Hands-Free Circuit Audio Feedback for Driver Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of hands-free speaker phones in vehicles can be distracting for drivers due to the need to view displays for wireless device status and communication issues, which can lead to safety concerns while driving.
Innovation Solution
A hands-free circuit with a WLAN transceiver, speech processor, and memory that produces audio information corresponding to voice tag information, allowing users to control wireless devices through voice prompts and commands, eliminating the need for visual displays and providing better sound quality through integration with vehicle audio systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a display is used to show wireless device status information, then information visibility is improved, but driver distraction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the visual display mechanism with an auditory speech synthesis mechanism. The speech processor converts wireless device status information into spoken audio messages that are played through the vehicle audio system, substituting the mechanical/visual display system with an acoustic information delivery system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a speech processor as an intermediary component that receives status information from the wireless device and converts it into audio form. This intermediary transforms the information from a visual display format into an auditory format that can be delivered through the vehicle's audio system without requiring driver visual attention.
2Device complexity
If a single speech message is played for all communication problems, then system complexity is reduced, but information accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the speech processor receives specific status information about the type of communication problem and delivers differentiated speech messages accordingly. The system monitors the communication status and provides feedback-driven message selection, ensuring the appropriate message is played based on the specific problem detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different speech messages for different communication problems rather than a uniform message for all issues. Each communication problem type receives a specifically tailored message that addresses its unique characteristics, enhancing information accuracy while maintaining system manageability.
3Ease of operation
If visual display is used for device control, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to driver distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual display-based control with audio-based control and feedback. Users can control wireless devices through voice commands and receive status information through speech synthesis, eliminating the need to visually interact with display screens while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service through automatic speech synthesis of status information. The speech processor automatically converts device status into audible messages without requiring driver intervention or visual attention, allowing the system to inform the driver of its own state through the audio channel.
Data Source
AI summary
A hands-free circuit (10) and method produces audio information (90) corresponding to voice tag information (60) stored either in the hands-free circuit (10) or in a wireless device (320). The hands-free circuit includes a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver (20), memory (40) and a speech processor (30). For example, the wireless local area network transceiver (20) may be a Bluetooth transceiver that communicates with the wireless device (320) and receives wireless device information (80). The wireless device information (80) may represent caller identification information, call processing information relating to the status of a call, phone status information or any suitable information. The speech processor (30) produces audio information (90) corresponding to the voice tag information (60). According to one embodiment, the speech processor (30) produces speech synthesized wireless device information (80), in-band ring tone information or any suitable information.