Headphone Wireless Notification via Camera Touchscreen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile electronic devices, such as headphones with noise cancellation or high volume, can make it difficult to get someone's attention from a distance, as traditional methods like waving or calling out may not be effective.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses a wireless notification signal transmitted from a device with a camera sensor and touchscreen interface to a headphone device, allowing for targeted notifications by composing an image of the headphone device and decoding instructions to perform specific notification events, such as muting audio or playing sounds, even when the user cannot hear due to noise cancellation or high volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If noise cancellation or high volume is used in headphone devices, then audio quality is improved, but the ability to receive external attention signals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visual intermediary system (display device with camera and touchscreen interface) that mediates between external attention signals and the headphone user. The camera captures images of the user, the display shows these images, and touch interactions with the displayed image transmit notification signals to the headphones, creating a visual communication channel that bypasses the audio isolation created by noise cancellation and high volume modes.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional attention-getting methods (waving, calling out) are used, then no additional equipment is needed, but effectiveness in getting attention deteriorates when headphones are worn
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the headphone system multi-functional by integrating it with a notification system that responds to visual gestures. The existing headphones gain an additional function: receiving and responding to attention-getting signals through wireless notification signals triggered by touch interactions with a displayed image of the user, thereby combining audio playback with visual attention recognition.
3Ease of operation
If direct audio attention methods are used, then simple communication is achieved, but interruption of others and requirement of direct audio attention increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/acoustic attention-getting methods (waving, calling out) with an electronic visual system. The camera-based image capture and touchscreen interface create a digital communication channel that transmits notification signals wirelessly to the headphones, substituting physical gestures and acoustic signals with electronic visual recognition and wireless data transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing a notification event at a headphone device includes receiving, at the headphone device, a wireless notification signal. The wireless notification signal is received from a transmitting device including a camera sensor, a display and a touchscreen interface. The headphone device is selected to receive the wireless notification signal in response to a touchscreen event occurring at the transmitting device. An image including a representation of the headphone device is composed by the camera sensor and is presented on the display. The touchscreen event includes receiving a touch input via the touchscreen interface. The method further includes determining the notification event to be performed at the headphone device by decoding the wireless notification signal. The method further includes performing the notification event indicated by the wireless notification signal at the headphone device in response to receiving the wireless notification signal.