Infotainment Conversation-Aware Audio Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conversations between passengers in vehicles are frequently interrupted by navigation prompts and entertainment content, leading to missed prompts and the need for users to manually adjust volume levels or silence navigation prompts to avoid interruptions.
Innovation Solution
An infotainment system that includes a control system coupled with a navigation system and entertainment system, equipped with a conversation recognizer to detect conversations and adjust audio output accordingly, delaying navigation prompts until a break in conversation is detected and optionally using polite interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If navigation prompts are delivered through the audio output device, then navigation information is provided to passengers, but conversations between passengers are interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of conversations using a conversation recognizer before delivering navigation prompts. By detecting ongoing conversations in advance, the system can delay prompt delivery until the conversation ends, preventing interruptions while ensuring navigation information is ultimately delivered.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the timing of navigation prompt delivery based on real-time conversation detection. Rather than delivering prompts at fixed times, the system flexibly schedules delivery to occur during periods when no conversation is detected, optimizing both navigation information delivery and conversation continuity.
2Ease of operation
If entertainment content is played at user selected volume, then entertainment quality is maintained, but navigation prompts become inaudible when entertainment volume is high
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of conversation states before delivering navigation prompts. When a conversation is detected, the system prepares to deliver the prompt at an appropriate time, ensuring audibility without requiring manual volume adjustments by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages the timing and delivery of navigation prompts based on detected conversation states, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust entertainment volume or silence prompts. The infotainment system self-regulates to ensure navigation information is delivered effectively.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If users manually adjust volume or silence navigation prompts to avoid interruptions, then conversation continuity is maintained, but navigation information may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of conversation states and uses this information to intelligently schedule navigation prompt delivery. By detecting when conversations are occurring and delaying prompts until appropriate moments, the system ensures both conversation continuity and complete delivery of navigation information without requiring manual user intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment an infotainment system for an automobile includes a navigation system, an entertainment system, an audio output device and a control system coupled to the navigation system, the entertainment system and the audio output device. The control system controls access by the navigation system and the entertainment system to the audio output device and includes a conversation recognizer that determines if a conversation is being conducted. The control system of this embodiment varies operation of the audio output device in the event a conversation is being conducted.