Headphone Purchase Mode Controls for Hands-Free Mobile Checkout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inconvenience when trying to make online purchases using mobile devices connected to peripheral devices, as they need to retrieve the mobile device itself, which can be inconveniently located.
Innovation Solution
Configuring peripheral devices, such as headphones, to switch between regular and purchase modes, allowing users to input commands via voice or controls to facilitate purchases, with inline connector devices providing additional controls and a display for price adjustment and confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users make purchases using mobile devices connected to peripheral devices, then purchase functionality is available, but users must retrieve the mobile device which is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the purchase control functionality from the mobile device and places it on the peripheral device (headphones). The peripheral device now contains independent controls including buttons and display that allow users to adjust price, navigate options, and confirm purchases without needing to access the mobile device, thereby eliminating the need to retrieve the mobile device while maintaining purchase functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral device serves as an intermediary between the user and the mobile device for purchase operations. It receives control signals from the user through its own physical controls and translates them into commands for the mobile device, allowing the user to operate the mobile device through the peripheral device interface without direct physical access to the mobile device
2Ease of operation
If peripheral devices have controls for purchase mode, then users can facilitate purchases without accessing mobile device, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral device controls are designed to serve multiple functions: they can operate in regular mode for standard audio control and in purchase mode for facilitating online purchases. The same physical buttons and display are repurposed to handle both audio control and purchase operations, avoiding the need for separate dedicated purchase controls and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral device dynamically switches between different operational modes (regular mode and purchase mode) based on user needs. The control interface adapts its functionality depending on whether the user is listening to audio or making a purchase, allowing the same hardware to serve different purposes without requiring permanent complex infrastructure for all possible functions
Data Source
AI summary
A peripheral device, e.g., a headphone, connected to a communication device may have controls that are configured to switch between a regular mode and a purchase mode. When in the purchase mode, the controls of the peripheral device may be configured to facilitate purchase by receiving user input related to making a purchase. The peripheral or the communication device may be configured to receive user instructions, such as a voice command, to switch between the regular mode and the purchase mode. In particular, the controls may include volume buttons configured to adjust volume in the regular mode and configured to adjust purchase price in purchase mode. The controls also may include a start/end button configured to selectively activate or end an application in the regular mode and configured to confirm or select a purchase in the purchase mode.