IoT Notification Supervisor Device Noise Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often miss important notifications, such as incoming calls, due to ambient noise or because they are not near their mobile device, as IoT devices do not effectively manage noise levels or alert methods to ensure the user receives notifications.
Innovation Solution
A supervisor device in a communication network detects notifications for a wireless mobile device and instructs nearby IoT devices to reduce their operating volume or suspend operations, and display or play alerts, based on the user's location, to ensure the user is notified.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IoT devices operate at full volume continuously, then the device functionality is maintained, but users may miss notifications due to ambient noise or being away from their mobile device
Solution Approach 1:
The supervisor device performs preliminary actions by detecting notifications before the user can attend to their mobile device, then proactively silences nearby IoT devices and triggers alerts at alternative locations where the user is likely to be, ensuring notification delivery regardless of ambient noise or user position
Solution Approach 2:
The supervisor device acts as an intermediary between the notification source and the user, receiving notifications, determining user location through IoT device proximity detection, and coordinating silencing/alert actions across multiple devices to bridge the gap between notification delivery and user reception
2Reliability
If the supervisor device silences nearby IoT devices upon detecting a notification, then notification delivery is improved, but the complexity of device coordination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supervisor device serves multiple functions: detecting notifications, determining user location through IoT device proximity, silencing relevant devices, and triggering alerts at alternative locations. This multi-functionality consolidates complex coordination logic into a single device, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable notification delivery
3Reliability
If IoT devices reduce operating volume or suspend operation to allow notifications, then user awareness is improved, but device productivity during notification periods decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The supervisor device applies partial action by silencing only those IoT devices determined to be near the user's location rather than all devices in the network. This selective approach minimizes disruption to overall device productivity while ensuring notification awareness at the user's actual position
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic action by temporarily silencing devices only for the duration of the notification period, then resuming normal operations afterward. This time-limited approach maintains productivity outside notification events while ensuring user awareness during critical notification moments
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for providing notifications in a communication network of a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In an aspect, a supervisor device in the communication network detects a notification directed to a wireless mobile device in the communication network and sends at least one instruction to at least a first IoT device of the plurality of IoT devices to reduce an operating volume or suspend operation of the first IoT device. The first IoT device receives the at least one instruction from the supervisor device and reduces the operating volume of the IoT device or suspends the operation of the IoT device in response to the at least one instruction.