that would create harmful effects, such as devices located near other receiving devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by determining different reproduction processes for different terminal devices based on their specific conditions. The determination unit evaluates each terminal device's distance from the caller and distance from other receivers to assign appropriate reproduction actions (reproduce, inhibit, or wait), thereby optimizing speech clarity and power consumption for each device locally rather than applying a uniform approach to all devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If distance between caller and receiver is considered for terminal selection, then smooth group calls are achieved, but the distance between receivers is not considered leading to speech interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmooth group callVSAvoidspeech clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of reproduction process based on distance parameters. The determination unit calculates distances between terminal devices and uses these distance parameters to dynamically adjust the reproduction behavior of each device, selecting from multiple possible processes (reproduce, inhibit, wait) based on the calculated distance relationships

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies feedback by using distance information as feedback to adjust the reproduction process. The determination unit continuously evaluates distance relationships between terminal devices and uses this feedback information to make informed decisions about which devices should reproduce speech, thereby optimizing both group call functionality and speech clarity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10354672B2Determination device, determination method that determines process related to reproduction of speech signal

Publication Date: 2019.07.16 JVC KENWOOD CORP

AI summary

An input unit receives a request for transmission of a speech signal to a predetermined group. When the request for transmission is received in the input unit, a determination unit determines a process related to reproduction of the speech signal in a terminal device expected to receive a speech, based on a distance between terminal devices expected to receive the speech signal, excluding the terminal device outputting the request from a plurality of terminal devices belonging to the predetermined group. An output unit outputs the detail determined in the determination unit.