Hierarchical Priority Alert Ducker Matrix for Safety Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, occupants are presented with multiple types of alerts and communication signals simultaneously, with some being more critical than others, leading to a need for prioritization to ensure critical safety alerts are not overshadowed by less critical alerts.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for organizing incoming data into matrices to prioritize audio signals into high, medium, and low priority levels, using duckers to attenuate lower priority signals in response to higher priority triggers, generating a mixed audio signal for playback through personal audio devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple types of alerts and communication signals are presented simultaneously to vehicle occupants, then the quantity of information provided is improved, but the reliability of critical safety alerts deteriorates due to being overshadowed by less critical alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments alerts into multiple priority levels (high, medium, low) and processes them through separate audio pathways with different ducking thresholds. Critical safety alerts in the high priority queue are preserved from attenuation while less critical alerts in lower priority queues are subject to ducking, allowing simultaneous presentation of multiple alerts while maintaining reliability of critical information
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the audio parameter (volume/attenuation) of alerts based on their priority level and the presence of higher priority alerts. When a high priority alert is detected, lower priority alerts are attenuated through ducking; when no high priority alerts are present, lower priority alerts can be heard at full volume, thus adapting the quantity of audible information based on current conditions while preserving critical alert reliability
2Measurement precision
If all alerts are presented at full volume simultaneously, then the clarity of individual alerts is improved, but the harmful effect of critical alerts being overshadowed by less critical alerts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ducking control mechanism as an intermediary that mediates between multiple alert sources. This controller monitors the priority level and volume of each alert source, and dynamically adjusts the volume of lower priority alerts when higher priority alerts are active, preventing overshadowing while allowing simultaneous alert presentation
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts alert volumes in real-time based on the current alert landscape. Instead of static volume levels, the volume of each alert is continuously modified based on the presence and priority of other alerts, ensuring critical alerts maintain clarity while less critical alerts are attenuated only when necessary to prevent overshadowing
3Reliability
If less critical alerts are attenuated to prioritize critical safety alerts, then the reliability of critical alerts is improved, but the loss of information from less critical alerts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ducking attenuation is applied periodically or temporarily only when higher priority alerts are active. When the high priority alert ceases, the attenuation on lower priority alerts is removed or reduced, allowing information from less critical alerts to be recovered. This periodic application of ducking minimizes information loss while maintaining critical alert reliability during periods when it is most needed
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for organizing incoming data from audio sources and vehicle system inputs into one or more matrices to hierarchically prioritize the incoming data into one or more of a low priority mixer, a medium priority mixer and a high priority mixer. The hierarchically organized incoming data is prioritized and assigned as an input or a trigger to one or more duckers to generate a mixed audio signal that combines attenuated and ducked incoming data. A mixed audio signal is transmitted over a communication link for playback by a personal audio device.